Newest Cub: Aaron Heilman

The Cubs have received RHP Aaron Heilman from Seattle for Garrett Olson and Ronny Cedeno. The Mariners previously acquired Heilman from the Mets in the J.J. Putz 12-player trade. Heilman, 30, was the 18th Overall pick in the 2001 draft.

Will he battle Sean Marshall for the fifth rotation spot?

Will he join the bullpen?

Or is he a player the Padres would like in a trade for Peavy?

I don't profess to know anything about building a baseball team and GM-ing, but Cedeno's inclusion in the trade perplexes me... unless perhaps we're cutting payroll and clearing a roster spot for a blockbuster trade with the Padres. The Padres are trying to get younger and cut payroll, so maybe Heilman and a young prospect, for Peavy and an infielder (maybe a lefty/switchhitter, like Luis Rodriguez?).

Japanese Invasion v2.0?

Cubs.com reports (via Japan's Sports Hoshi) the Cubs are close to signing Japanese lefty Ken Takahashi to a one-year contract.

Takahashi is 40, but (as the article points out) the Cubs currently only have two left-handed pitchers in the bullpen, Sean Marshall and Neal Cotts. If the Cubs want to move Marshall into the starting rotation (alongside Zambrano, Dempster, Harden and Lilly), signing another southpaw to replace him in the bullpen would be a wise move.

Hendry searches for one more pitcher

The Sun-Times talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, and still it appears the plan is to pick up one more starter. While Hendry doesn't mention him by name, Jake Peavy is still widely regarded as the best possible addition to the Cubs starting rotation.

After the Cubs' last deal with Peavy fell through, numerous factors (largely economic) changed, some perhaps making the deal more likely, others making the deal tougher.

The biggest payroll obstacle in taking on the $63 million Peavy is guaranteed for the life of his contract remains the Cubs' 2010 projections. None of the payroll-clearing deals of the last week did anything for 2010, and that means the flexibility to add Peavy probably doesn't exist without a nod from the team's new ownership group.

Selection of a winning bid for the club is said to be close -- perhaps by the end of next week -- and that might be just in time for the Cubs' front office to make a deal before spring training.

Also, the Cubs acquired three well-regarded pitching prospects from the Cleveland Indians in the Mark DeRosa trade last week, giving them deeper reserves of young talent to help pull off a trade.

But the biggest impediment to a deal might be the Padres' willingness to trade their ace, considering their own potential sale to Jeff Moorad's group of investors. Under financial pressures related to a divorce, the Padres' owners had ordered payroll cuts that led to aggressive shopping of Peavy. Some have speculated Moorad won't want to trade one of the team's most valuable commodities.

Other options available?

If Hendry can't land Peavy, plenty of free-agent pitchers remain on the market, although Derek Lowe is pricing himself beyond reason. Productive innings-eaters such as Braden Looper and Tim Redding more likely would fit the Cubs' needs.

Is Looper or Redding really that much better than Sean Marshall/Chad Gaudin/Angel Guzman/whomever else?

Who's #5?

In a move that surprised no one, Jason Marquis was traded to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino and cash. The deal was long rumored and allows the Cubs more flexibility with their payroll after acquiring Milton Bradley. This year, Vizcaino costs about $5 million less than Marquis.

Sean Marshall will likely replace Marquis in the rotation [joining Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Lilly]. Other possible candidates on the Cubs roster include Angel Guzman, Kevin Hart, Chad Gaudin and Jeff Samardzija.