Cubs Rumors 2012: Chicago Willing To Eat Part Of Dempster's Salary In Trade

The Chicago Cubs are willing to eat part of pitcher Ryan Dempster's salary in order to improve the quality of the prospects being acquired in any trade, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Many teams sell off their expensive veterans to save money, but the high-revenue Cubs are hoping to acquire as much as talent as possible in these deals.

Dempster is currently on the disabled list, but he looked absolutely superb before a minor lat strain knocked him out for a couple weeks. In his final three starts before going down, the 35-year-old pitched 22 scoreless innings while striking out 12 and walking just three batters.

This summer Dempster is one of the Cubs' most valuable trade pieces as he continues his late-career resurgence with a 2.11 ERA in his first dozen starts this year. With a salary of $14 million, some teams would presumably prefer to give up slightly better prospects rather than take on the entirety of his remaining guaranteed money.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series, visit White Sox blog South Side Sox and Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Rumors 2012: Six Teams Are Calling Theo Epstein About Matt Garza

Six different teams have been in constant contact with Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein regarding pitcher Matt Garza, as Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports. Garza is considered to be the Cubs' strongest possible piece for deadline trades unless they entertain offers for shortstop Starlin Castro.

According to Cafardo, the Braves, Tigers, Cardinals, Red Sox, Royals and Blue Jays have all called Epstein to discuss possible trades surrounding Garza. The 28-year-old has had some issues with home runs and simple defensive plays this season, but otherwise he's continued to be one of the better pitchers in the National League.

Over 13 starts this year, Garza has a 4.07 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 22 walks over 77.1 innings of work. He presumably has additional appeal to AL teams because of his past success pitching with the Tampa Bay Rays in the difficult AL East.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series, visit White Sox blog South Side Sox and Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Ryan Dempster Injury: Cubs Starter To 15-Day Disabled List

As part of a series of moves to free up roster space for catcher Geovany Soto, the Chicago Cubs have placed Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list with right lat tightness, as Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports. The move generally comes as a surprise given that Dempster has looked so good over the past few weeks.

Dempster on DL with right lat tightness. Main up. Soto up, Castillo down.

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) June 18, 2012

In his past three starts, Dempster has pitched 22 consecutive shutout innings, allowing just 11 hits and three walks while striking out 12. It remains to be seen how this injury, which appears to be fairly minor, will ultimately affect Dempster's value on the trade market, but hopefully teams will remember how he looked before the DL stint.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series, visit White Sox blog South Side Sox and Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Roster 2012: Koyie Hill Opts For Free Agency

Veteran catcher Koyie Hill has opted to become a free agent rather than accept an assignment to the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A affiliate, as Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago reports. The Cubs had designated Hill for assignment last week, and they outrighted him to the minors after he cleared waivers a couple days ago.

Hill, 33, struggled badly over 11 games with Chicago this season, hitting .179 with one double and zero walks in 39 plate appearances. Generally regarded as a defensive specialist behind the plate, few teams would ever be willing to tolerate that kind of offensive production regardless of defensive prowess.

For now, the Cubs still have some solid catching depth in incumbent starter Geovany Soto plus his youthful back-ups, Steve Clevenger and Welington Castillo. When outrighted, Hill was given the option of going to Iowa or hitting free agency, and obviously he chose the latter.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage and other news, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around the world of baseball be sure to visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Rumors 2012: Chicago, L.A. Dodgers Are Discussing Ryan Dempster, Not Bryan LaHair

The Los Angeles Dodgers are discussing possible trades involving veteran starting pitcher Ryan Dempster with the Chicago Cubs, as Buster Olney of ESPN reports. The Dodgers have been rumored to be interested in Dempster in the past, so it makes sense that they'd be opening up discussions for the pitcher around this time.

Dempster, 35, has been superb in his first dozen starts for the Cubs this season, posting a 2.11 ERA with 66 strikeouts and 22 walks over 81 innings. Since being converted to the starting rotation before the 2008 season, he's emerged as one of the best starters in the National League: only six NL pitchers have posted a higher WAR over that time frame.

Olney also notes that the Dodgers and Cubs aren't discussing first baseman Bryan LaHair at the moment. The duo that's primarily been featured at first base for L.A. this season, James Loney and Juan Rivera, has been abysmal, but LaHair would likely require a significant amount in terms of prospects.

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Cubs Roster 2012: Koyie Hill Outrighted To Triple-A After Clearing Waivers

The Chicago Cubs have outrighted catcher Koyie Hill to Triple-A Iowa after the veteran cleared waivers this week, as Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago reports. It remains to be seen whether Hill will accept the assignment or opt to become a free agent once again.

Hill was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds back on May 19 as a stopgap when injuries hit. He did little at the plate to convince the Cubs to retain his services going forward, posting a .179/.179/.205 line over 39 plate appearances.

On Thursday, Chicago finally cut ties, designating Hill for assignment in order to remove him from the 40-man roster. Before the Cubs acquired him, he was playing with the Reds' Double-A affiliate.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage and other news, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around the world of baseball be sure to visit Baseball Nation.

Chicago Cubs Place Blake Parker On 60-Day DL, Purchase Manny Corpas' Contract

The Chicago Cubs have placed reliever Blake Parker on the 60-day disabled list and replaced him on the 25-man roster with Manny Corpas, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. The team announced the pair of roster moves on its official Twitter feed.

#Cubs placed RHP Blake Parker on 60-day DL with a right elbow stress reaction & selected the contract of RHP Manuel Corpas from Iowa (AAA).

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 6, 2012

Parker, 26, appeared in four games with the Cubs this season, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and three walks. He likely won't be ready to return until far later in the season, sometime around August.

His replacement, Corpas, has spent the entire year in Triple-A. Pitching for Iowa, the 29-year-old has posted a 4.01 ERA over 33.2 innings with 19 strikeouts and nine walks. He's mostly struggled in the majors since his breakout with the Rockies in 2007.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Roster 2012: Chicago Adds Reliever Hong-Chih Kuo On Minor-League Deal

The Chicago Cubs, currently sporting one of the worst bullpens in the majors, have added veteran RP Hong-Chih Kuo on a minor league deal:

#Cubs have signed Hong-Chih Kuo, an All-Star in 2010, to a minor-league deal. He will report to Mesa.

— Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney) June 4, 2012

Kuo pitched seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and totaled 292 and 1/3 innings with a 3.73 ERA and a 2.97 FIP. The Taiwan native signed with the Seattle Mariners in Spring Training, but was released before the season began.

The 30-year-old Kuo has had five separate surgeries on his throwing elbow, which has tampered with his effectiveness over his career. In 2011, he could not stop the home run ball and allowed a 9.00 ERA and 5.06 FIP.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Giants blog McCovey Chronicles. For more from around the world of baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Roster 2012: Chicago Acquires Reliever Jairo Asencio, DFA Michael Bowden

It appears the reaping from the CF Marlon Byrd trade has already turned sour, as the Chicago Cubs announced on Friday they would designate RP Michael Bowden for assignment and acquired RP Jairo Asencio from the Cleveland Indians:

#JairoFever is headed to the North Side. Cubs have reportedly claimed RHP Jairo Asencio off waivers from Indians. DFA'd by Tribe on Monday.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 1, 2012

Bowden struggled in his short time with the Cubs, pitching only 9.2 innings of 7.45 ERA, 5.62 FIP ball. The Cubs will presumably try to pass Bowden through waivers and assign him to Triple-A Iowa.

Asencio, meanwhile, joins the Cubs from very similar circumstance in Cleveland. The 28-year-old pitcher had a 5.96 ERA and 4.47 FIP with the Indians, but did have strong peripherals -- striking out 19.4% of the batters he faced while walking only 7.4%.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

2012 Cubs Trade Rumors: Matt Garza May Be A Target For Yankees, Red Sox

The Chicago Cubs (18-32) have not won many games in 2012, but they certainly hope to win in a few trades. The club has several veteran playerss being targeted for potential trades, but none will be more highly sought than SP Matt Garza, the 28-year-old righty who is coming off a career year in 2011.

According to Jon Heyman, two clubs potentially interested in the California native may include the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The two AL East teams have struggled with their starting pitching in the 2012 season, getting 5.06 and 4.60 ERAs from their staffs respectively.

Meanwhile, Garza has a 4.22 ERA and a 3.62 Skill Interactive ERA, both number which represent a modest step back from his success in 2011, but are still relatively strong. The AL East clubs are interested in acquiring the one-time member of the Tampa Bay Rays because he has a history of success in the division, unlike many of the other pitchers likely to hit the trade market.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

2012 Cubs Trade Rumors: Chicago, Boston Might Be Good Match For Ryan Dempster Trade

The Chicago Cubs (18-32) have one of the worst records in the MLB, and their playoff hopes have almost entirely evaporated for the 2012 season. As such, their top veterans have become the focal points of many trade talks this season. And with the second Wild Card expanding each team's chances for the playoffs, very few clubs will be "sellers" by the 2012 MLB trade deadline, meaning the Cubs could lure a strong haul of prospects.

The analysts at ESPN suspect the Cubs may find their first and most likely trade with the Boston Red Sox, who could have a keen interest for SP Ryan Dempster. According to ESPN, the bad blood between Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and the Red Sox owner -- who disliked the nature in which Epstein departed over the winter -- should not prove to be any major roadblock to the potential trade.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Roster 2012: Chicago Signs Reliever Shane Lindsay

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com is reporting the Chicago Cubs have come to terms with minor league free agent RP Shane Lindsay. The former Chicago White Sox pitcher will join the team in Triple-A Iowa where he will look to break into an underwhelming Cubs bullpen.

The 27-year-old native of Australia began the 2012 MLB season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but pitched only 9 innings in Triple-A before getting released. In 2011, he pitched 4 games for the White Sox MLB club, but struck out only 6 batters while walking 5.

So far in the 2012 MLB season, the Chicago Cubs bullpen has the fifth-worst ERA (4.28 ERA) in the National League and the second-worst Fielding Independent Pitching (4.53 FIP) in the MLB.

For more on the Chicago Cubs roster and roster moves, stay tuned to this Cubs transactions storystream. And for more news and notes from around the league, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer or swing by Beyond the Box Score with Justin Bopp and Bill Petti.

Cubs' Ryan Dempster Doesn't Want To Leave Chicago

The Chicago Cubs will likely make numerous attempts to trade pitcher Ryan Dempster before this year's trade deadline, but that wouldn't be the case if he was calling the shots. Speaking with Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times, Dempster reiterated his love for the Cubs' organization despite its recent on-field struggles:

I love being here, man. I love being a part of this organization. I want to be here and be part of what’s going to be a bright future. Sometimes you have to endure some of the tough times in the present to get to that. We’ll just see how it goes.

Dempster, 35, has been one of the best pitchers in the majors so far this season. His 2.14 ERA is currently the sixth-best in the National League and he's got an impressive 50/15 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 54.2 innings in 2012. At the end of the season, Dempster is eligible to hit free agency as his four-year contract runs out.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Chicago Cubs 'Close' To Assigning Javier Baez To Low Single-A

2011 first-round pick Javier Baez is still in extended spring training these days, but Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Cubs are close to assigning the fielder to Low Single-A Peoria. Baez has appeared in just five professional games, all in 2011, including just two appearances in full season ball with Single-A Boise.

Taken by the Cubs with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft out of high school, Baez immediately became one of the team's best prospects upon signing. An explosive young athlete with major power potential and a slight possibility of sticking at shortstop, Baseball America rated him as the No. 61 prospect in all of baseball coming into this season.

For now, it's likely that Baez will predominantly play shortstop for Peoria once he's officially assigned there, but few scouts believe that he's actually going to stick at the position. It's more likely that he ultimately moves to second base or third base, but such a move won't come until Baez forces it with a lack of development at shortstop.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Carlos Marmol, Steve Clevenger To Rehab In Iowa This Week

Relief pitcher Carlos Marmol and catcher Steve Clevenger will be rehabbing from injuries with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs this week, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Both could end up returning within the next week or two barring some sort of setback.

Marmol, who has been out since May 12 with a right hamstring sprain, is scheduled to appear in a game with Iowa on Friday. He'll throw a simulated game before that on Wednesday. The former closer has struggled badly this season, especially with his command, posting a 6.35 ERA over 11.1 innings with 12 strikeouts and 16 walks.

Clevenger has been out since April with a strained back and a cracked rib, but he took batting practice on Sunday and continues to make progress. He's expected to start playing in games with Iowa on Tuesday, eventually playing a full nine-inning game by the end of the week.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the Cubs' team blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue.

Cubs Roster 2012: Anthony Rizzo Likely To Be Called Up In June

First baseman Anthony Rizzo could be called up next month to make his debut with the Chicago Cubs, as manager Dale Sveum confirmed to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago. Rizzo has been mashing for Triple-A Iowa this season after being acquired from the San Diego Padres in a trade during the offseason.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune has some additional details on when exactly Rizzo might be promoted:

If you are looking for a date when Anthony Rizzo will join the Cubs, you should circle June 8 on your calendar. That's the Cubs' first road inter-league game, at Minnesota, and Dale Sveum says Rizzo could figure into the DH role. He's not going to be able to get much work that way, however, as the Cubs' only other series at an AL park is the June 18-20 series at U.S. Cellular Field.

This season, Rizzo has hit .353/.418/.706 with 14 homers over 170 plate appearances for Iowa. Over 583 plate appearances in Triple-A, nearly a full season of playing time, the 22-year-old has posted a stunning .338/.408/.668 line with 44 doubles and 40 homers.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the Cubs' team blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue.

Blake DeWitt Will Stay With Cubs, Report To Triple-A Iowa

Infielder Blake DeWitt has elected to accept his assignment to Triple-A Iowa, as Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago reports, staying with the Chicago Cubs organization after being removed from the 40-man roster. DeWitt was designated for assignment by Chicago on May 6 and the team outrighted him to Triple-A on Wednesday after he cleared waivers.

DeWitt could have declined the assignment in order to become a free agent, but in doing so he would have waived the remainder of his $1.1 million salary for the year. DeWitt has had two opportunities to leave the Cubs this year, but both teams he's decided to remain within the organization.

After hitting a brutal .138 with minimal power in 18 games with the Cubs this season, DeWitt could likely use some time in Triple-A. Padilla says that DeWitt is expected to report to Iowa by Friday.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Good Night Phight.

Cubs Transactions: Chicago Calls Up Reliever Blake Parker

The miserable bullpen of the Chicago Cubs again reared its ugly head last night by surrendering six runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth inning in a 9-2 Chicago loss at Wrigley. The Cubs are understandably exploring options to fix the bullpen, and today they made a minor move by calling up reliever Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa.

Related: Phillies Vs. Cubs Final Score: Philadelphia Scores 6 In 9th Inning To Hand Chicago 9-2 Loss

Parker will likely replace either Casey Coleman or Scott Maine on the big league roster, as each player still has minor league options left. Rafael Dolis has been dealing with a back injury, so a trip to the DL for him could also happen.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Good Night Phight.

Blake DeWitt Outrighted To Triple-A Iowa After Clearing Waivers

The Chicago Cubs have outrighted utility player Blake DeWitt to Triple-A Iowa after he cleared waivers this week, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. The Cubs designated DeWitt for assignment ten days ago, waiting until the last possible day to ultimately make a move on him.

If there were possible trade suitors, the Cubs could have pursued a deal, but it's not a sure thing that other teams were interested in his services. DeWitt hit .138 with one double and zero walks in his first 30 plate appearances with the Cubs this season before being DFA'd, and he's making $1.1 million this season after avoiding arbitration in the winter.

Considering that nobody claimed DeWitt off waivers, which would simply cost his new team the prorated amount of his 2012 salary, it's reasonable to believe that the infielder has little-to-no value on the market at this point. Realistically, his versatility is probably his best asset now.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Place Lendy Castillo On DL, Recall Scott Maine From Triple-A Iowa

The Chicago Cubs have placed relief pitcher Lendy Castillo on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain retroactive to May 12, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. Lefty Scott Maine is being recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Castillo on the roster.

Selected by the Cubs in the Rule 5 draft, Castillo has managed to stick around through the first few weeks of the season. His numbers with Chicago have been poor, as he's posted a 7.04 ERA with six strikeouts and four walks over 7.2 innings, but the injury may help to explain those struggles.

The 23-year-old Castillo never pitched above Single-A before this year, but he's been thrown into the fire as a result of the Rule 5 draft's requirements. His replacement, Maine, has a 5.25 ERA in 12 innings with Iowa this year, but over 119 career Triple-A innings he's posted a 3.78 ERA with 143 strikeouts.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Starlin Castro Won't Discuss Long-Term Contract During Season

The agent representing Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro told the Chicago Tribune's Fred Mitchell that talks regarding a long-term extension won't begin before the end of the season. Castro is having another exceptional season for Chicago so far, but Paul Kinzer thinks it'd be best for his client to wait on negotiating a new deal.

Maybe after the season, but I’m not really interested during the season to talk about it. I don’t want any distractions.

Kinzer did make it clear that Castro likes playing in Chicago and the aren't any issues with the organization.

I know they want to keep (Castro) here and he loves it here. So I am sure we’ll be talking eventually. But I don’t think it will be during the season.

Castro, 22, is currently hitting .347/.359/.468 with 11 steals over the team's first 31 games. After leading the NL in hits last season as a 21-year-old, he's tied for the league lead in hits once again so far this season. The lack of walks, just three over 124 plate appearances, would be a bigger issue if he wasn't so good at making hard contact.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Chicago Cubs Release Former 2010 Draft Pick Pierre LePage

The Chicago Cubs have released minor league second baseman Pierre LePage, according to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. LePage never appeared in a game with any affiliate of the Cubs in 2012, most recently appearing in Single-A last year.

The Cubs have released miniscule 2B Pierre LePage, a 13th-round pick in 2010.

— Kevin Goldstein (@Kevin_Goldstein) May 9, 2012

LePage is listed at just 5-foot-8 and weighs 168 pounds, similar to the build of fellow second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who is listed at 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds. Obviously the comparisons end there, though, as LePage has never played at a level higher than Single-A.

In 65 games with low Single-A Boise in 2010, LePage hit .331/.367/.453 with nine steals, but he followed it up last year by hitting .252/.316/.357 in 66 games for Single-A Peoria.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Transactions 2012: Cubs Call Up Adrian Cardenas, Blake DeWitt Stays In Minors

Over the weekend the Chicago Cubs designated utility infielder Blake DeWitt for assignment in order to make room for Travis Wood, who needed to start for the Cubs on Sunday because planned starter Matt Garza was ill. It seemed as if the Cubs would just flip that move after Wood's start, but Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have decided to keep DeWitt— who has hit a ghastly .138/.133/.172 so far this season— in the minors. Instead, they've called up infielder Adrian Cardenas to make his debut in the majors.

Cubs Transactions 2012: Blake DeWitt Designated For Assignment

Chicago Cubs offseason acquisition Travis Wood will make the start on Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers in place of Matt Garza, who is dealing with an illness. In order to make room for Wood on the roster, the Cubs designated utility man Blake DeWitt for assignment.

Cubs Transactions 2012: Chicago Releases Triple-A Infielder Edgar Gonzalez

The Chicago Cubs have released minor league infielder Edgar Gonzalez so he can pursue opportunities in Asia, as Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports. As ESPN Chicago notes, a Cubs spokesperson has since confirmed the move as well as Gonzalez's intentions.

Edgar Gonzalez at Triple-A Iowa is released. Cubs spokesperson said he will pursue playing opportunities in Asia.

— Doug Padilla (@ESPNChiCubs) April 29, 2012

Gonzalez, 34, appeared in nine games for the Iowa Cubs this season, hitting .286/.333/.393 over 30 plate appearances. The older brother of Red Sox star Adrian Gonzalez, he hit .315/.378/.457 with 14 homers in 137 games for San Francisco's Triple-A affiliate in 2011.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Welington Castro Promotion: Cubs Poised To Call Up Catching Prospect

It isn't official yet, but multiple outlets are reporting that the Chicago Cubs are calling up prized catching prospect Welington Castro. Castro is expected to join the team today in Philadelphia, where the Cubs beat the Phillies 5-1 on Friday night. Here's how we first saw the news:

#Cubs call up catcher Wellington Castillo, agent said.

— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) April 28, 2012

Backup catcher Steve Clevenger is headed to the disabled list to make room for Castro.

Starting catcher Geovany Soto is hitting .135 this season, so the sight of Castro should be a welcome one to fans of the North Siders. Our own Satchel Price penned a feature on Castro and the Cubs' situation at catcher last week.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Phillies blog The Good Phight. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Transactions 2012: Rodrigo Lopez Clears Waivers, Heads To AAA Iowa

Chicago Cubs pitcher Rodrigo Lopez was designated for assignment on Monday to make room for newly-acquired pitcher Michael Bowden, and since he cleared waivers, he's being sent to triple-A Iowa.

Lopez clears waivers and accepts outright to AAA Iowa where he will be a starter.

— Doug Padilla (@ESPNChiCubs) April 24, 2012

Related: Cubs Transactions 2012: RHP Rodrigo Lopez Designated For Assignment, RHP Michael Bowden Added To Cubs Roster

While Lopez did start 16 games for the Cubs in 2011, he'd been coming out of the bullpen exclusively in 2012. In 6-1/3 innings or work this season, he compiled a 5.68 ERA.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Transactions 2012: RHP Rodrigo Lopez Designated For Assignment, RHP Michael Bowden Added To Cubs Roster

The Chicago Cubs made a minor change to their pitching staff on Monday, adding the recently-acquired Michael Bowden to the 25-man roster and designating Rodrigo Lopez for assignment.

Rodrigo Lopez designated to make room for Bowden.

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) April 23, 2012

Bowden was acquired in a deal with Boston that sent Marlon Byrd to the Red Sox over the weekend; he had worked just three innings for Boston this season. He's pitched 59-1/3 innings in his major league career, with 48 strikeouts and 23 walks.

Lopez made four appearances and worked 6-1/3 innings for the Cubs this season. He struck out two, walked five and had a 5.68 ERA.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Scout Kyle Phillips Hopes To Play Again In 2013

28-year-old Cubs scout Kyle Phillips, a former catcher with the Padres, wants to return to playing in 2013.