Greene not coming to Cubs and other notes.

- Cubs officials said today that there is "no truth" the rumors circulation around the Padres' Greene. So rest assure that Greene will not be a Cub anytime soon.

- Soriano said he will be ready to return to the Chicago Cubs by the Flordia series which is July 24th. That is depending on how batting practice goes in Houston, if all goes well he could be with Iowa by Monday, and in the North side lineup on the 24th. This is good news for the Cubbies!

- The Cubs really want to land a reliever and a bat off the bench. Brian Fuentes is on top of a short list of relievers the Cubs really like. As far as the a bench player, I could see them looking at Casey Blake. Blake is batting .282 with 9 homers and 52 RBI in 301 ABs. He can play 3b, RF, LF, and 1st base. Basically another Derosa, which would be very valuable off the bench!

Cubs check in on Greene?? Hendry working the phones again?

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune, the Cubs have recently inquired on Khalil Greene. They have expressed interest in Greene earlier this year and the Padres wanted Pie but he was "untouchable" at the time. Greene is in the first year of a 2 year 11 million dollar deal. Greene is batting an awful .216 avg. with an .264 OBP, he does have 8 homers though.

I do not understand why the Cubs have interest in the shortstop unless they are planning on trading Cedeno or Mike Fontenot the Cubs will not trade Theriot or Derosa because how valuable they both are to the team right now. I could see the Cubs trading Cedeno along with some minor leaguers to the Blue Jays for Burnett and then trading for Greene. They could also try to work a three way trade with both the Jays and Padres. Other than that I do not see Greene as an upgrade at all.

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It seems Hendry is really working the phone again, this time his target is some relievers. The Cubs have kept tabs on Brian Fuentes, Ron Mahay, Damaso Marte, Jon Rauch, and Jack Taschner. I really like Marte, Fuentes, and Mahay out of the group but Fuentes want to go somewhere he can close, Marte is in the same division, and Mahay will cost a lot considering the Royals do not want to trade him.

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The Cubs are one of many teams that have been monitoring Freddy Garcia. I have also heard grumbling that the Cubs have contacted the Mariners about the availability of Erik Bedard. This is from Geoff Baker, the Mariners beat writer-

Both Bedard and the Mariners favor a trade. However, Baker believes Bedard will have to take the mound at least one more time and maybe twice before the deadline to satisfy a suitor. Bedard is said to be 50/50 to make his July 22nd start.

What a nasty rotation that would be for the 2nd half!

Zambrano
Harden
Bedard
Dempster
Lilly
Marquis- 6th pitcher