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There are only 11 days before pitchers and catchers officially report to Fitch Park and the Cubs' new regime is not finished tweaking the roster.

After avoiding arbitration in January by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract for 2012, the Cubs designated Blake DeWitt for assignment Monday to make room on the 40-man roster for Adrian Cardenas. The offensive oriented utility man was a sandwich pick of the Phillies in 2006 and one of the top prospects in Oakland's organization after Billy Beane acquired him in the Joe Blanton deal in 2008. Cardenas has two minor league options left and is expected to compete for a spot on the Cubs' 25-man roster this spring.

The Cubs have not announced the signing of 19-year old lefty Gerardo Concepcion. Concepcion and the Cubs reportedly came to terms on a contract last week that could end up being worth as much as $8 million. If the reports are accurate and Concepcion agreed to a Major League deal, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Concepcion.

Here is the update ...

The Cubs claimed utility man Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland A's on Monday. To make room for Cardenas on the 40-man roster, Blake DeWitt was designated for assignment.

Adrian Cardenas played in 127 games at the Triple-A level for Oakland last season and posted a .314/.374/.418/.791 line with 28 doubles, four triples and five home runs.

The Cubs crossed another task from their off-season to-do list Friday when they agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Matt Garza. The Cubs and Garza avoided arbitration just before his scheduled hearing in St. Petersburg. Garza had filed a $12.5 million salary arbitration number and the Cubs offered $7.95 million.

The two sides met just below the midway point and Garza inked a $9.5 million deal for the upcoming season that includes a $150,000 incentive package based on innings pitched. Garza receives $50,000 for reaching the 210-inning plateau and another $100,000 if he totals 220 innings in 2012.

With Garza under contract, the Cubs have signed all of their arbitration eligible players.

Lost in the news when the signing of Gerardo Concepcion was announced Thursday night was the Cubs inked lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league deal. The Cubs have not announced the contract and whether or not the deal includes a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.

The Cubs did invite another pitcher to big league camp. According to Bruce Levine, Esmailin Caridad will be in camp on a non-roster invite. With the addition of Caridad, the Cubs NRI list currently has 22 players on it.

Here's the update ...

According to a report from Matt Garza's agent, the Cubs and Matt Garza avoided arbitration on Friday morning by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $9.5 million. The contract also includes performance bonuses but those terms have not been released.

Garza's arbitration hearing was scheduled for Friday.

Updated 12:33pm CST - According to the Associated Press, Matt Garza can earn additional $150,000 in performance bonuses based on innings: $50,000 for 210 and $100,000 for 220.

According to multiple reports, the Cubs have signed free-agent Cuban lefty Geraldo Concepcion. The 19-year reportedly inked a $7 million contract with the Cubs according to Enrique Rojas. The length of the contract has not been announced.

Updated 7:15pm CST with scouting report on Gerardo Concepcion.

Updated 7:45pm CST with more information on the signing ... according to the Tribune, Gerardo Concepcion will receive an invite to Spring Training. According to Enrique Rojas, Concepcion's deal is filled with incentives that could up the money to $8 million.

Updated 8:29pm CST - According to the Tribune, Concepcion's deal is a Major League contract. If the report is correct, the Cubs will have to make a corresponding roster move to add Concepcion to the 40-man roster.

Matt Garza is the only arbitration eligible player that remains unsigned for the upcoming season. Garza filed a $12.5 million figure and the Cubs countered with a $7.95 million salary for 2012 ... and the sides appear to have two days to work out a deal to avoid an arbitration hearing.

According to a report from Phil Rogers, Matt Garza's hearing is set for Friday. The Cubs are hopeful a deal can be reached before going in front of an independent arbiter. The Cubs and Garza can still find a middle ground but if the two sides go to arbitration Garza will make either $12.5 million or $7.95 million for the upcoming season.

Matt Garza earned $5.95 million last season.

Matt Garza's house in Fresno County was broken into recently and one of the items that were stolen was Garza's 2008 American League Championship ring. The burglary happened between the afternoon of January 26 and late Tuesday morning.

Here's the update that includes the Cubs possible interest in signing Todd Coffey ...

The Cubs released the full list of non-roster invitees to camp Monday afternoon. Dale Sveum will have a total of 61 players (40-man big league roster and 21 non-roster invitees) in big league camp when it begins in 19 days.

Pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park on February 18, position players report on February 23 with the first full squad workout on February 24.

Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt, Jae-Hoon Ha, Chris Rusin and Dae-Eun Rhee are among the top prospects in the organization that received invites to camp and the Cubs officially announced the signings of Matt Tolbert and Trever Miller.

What was expected to be another busy week for the Chicago Cubs turned out to be rather quiet. Many think the Cubs are focused on the three Cuban players that they've been linked to for a majority of the off-season.

Another one of their reported targets established residency in the Dominican Republic this past week and a day later was able to start negotiating with teams. Yoenis Cespedes cannot sign yet but it has been reported the Cubs are believed to have an offer on the table for the 26-year old outfielder.

Gerardo Concepcion established residency in Mexico and according to his agent the 18-year old southpaw could sign with an organization as early as this weekend. As for Jorge Soler, the 19-year old outfielder has not established residency in the Dominican Republic.

The Cubs officially added Kerry Wood to their 40-man roster and outrighted Manny Corpas to Triple-A Iowa. Corpas will still compete for a spot in Dale Sveum's bullpen as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.

The Cubs were expected to announce their list of non-roster invitees to Spring Training last week. The team announced the signing of Bobby Scales (January 20) but did not release the list of players that will be competing for a spot on the big league team this spring. According to Bruce Levine (Talkin' Baseball, ESPN 1000), the Cubs are expected to announce a 15-player NRI list in the coming week.

Here is the update on the last Sunday in January with just 20 days before pitchers and catchers officially report to Spring Training ...

Bud Selig addressed the Theo Epstein compensation issue Friday evening during White Sox Fest and said there is not timetable set for when he will make his decision.

The two teams reportedly turned to the commissioner to settle the issue at some point last month at the request of Boston's President and CEO Larry Lucchino.

Selig told reporters, "I'd like to get it done as expeditiously as possible. The clubs tried to settle it themselves. I have a lot of patience because everything controversial generally winds up on my desk. In this case, I did give the clubs more latitude and hoped they could come to some conclusion. But they didn't and it's my case."

The Cubs and Red Sox have submitted written proposals according to the Tribune and the proposals are thought to include names of players.

According to multiple reports, the Cubs outrighted Manny Corpas off the 40-man roster Thursday to make room for Kerry Wood.

Manny Corpas remains under contract with the Cubs after signing a split contract in December. Corpas will be a non-roster invitee to big league camp and compete for a spot in the Cubs' bullpen.

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