Yet despite the desire to get younger, more cost-controllable players and build from within while not spending big money on free agency, the Cubs just could sneak into contention in the NL Central this season on the basis of two things.

First off, the lack of expectations should make for less pressure on a club that had been expected to contend over the past few seasons.

Two, division rivals St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers got worse this winter.

Now, despite these facts, the Reds seemingly have improved, and both the Cards and Brewers still appear to be better on paper than Chicago.

Still, the Cardinals losing Albert Pujols is a huge subtraction, even if the addition of Carlos Beltran was a decent response.

Also, keep in mind that in addition to the losses on the field, the club also said goodbye to its manager, Tony LaRussa, and longtime pitching coach Dave Duncan, who stepped away voluntarily to address personal issues.

The Cardinals appeared to leave the door open for Duncan's return, but it was since discovered that it wasn't a leave of absence, and instead, he had resigned.

Those are big losses for a Cardinals team that won the World Series last season.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee also lost its big slugger, with fellow first baseman and free agent Prince Fielder signing with the Tigers.

The Brewers were also dealt an additional blow when NL MVP Ryan Braun failed a steroid test and was suspended for the first 50 games of the season.

Of course, there are those darn Cincinnati Reds to deal with. They went out and traded for pitcher Mat Latos and signed Ryan Madson to be their closer.   

The Cubs even helped out by sending them lefty set-up man Sean Marshall. The Reds still need Latos to perform like a legitimate No. 2 starter, bullpen improvements and bounce-back years from Scott Rolen and Drew Stubbs.

So while the Cubs certainly won't be the favorites to win the division this year, they just might fool everyone. Their starting rotation is a huge question mark, though they have depth, especially if they retain Matt Garza.

The offense lacks thump, of course, as a 3-4-5 of Marlon Byrd, Bryan LaHair and Alfonso Soriano won't remind anyone of a murderer's row.

Closer is another area of concern for the Cubs, assuming they might contend (if they don't contend, the closer really doesn't matter).

Carlos Marmol struggled in 2011, with a 4.01 ERA while walking 48 batters and leading the league with 10 blown saves.

So yes, the Cubs aren't looking great on paper, but stranger things have happened. The goal is not to win now, but if they do, it's gravy.

It could happen.  

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Yet a recent report has an unnamed AL GM (aren't they always "unnamed sources?) suggesting that Bud Selig will use his magical powers to inflict wrath upon the Cubs organization now that the compensation issue is in his slimy hands.

Hey Bud, isn't a century-plus of losing enough wrath for you?

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe quotes this anonymous GM as saying, "I don’t think MLB wants executives leaving their teams before their contracts are up and therefore he will try to deter teams from doing that again."  

I'm sorry, but I'm not buying what Cafardo is selling.

Look, if Selig was so upset by the Cubs asking for and receiving permission to talk to Theo Epstein, then why did he allow it in the first place?

Meanwhile, the Red Sox don't have a leg to stand on either, for if John Henry or Larry Lucchino didn't want Epstein to leave they could have simply told the Cubs to go fly a kite.

Yes, there should be compensation, no one is arguing that point. But to me, the Sox really weren't all that sad to see Epstein go, and it was probably understood that the compensation would be a minor league player, but not a top prospect.

How do I know this? I don't. But since Cafardo indicated that the thinking of his anonymous GM "the best school of thought" why can't my rationale be the best school of thought?

Still, I do recognize that this "revenge" line of thinking is what a lot of so-called baseball experts believe in. They know that Selig probably would like to send a message to discourage other teams from "stealing" front-office talent.

But I just don't think Selig has ever demonstrated the guts to tick off a storied franchise like the Cubs. And even if he did, there is no precedence to do so.

The Cubs can point to the time they gave up a low ranking prospect and cash considerations when they acquired Andy MacPhail from the Twins. (By the way, I certainly hope Epstein turns out a lot better than MacPhail did).

In this case, from what I understand, the Cubs’ GM was required by Selig to submit to a list of players he is willing to hand over to the Sox [presumably, just one].

But the Sox have thrown out names such as hot trade commodity Matt Garza and top outfield prospect Brett Jackson as compensation. The Cubs reportedly rebuffed this notion as well they should.

One thing is certain: Selig is sure to make enemies with one of the two clubs. If two friends and former colleagues like Epstein and Ben Cherington can't come to an agreement, you know it's a tough issue.

It all boils down to what you consider the word "significant" to mean. To Boston, that could mean Garza. To the Cubs, it might just indicate a useful young player who projects to be of value down the road.

To me, any talk of a proven player or a top prospect is ridiculous. Send them a young reliever and call it a day.

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For those of you who don't know, the arbitration process works this way: both player and team submit a salary figure for the 2012 season and a panel of arbitrators pick one or the other. There is no in-between. 

Garza has submitted a figure of $12.5 million, while the Cubs have countered with $7.95 million. Note that Garza earned $5.95 million in 2011.

In the meantime, teams usually come to an agreement prior to the hearing. Many times it's the midway point between the club's offer and what the player is requesting.

Alternatively, the Cubs could sign Garza to an extension, effectively buying out his arbitration years and potentially, even a free agent year or two.

But in this case, I'd think that Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will be hard-pressed to give in to Garza, even on a compromised midpoint figure of $10.225 million. That's because the Cubs offer is the fair one, in my opinion.

Garza is not an ace, he is a No. 2 starter. That's certainly not bad, but the figure he's seeking indicates that Garza's people view him as an ace.

I realize that wins and losses are not a fair judge of a starting pitcher, since there are so many variables beyond a pitcher's control involved in the W-L records (defense, relief pitching, run support).

But the arbitrators usually don't understand this, nor are they likely to use advanced metrics in their decision. They usually look at the W-L record, and ERA.

Those counting stats (10-10, 3.32) are not indicative of a pitcher deserving of such a huge raise, and the Cubs likely understand this. Now, if the panel used sabermetrics, that would be another story.

Garza had a 5.0 WAR according to FanGraphs last year (13th best in MLB among starting pitchers), which made him one of the best pitchers in baseball. His 118 ERA+ suggests he was 18 percent better than average.

Additionally, his FIP was 8th best among starters, and his xFIP was 11th. That would provide some additional support except that again, the panel is not likely to understand all that.

Instead they will look at his pedestrian W-L record and the fact that his ERA was good for just 26th in baseball among starting pitchers, and his WHIP just 47th.

But another important reason for the Cubs not to give in to Garza's request is that it would make it a bit more challenging to trade him.

Yet as much as I appreciate Garza, trading him that is exactly what the Cubs need to do, assuming they can get equal value in young prospects in return.

No, they shouldn't just give him away, of course. They should be firm in demanding top prospects in return. But a team that's rebuilding, like the Cubs are, could use two or three good pieces instead of the one Garza.

Sure, as Epstein himself has stated, Garza is a guy you can build around. But the sooner the Cubs can get impact young players into their system, the sooner they will be on their way to building a winning organization.  

Meanwhile, the Cubs appear to have a winning case. If they do not compromise, or reach a long-term extension, the case will go before a panel. This could get ugly.

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The kid said it himself: "Of all the teams who have come, the Chicago Cubs have been most interested." And now that MLB has granted his free-agency rights, expect the Cubs to go hard after the Cuban outfielder.  

Many expect Yoenis Cespedes to sign a deal eclipsing the $30.25 million Aroldis Chapman received from the Cincinnati Reds in 2010.

In fact, some even speculate Cespedes' potential contract could more than double this amount if the bidding gets hot.

In addition to the Cubs, the Yankees, Phillies, Rangers, Blue Jays, White Sox, Marlins, Orioles, Tigers and Indians have apparently shown interest in Cespedes.

Meanwhile, a Cespedes signing would fit in well with what Theo Epstein has been talking about in how he wants to build the ballclub. Young, controllable players who play the game the right way.

So just what kind of player is Cespedes? I don't claim to have personally seen him, but I know that he hit .333 with 33 homers and 99 RBI for the Cuban national team in the 2010-11 season.

The Marlins watched him in a private workout and came away very impressed. And, with all the Cubans already in Miami, the Marlins would seem a logical destination for Cespedes.

However, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports recently tweeted that Cespedes doesn't want to play in Miami.

Cespedes, a right-handed hitter, has been hyped as a five-tool player. He might just be the big catch that Epstein and the Cubs have been saving their money for this winter.

Cespedes was 5-for-35 (.143) with a home run, no walks and 10 strikeouts in a brief winter-ball stint in the Dominican Republic, but that's such a small sample size that it hardly matters.

The center fielder could fit right into the Cubs' Opening Day lineup by moving current incumbent center fielder Marlon Byrd, who should be relatively easy to trade.

FanGraphs recently did a piece on Cespedes and came away with the conclusion that he plays solid defense and can run. They estimate that he could be worth "maybe somewhere between 2.5 to 3.5 WAR."

The Cubs are far from establishing the kind of sustained competitiveness that Epstein has talked about. So, with Byrd being 34 years old and in the last year of his contract, it makes sense that they would prefer Cespedes.

Epstein has talked about "building assets" that can lead to "sustainable success," and Cespedes would seem like a logical candidate for the Cubs to start to build their team around, along with guys like Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo. 

So where would that leave Brett Jackson, the Cubs' top prospect? Maybe the Cubs anticipate shifting one of them to a corner outfield spot, assuming they can dump Alfonso Soriano on somebody.

But even if they don't have a spot for Jackson, is it really a reason to pass on a player like Cespedes? According to Keith Law, Jackson projects "as an average big leaguer at this point, solid across the board but lacking a plus tool." 

Jackson's ceiling is lower than Cespedes, even if the Cuban outfielder is older and hasn't played American baseball yet.  

Cespedes makes sense for the Cubs. Now, start the bidding!

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As revealed Saturday at the Cubs Convention, the right-field bleachers will be reconfigured by elevating seating in the newly-constructed Budweiser Patio section.

The ESPNChicago report goes on to state, "We're thrilled to expand our partnership with Budweiser and offer our fans an exciting new experience in the right field Budweiser Bleacher section at Wrigley Field," said Wally Hayward, the Cubs' executive vice president of chief sales and marketing officer. "The Budweiser Patio will provide our fans with a rooftop experience inside the ballpark and more baseball content during the game on our new 75-foot LED board."

There will be a food and beverage package with the seating to this new section. It will seat 150 fans. The price hasn't been determined yet.

The Cubs claim the construction is due to some of the seating being partly obstructed and not always full, so the Cubs wanted to do something to make the space more attractive to fans.

For purists, this and other changes down the road will be something that will be tolerated with gritted teeth. But I feel it's a solid plan and the Cubs need to maximize every revenue opportunity.

Yes, even if that includes a corporate sponsorship to the name of the park.

Meanwhile, I wonder if the beverage package includes unlimited beer? I highly doubt that, but it's worth wondering about.

I also have questions about what the LED board will be used for. I would imagine it will be to show scores and such, but its primary role will be advertising.

Part of me wonders if this isn't the beginning of the end to rooftop bleachers.

Anyway, I understand why the Cubs are doing this and you can expect more of this type of thing to come. If the money is used to improve the club, it will be well worth it.

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Cubs owner Tom Ricketts admittedly got involved to make sure that Wood re-signed with the team, essentially telling Theo Epstein to offer more money and make it happen.

Cubs fans, you may love Woody, but this is not a good thing if it becomes a trend. One of the reasons that Epstein wanted out of Boston was the meddling president Larry Lucchino.

When Epstein was hired, Ricketts promised to leave the baseball decisions to the baseball people. But clearly he let his emotions get involved in this one.

Just as Wood was about to take a physical with another team—and yes this is the same Kerry Wood who said he wanted to play with the Cubs or retire—Ricketts forced Jed Hoyer's hand and increased the Cubs offer.

Now, this is not a bad decision, as I like Wood and think he still can be useful when healthy. But let's face it, Wood isn't the same guy who once struck out 20 batters vs. the Astros.

This Wood is a set-up man who gets hurt. If there's one certainty in life other than death and taxes, it is that Wood will land on the disabled list every season.

But the thing that really bothers me is not that they re-signed Wood—as I said, I feel it's a good move—it's that Ricketts not only interfered, he seemed to criticize Epstein and Hoyer in the process.

"I'm not sure why the timing ended up the way it did," Ricketts said at the team's annual convention. "We probably could have had that conversation a month ago. My gut would just say that (Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer) were focused on everything else that was going on. We probably could have done it a little sooner."

Ouch.

I mean, you just hired the guy and you already are getting in his business and offering criticism? Look, Ricketts was fortunate to get these guys, here's hoping he doesn't screw this up.

I know Cubs fans love Wood and that Ricketts wants to fill the seats, but let your baseball people make business decisions that are in the best interests of the organization and not out of sentiment.

 "Just because we are friendly and he's more than just a regular player. He really means a lot to the organization. But like I always say, this is a baseball decision made by the baseball people. Going into the future, I hope Kerry will always be a part of the Cub organization."

If that isn't emotions talking, I don't know what is. In my world, if Wood wanted to leave, he should have been allowed to do so. He owes them nothing and the Cubs owe him nothing.

However, if anyone does owe anyone something, it's Wood, who was paid millions and millions of dollars to spend a lot of time on the disabled list. And yet he was holding out for more?

Well, baseball is a business as we are reminded again. Except when emotions get involved.

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Yet that's exactly what the Cubs brain trust is asking you for. And I am here to tell you why you should willingly accept that request.

For far too long, the Cubs have been built on the "win now" promise. That has only resulted in temporary division titles but early playoff exits and lack of sustained success.

Along the way, there have even been many seasons in which the winning didn't even occur at all. Recognizing that, it is only logical to try something new. And nothing short of a total rebuild of the farm system is in order.

That requires a lot of time.

Now, it doesn't mean that the Cubs cannot be competitive this season. They are putting together a fairly decent club, though one that does not appear to be the favorites in their own division. 

Yes, stranger things have happened, so if success does happen early, as it did for Hoyer in his first season as GM of the Padres, consider it a bonus.

But it isn't part of the grand design.

Instead, the plan is to build from within. That doesn't mean that all 25 men on the major league roster will be homegrown products, however.

The youthful depth that Epstein and Hoyer build into the farm system can also be used as trade pieces to fill in other areas of need at the major league level.

Plus, they are trying to change a losing culture that has permeated this team since...well...as long as I can remember.

They are looking to draft and acquire players who "play the game the right way." Calling it "the Cubs way," Epstein and Hoyer are going for players who are strong defenders, contribute to a more balanced lineup (think left-handed), get on base and help build rotational depth.

So far, they are demonstrating this, but much more work remains, of course, and that will take time—even more time that they envisioned when taking the job.

For not only have teams started catching up to the sabermetric principles in how to value performance, but the new collective bargaining agreement imposes penalties for teams that overspend in the draft.

Meanwhile, expect more changes to come. While they are trying to re-sign Kerry Wood, there are no guarantees at this point.

Additionally, Matt Garza will be traded if they can find the right package of prospects. Likewise, if they can get anything for Alfonso Soriano without having to pay all of his salary, they will move him too.

Then there is Marlon Byrd, who should be a cost-effective target for some team, and Carlos Marmol, who is coming off a bad season but could be moved under the right circumstances.

So, you get the picture. This will be a somewhat long process, and once again, the patience of Cubs fans is being tested.

However, unlike previous regimes, this group has experience being successful at doing this, so we should give them the time they need.

In Epstein and Hoyer we trust.  

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Let's be clear on one point here. I like Kerry Wood. I happen to like him a lot. As a fan, I celebrated his rise to stardom and was saddened over his sudden fall from fame following elbow surgery.

But let's face it, Cubs fans, Wood owes the Cubs. No, he doesn't have to do anything, but to me, if he's the stand up guy we think he is, why would he argue over money at this point in his career?

Wood said this was the place he wanted to be. He took far less money last offseason because he said this was the only team he wanted to play for.

He said he would retire if the cubs didn't want him back. And yet, now, he's supposedly entertaining other offers.

I just don't get it.

Now, I know that things have changed since Wood returned last season. Jim Hendry is gone, replaced by the combination of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer.

But this is still the same great city he calls home. He has that same charitable foundation here that he said he wanted to come back to.

And it's the same fans that adore him, warts and all.

Speaking of warts, here is the point that really gets me going. Wood has played with the Cubs for 11 years now. In between, he spent some time with the Indians and New York.

However, Chicago has been where he has played for the vast majority of his career. And those "warts" I speak of are the many injuries he's suffered and the many days he has spent on the disabled list.

That he always seems to get hurt is not his fault. But guaranteed contracts are just that—guaranteed—and as far as I know, Wood never offered to give any of that money back.

And he has made a fortune, nearly $70 million so far. How much money does a guy really need?

Plus, according to ESPN's Bruce Levine, Cubs owner Tom ricketts assured Wood "that after his career ends he'll have a job with the Cubs for as long as he wants to be associated with the team."

Yet we hear reports that Wood is not close to signing with the Cubs, and the issue appears to be related to his salary.

Not only that, but he's reportedly being pursued by team such as the Phillies.

Now, before you point out that maybe Wood wants to win a ring before he retires, I would ask you why, then, did he leave the Yankees to take a sweetheart deal with the Cubs?

Did Wood actually believe the Cubs were going to win the World Series last year? And even factoring in the rebuilding that Theo and company are doing, it's still the Cubs we're talking about.

Wood had to know it wasn't very likely the Cubs were going to win in his lifetime after going over a century without winning. I mean, really, what were the chances, regardless of regime change?

May I remind you that he has been on the disabled list 15 times in 14 seasons and has not put together a full, injury-free season since 2003?

Yet for all of the time the Cubs have paid him while on the DL, all of a sudden it's about money?

Hey, I will still have respect for Wood no matter what decision he makes. But I don't have to like it.

.

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In case you've been living under a rock, or just got out of jail, the Cubs have been busy this week. First trading Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins and now sending Andrew Cashner to the Padres for Anthony Rizzo.

An everyday first baseman for a relief pitcher is, to me, always a smart investment. Sure, the Cubs were trying to do more with Cashner, and the Padres may do the same, but I believe Cashner is a reliever long-term.

Now, that's not to say that he won't be an elite reliever at the major league level. In fact, if healthy, I fully predict he will.

But I really like the promise this Rizzo kid brings.

I know he struggled in his first tryout at the major league level with San Diego, but he is 21, and even Cubs GM Jed Hoyer admits he was wrong to bring Rizzo up so soon.

Meanwhile, there were two other players in the transaction.

The Cubs also got right-hander Zack Cates, who is a very raw but interesting former position player-turned-pitcher. The Cubs had success with just such a conversion with Carlos Marmol, so there is precedent for this sort of thing.

In fact, look no further than the cross-town White Sox, who recently traded an effective young pitcher who was also a former position player in Sergio Santos.Cates will need to develop a breaking ball if he's going to become a starter, but he profiles well as a reliever in any case.

Meanwhile, Kyung-Min Na also goes from Chicago to San Diego. The 20-year-old center fielder has a solid glove and plus speed, though there are questions about his hitting mechanics.

As for Rizzo, he was outstanding in AAA, so I feel Hoyer was being a little hard on himself for saying that he called him up too soon. He has a good approach at the plate and terrific makeup (no, not mascara). He has very good power and is also a good defensive first sacker.

Rizzo missed the 2008 season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma, but he has a clean bill of health now.  

As for his struggles in San Diego, part of that could be the park (Petco is where power goes to die for many hitters, although I can think of an exception by the name of Adrian Gonzalez).

Speaking of Gonzalez, Rizzo was part of the return that Hoyer got from Boston when he traded his slugging first baseman to the Red Sox.

In addition to that trade, there is other history with Rizzo, as all three of the Cubs' power brokers—Theo Epstein, Hoyer and Jason McLeod—were in the Sox front office when they drafted Rizzo.

Getting back to Cashner, he has an overpowering fastball when healthy, but I don't feel he profiles as a starter in the big leagues.While pitching in Petco will likely inflate his value, a rotator cuff injury wiped out most of his 2011 season, so the Padres will have to be careful with Cashner. 

So, there are a lot of unknowns in this trade, and some value on both sides. But, for all intents and purposes, the deal comes down to an everyday first baseman for a reliever, and I like it.

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Castro's attorney's quickly issued a statement that said they "are confident these allegations are baseless."

While we know that professional athletes are often the target of false accusations by people wanting to profit from the financial success of the players, if this is true, then the Cubs are in for a world of hurt.

Castro is the best asset the organization currently maintains. Not only does Castro play one of the most important defensive positions on the field, he is their best hitter.

At the tender age of 21, Castro is already developing into a star. He became the youngest player in MLB history to have 200 or more hits in a season in 2011.

For a club trying to rebuild through youth, any setback resulting from legal troubles would be quite a blow to Theo Epstein and the Cubs franchise. They don't need the distractions. In fact, that was one of the reasons they decided not to bring Carlos Zambrano back.

According to the report, no charges have been filed. From CBS Chicago:

Sources say she and a friend left the bar at 3 a.m. and went to the 21-year-old Castro's apartment on State Street nearby.

According to the police report, the alleged victim said she blacked out. She told police she came to, and found the alleged offender—Castro, according to our sources—sexually assaulting her. The heavily redacted police report offers little information.

Meanwhile, Castro is a wanted man (for questioning). But not as wanted as he is by the Cubs.

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