rockin500
03-12-2003, 12:29 PM
MESA, Ariz.--Eighteen teams scouted the Cubs' game Monday against the Oakland Athletics, and general manager Jim Hendry is involved in trade discussions regarding his abundance of pitching.
Joe Borowski, Juan Cruz, Rod Beck and Alan Benes are competing for what appears to be one vacant bullpen spot, which means Hendry has to make a move or two, possibly dealing Beck or Benes for minor-leaguers. Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Beck remains very much in the mix for the bullpen job, but it's hard to see how Borowski or Cruz won't be on the team.
Borowski was one of the few bright points of a sorry bullpen last season and had a 0.00 ERA this spring until allowing four runs on two walks and two home runs in a 14-1 loss Tuesday to the Kansas City Royals. Cruz is loaded with talent and has more potential than any of the other three once he grasps the kind of pitcher he wants to be.
When the Cubs signed right-handed reliever Dave Veres just days after Beck agreed to a minor-league deal, it put Beck behind the 8-ball. They are similar pitchers, and Veres signed a major-league deal.
Hendry still is inquiring about a deal for Montreal Expos catcher/third baseman Michael Barrett, but Expos general manager Omar Minaya hasn't been eager to make a swap. Royals general manager Allard Baird huddled with Hendry in the HoHoKam Park lunchroom Tuesday to talk about available players.
After Baird reneged on a deal at the winter meetings to trade third baseman Joe Randa to the Cubs for a couple of minor-leaguers, it seems there will be no further interest in that ex-change.
Mark Bellhorn made further progress toward being the Cubs' Opening Day third baseman, homering for the second consecutive day against the Royals.
NOTE: The Cubs reduced their spring-training roster to 47 players by reassigning nine minor-leaguers. Op-tioned to Class AAA Iowa were outfielders Nic Jack-son and Jackson Melian, infielder Nate Frese and pitcher Todd Wellemeyer
http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cside12.html
Joe Borowski, Juan Cruz, Rod Beck and Alan Benes are competing for what appears to be one vacant bullpen spot, which means Hendry has to make a move or two, possibly dealing Beck or Benes for minor-leaguers. Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Beck remains very much in the mix for the bullpen job, but it's hard to see how Borowski or Cruz won't be on the team.
Borowski was one of the few bright points of a sorry bullpen last season and had a 0.00 ERA this spring until allowing four runs on two walks and two home runs in a 14-1 loss Tuesday to the Kansas City Royals. Cruz is loaded with talent and has more potential than any of the other three once he grasps the kind of pitcher he wants to be.
When the Cubs signed right-handed reliever Dave Veres just days after Beck agreed to a minor-league deal, it put Beck behind the 8-ball. They are similar pitchers, and Veres signed a major-league deal.
Hendry still is inquiring about a deal for Montreal Expos catcher/third baseman Michael Barrett, but Expos general manager Omar Minaya hasn't been eager to make a swap. Royals general manager Allard Baird huddled with Hendry in the HoHoKam Park lunchroom Tuesday to talk about available players.
After Baird reneged on a deal at the winter meetings to trade third baseman Joe Randa to the Cubs for a couple of minor-leaguers, it seems there will be no further interest in that ex-change.
Mark Bellhorn made further progress toward being the Cubs' Opening Day third baseman, homering for the second consecutive day against the Royals.
NOTE: The Cubs reduced their spring-training roster to 47 players by reassigning nine minor-leaguers. Op-tioned to Class AAA Iowa were outfielders Nic Jack-son and Jackson Melian, infielder Nate Frese and pitcher Todd Wellemeyer
http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cside12.html