This and That

Yesterday the Cubs did a little house-cleaning, most of it expected; putting Kerry Wood and Mark Prior on the DL, sending down pitchers David Aardsma and Jae Kuk Ryu to Triple-A Iowa, and catcher Casey Kopitzke to the Minor League camp. They also traded right-handed reliever Todd Wellemeyer to the Florida Marlins for two Minor League pitchers, right-hander Lincoln Holdzkom and lefty Zach McCormack. Holdzkom, 24, has a 2.86 ERA in 110 career games in the Marlins organization. McCormack, 24, spent was at Class A Greensboro last season, going 4-2 with two saves and a 4.61 ERA in 26 games.

Veteran outfielder Marquis Grissom announced his retirement from baseball Tuesday, ending his career after 17 seasons. He was a non-roster invitee and from what I could see his heart just wasn’t into it this year, and neither were his legs. Grissom is well liked and respected in the clubhouse and is a two-time All-Star winning four Gold Gloves, he also played in three World Series. Grissom was not going to make the team, primarily because of the emergence of Angel Pagan. On Tuesday, the 24 year old switch-hitting Pagan was presented the Ron Santo/Billy Williams Rookie of the Spring Award

GM Jim Hendry is planning to talk with Derrek Lee’s agent Casey Close this week about a contract extension with the expectation that it will get done before opening day. Carlos Zambrano gets the start today for the Cubs in Tempe.

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