A Roundup of Cubs Notes and Rumors

Jacque Jones will be given an opportunity to take over the starting CF job, at the expense of Felix Pie. If Jones shows any life with the bat Pie is a likely candidate to be returned to Iowa next week so the Cubs can get back to 12 pitchers.

From the same article, catcher Henry Blanco worked out in full gear on Friday at PNC Park, making throws to second and third and blocking pitches in the dirt. Blanco is optimistic he will return this season and avoid season ending surgery on a herniated disc in his neck.

When the Padres were talking trade with the Cubs last month, one of the players they inquired about was Felix Pie. The Cubs immediately squashed the talk and told the Padres Pie is "as untouchable as it gets."

This is just my personal idea, but if Jones doesn't work out in the outfield mix, and the bean counters continue to squash any attempt by Jim Hendry to eat part of Jones' 2008 salary in a trade, why not try and deal Jones to the Yankees for Bobby Abreu? Abreu is making $10 million this year, and has a 2008 option for $16 million, which no team will pick up, and instead will be on the hook for a $2 million buyout. With some creative thinking the Cubs and Yankees could rework some cash in the deal so the Yankees end up paying next year's buyout. The salaries themselves would be close to a wash. Abreu would be due approx $5 million the rest of this season, plus the $2 million buyout, and Jones would be due approx $7 million between this year and next. The Cubs would simply be moving that money onto this year's payroll, something Hendry keeps insisting he is being told he can add to. Any deal would probably require the Cubs to package a prospect with Jones, but probably not a top level guy, depending on how hotly pursued Abreu is by other teams. Abreu has been mediocre at the plate this year, but has shown signs of life in the last month (.290/.408/.470 in June).

Carlos Zambrano is as good as gone, unless the Cubs front office does an about-face and green-lights Hendry to re-offer the contract Z was close to signing this Spring. The Cubs ownership situation is not likely to be worked out and approved until next February, at the earliest. Z will get a basketful of contract offers on the first few days of free agency this November and would be insane to wait around for a Cubs offer that might not come from whoever ultimately becomes the new owner. (Which, btw, is looking like Bud Selig and Jerry Reinsdorf pal John Canning) I'll add that this coming offseason is likely to look bleak for the Cubs as long as the ownership change is not completed in a timely matter. Any pending free agents on the team, and free agent targets, will probably not be offered contracts until things are settled. That means the 2008 roster could have more than a few holes in it that will send Hendry or whoever is the GM to the bargain bin.