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 ...

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.

This year's Winter Leagues saw an increase in the number of players from the organization, but an overall decrease in participation. While 33 players that were affiliated with the Cubs' system for all or part of the off-season were part of winter baseball, 19 ended up playing less than ten games with their temporary clubs. Movement played a prominent role as fans said goodbye to Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Andrew Cashner, Robert Coello, Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Zambrano while saying hello to Alfredo Amezaga, Juan Apodaca, Anthony Rizzo, Dave Sappelt and Casey Weathers.

Some prospects, such as Junior Lake, Scott Maine, Marcos Mateo, Rebel Ridling, and Chris Rusin were effective in limited appearances. Others, such as Marco Carrillo, Bryan LaHair, Oswaldo Martinez, Blake Parker, Ryan Searle, and Kyle Smit performed well over the course of the season.

The Cubs have more roster decisions to make in the near future. According to multiple reports, the contract Gerardo Concepcion agreed to is a Major League deal. Concepcion would have to be added to the 40-man roster once the deal is official. The Cubs will have to open a spot to add the southpaw to the big league roster.

The next seven to ten days should also see Yoenis Cespedes sign with a team. The Cubs are considered one of the front-runners to sign Cespedes as well as Jorge Soler, once Soler establishes residency in the Dominican Republic and MLB makes him eligible to begin negotiating with teams.

Here is the update on 'big game' Sunday ...

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 ...

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.

Can you sense the sarcasm? Good, because I am laying it on pretty thick.

And as I am typing this, word breaks across the wire that the Cubs landed themselves a 19-year-old Cuban prodigy. I am pretty sure that I had something to with that by typing the opening paragraph at the precise time I did. You are welcome.

And I digress, it has been rather quiet so new prospect lists are a good way to create conversation and discussion and debate. Who is the Cubs best prospect? I have no idea. That is as honest as I can be.

So, let's shake it up with some ramblings on a Friday. And I sure hope this can create some good banter to get the Super weekend started.

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.

The Cubs' minor league system is coming off a good and bad season. Like the big league team, several of the top prospects down on the farm dealt with injuries ... and those injuries might have kept players like Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt and Rob Whitenack from getting a call to the Show.

The Cubs' system has a much different look than a year ago. The commitment made to the draft added quality players to what was already considered a deep system. The big knock on the organization is the lack of impact talent, both on the mound and in the field.

For the second year in a row, Brett Jackson tops the CCO's list of the top prospects in the Cubs' system with Anthony Rizzo, Trey McNutt, Matt Szczur and Josh Vitters rounding out the top five.

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 top 10 prospects in the Cubs' system shifted just slightly with the addition of Anthony Rizzo. Brett Jackson is still tops in the system with Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo rounding out the top three.

Could the Theo Epstein compensation issue be coming to an end soon? According to a report from the Boston Globe, an outcome should occur soon. The Cubs and Red Sox have submitted names to Bud Selig and the Commissioner will soon make a ruling. According to the Globe, "the two sides had agreed that a significant player would change hands. That was the agreement in allowing Epstein to escape the year remaining on his contract and become the president of baseball operations for the Cubs."

Theo Epstein and Ben Cherington did not discuss the topic during a charity event Monday night at Fenway Park.

And, could Geovany Soto be on the Rays' radar?

Here's the update ...

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.

For a recap of this week's contests, along with news from the Australian Baseball League, check out this week's Down on the Farm Report.