Cubs infielder/outfielder Jake Fox was headed to the Dominican Republic on Monday to join Licey for the second half of the season. As for Cubs prospects currently playing, Brian Schlitter is 6-for-8 in save situations with Mexicali in the Mexican League. The right-hander from Park Ridge, Ill., whom the Cubs acquired from the Phillies in the Scott Eyre deal, has a 3.79 ERA.

Catcher Robinson Chirinos was batting .363 in 29 games with Magallanes in Venezuela. He has six homers and 20 RBIs in 29 games. Andres Blanco was batting .302 for Magallanes with 11 doubles, two triples, two homers and 25 RBIs. He's played second, short and third in 30 games. And outfielder Nelson Perez was batting .311 in 22 games with Toros del Este in the Dominican Republic.

-- Carrie Muskat

The Cubs have teamed up with Chicago-based National Runaway Switchboard to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for runaway and homeless youth on Tuesday at St. Luke's Church in Chicago. It's the fourth straight year the Cubs have hosted the event.

National Runaway Switchboard's mission is to keep America's runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. The organization operates a national communication system for runaway and homeless youth through its 1-800-RUNAWAY crisis hotline and www.1800RUNAWAY.org website. Youth and family members call the hotline to work through problems and to find local agencies and organizations to help.

Several members of the Cubs front office staff and WGN's Cubs television producer Bob Vorwald will volunteer at the event.

-- Carrie Muskat 

Reed Johnson has had an eventful offseason already. The outfielder and his wife, Taryn, welcomed son Tyce into the world on Oct. 26.

Johnson is one of five Cubs players who filed for free agency, joining John Grabow, Kevin Gregg, Rich Harden, and Chad Fox. The team narrowed the list last Friday when it signed Grabow to a two-year deal. The Cubs had an exclusive 15-day window in which to negotiate with Johnson end on Friday, and he said he hasn't heard much from the team about returning.

"There's other things they're trying to take care of," Johnson said Monday. "My agent said usually teams let that 15-day period go past."

Johnson would like to come back, and the Cubs are looking for a center fielder and leadoff man.

"We'll see," he said.

-- Carrie Muskat

The Cubs added outfielder James Adduci, catcher Welington Castillo and pitchers John Gaub, Blake Parker, and Rafael Dolis to the 40-man roster on Friday. Teams had to set their 40-man rosters by midnight Friday in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft, which is held Dec. 10 at the Winter Meetings. The Cubs roster is now at 38.

-- Carrie Muskat

The Cubs are one of the teams the Toronto Blue Jays have contacted regarding pitcher Roy Halladay. However, before Cubs fans start salivating at the prospect of the former Cy Young winner in the rotation with Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, and Ryan Dempster, there's a catch. He's owed $15.75 million in 2010, and the Blue Jays want some of the Cubs' top prospects. No. 1, the team can't take on Halladay's salary. The Blue Jays apparently have a wish list and Milton Bradley is not on it. A player like highly regarded shortstop Starlin Castro most likely is, and the Cubs don't want to part with him, especially since they might only have Halladay for one year. The right-hander was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA this season, and is a free agent after 2010. One thing the Blue Jays did make clear to the Cubs is they want to move Halladay this offseason.

-- Carrie Muskat

Four to six teams have expressed interest in acquiring Milton Bradley, with the interest in varying degrees, depending on how much of the $21 million still owed the outfielder that the Cubs are willing to pick up.

However, top officials at both the Rangers and Cubs on Friday denied a Chicago Tribune report, which outlined a three-team swap that included the Mets. The proposed deal had Bradley going to the Rangers, who would ship Kevin Millwood to the Mets. The Cubs would get second baseman Luis Castillo from New York.

Yes, the Cubs would like to improve their second base situation. Millwood is owed $12 million in the last year of his deal, and the Mets need pitching. According to the Tribune, the Cubs would have to pay part of the $21 million remaining on Bradley's contract.

But a top Cubs official said there was no truth to the rumor. A high-ranking Rangers official told MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan such a deal is "not happening."

There is legitimate interest in Bradley, even after his dropoff in '09, his first year in Chicago. Teams have told GM Jim Hendry to keep them in the loop, and are waiting to see whether the Cubs will eat some of Bradley's contract.

There have been reports that the Cubs would take Tampa Bay outfielder Pat Burrell in a deal for Bradley, but Burrell is owed $9 million in 2010 and the Rays reportedly want Chicago to pick up part of Bradley's money as well.

-- Carrie Muskat

Free agent reliever John Grabow finalized his deal, signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Cubs on Friday. Grabow, whom the Cubs acquired July 30 from Pirates, gives the team a veteran arm in the pen to set up closer Carlos Marmol.

-- Carrie Muskat

Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com's guru on Minor League players, offers this info on the two prospects whom the Cubs acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Aaron Heilman:

Scott Maine, LHP: Taken in sixth round of the 2007 Draft of the University of Miami, Maine projects as a lefty reliever or specialist. He pitched at two levels in 2009, finishing with a 2.90 ERA and 61 K's in 62 IP. For his career, he's got a 3.29 ERA with a 134 K's in 120 1/3 IP.

In some ways, the 24-year-old hasn't lived up to the potential he once flashed in high school. He had Tommy John surgery early in his amateur career and never turned into the lefty ace some thought he'd be. That being said, he could have a future role. His fastball can run up to 93-94 mph and he comes from a pretty tough angle for left-handed hitters. He's got a lower arm slot that creates some deception. His secondary stuff is is a work in progress, but the arm strength from the left side has some value.

Ryne White, 1B: White just completed his first full season of pro ball after being selected by Arizona in the fourth round of the 2008 Draft. An accomplished and advanced college hitter out of Purdue, White spent the season with Visalia in the Class Advanced California League, finishing the year at .266/.371/.356. He's always shown an ability to control the strike zone and draw some walks, but he hasn't hit for much power thus far in his pro career (career .389 SLG). There are those who feel the 23-year-old will hit for power going forward, at least as a left-handed platoon type. He's kind of stocky, at 5-11, 205 lbs. At the very least, the Cubs are getting a decent organizational guy who has the chance to be a Matt Stairs type of hitter.

(My note: GM Jim Hendry said the same thing re: White, calling him a "Matt Stairs kind of guy." As for Maine, Hendry said the D-Backs made a good decision to put him in the pen.)

-- Carrie Muskat 

The Mesa Solar Sox finished their season Thursday with an 8-1 loss to the Peoria Saguaros. Cubs top prospect Starlin Castro went 0-for-3, only the sixth game out of 26 in which he was held hitless, and he ended with a .376 average. The 19-year-old shortstop made two errors.

Third baseman Josh Vitters, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick in 2007, went 1-for-4 Thursday and closed the Arizona Fall League with a .353 average. Michael Brenly also played, and went 0-for-4. He finished at .240.

-- Carrie Muskat

The Cubs dealt right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks Thursday for two  Minor League prospects. Heilman, 31, was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 games in his only season in Chicago. He was one of a large number of arbitration eligible players, which include Carlos Marmol, Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker, Sean Marshall, Ryan Theriot, Koyie Hill, and Angel Guzman.

In exchange for Heilman, the Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher Scott Maine and first baseman Ryan White. White is a Chicago native and 2005 graduate of St. Rita of Cascia High School.

-- Carrie Muskat

Thursday is the last day the Cubs have exclusive negotiating rights with John Grabow before he hits the free agent market, and the left-hander appears to be close to a new deal. The Cubs want Grabow to have a veteran lefty set-up pitcher in the pen. Grabow filed for free agency on the 12th day of the 15-day period. He is one of the top lefty relievers available in the free agent market.

-- Carrie Muskat

Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 with a double in the Mesa Solar Sox's 7-5 loss to Scottsdale on Wednesday. Cubs prospects John Gaub and Blaker Parker both pitched one inning in relief. The Solar Sox end the Arizona Fall League season on Thursday against the Peoria Saguaros.

-- Carrie Muskat

Cubs prospect Thomas Diamond gave up his first run in three games during an outing Tuesday for Mexicali. Diamond served up two hits -- including a solo homer -- and walked three over six innings in his third Mexican League start. He struck out six. In 14 innings so far, the right-hander has served up eight hits and struck out 15. The Cubs claimed Diamond off waivers from the Texas Rangers.

-- Carrie Muskat

New Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts will have a chance to meet the other Major League Baseball owners at a dinner Wednesday night. Ricketts, whose family took over the team in October, was not taking part in any of the owners committee meetings at the Chicago O'Hare Hilton. Team president Crane Kenney was at the hotel Wednesday for committee meetings on finance and revenue sharing.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig will address the owners on Thursday.

Kenney did say the Ricketts family will meet with Florida officials after Thanksgiving week as they continue to explore Spring Training options for the Cubs. The Ricketts family looked at several sites in Collier County, and were believed to have narrowed the list to three possible options. The Cubs have the option of buying out their contract in Mesa, Ariz., and moving after 2011.

-- Carrie Muskat

Andrew Cashner didn't exactly finish the way he would've liked. In his last Arizona Fall League start on Tuesday, the Cubs' 2008 No. 1 Draft pick gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk over three innings. The Mesa Solar Sox lost, 9-2, to Surprise. Cashner finished with a 4.58 ERA.

Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2-for-4 and scored a run -- he's batting .387 -- and Michael Brenly hit a double and drove in a run for Mesa. Cubs prospect James Russell struck out two in one inning, and now has a 1.26 ERA.

The Mesa Solar Sox will play Wednesday at Scottsdale and end the AFL season Thursday at HoHoKam Park against the Peoria Saguaros.

-- Carrie Muskat

Starlin Castro went 1-for-4 in the Mesa Solar Sox's 11-1 loss to Phoenix on Monday in Arizona Fall League action. Castro started at second base in the game. On Tuesday, Mesa plays host to Surprise at HoHoKam Park.

-- Carrie Muskat

This is the final week of games for the Arizona Fall League. Josh Vitters apparently is recovered from the strained muscle, and hit a two-run homer Saturday in Mesa's 4-2 win over Peoria. He's batting .359 in the AFL. Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 with a double and was hitting .388. John Gaub and Blake Parker both pitched one inning of relief, and both picked up holds on Saturday.

On Monday, Mesa plays host to Phoenix at HoHoKam Stadium.

Cubs' prospect Andrew Cashner is 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts in the AFL. In his last outing Nov. 11, he was roughed up, giving up four runs on seven hits over three innings. In his previous outing, the right-hander threw four shutout innings, serving up five hits. He has fanned 16 over 16 2/3 innings this fall. Catcher Michael Brenly was hitting .294 with one homer in six games.

In Venezuela, infielder Andres Blanco was batting .316 with one homer, 11 doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs for Magallanes. Blanco has primarily played second base and was hitting second in the lineup there. Cubs prospect Robinson Chirinos was batting .357 with six homers, five doubles and 19 RBIs for Magallanes.

J.R. Mathes has returned home after making six starts for Caracas. He went 1-2 with a 5.08 ERA, striking out 12 over 28 1/3 innings. In his last outing Nov. 6, Mathes gave up two runs, 11 hits and did not walk a batter over five innings.

In the Dominican Republic, outfielder Nelson Perez was batting .362 in 17 games with two homers, three doubles, two triples and five RBIs for Toros del Este.

In Mexico, shortstop Matt Camp was batting .336 for Mexicali with 10 doubles, one homer and 21 RBIs. He's been leading off for the Mexican League team, and has a .401 on-base percentage. Brian Schlitter has seven saves and a 4.24 ERA in 16 games there, striking out 12 over 17 innings. The right-hander pitched on Sunday, and gaveup one run, two walks and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.

-- Carrie Muskat

The Mesa Solar Sox lost 9-7 Friday to Phoenix in Arizona Fall League play. Catcher Michael Brenly was hitless in four at-bats, but is batting .294. On Thursday, Starlin Castro had two hits, a double and one RBI in Mesa's 11-5 loss to Phoenix. Josh Vitters was back at third, and also had two RBIs. The Solar Sox play at Peoria Saturday night.

-- Carrie Muskat

Josh Vitters returned to action in the Arizona Fall League on Wednesday. Vitters was the DH in the Mesa Solar Sox's 9-8 win over Surprise, and went 2-for-5 with a RBI. He had been sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle. Andrew Cashner, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick in 2008, started the game for the AFL team and gave up four runs on seven hits over three innings. He struck out five.

In Mexican League play, Thomas Diamond picked up his first win Wednesday in his second start. The right-hander threw five shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out six in Mexicali's 3-1 win over Mochis.

-- Carrie Muskat

The GM meetings ended Wednesday, and Milton Bradley is still with the Cubs. That should come as no surprise. GM Jim Hendry did not specifically address Bradley as he left the meetings at the Chicago O'Hare Hilton. According to news reports, he has spoken to a handful of teams about possible trades, and it's unclear how many teams were asking about the outfielder.

The Cubs won't be making a huge splash this offseason as far as free agent signings go.

"We don't need mega-moves," Hendry told reporters in Chicago.

He did say that the team could have a deal done in the next week or so with lefty reliever John Grabow. Hendry did not meet with Arn Tellem, who is Rich Harden's agent, but the two have talked since the season ended. Harden has indicated he'd like to come back to Chicago, and Tellem told Chicago media it's still early in the process.

-- Carrie Muskat

Michael Brenly had two hits in the Mesa Solar Sox's 6-4 win over Surprise on Tuesday. Starlin Castro was 0-for-5, and his average has dipped to .387. Castro was back at shortstop on Tuesday; he started at second base on Monday, and went 1-for-4 in a 3-2 win over Scottsdale. On Wednesday, the Solar Sox play host to Surprise at HoHoKam Park.

Cubs prospect Josh Vitters, who has been sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle suffered last Wednesday, was expected to resume playing with the Solar Sox this week.

-- Carrie Muskat

Starlin Castro had two hits in Saturday night's Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars game, played in Surprise. Castro's East team scored seven runs in the first inning, but lost the game, 8-7, to the West. Cubs prospect Blake Parker pitched one inning in relief for the East.

The Mesa Solar Sox have Sunday off and return to action Monday, playing host to the Scottsdale Scorpions at HoHoKam Park.

-- Carrie Muskat

Thomas Diamond made his first start in the Mexican League on Friday night, and struck out three over three-plus innings in Mexicali's 5-4 win over Obegron. Diamond did not walk a batter and did not give up a hit until the first two batters in the fourth connected off the right-hander. He was then pulled. Brad Snyder went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Mexicali, and was batting .348. Brian Schlitter, who totaled 22 saves at Double-A Tennessee, picked up the save, pitching one inning.

In Venezuela, J.R. Mathes gave up two runs on 11 hits over five innings, striking out two, but did not get a decision in Caracas' 4-3 win over Lara.

Catcher Robinson Chirinos hit his fourth homer, a solo shot, to help Magallanes beat Caribes 3-1. Chirinos was batting .405 and has 12 RBIs. Andres Blanco also had a hit.

-- Carrie Muskat

Starlin Castro went 2-for-6 in the Mesa Solar Sox's 11-1 romp over Surprise on Friday. Castro leads the Arizona Fall League with a .424 average, and he'll play Saturday in the Rising Stars game at Surprise Stadium. The Cubs' highly touted shortstop was to have been joined by third baseman Josh Vitters, but he was scratched because of a strained pectoral muscle, suffered Wednesday in batting practice. Vitters was day to day. Saturday's game will be broadcast on the MLB Network.

-- Carrie Muskat

Andrew Cashner threw four scoreless innings in the Mesa Solar Sox's 8-1 win over the Peoria Javelinas in Arizona Fall League play Thursday. Cashner, the Cubs' No. 1 pick in 2008, did not walk a batter and struck out four. Starlin Castro, who began the day leading the AFL in batting, and Michael Brenly each had two hits for Mesa.

Three Cubs pitching prospects all appeared in the game. James Russell, John Gaub and Blake Parker each threw one inning in relief. The Solar Sox play Friday at Surprise.

-- Carrie Muskat

Michael Brenly smacked a two-run homer in the Mesa Solar Sox's 8-5 win over the Peoria Javelinas in Arizona Fall League play Wednesday. Brenly is the son of Cubs television analyst Bob Brenly, and was a late add to the Mesa team, replacing catcher Welington Castillo. Mesa and Peoria meet again in Mesa on Thursday.

In Venezuela, Andres Blanco scored two runs and hit a double and Robinson Chirinos had one hit in Magallanes' 6-3 win over Margarita. In Mexico, Brad Snyder hda two hits, including his fourth home run, in Mexicali's 6-3 loss to Mazatlan. Matt Camp also had a hit, and was batting .351.

Nelson Perez, who batted .251 with 11 homers and 65 RBIs for Class A Peoria, was hitting .405 for Toros del Este in the Dominican Republic. He has primarily been used as the designated hitter, and has four multi-hit games out of 12.

-- Carrie Muskat

Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly underwent a left shoulder arthroscopy and debridement on Tuesday by noted orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles. During the surgery, Yocum found no major damage to Lilly's shoulder and the procedure consisted of a washout and clean up of the shoulder. The procedure took approximately one hour to complete.

Lilly will immediately begin an aggressive range of motion and strengthening program. A timetable for a throwing program will be set when he's re-examined after Jan. 1. Typically, recovery time for a procedure such as this would place Lilly's return to the Cubs rotation within the month of April.

-- Carrie Muskat 

The Ricketts family was to tour Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday by helicopter to look at potential sites along the Loop 202 freeway for the Cubs' Spring Training home. Last month, new Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts was in Collier County, Fla., to do the same, looking at three sites near Naples.

The Cubs want 120 contiguous acres where they can build a 15,000-seat stadium, have at least six practice fields, and upgraded facilities for player development. The team has outgrown its current site in Mesa.

On Tuesday night, Arizona officials delivered their sales pitch to the Ricketts family at a dinner at the Red Mountain Ranch Country Club. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer attended, and the session included a video message from Sen. John McCain, who wished the Cubs a World Series victory, according to the East Valley Tribune.

"Please stay with us," McCain said.

Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, who is president of the Phoenix Greater Economic Council, also made a presentation.

"We're really committed to make sure we can address all your issues," Bidwill said.

The Cubs' contract with Mesa and HoHoKam Stadium allows the team to buy out of the deal after 2012. The team has practiced in Mesa since the 1950s, and called its current site home since 1979. The Cubs are the top draw in the Cactus League, and a recent survey showed they provide $52 million to the state's economy.

-- Carrie Muskat 

Starlin Castro hit his first homer and added a triple in the Mesa Solar Sox's 2-1 loss Tuesday to the Peoria Saguaros in Arizona Fall League play. It's good timing for Castro to get hot. The Cubs brass is in Arizona for the organizational meetings. Castro is batting .429 so far. Third baseman Josh Vitters went 3-for-4, and is hitting .360 for the Mesa team. James Russell and Blake Parker each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

-- Carrie Muskat

Milton Bradley will hit 18 homers and drive in 64 runs next season, Alfonso Soriano will belt 30 homers, and Carlos Marmol will total 34 saves. Those are the predictions in the just-released Bill James Handbook 2010.

"In any season, the vast majority of players play in a manner that seems a natural extension of what they had done before," James says in his new book. "When that happens, our projection should be reasonably accurate."

James says Derrek Lee will bat .291, hit 30 homers and drive in 98 for the Cubs; and Aramis Ramirez will hit .292 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs. James says Geovany Soto will hit 20 homers and drive in 79, and that Bradley will rebound and hit .276.

As for the Cubs pitchers, James projected Carlos Zambrano will go 12-8 with a 3.60 ERA and Ted Lilly will finish 11-8 with a 3.76 ERA.

James has Bradley listed with the Cubs in 2010, but the outfielder most likely will be doing that somewhere else.

* Akinori Iwamura is about to be traded, but not to the Cubs. The Rays reportedly dealt the second baseman to the Pirates on Tuesday for reliever Jesse Chavez. Some reports had the Cubs interested in Iwamura, who batted .290 for Tampa Bay.

-- Carrie Muskat

Four Cubs prospects were named to the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars game, to be played Saturday night in Surprise. Starlin Castro, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner and Blake Parker, who are all playing for the Mesa Solar Sox, were tabbed to play for the East Division team in the game, which will be broadcast on the MLB Network. Cashner, however, was not expected to pitch.

-- Carrie Muskat

Outfielder Reed Johnson and pitchers John Grabow, Rich Harden, Kevin Gregg, and Chad Fox are eligible to file for free agency as soon as the World Series ends. A player must file within 15 days after the World Series is over. The Cubs will retain exclusive negotiating rights during that 15-day period.

The Cubs began discussions with Grabow's agent before the regular season ended. The team was expected to try and re-sign the left-handed reliever, acquired July 30 along with Tom Gorzelanny from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"I want to come back," Grabow said in early October. "[Cubs general manager Jim Hendry] knows that. It's just a matter of getting it done."

There were reports Monday that the two sides were discussing a two-year deal in the $6.5 million to $7.5 million range. Grabow, who turns 31 on Wednesday, appeared in a career-high 75 games this past season for the Pirates and Cubs combined. 

As long as we're discussing who should play center field for the Cubs, who would you keep in this group?

-- Carrie Muskat

Starlin Castro hit a two-run single in the fifth inning to help the Mesa Solar Sox beat the Peoria Saguaros, 7-2, on Monday in Arizona Fall League action. Castro is batting .423 in the AFL. Josh Vitters hit a triple for Mesa, and John Gaub struck out two in one inning of relief.

Catcher Michael Brenly, son of Cubs television analyst Bob Brenly, has joined the Solar Sox and was inserted as a defensive replacement in the ninth. The younger Brenly batted .265 this season at Class A Peoria.

-- Carrie Muskat

The Cubs want to move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field. Alfonso Soriano will be in left. Who's in center? Here's a list of free agent candidates. Who's your pick? And I'm hoping nobody says Jerry Hairston Jr. Or, do you go for Sam Fuld or Tyler Colvin? (I know joeydafish and wrigleyguy1980 have some ideas.) The number after the name is their age:

Rick Ankiel (30)
Rocco Baldelli (28)
Marlon Byrd (32)
Mike Cameron (37)
Endy Chavez (32)
Coco Crisp (30)
Darin Erstad (36)
Ryan Freel (34)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34)
Reed Johnson (33)
Andruw Jones (33)
Mark Kotsay (34)
Corey Patterson (30)
Scott Podsednik (34)
DeWayne Wise (32)

-- Carrie Muskat

Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 and stole a base in the Mesa Solar Sox's 4-3 loss to Phoenix on Saturday. Josh Vitters was the DH, and had one hit in five at-bats. The Arizona Fall League takes Sunday off, and will resume on Monday. Mesa will play host to the Peoria Saguaros at HoHoKam Stadium.

-- Carrie Muskat