Pie on the Block

This is a couple days old, but whatever.

Via the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer.

What's certain is this: Former Rays and Royals outfielder Joey Gathright is a left-handed hitter with more experience, at least as much defensive versatility and better baserunning ability and instincts than Pie, and he made a better impression on manager Lou Piniella with Tampa Bay than Pie has made in Chicago. With the Cubs pursuing free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley and with three other outfielders locked in, there's room for only one Gathright-Pie type. It's doubtful Pie -- who recently was considered the organization's top prospect -- will last the offseason without being traded, considering he's out of options and was a long shot to make the 25-man roster out of spring training even before Gathright was signed.

The article also says Pie has only attempted 12 steals and hit .223 in 130 games over 2 major-league seasons. Needless to say, like it or not we have Gathright, so getting ANYTHING for Pie would be a plus. Pie has rarely impressed me, and the Cubs need a base-stealing threat. If Pie isn't it, what is he here for?