--LHP Rich Hill was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named. After an 11-8 season in 2007, Hill opened 2008 as the Cubs' fourth starter. But control problems, which began in spring training, had him in Class AAA Iowa (Des Moines) by early May, and he did not return to the big club. Hill also struggled in winter ball.
--RHP Michael Wuertz was traded to the Oakland Athletics for minor-leaguers OF Rich Robnett and IF Justin Sellers. --C Paul Bako, who played for the Cubs in 2003-04, signed a one-year, $725,000 deal to return to Chicago. The idea is to have the left-handed hitting Bako compete with switch hitter Koyie Hill to be the backup behind Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto. Bako won't hit much -- he batted .217 with the Reds last year -- but the Cubs always liked his defense and his ability to handle pitchers.
--The Cubs say they have no problem with RHP Carlos Marmol pitching a limited schedule in winter ball or playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Marmol logged 82 games last year as the principal setup man. He's expected to compete with Kevin Gregg for the closer's job this spring.
--RHP Aaron Heilman, obtained from Seattle in a trade for IF Ronny Cedeno and LHP Garrett Olson, expressed excitement over the prospect of starting but said he'd gladly pitch out of the bullpen again. Last year, Heilman worked in 78 games and went 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA and three saves. He hasn't started since 2005, when he made seven starts. "It's something I always enjoyed doing and feel I can still be very successful at," he said. "How I fit into the team is going to be up to the pitching coach, the manager and the GM."
--RHP Aaron Heilman and LHP Sean Marshall are two candidates for the fifth starter's spot. RHP Jeff Samardzija, who worked out of the pen last year after his July call-up, figures to be a starter long term, so the Cubs will stretch him out this spring. One surprising candidate to start is RHP Chad Gaudin, who was exclusively a reliever for the Cubs last year after being traded from Oakland along with RHP Rich Harden in July. The Cubs point out that Gaudin started 34 games for Oakland in 2007. He made six starts for the A's last year.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10 -- The number of teams C Paul Bako has played for as he returns to the Cubs. Bako also has played for the Tigers, Astros, Marlins, Braves, Brewers, Dodgers, Royals, Orioles and Reds.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I characterize last season as kind of an aberration. I didn't feel like I threw the ball the way I was capable of doing. I didn't have the results I would have liked." -- RHP Aaron Heilman on his 3-8 record and 5.21 ERA with the Mets last year.
