Alfonso Soriano News

Incumbents among Cubs’ priorities; Hendry keeping club’s free agents on radar this offseason

By: Jim Molony, Mlb.com

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry may not be quite as busy this winter as he was last, though like last year, Hendry once again has important roster decisions that he must make during the coming weeks.

Just don’t expect the magnitude of last winter’s flurry of moves, which included the signing of free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year contract, free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa to a three-year contract, infielder Aramis Ramirez to a five-year deal and pitcher Kerry Wood to a one-year contract.

Those are just four of the moves Hendry made during a hectic eight-day stretch, which also included a three-player trade with the Chicago White Sox and an agreement with Henry Blanco for two years plus an option.

In December, Hendry signed free-agent pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

“The circumstances are different this time,” Hendry said. “But like any year, you have decisions to make. We’ve already made a few and we’ve got more work to do in the weeks ahead.”

First up are the decisions on the Cubs’ free agents — outfielders Cliff Floyd and Craig Monroe, catcher Jason Kendall, pitchers Wood and Steve Trachsel and first baseman Daryle Ward.

The Cubs already notified Floyd that they would not be picking up his $5 million option for 2008. They also declined to pick up Trachsel’s $4.75 million option.

Ward will return after Hendry and the 32-year-old pinch-hitting specialist accepted a mutual option for 2008 worth $1.2 million. Ward ranks second in the Major Leagues with 33 pinch-hits over the last two seasons, and he hit .327 in 79 games, including .268 (11-for-41) with 11 walks as a pinch-hitter.

“[Ward] did a great job for us,” Hendry said. “He’s one of the better left-handed pinch-hitters around.”

Monroe, like Floyd, doesn’t figure to be in the Cubs’ 2008 plans. With Soriano in left and perhaps Felix Pie or Jacque Jones in center, the only position open for either veteran is right field or fourth outfielder. The Cubs want to look elsewhere for a right-field option, and Monroe and Floyd haven’t thrived the way Ward has when used in a utility role.

Trachsel, acquired from the Mets for the stretch run, went 1-3 with an 8.31 ERA in four starts, a showing that sealed the 37-year-old’s chances of returning to the Cubs.

That leaves Wood and Kendall.

The Cubs have indicated that they would like to keep Wood, who went 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 22 relief appearances in 2007 after getting off to a late start while recovering from right shoulder surgery. A starter for all but 11 of his 189 career games entering the 2007 season, Wood made a successful adjustment to pitching out of the bullpen and contributed to the Cubs’ rise to the top of the National League Central.

Wood, who will turn 31 next June, can exclusively negotiate with the Cubs until Nov. 12. If no deal is reached by then, he would also be free to talk to the other teams in the league.

Last Nov. 12, the Cubs signed Wood to a one-year, $1.75 million contract following a 2006 season during which he appeared in just four games.

Complete coverage >  

Wood won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1998, but he missed all of 1999 following elbow surgery and has battled shoulder problems since 2004. He did pitch in relief in 2005, but he needed arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder that August.

Wood, who served in a setup capacity this year, represents a key piece of the Cubs’ 2008 roster puzzle. If he returns, he might be given a shot at closing, which would enable the Cubs to slide Ryan Dempster into the rotation. Or Wood could be re-signed with an eye toward keeping him in a setup role.

Kendall filed for free agency on Oct. 30, and while the veteran catcher has indicated that he would like to return to Chicago next season, the Cubs haven’t made a decision on whether they will pursue his services for another year.

Kendall, 33, provided an offensive boost at catcher after the Cubs acquired him from the A’s in a July trade for Rob Bowen and Jerry Blevins. Kendall batted .270 with a .362 on-base percentage in 57 games for the Cubs. He hit a combined .242 with three homers and 41 RBIs in 137 games for the A’s and Cubs.

Kendall’s status with the Cubs is uncertain in part because the club has a highly regarded youngster in Geovany Soto, a 24-year-old rookie who hit .389 with three homers and eight RBIs in 54 at-bats with the Cubs after his callup from the Minor Leagues. The Cubs may decide to go with Soto as the regular catcher next season, or try to bring back Kendall and ease Soto into full-time duty.

Kendall made $13 million last season, the final year of the six-year, $60 million contract he signed before the 2002 season.

Those decisions are just for openers.

Hendry is looking for pitching again this year, though he declines to discuss potential free-agent targets.