--RHP Randy Wells and Kevin Hart were optioned to Class AAA Iowa. Both spent the bulk of last season with Iowa but also appeared with the Cubs.

--C Koyie Hill, who was batting .381 in Cactus League action, won the job as Geovany Soto's backup. C Mark Johnson was reassigned to the Cubs' minor league camp after hitting .235, while C Paul Bako was released despite batting .364 this spring.

--OF So Taguchi, part of championship teams with the Cardinals and the Phillies, was reassigned to the Cubs' minor league camp. He hit .256 this spring.

--LHP Mike Stanton's comeback bid ended when he was released by the Cubs on March 30. He had a 6.48 ERA in 10 spring games.

--RHP Rich Harden, slowed this spring by a stomach bug, returned to action March 30 and reported that he felt fine. However, he allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Royals.

--C Geovany Soto figures to get a lot of playing time before the regular season begins. Soto was with Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, but he didn't catch regularly. The Cubs were concerned that Soto had put on weight (this has been an annual concern with him). They also want him to hit the ball the opposite way to regain the hitting stroke that helped make him Rookie of the Year last season.

--3B Corey Koskie called off his comeback after only three games because of concerns about post-concussion syndrome. That's a worry for the team because the Cubs had hoped the left-handed-hitting Koskie could provide some insurance at third base and as a bat off the bench.

--1B/OF Micah Hoffpauir has all but sewn up a bench job. He beat out INF/OF Jake Fox, who had a hot spring, just as Hoffpauir did. Hoffpauir spent most of the spring leading the majors in RBIs. He's a left-handed batter who "hangs in there against lefties," according to manager Lou Piniella. Hoffpauir is adequate at first base and somewhat less so in the outfield, but the Cubs were giving him plenty of outfield reps. He hit 25 homers and drove in 100 runs last year at Class AAA Iowa, and he batted .342 with two homers and eight doubles with the Cubs.

--CF Kosuke Fukudome saw his first Cactus League action March 27 against the White Sox. He was aggressive at the plate, going 1-for-4 in his first game. He also lost a high flyball in the sun. "We've got to get him some at-bats," manager Lou Piniella said. "He's got to catch up here."

--RHP Luis Vizcaino was making a late push to secure his spot in the bullpen. Through March 27, he had made three consecutive scoreless outings and five out of six after hitting a rough patch with his control. The Cubs are on the hook for $4 million with Vizcaino, whom they obtained in an offseason trade with the Rockies for RHP Jason Marquis.

--OF Brad Snyder was outrighted to Class AAA Iowa on March 27, thus removing him from the 40-man roster.

BY THE NUMBERS: 25 -- Manager Lou Piniella noted that Alfonso Soriano has run well this spring and that he'd like him to steal 20 or even 25 bases this season. Soriano was hampered by leg problems last year, and he stole 19.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "My stupidity." -- CF Kosuke Fukudome on why his batting average declined precipitously in the second half of last season.