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.

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 ...

Baseball America's 2012 Prospect Handbook arrived with the Angels' Mike Trout on the cover. For the second straight year, the Cubs made changes to the system after Baseball America went to the presses with their prospect book.

Baseball America ranked the Cubs' system 14th in baseball prior to the additions of Anthony Rizzo, Ronald Torreyes, Dave Sappelt and Zach Cates. The four prospects Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer added in the Sean Marshall and Andrew Cashner trades all ranked among the top prospects in the Reds and Padres system with Anthony Rizzo topping the Padres' organization rankings prior to the trade.

Baseball America is scheduled to update their organizational rankings in February.

Brett Jackson is the top prospect in the Cubs' system even with the addition of Anthony Rizzo. The former top prospect in the Padres' system slots in behind Jackson in a majority of the rankings after he was acquired from San Diego.

According to Baseball America, the Cubs' system is more notable for solid depth than top-tier talent. But one good season down on the farm, another solid draft and a few international signings could make a difference for what is currently ranked as a middle-of-the-road organization.

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.

(And Kudos to the person who used that in a comment. I got a good chuckle.)

Nonetheless, news could start breaking any minute so let's get moving.

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.

A day after the news surfaced that Cespedes had established residency in the Dominican Republic, MLB teams were told on Wednesday they can start negotiating with Cespedes and his agent Adam Katz.

While teams can negotiate a deal with the outfielder, Yoenis Cespedes cannot sign a contract. Cespedes must obtain an unblocking license from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) before he can sign. The license is required because he is a Cuban national who has established residency in another country.

Three of the top prospects in the Cubs' system made MLB.com's list of the best minor league players in the game. Brett Jackson (33) and Anthony Rizzo (37) were ranked in the top 50 and Javier Baez was ranked as the 62nd best prospect in the game.

Here is the update ...

The Cubs are expected to announce the non-roster invitees to Spring Training this week. The Cubs have signed several minor league free agents but have not officially announced a majority of those contracts that include non-roster invitations to big league camp. Plus, the Cubs have not cleared a roster space for Kerry Wood after announcing his new contract 10 days ago. The Cubs 40-man roster currently has 40 players on it with one contract pending.

The Cubs are expected to make a big run at both Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler ... and it appears the bidding between the Cubs and Marlins for Cespedes could begin soon.

Reports from the Dominican Republic early Tuesday indicated that Cespedes would not be playing again in the Dominican this season. The report suggested the team (The Aguilas) was not happy with his performance (.143/.167/.257, 5-for-35 with 10 strikeouts, a hit by pitch, one home run and no walks) but it appears that Cespedes was asked not to play any longer by MLB teams that are interested in signing him.

Yoenis Cespedes has established residency in the Dominican Republic, the first step in becoming eligible to be signed ... and he may have already been granted free agency by the MLB front office.

Reminder alert ... MLB.com is unveiling their list of the top 50 prospects in the game on the MLB Network (9:00pm CST) Wednesday night. The top 100 prospects in the game will be available on MLB.com soon after the telecast.

Here is the update ... including more on Yoenis Cespedes.

Not only do the Cubs stand little means of replacing their production with players such as Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart, they lack really any power production outside of ... wait for it ... Alfonso Soriano.

In Australia, the Brisbane Bandits made a desperate last minute push for the playoffs with Ryan Searle leading the way.

To find out how your favorites fared, look inside this week's Down on the Farm Report.

The Cubs continued to sign free agents to minor league contracts. News surfaced Friday that the Cubs had signed utility outfielder Matt Tolbert. Bruce Levine confirmed the signing of Tolbert to a minor league contract that includes an invite to big league camp. Tolbert joined Alfredo Amezaga, Joe Mather, Edgar Gonzalez, Jason Jaramillo and Rodrigo Lopez on the list of players that has signed a minor league contract with the Cubs that includes a NRI to Spring Training. The Cubs are expected to announce the full list of non-roster invitees to big league camp this week ... and both Brett Jackson and Trey McNutt should be among the prospects in the system that receive NRIs.

The Cubs have not announced the corresponding move in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Kerry Wood. The Cubs' big league roster currently stands at 40 players, with one contract pending.

The Cubs picked up a draft pick when Carlos Pena signed with the Rays. Matt Garza discussed his future, trade rumors and the Cubs on XM Radio and Jason McLeod spent a little time on ESPN 1000.

Here is the update ...

The Cubs' system had its ups and downs a year ago mainly due to injuries to several of the Cubs' top prospects, especially on the pitching side.

Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt and Chris Carpenter topped the CCO's list of the top prospects in the Cubs system last February ... let's see how the top names down on the farm performed in 2011.

The Cubs have one arbitration eligible player that is unsigned for next season ... and it is the best starter on Dale Sveum's staff, Matt Garza. As it turns out, the arbitration figure Garza filed Tuesday was higher than the $10.255 million that was reported. Garza actually submitted a $12.5 million figure and the Cubs filed a $7.95 million number. Garza earned $5.95 million in his first season with the Cubs.

Over the last seven days there have been three minor league contracts that have been leaked to the mainstream media. The Cubs signed Alfredo Amezaga, Jason Jaramillo and Rodrigo Lopez to one-year minor league contracts that include non-roster invitations to big league camp. Lopez will receive $900,000 if he makes the team and will be paid $235,000 if he pitches in the minors during the upcoming season. Justin Berg also received a non-roster invite to Spring Training but the right-hander is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will likely not be ready to pitch in a month.

The Cubs are expected to announce the complete list of non-roster invites to big league camp next week. And speaking of Spring Training, the Cubs released their broadcast schedule for the upcoming Cactus League.

While opening a discussion for all the different ways that "Baseball Is Better", here's the update ...

Matt Garza was paid $5.95 million last year.

Minor League Ball released their list soon after the Anthony Rizzo-Andrew Cashner trade was announced and also includes what the Cubs received from the Reds in the Sean Marshall deal.

John Sickels pointed out that even before the Marshall and Cashner trades, the Cubs' system had some good things happening and he thought the system as a whole was underrated. Sickels said the weakness in the system is the lack of impact players (position players and starting pitching) close to the big league level ... same as Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus.

Brett Jackson topped Minor League Ball's list with Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Matt Szczur and Trey McNutt rounding out the top five.

With Volstad's salary figure for 2012 settled, the Cubs can complete the trade for Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs will end up paying $15.345 million of Zambrano's $18 million salary for the upcoming season.

Speaking of compensation ... according to a report from the Sun-Times, the Cubs and Red Sox have asked Bud Selig to set compensation for Theo Epstein. The Red Sox have asked for the nearly three-month stalemate to be resolved by the commissioner. The request for the compensation to be settled was apparently made last month by the Red Sox's President and CEO Larry Lacchino.

The Cubs have not announced the corresponding roster move in order to officially add Kerry Wood to the 40-man roster. The Cubs and Wood agreed to a one-year contract for $3 million that includes a club option for 2013 worth $3 million last week ... and announced the deal at the convention.

Pitchers and Catchers officially report to Fitch Park in one month ... February 18.

Here's the update ...

Jeff Baker, Blake DeWitt, Geovany Soto, Ian Stewart, Chris Volstad and Randy Wells all agreed to one year deals. The Cubs did not agree to a contract with Matt Garza for 2012 ... but did exchange arbitration numbers. Garza filed a $10.255 arbitration number and the Cubs countered with $7.95 million.

The report noted that "while the Cubs have been more active than others, it does not mean he will sign with them."

Meanwhile, Ryan Searle gave his native Australia a rare treat as he and his Brisbane teammates fight for their playoff lives.

For more details, check out this week's Down on the Farm Report.

Oneri Fleita dropped a little news during the Down on the Farm session. Dae-Eun Rhee will start the season in the Smokies' rotation (Double-A) ... and Robert Whitenack is progressing well after last season's Tommy John surgery. Whitenack will begin camp on time and will be in the Daytona Cubs' starting rotation (High Class-A) when the season begins.

The Cubs will also introduce a new video system to their minor league teams that will help them be more prepared to compete and improve.

In the Father-Son Connection, it was easy to see how Shawon Dunston, Jr., Michael Brenly and Daniel Lockhart became so grounded at a young age. Not only did their fathers play the game, but along with their mothers they installed the right values in their sons ... and in the Shawon Dunston's case, he has not let up.

First up on the final day of the convention was Down on the Farm ...

The Ron Santo tribute was one again heartfelt but rightly focused more on his playing career. Ron Santo deserved to be elected to Hall of Fame long before last December ... the numbers he put up on the field back up that statement.

The Cubs' new regime is going to rely on scouting and player development to build an organization with sustained success. The Jason McLeod session was one of the more interesting hours of the first two days of the convention.

As for the business side, there are changes happening at Wrigley Field that include the addition of a 70-foot LED board beyond the basket in the right field bleachers.

The Coaches' Den focused on accountability at the big league level and playing the game the right way. From the sound of Dale Sveum and his staff, the lollygagging that has been accepted in recent years will no longer be tolerated.

The Cubs also paid tribute to Ron Santo and his recent election into the Hall of Fame ... plus the Cubs unveiled a significant change to Wrigley Field that will result in a 70-foot LED board above the wall in the right field bleachers.

Due to the amount of information, the recap of day two of the convention will be broken into three reports.

Theo Epstein began the second day of the convention ...

Alfonso Soriano addressed the trade rumors Friday at the convention and said he would only accept a trade that works out well for him and his family. Soriano likes playing for the Cubs and is comfortable with the team.

The 27th Annual Cubs Convention was very different from recent years and a majority of that had to do with all of the changes at the top of the organization. Gone is the previous regime and along with it, the question dodging that has been common place at the convention.

It was refreshing to hear Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Dale Sveum's concise, seemingly unrehearsed answers to questions about their plans and the organization.

The Cubs also saved a little announcement for primetime. After Theo Epstein downplayed announcing a signing during the convention just for a PR move earlier in the day, Pat Hughes announced the Cubs had re-signed Kerry Wood to a one-year contract during Opening Ceremonies.

Day one of the 2012 Cubs Convention is in the books ...

The signing was announced during Opening Ceremonies of the 27th Annual Cubs Convention. As the player introductions were coming to an end, the news of Kerry Wood re-signing with the Cubs began surfacing.

Pat Hughes made the announcement and the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Chicago exploded with cheers of "Kerry! Kerry! Kerry!"

Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and the Cubs new regime will get their first real taste of the fan base over the next three days ... as will the new players the Cubs have acquired and several of the organizations top prospects. The Cubs Convention is the original 'fan fest'. Every other organization has just borrowed ideas from John McDonough's original concept. And for those that have never attended a Cubs Convention, words cannot truly describe the event.

The front office took care of that problem Monday by signing Paul Maholm to a one-year deal worth a maximum of $4.8 million -- if he meets all his incentives -- with an option for 2013.

Maholm adds much needed depth to the rotation, and another lefty to the mix. The move means that the Cubs will likely have another option to start should the injury bug strike as it did in 2011.

But how will Maholm fare in the move to Wrigley Field?

The Cubs also announced a move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Paul Maholm Jeff Bianchi was claimed off waivers by the Brewers ... the Cubs claimed him off waivers in December from the Kansas City Royals.

Here's the update including more on Matt Garza, Kerry Wood and quotes from Theo Epstein ...

The Cubs are also reportedly close to re-signing Kerry Wood to a one-year contract that could include a club option for 2013.

The Cubs announced the signing of Paul Maholm on Tuesday after he broke the news on his Twitter account Monday night. The Cubs inked Maholm to a one-year deal worth $4.25 million that includes a club option for 2013 worth $6.5 million with a $500,000 buyout. Maholm's contract also includes a $550,000 incentive package for each season based on innings pitched. Maholm receives an additional $50,000 for reaching 150 innings and an additional $100,000 for every ten innings after 150 (160 IP, 170 IP, 180 IP, 190 IP and 200 IP).

While Maholm is signed, the paperwork has not been completed and the southpaw has not been added to the team's 40-man roster ... yet. The Cubs are expected to designate a player for assignment in order to make room on the roster for Paul Maholm.

After a report suggested that Kerry Wood's days in a Cubs' uniform are all but over, Jed Hoyer acknowledged Wood's importance to the organization and said the two sides are still negotiating a contract for next season. Wood is looking for a market value contract for a reliever, reportedly in the $4 million range. Hoyer pointed out that they have offered Wood a substantial raise from the $1.5 million he was paid last year.

Here's the update including more on Kerry Wood and Jed Hoyer on XM Radio ...

Paul Maholm broke the news on his twitter account late Monday night that he had signed with the Cubs. The team is expected to announce the signing on Tuesday. Terms of Maholm's contract have not been announced. The signing would require the Cubs to make a 40-man roster move, the Cubs big league roster currently stands at 40 players.

According to David Kaplan, the Cubs are also "down the road" in trade discussions with the Tigers that would send Matt Garza to Detroit for a package of prospects. The Cubs and Tigers have reportedly been discussing a deal for a couple of weeks that could net the Cubs a package of the Tigers' top prospects, including top pitching prospect, Jacob Turner.

The Cubs also have to make a decision on Kerry Wood's future with the team. Kerry Wood is reportedly looking for a one-year contract in the $4 million range and has received interest from the Phillies, Tigers and Reds. Wood said he would make a decision by this Friday where he will pitch this upcoming season.

Here's the update ...

Paul Maholm announced on his Twitter account that he has signed with the Cubs and he's looking forward to attending the Cubs Convention this weekend.

Bruce Levine and Ken Rosenthal indicated the Cubs were close to a deal with Paul Maholm early Monday.

The Cubs' new front office will be in attendance and the Saturday morning session with Theo Epstein figures to have the biggest crowd of the weekend. Cubs past and present, the entire front office including Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod will be in attendance. The Ricketts family will hold their question and answer session on Saturday afternoon ... this is the third convention for the Ricketts family since they took over ownership of the team.

The Cubs will also honor Ron Santo's election into the Hall of Fame. Members of the Santo family will be on hand as they celebrate Santo's long, overdue enshrinement into Cooperstown.

The "Unofficial Opening Day" is just around the corner ...

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer acquired Chris Volstad for Carlos Zambrano and landed Anthony Rizzo and Zach Cates for Andrew Cashner and Kyung-Min Na ... to say the Cubs' new regime has been busy would be an understatement.

Since Epstein and Hoyer took over, the Cubs have added David DeJesus, selected Lendy Castillo in the Rule 5 draft ... and for now, lost Ryan Flaherty and Marwin Gonzalez in the Rule 5 Draft. Jeff Bianchi was claimed off waivers and Travis Wood, Dave Sappelt and Ronald Torreyes were acquired for Sean Marshall. The Cubs also dealt Tyler Colvin and D.J. LeMahieu for Ian Stewart and Casey Weathers and re-signed Reed Johnson ... plus they added Manny Corpas and Andy Sonnanstine on non-guaranteed split contracts.

And that is not counting hiring a new manager and basically a whole new coaching staff plus adding pieces to what was smallest front office in the game.

The Cubs' front office is continuing to explore options to make the team better for the upcoming season ... and beyond.

Between the Caravan, Convention and what Team Epstein might have in the works, there figures to be plenty of news over the next eight days.

Here's the update ...

The Cubs acquired first base prospect Anthony Rizzo and a very intriguing right-handed pitching prospect, Zach Cates, from the San Diego Padres for Andrew Cashner and outfield prospect Kyung-Min Na.

Anthony Rizzo became available when Josh Byrnes acquired Yonder Alonso in the Mat Latos deal and it was assumed when that trade was announced that the Cubs would be players for Rizzo due to the fact Epstein, Hoyer and Jason McLeod drafted him.

The Cubs could have acquired their first baseman of the future if he is able to make adjustments at the Triple-A level in the upcoming season. Following the trade, Jed Hoyer announced that Rizzo would begin the year at the Triple-A level and Bryan LaHair would be the Cubs starting first baseman ... but obviously that all could change depending how the roster shakes out between now and Opening Day and how Rizzo performs this spring.

The Cubs want to give Bryan LaHair a shot according to Epstein's comments earlier in the week but during an interview on MLB Network Radio, LaHair pointed out he can also play left field.

Jed Hoyer also addressed the Cubs lack of starting pitching depth on Friday and said they are still looking to add more pitchers.

Prior to the Rizzo-Cashner trade being announced, rumors started heating up about possible destinations for Alfonso Soriano. Could Soriano be the next player traded by Epstein and Hoyer?

Here's the update ...

Anthony Rizzo was the top prospect in the Padres' system after Jed Hoyer acquired him a year ago from Theo Epstein and the Red Sox in the deal for Adrian Gonzalez.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have traded two recent first round picks since they took over baseball operations of the Chicago Cubs ... Tyler Colvin (2006) and Andrew Cashner (2008).

The seemingly daily drama that has surrounded Carlos Zambrano since May of 2007 overshadowed how good Zambrano actually was early on and for a majority of his Cubs' career.

Epstein addressed why they decided to trade Zambrano instead of give him another chance in a conference call with the media. Epstein said the trade talks with the Marlins heated up earlier in the week. The Cubs were reportedly trying to move him for a majority of the off-season. The opportunity came together with Miami and the two sides worked out the details. After talking to players and staff, Epstein realized that Zambrano could never again regain the trust of his teammates. Epstein admitted he was skeptical that Zambrano would be able to earn his way back on the team.

As for Zambrano's contract, Epstein said, "The calculus for us was would we rather spend that $18 million on one year of Carlos and try to make it work with him here. Best case scenario is that if it did work, he'd be leaving as a free agent at the end of the year. Or, if we had to spend that money anyways as a sunk cost, would we rather spend it on a 25-year old who we can put in our rotation and control for three seasons? That made a lot more sense."

Will the Cubs' new regime take the same approach with Alfonso Soriano?

Here's the update ...

Theo Epstein will host his own session in the Grand Ballroom on Saturday morning and will be followed by 'Meet Cubs Baseball Management' featuring Jed Hoyer, Randy Bush and Dale Sveum.

The Cubs new coaching staff will be on hand as well as several of the organization's top prospects.

Here is a partial list of attendees as well as a portion of the schedule. The full schedule should be released over the weekend ... but here is what is known at this point. The CCO will update when more information becomes available.

The Cubs also announced they settled the grievance with Zambrano from last year's suspension. Zambrano will receive $2.4 million for 24 of the 30 days he was on the disqualified list.

The Cubs' President of Baseball Operations was asked about Carlos Zambrano and how he fit would fit in with the team moving forward.

Theo Epstein said, "The Carlos Zambrano of 2011 and years previous can't fit into the culture that we have here. Change needs to happen and change will happen. Either he'll change and buy in and fit into this culture - and I understand there are a lot of skeptics about that, and I understand that, and frankly, I'm skeptical as well. He needs to prove to us that he can change and be part of this culture or we'll change the personnel and move forward with people who are proud to be Cubs and treat their teammates with respect, treat the fans with respect and can be part of a winning culture in the Cubs' clubhouse."

Less than two hours after Epstein made those comments about Zambrano, rumblings out of Venezuela indicated that Carlos Zambrano was on the verge of being traded to the Miami Marlins ... and less than four hours later, the trade was confirmed by several outlets.

The deal is not official but is expected to be announced as soon as Thursday. The Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano and at least $15 million to the Marlins for right-handed pitcher Chris Volstad.

News also surfaced that the Cubs signed first baseman/outfielder Joe Mather and infielder Edgar Gonzalez to minor league contracts ... and the Cubs announced pitchers and catchers will report to Fitch Park on February 18. Position players are to report by February 23 with the first full squad workout on February 24.

Here's the update ...

It appears the Carlos Zambrano era with the Chicago Cubs will officially come to an end in the next 24 hours.

Carlos Zambrano would have to waive his no-trade clause in order for the Cubs to trade him to Miami.

Updated 5:49pm CST: According to a report from Enrique Rojas, the Cubs and Marlins are discussing a Zambrano for Chris Volstad swap. According to reports out of Miami, Matt Dominguez could be in the deal. David Kaplan is reporting the trade could be finalized in 24-48 hours.

Matt Garza and Prince Fielder continue to be main topics of conversation surrounding the Chicago Cubs.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are reportedly listening to offers for Matt Garza but have yet to find a match ... and they still have not ruled out signing Garza to a long-term extension. As for Prince Fielder, for every report that states the Cubs are not interested in signing Fielder, there is one that says they are still in the mix.

Here is the update ... including more from the rumor mill.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer appear to be working on several deals that could have a big impact on the roster they begin Spring Training with ... much less the regular season. Rumors have suggested Epstein and Hoyer are shopping Matt Garza, Marlon Byrd, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Marmol and Geovany Soto. Plus, the Cubs are still linked to Prince Fielder on a daily basis.

The Cubs still have to work out contracts for their six arbitration eligible players for next season and announce their non-roster invites to Spring Training. The Cubs' annual organization meetings, which typically take place in early November, are expected to take place in Mesa a week prior to the start of Spring Training. The Cubs have not announced their reporting dates for pitchers and catchers and position players but under the previous regime pitchers and catchers reported around February 13 with position players five or so days later.

Here are a few important numbers for the Chicago Cubs: 10, 41, 61 and 93 ... as in 10 days until the 27th Annual Cubs Convention, 41 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, 61 days until the Cubs' Cactus League opener against the Athletics and 93 days until Opening Day at Wrigley against the Washington Nationals.

Here's the update ...

With teams fighting to keep playing in the post-season, several players raised their level of performance. Pitchers Marco Carrillo and Oswaldo Martinez did their best to keep their team in the hunt, as did Kyle Smit. Bryan LaHair kept thundering away, and another debut was made by pitcher Ryan Searle.

To see how they all made out, take a look inside this week's Down on the Farm Report.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer made a few minor moves over the last full week of Twenty-Eleven and if the rumor mill is any indication, the first couple of weeks of Twenty-Twelve could be anything but boring leading up to the convention.

As a New Year begins, what is on the horizon for the team on the North Side of Chicago?

Will Matt Garza stay or go? Are the Cubs still interested in signing Prince Fielder? What about Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler? Could Marlon Byrd spend the final season of his three-year contract with another team?

Here is the first update of what figures to be an interesting year for the Chicago Cubs ...

According to a report from Baseball America, the Cubs signed two Cuban prospects ... but not the ones that have been in the headlines of late.

The Cubs inked 18-year old (turns 19 on January 9) outfielder Yasiel Balaguert and 20-year old right-hander Carlos Martinez. Both players are represented by Jamie Torres, the same representative Rubi Silva and Yaniel Cabeza had when they signed with the Cubs last December.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer also added to their front office staff. The Cubs hired Kyle Evans, a former Major League scout for the Red Sox, to run their video and advance scouting department according to a report from Jon Paul Morosi.

On the rumor front, the Matt Garza talk continued to make headlines. As the CCO reported earlier in the week, the Tigers have shown interest in Matt Garza according to a report from Jon Paul Morosi. The Cubs are looking for a big return in exchange for Garza and reportedly asked the Tigers for a package of prospects that included Jacob Turner and Nick Castellanos. According to Jim Bowden, Dave Dombrowski thought that price was a little too high to pay for Matt Garza.

With the 27th Annual Cubs Convention less than two weeks away, here's the update ...

I have my beanbag chair, a healthy supply of beer, and a full bag of nacho cheese Doritos so I am ready to rock, ramble and roll.

So without any more nonsense, let's just get down to the brass tax and ramble.

As Epstein pointed out last week, "Matt Garza is the type of pitcher you want to build around. He's a proven top-of-the-rotation guy, a proven performer in the playoffs. It's hard to find top-of-the-rotation guys, so if you have them, and there's a way to keep them around, that's always compelling for the club. With that said, we've been honest. We are in a mode where we have to listen on everybody. And if there's a way to improve the long-term outlook for this club in a significant manner, we can't look past the opportunity. In the case of Matt Garza, perhaps nothing happens, or perhaps we can turn him into a long-term asset by extending him on a deal that makes sense for everybody. We'll listen, because there's always an active trade market for top-of-the-rotation guys with multiple years of control."

So if a team would like Garza on their roster, it is going to cost them.

Rumors suggested Wednesday that the discussions for Matt Garza have increased, but as Seth Everett said on MLB Network Radio/XM Radio, the Cubs are asking for the moon in return for Matt Garza.

Here's the update ...

Peter Gammons riled up Scott Boras late Tuesday night. Gammons reported that several general managers think Scott Boras could do a three-year deal for Prince Fielder worth $26 million per season. Gammons said Fielder would end up topping Albert Pujols' AAV and would in turn be a free agent again at 30 years old.

Bruce Levine spoke with Scott Boras not long after Gammons' report and Boras responded, "Not only is that inaccurate and delusional, but it seems that people have gotten into their New Year's Eve stash just a little bit early this year. It appears some baseball people are just bored. That's when you hear ideas like that floated."

There are still upwards of six teams interested in Prince Fielder with the Cubs being one of them according to Levine's report.

Here's the update ...

The Cubs announced a pair of minor signings on Monday and more figure to be on the horizon.

The Cubs agreed to terms on a non-guaranteed split contract with right-hander Andy Sonnanstine. The former Ray figures to compete for a spot in the Cubs' rotation and pen this spring and could end up being a swingman if he makes the team out of camp.

Not only did the Cubs announce the signing of Andy Sonnanstine but they also made the signing of Manny Corpas official. The Manny Corpas deal came as no surprise, the signing leaked last week. The only difference is when the news leaked the deal was thought to be a guaranteed Major League contract. Corpas ended up signing a non-guaranteed split contract and will compete for a spot in the Cubs' pen during Spring Training.

Reed Johnson has reportedly agreed in principal on a one-year deal with the Cubs. The Cubs have not announced Johnson has re-signed and by not making the deal official it gives the team a little roster flexibility ... and the same might be happening with Kerry Wood as the new regime tries to figure out their next move.

Here's the update ...

Sonnanstine, the 28-year old right hander, posted a 0-2 record in 15 games, four starts, for the Rays last season with a 5.55 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.

The Cubs also announced the signing of Manny Corpas on Monday. Terms of the deal were not released but it is also believed to be a non-guaranteed, split contract for 2012.

As the end of the year approaches, so does the end of the regular season in the winter leagues. The Dominican league concluded last Wednesday, with a special playoff on Thursday. Mexico and Venezuela will finish on Friday, while Puerto Rico won't be over until January 4.

This past week, Bryan LaHair possibly strengthened his grip on the parent club's first base position, while Austin Bibens-Dirkx remained on his march toward a new contract. Marcos Mateo, Oswaldo Martinez, and Kyle Smit continued to be impressive out of the bullpen, while Arismendy Alcantara and Robinson Lopez saw their first action of the winter.

All this, and more inside this week's Down on the Farm Report.

For those looking for their baseball fix after opening what the jolly old elf brought down your chimney, here is another look inside the Cubstory book.

Did you ever wonder when the Cubs played their first game? Or who holds the franchise record for the longest hitting streak? Do you know who the primary third baseman was in the famed Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance infield? Or which player hit the first grand slam in the franchise's history? How about the given names of Gabby Harnett and Hack Wilson?

Here are blasts from the Cubs past on Christmas day ...

As Bruce Miles reported, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer inherited a mess when they took over a couple of months ago and have few assets they can use to help build back a team that is coming off two fifth-place finishes.

The Sean Marshall trade is the first of what figures to be several moves over the coming weeks to turn short-term assets into long-term assets.

The Cubs are still looking to add more starting pitching depth at both the big league and minor league levels. Epstein said they are not "extraordinarily close to anything, but there are some things that are percolating that may or may not come to fruition."

The Cubs have had "lots of conversations with lots of agents" in regards to adding starting pitching, relief pitching and position players ... as well as talking to other teams about possible trades.

Here's the update ...

With the addition of Travis Wood and Dave Sappelt and the subtraction of Sean Marshall, the Cubs' 40-man roster will stand at 39 players once the deals for Reed Johnson and Manny Corpas are made official.

The 29-year old right hander posted a 3-5 record with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 56 games, all in relief, two seasons ago (47 strikeouts, 22 walks, 66 hits in 62 1/3 innings). Corpas finished 27 games and picked up 10 saves in 2010 with the Rockies.

Manny Corpas did not pitch in the big leagues in 2011 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of 2010. According to Ken Rosenthal, Corpas' one-year contract is a Major League deal. With the addition of Corpas, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 38 players.

FanGraphs stated the Cubs' system was tough to rank because outside of the top two prospects the Cubs have about 20-25 players that could have been ranked in the top 15. FanGraphs, like most of the publications, thinks the Cubs system is "loaded with intriguing B-and C-level prospects that could either explode in 2012 or completely fall of the radar.

Here's how the Cubs' system stacks up according to FanGraphs ...

Dave Bialas moved from minor league field coordinator to manager of the Iowa Cubs. The I-Cubs will also have a new hitting coach. Dave Keller, who was on Mike Quade's staff last season will replace Von Joshua as Iowa's hitting coach.

Jeff Fassero received a promotion to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Fassero was pitching coach in Peoria last year.

The Cubs also shifted Bill Dancy for the third season in a row. After be named Southern League manager of the year for the Double-A Smokies in 2010, Dancy was the I-Cubs manager last season. Dancy will be the Cubs minor league infield coordinator in 2012 replacing Dave Bialas.

The Cubs created a new position ... short-season minor league hitting coordinator. Tom Beyers will handle the duties and focus on players in Boise, rookie ball in Mesa and both of the Dominican clubs.

The biggest name added to the Cubs' minor league staffs is Bill Buckner. While the Cubs have not officially announced hiring the former Cubs outfielder and first baseman, according to multiple reports Buckner will be the hitting coach for the Boise Hawks.

Here is a complete list of the Cubs' Minor League Coaches and Coordinators ...

The deal is not official and is still pending the four players involved passing physicals.

Reed Johnson played in 111 games last season for the Cubs and put together a .309/.348/.467/.816 line with 22 doubles and five home runs.

With the addition of Reed Johnson, the Cubs 40-man roster currently stands at 37 players.

Theo Epstein has hired two more front office personnel and another could be added soon. The hiring of Matt Dorey as national cross-checker of amateur talent was reported late Monday night. According to a report from WEEI, the Cubs have also hired Kyle Evans, a former pro scout for the Red Sox. The hiring of Evans does not violate the agreement made between the Sox and Cubs that Epstein would not be able to hire anyone else from Boston's front office for three years ... Evans had already left the Red Sox's organization.

The Cubs are also close to adding Craig Shipley, the former Red Sox VP of international scouting and player personnel. Shipley was one of the first hires Epstein made when he took over in Boston in 2002.

The Cubs also made a change at the minor league level. According to Cubs.com, Brandon Hyde is listed as the Cubs minor league field coordinator replacing Dave Bialas.

The front office additions have not been made official.

As for the compensation package for Theo Epstein that remains unresolved. According to reports from the Chicago media and the Boston media, that issue has been pushed to the backburner and the Cubs are not expected to give up any of their top prospects as compensation for Epstein... and will likely be lower-level prospects. According to ESPN Boston, it would come as a surprise if the Red Sox receive more than a run-of-the-mill prospect or two from the Cubs for Epstein. And the same is expected to be sent to San Diego for Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod.

On the Prince Fielder front, the reports varied once again from the Cubs having no interest to the Cubs remain the most logical destination for Fielder. But, could the Cubs be interested in a Padres' first baseman instead of Fielder? And one other than Anthony Rizzo?

Here's the update ...

The Reds are looking for bullpen help and Theo Epstein has shown interest in Travis Wood in the past.

Updated 11:52pm - According to Bruce Levine, the Cubs and Reds are close on completing the deal that would send Sean Marshall to Cincinnati for Travis Wood and two minor leaguers.

The speculation and rumors figure to increase over the next 24-48 hours in the wake of the Rangers posting the winning bid on Yu Darvish. Texas was one of the teams rumored to be interested in signing Prince Fielder as well as trading for Matt Garza. Not only did Scott Boras lose a big bargaining chip but the Cubs lost a possible trading partner for Garza ... if Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are really looking to move him.

Prior to the Darvish announcement, Ken Rosenthal reported the Blue Jays could increase their pursuit of Matt Garza if they lost out on Yu Darvish. The Cubs are "drawing heavy interest" in both Garza and Sean Marshall according to Rosenthal.

The Cubs made another addition to the front office according to a report from WEEI in Boston. Theo Epstein hired Matt Dorey to be a national cross-checker. Dorey has been an area scout for the Red Sox for the last four years after Jason McLeod hired him in 2007. The Boston media also reported that Theo Epstein cannot hire another member of the Red Sox organization for the next three years.

Here's the update ...

The Boston media is also reporting that the Cubs and Red Sox have agreed that Theo Epstein will not be allowed to hire anyone else from Boston's organization for three years.

Updated 8:19am, December 20 - According to a report from WEEI, the Cubs have also hired former Red Sox pro scout Kyle Evans, but that was not a violation of the agreement given that Evans already was leaving the Sox. And Epstein and the Cubs may also try to hire former Red Sox VP of international scouting and player personnel Craig Shipley, who has parted ways with the Sox after having been replaced last month as the Sox' director of international scouting. Shipley was one of the first front office hires by Epstein when he became Sox GM in 2002.

Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers have confirmed the reports.

Carlos Zambrano and his Caribes de Anzoategui teammates flirted with greatness on Wednesday, while reliever Kyle Smit was on top of his game in his debut for Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican League. Marco Carrillo and Austin Bibens-Dirkx continued to baffle hitters, while Bryan LaHair set out to silence some of his critics.

To see how this all played out, take a look inside this week's Down on the Farm Report.

The Cubs are rumored to have a lot of interest in Prince Fielder, despite what they are saying publicly. While Fielder would be the big splash some are looking for and hoping the Cubs will make, there has also been quite a bit of noise about the Cubs' interest in Paul Maholm and Coco Crisp.

Then came the little trade between the Reds and Padres on Saturday.

The Reds added a very good, young pitcher in Mat Latos for a package of Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez, Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger. Not only did the Reds increase Matt Garza's value that is if the Cubs decide to trade him instead of build around him, Cincinnati also provided the Cubs with another possible option to fill their hole at first base ... Anthony Rizzo. The Padres acquired Rizzo from the Red Sox in the deal for Adrian Gonzalez last winter.

Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod selected Anthony Rizzo in the sixth round of the 2007 draft ... and McLeod once said Rizzo has the best makeup of any player he's ever drafted.

Here is the update, including more on Prince Fielder and of course, the news, notes and rumors ... plus is Carlos Marmol on the block?

Until Prince Fielder signs his new mega-deal, the conflicting reports will continue to surface ... and there will be no way to avoid them. The bottom line is, the Cubs have a big hole at first base and there is a solution to their problem on the open market. The question is how much will it cost to sign him ... both in terms of money and length of contract.

Depending on the report, the Cubs are believed to be interested in signing Prince Fielder. Fielder fits the long-term vision of the Cubs' new regime. And while the Cubs do not figure to compete for a division title next season, according to Ken Rosenthal few in baseball doubt Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will turn the Cubs into a force in short order.

According to a report from Bruce Levine on Friday night, the Cubs are negotiating parameters of a contract with Paul Maholm and if the money is right, the Cubs could end up adding a much-needed starter to the mix.

Here is the update that includes more on Prince Fielder, an update on the compensation for Theo Epstein, Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and Dale Sveum's coaching staff ...

So, let's get to some rambling and towards the end, look for the re-emergence of my favorite little "WTF" game.

Here we go ...

According to multiple reports, the Cubs submitted a blind bid for Yu Darvish prior to Wednesday's deadline. Reportedly the bids for the posting fee on Darvish were sky-high and could end up north of $50 million. One executive told Jeff Passan that he believes the Cubs posted the highest bid.

The announcement of the winning bid for Yu Darvish could come as early as Thursday but has to be made by Tuesday, December 20.

The Cubs could be interested in acquiring another Japanese player. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are one of the teams that like infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima. The Yankees won the exclusive negotiating rights to Nakajima in the posting process on December 7 with a $2.5 million bid. Nakajima is not interested in being a bench player in New York. According to Rosenthal, the Yankees could work a sign and trade for the 29-year old infielder ... and the Cubs were mentioned as one of the teams that could be interested.

Here is the update that includes more info on Jason Varitek, Prince Fielder, Yu Darvish and Carlos Zambrano ...

That 2011 began with Ramirez hitting just two home runs over the first two months of the season didn't help. While his slash line of .288/.351/.396 wasn't terrible, it lacked the power component the Cubs seemed to desperately need over those first cold months.

No matter what Ramirez did over the remainder of the season -- only becoming one of the top third basemen at the plate by the trading deadline -- his time was done. His final .306/.361/.510 was like a mirage to Cubs fans.

As a result of his play in the final three years of the contract, years that were marred by injuries and a body that is breaking down, the entire Ramirez experiment was deemed a failure.

But it wasn't.

The Cubs' new regime has a lot of holes to fill on their big league roster ... as well as decisions on possible minor league free agents that will help fill out the rosters down on the farm.

The Cubs have yet to officially announce Dale Sveum's coaching staff. According to reports during the Winter Meetings, Sveum has filled all of the positions with the exception of first base coach. Dave McKay was mentioned as a possibility for the job last week and would join Jamie Quirk (bench coach), Rudy Jaramillo (hitting coach), Chris Bosio (pitching coach), Pat Listach (third base coach) and Lester Strode (bullpen coach) on Sveum's staff. Sveum discussed a coaching job with Craig Counsell prior to him deciding to play another season.

As the Yu Darvish bidding deadline approaches (4:00pm CT on Wednesday), here's the update ...

Instead of just a one-year contract, the Cubs could be talking contract extension with Matt Garza. For the second time in recent days, the Tribune reported Garza could be in line for a contract extension.

Not only did the Koyie Hill Era come to end on Monday but Aramis Ramirez's officially came to an end as well. Aramis Ramirezagreed to terms with the Brewers on a three-year deal reportedly worth $36 million that includes a mutual option for a fourth year. The Cubs receive a sandwich pick (between first and second round) in the 2012 first year player draft when Ramirez officially inks his deal with the Brewers.

With the signing of Ramirez, Brewers' general manager Doug Melvin said they are no longer in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes. The Cubs are seen as one of the favorites to sign Fielder, despite the Cubs public statement of not having enough room in their budget.

Here is the update ...

Koyie Hill was the lone non-tender and with the roster move, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 36 players.

The Cubs will receive a sandwich pick in the 2012 draft after offering salary arbitration to Aramis Ramirez.

On the field, Marco Carrillo continued his push for an invitation to the big league camp this spring, and Austin Bibens-Dirkx keeps making the case for the Cubs to re-up him for another season. Blake Parker, Oswaldo Martinez, and Marcos Mateo are also making an impression.

For more information, take a look inside this week's Down on the Farm Report.

Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Dale Sveum worked hard on deals into the early hours of Thursday morning according to the Tribune. Hoyer said, "A lot of this week was spent pushing things forward. You always see things get done a day or two or even a week after these meetings. We think that will be the case for us. We think we are in a good place and hopefully some of things will come to fruition soon."

After the Ian Stewart, Casey Weathers trade was announced Hoyer discussed the deal and shed some light on the front office's plan.

"This was something that was teed up for a couple of days. We've got some deals that we're working on. A number of agents, a number of teams we're talking to. I wouldn't characterize anything as close or imminent. But certainly I feel like we made a lot of progress this week and hopefully we can carry that into next week."

Monday is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players (three-six years of service time). The Cubs have a couple of non-tender candidates that could reduce their 40-man roster, which currently stands at 37 players ... also the players non-tendered from other teams figure to give Team Epstein a few more options.

Here is the update ... including more from the Prince Fielder rumor mill.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post talked to executives during the recently completed Winter Meetings and the feeling among those executives is that "Chicago is where Fielder will most likely end up."

Those same executives believe "Theo Epstein will make a statement sign in his first season as Cubs' president" and Epstein will also take into consideration "the lack of power available on the market over the next few years."

If Sherman and others are right, could Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer ink Fielder to a short-term (five-year) guaranteed contract with a high AAV that includes opt outs that would allow Fielder to cash in more down the line? Rumors have suggested that's the type of contract the Cubs would like Fielder to sign in order to play first base for the team on the North Side of Chicago.

Less than 24 hours after acquiring Ian Stewart and Casey Weathers from the Rockies for Tyler Colvin and D.J. LeMahieu, the Cubs' front office made another roster move. The Cubs claimed minor league infielder Jeff Bianchi off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.

The Cubs could, and should, be very active over the next few weeks as they look to get their roster in order leading up to the convention in mid-January.

Here's the update ...

Bianchi has six years of minor league experience, basically splitting his time between shortstop and second base. Bianchi reached as high as Double-A ball and in 490 career games compiled a .281/.335/.410/.744 line with 116 doubles, 14 triples and 31 home runs.

With the addition of Jeff Bianchi, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 37 players.