--RHP Jeff Stevens, 25, is a sleeper candidate out of the bullpen. The Cubs obtained Stevens from Cleveland in the Mark DeRosa trade. Stevens has no big-league experience, but the Cubs like his fastball, and they say their scouts have turned in glowing reports. He was a combined 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA and six saves last year in stops at Class AA and Class AAA.

--LHP Neal Cotts will be on the spot in spring training. Aside from non-roster veteran Mike Stanton, Cotts is the only veteran lefty specialist in the 'pen. Cotts has been up and down the past two years for the Cubs, but they liked the way he threw late last year. Cotts was 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings last year after his recall from Class AAA Iowa.

--While the Cubs are short a true backup third baseman, they've got one true backup first baseman in Micah Hoffpauir. The Cubs most likely will go with 12 pitchers and 13 position players to start the regular season, and Hoffpauir appears to have a job to lose as the backup to Derrek Lee. Hoffpauir drove in 100 runs with 25 homers in the minor leagues last year. He hit two homers and eight doubles in 33 games for the Cubs last year. He can play the outfield, too, but his defense is only average. He'll turn 29 on March 1. He's no kid, but the Cubs feel he has the maturity to come off the bench and hit, something a younger player might not have.

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Catchers the Cubs are likely to keep, so the final spot could come down to a tough decision between Paul Bako and Koyie Hill as to who backs up Geovany Soto.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're ready to go to camp and adjust after that. Let's not forget that we picked up Reed Johnson (in late March) last year. We'll scout spring training like we always do." -- GM Jim Hendry, on what moves were left to make this offseason.