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The Cubs may have lost out on Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who agreed to sign with the Oakland Athletics on Monday, but other reports say that they are very much in the mix for one of his countrymen.

That outfielder is Jorge Soler, who is only 19 years old -- seven years younger than Cespedes -- and considered to be a five-tool prospect. Sources told MLB.com that the Cubs would be willing to spend $27.5 million on Soler, but the sources were not sure how many years that would be spread over. Soler, who is in the Dominican Republic, has not been declared a free agent yet.

The Cubs have been interested in Soler, who figures to end up as a corner outfielder, for as long as they had been tracking Cespedes. When contacted by ESPNChicago.com on Monday, Soler's agent, Barry Praver, declined to comment. Praver, who also represents Carlos Zambrano, and the new Cubs front office of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer shared a car ride on Nov. 14 from Chicago to Milwaukee to attend the general managers meetings. At that time they began to talk about Soler who was living in the Dominican Republic, waiting to become a full-time resident.

Most scouts believe Soler would start at high Class-A after signing.

Cespedes, who visited Miami last week and said he would like to sign with the team, agreed to a four-year, $36 million contract with Oakland.

The Cubs already signed a Cuban defector, 19-year-old pitcher Gerardo Concepcion, this offseason.

ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine contributed to this report.

After designated hitter Victor Martinez tore his ACL during offseason workouts, the Detroit Tigers are in the market for another established hitter.

Here are the top five candidates the Tigers should consider to replace Martinez:

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Although Alfonso Soriano said more than once last season that he likely wouldn’t try to block a trade if the Chicago Cubs attempted to deal him, he seems to have had a change of heart.

“They can do whatever they want,” Soriano said Friday at the Cubs Convention. “It has to be good for me and my family for me to agree [to a trade]. I’m comfortable with the Cubs.

“I won’t go to just any team. I want to be with a contender. I also want to be in the playoffs again. So I’d have to be comfortable with both the team and the city I get traded to.”

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Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza has not let the rumor mill disturb his offseason.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein has been transparent about the fact that he’s listened to offers for Garza, although he clarified on Wednesday that the team hasn’t actively shopped the pitcher. However, numerous teams including the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and, most recently, the Detroit Tigers have discussed different potential player combinations with the Cubs since Epstein began talking to clubs in December.

“I really don’t pay attention to [trade talk],” Garza said Friday at the Cubs Convention in Chicago. “It’s my job to get ready and be in shape for spring training. But that’s all I’ve been focused on. So if I get a phone call [about a trade] --and I’ve got them before -- so be it. It happens. At this point I’m excited to stay here. But if it happens, it happens.”

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Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Wednesday that the team is not shopping pitcher Matt Garza.

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Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said the addition of free agent pitcher Paul Maholm does not mean a rumored trade of Matt Garza is coming.

"As a rule of thumb we aren't going to comment on trade discussions," Hoyer said on Tuesday after announcing the signing Maholm. "I would say with this Maholm contract and the fact that we have six starters right now is not a precursor to anything. I'm not going to comment on trade rumors, but it's important to note that [signing Maholm] isn't a precursor deal."

The Tigers, Red Sox, Blue Jays Yankees and Rangers have all had discussions on acquiring Garza over the last several weeks. Garza has two years of arbitration left before possibly becoming a free agent before the 2013 season.

Garza, 28, made $5.9 million in 2011 and could make $8 million to $9 million this season in arbitration.

Hoyer said the Cubs might not be done adding -- or subtracting -- pitching.

"I think we are very comfortable with the names we have," Hoyer said. "You never know what is going to happen over the course of the winter and what is going to be available to us. But what we said was that a huge priority was building [pitching] depth. We feel like we've really done that. But the minute you feel you have enough pitching, you don't. We are happy with the depth we built up over the winter, but it's a dangerous thing to say you are ever done."

With the addition of Maholm, the Cubs have six pitchers with starting experience for the rotation, including Randy Wells. In addition, Hoyer said Jeff Samardzija will be stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, but also left it open for Samardzija to return to the bullpen.

"If you prepare as a starter in spring training, it can help you with your command, and it can also help you with your secondary pitches," Hoyer said. "But with this depth that we have, he may be a quality bullpen arm for us."

The Chicago Cubs have a big decision to make in the next few weeks about the status of starting pitcher Matt Garza.

President of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have been in contact with a number of teams, including the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, all of whom have prospects to trade.

Garza, who was 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA in 2011, is on pace to make between $8 million to $9 million through arbitration in 2012, up from a 2011 base salary of $5.9 million. If the Cubs believe that they are in a rebuilding mode for the next couple of seasons, then moving Garza now may be the most prudent thing to do.

Garza has two years of arbitration left before he becomes a free agent. If the Cubs want to build up their minor league prospects list, a trade with the Blue Jays would be a good place to start that process.

Foxsports.com reported Sunday that Toronto will not trade prospects for Garza. However they still are involved in talks, according to a major league source.

The Jays have an abundance of young starters in whom the Cubs would be interested. Kyle Drabek and Deck McGuire are two right-handed starters who could move right into the Cubs rotation. Center fielders Anthony Gose and Jake Marisnick have star potential.

The Yankees have balked at trading their two top starters, lefty Manny Banuelos and right-hander Dellin Betances. The Cubs have also asked for New York’s No. 1 prospect Jesus Montero, a right-handed power hitter who had 22 home runs between Triple-A Scranton (18) and New York (4). Some scouts believe Montero will be a first baseman or designated hitter in the future.

Although the Marlins do not have the pitching depth to get Garza, they could put together a package around 19-year-old center fielder Christian Yelich, who hit 15 home runs and drove in 77 runs at Single-A Greensboro in 2011.

Detroit can offer right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner and right fielder Avisail Garcia as well as right-handed pitcher Rick Porcello, although Porcello is arbitration-eligible. Boston has luxury tax issues and may have to dump a salary in order to take on Garza’s $9 million in 2012.

The Cubs have been toying with the idea of offering Garza a long-term contract. Garza’s agent might be looking for something similar to the five-year, $65 million contract John Danks signed with the White Sox last week.

Garza continues to improve each year. Throw out the win-loss record -- Garza left a game with the lead only to end up with a no decision seven times. The 28-year-old pitcher cut his home runs allowed from 28 to 14 in the same number of innings pitched. Garza also struck out 47 more hitters last season and averaged 8.95 strikeouts per 9 innings, ranking seventh in the National League.

In the case of Garza, maybe the best trade is no trade at all.

A report that Prince Fielder may take a three-year deal at $26 million per season was shot down by his agent Scott Boras.

"Not only is that inaccurate and delusional, but it seems that some people have gotten into their New Year's Eve stash just a little bit early this year," Boras told ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday.

Apparently there are still upwards of six teams still interested in Fielder. Teams such as the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers would certainly be part of the bidding, although it's unclear how many years they would be willing to offer. Boas told ESPNChicago in November that bidding would start at seven years for Fielder, who is the highest profile free agent left on the market. However that was before Albert Pujols received a 10-year, $254 million contract from the Los Angeles Angels on Dec. 8.

Boras has stated all along that comparisons between the situations for Pujols and Fielder are totally different because Fielder is five years younger than Pujols.

"It appears some baseball people are just bored," Boras said. "That's when you hear ideas like that floated."

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are close on a deal that would send reliever Sean Marshall to Cincinnati in exchange for left-handed pitcher Travis Wood and two minor leaguers, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Wood, who turns 25 in February, was 6-6 with 4.84 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Reds. Wood beat the Cubs in his major league debut on July 1, 2010, allowing two runs on two hits in seven innings. He finished his rookie season 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 17 starts.

Wood pitched 10 games at Triple-A Louisville last season, going 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA.

Marshall, 29, is one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball. Last season he went 6-6 with 2.20 ERA and had 34 holds, tied for second in the majors among left-handed relievers. That was also a single-season team record.

Marshall is set to make $3 million in 2012, and he will be a free agent after the season.

The potential loss of Marshall means John Gaub, James Russell and Scott Maine will have an opportunity to move up as a primary setup man from the left side.

DALLAS -- The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies have continued to talk trade over the last week about third baseman Ian Stewart, according to sources familiar with the situation.

During their week of discussions the teams have gone back and forth exchanging possible names in return for the 26-year-old Stewart. Originally, Cubs utilityman Blake DeWitt had been discussed. More recently outfielder Tyler Colvin and infielder DJ LeMahieu have been brought into the discussions.

The Cubs have also been looking at San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley as the Cubs look to get better defensively at third base with a younger more athletic player at the position. The Cubs are looking to replace free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

Stewart, who had a wrist injury at the end of 2011, had a completely lost season, batting .156 with no home runs and six RBIs in 48 games. He hit 43 home runs between 2009 and 2010. The situation remains fluid and medicals on Stewart's wrist are possibly being checked.

Colvin has been of interest to the Rockies as Colorado scouts feel he is closer to the player who hit 20 home runs in 350 at-bats during the 2010 season as opposed to the one who hit .150 with six homers last season.

New Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen has talked by phone with Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano about the possibility of Zambrano pitching in South Florida next season, according to a report in the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional.

Zambrano has one year remaining on his original five-year, $91 million extension with the Cubs. He is owed $17.885 million in 2012 and could only go to the Marlins if he were traded or released.

Despite the Cubs-White Sox rivalry, Guillen and Zambrano, both Venezuelan natives, built a close personal relationship during Guillen’s time as White Sox manager.

After Zambrano’s dugout blowup at teammate Derrek Lee at U.S. Cellular Field in June of 2010, Guillen counseled Zambrano over dinner at a downtown restaurant. Zambrano was suspended after that incident, and then again in 2011 after storming out of the ballpark after a rough outing in Atlanta.

ST. LOUIS -- The Chicago Cubs dealt Kosuke Fukudome on Thursday, but didn't find another suitable deal as the trading deadline passed on Sunday afternoon. But don't count them out of making some trades through waivers in August and September.

Cubs general manager traded first baseman Derrek Lee to the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 11 and dealt infielder Mike Fontenot to the San Francisco Giants the next day.

"What we needed to do now was trade [Fukudome, who went to the Cleveland Indians for two minor leaguers]," Hendry said. "That was important because we have [Tyler] Colvin behind him who needed to play."

Hendry was working the phones up until the deadline passed, trying to move some of the players who won't be a part of the 2012 team.

"We tried to stay on top of some things today and trade some people that won't be back next year," Hendry said. "I wasn't expecting something significant to be done. But you do the best you can. I think the days are gone where trades have to be done at the deadline. The guys that we kept, for the most part, have a chance to be involved with us next year."

The Pirates expressed interest in first baseman Carlos Pena. But the Cubs, void of any real first base candidates in the minors, may want to bring Pena back next season. They also fielded calls about their relief pitchers, but they didn't feel the inclination to move what has been basically the strength of the team.

Early interest in outfielder Marlon Byrd by the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves came and went as well due to the Cubs' philosophy that they want to get better, not just to move players and dump salaries.

"I try to do what's best for the organization moving forward," Hendry said. "If you're going to get a second-tier player back in the deal and you already have that type of player in your organization, you're not really doing anything to help yourself."

If Aramis Ramirez or Pena don't return and the Cubs offer them salary arbitration when they become free agents and they sign elsewhere, the Cubs get sandwich draft picks, meaning they get a pick in between the first and second round of the June draft. For the Cubs, some of that talent coming out of high school or college may be far superior to what they receive now in trades with other teams.

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has some decisions to make as the trading deadline approaches on Sunday afternoon.

As first reported by ESPNChicago.com, Kosuke Fukudome has drawn interest from other teams. The Indians are among four teams kicking the tires on a deal with the Cubs. Because of injuries to outfielders Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo, Fukudome looks like the left-handed bat and solid defender that could help the Indians stay in the race.

The Cubs are looking for young pitching talent they can project for the next two years in return. Fukudome has a limited no-trade clause to six teams and it is still unknown whether the Indians are one of them.

First baseman Carlos Pena’s power and defense intrigues a few teams. The Cubs might have to be careful here because they really don’t have a first baseman other than Tyler Colvin ready to start at first base next season. Pena told ESPNChicago.com on Sunday that he has enjoyed his experience with the Cubs and would like to stay on beyond this season. He has a one-year contract and is a free agent at the end of the season.

The Cubs might want to consider renegotiating with Pena, who is on pace for 30 home runs and 90 RBIs. After Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, Pena will be the best option at first base in the free agent market.

A number of teams have looked at left-handed reliever John Grabow but his inconsistencies have caused teams to hesitate.

Although Alfonso Soriano’s name has been out there as a possible acquisition, interest right now is tepid.

The Cubs could trade Jeff Baker and Reed Johnson to any of a number of teams. But the Cubs want to keep them viable as part of a 2012 bench. Baker’s contract is under control and he is eligible for arbitration. Johnson is a potential free agent.

Although the Cubs are interested in dealing, it would not be a shock if they didn’t make a major deal before the deadline.

With the trading deadline approaching, more and more contending teams are showing interest in Chicago Cubs players.

Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome has been on the radar of a number of teams, including the Cleveland Indians. The Indians, who lost right fielder Shin Soo-Choo to injury, would be a much better team with Fukudome.

A National League scout, who asked for anonymity, likes what he has seen in Fukudome this season as opposed to the previous two.

“He’s a different player now,” the scout said. “He’s different than when he came to the Cubs. Fukudome no longer tries to pull the ball on a regular basis. He has better balance in the batter’s box and doesn’t’ overswing like when you would see him spin around in the past. Right now he’s kind of a poor man’s Ichiro. He doesn’t have Suzuki’s speed, but he’ll hit the ball where it’s pitched and take a single or a walk. That’s why he has the good high on-base percentage.”

The scout went on to say that as a defensive player, Fukudome is above average in range as well as arm strength and accuracy.

Fukudome, who was not a favorite of former Cubs manager Lou Piniella, has done well under Mike Quade, who continues to lead him off against right-handers since taking over for Piniella on Aug. 23, 2010.

In any deal the Cubs are seeking minor league pitching that they can project to the majors in return for veteran players. Teams also have expressed interest in lefty reliever John Grabow, outfielder Alfonso Soriano and Marlon Byrd.

Soriano’s a possible DH answer for an American League team.

A source told ESPNChicago.com that the Cubs would eat a high percentage of over $60 million left on Soriano’s deal in the right trade.

Teams have also inquired about Byrd, who has one year remaining at $6 million. However, with the possibility of Fukudome and/or Soriano going elsewhere, the Cubs would hesitate to move the versatile Byrd, who can play all three outfield positions and mentor players like up-and-coming Brett Jackson on and off the field. Byrd’s leadership by example cannot be overestimated.

After having off the record meetings with management over the last week, Aramis Ramirez is staying with the Cubs, according to a major league source.

Ramirez told the Cubs as he did to ESPNChicago.com last week that he wants to stay with the team. Ramirez has a full no-trade clause.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano said on Tuesday that if the team wants to trade him, he probably won’t stand in its way.

Soriano signed an eight-year, $136 million contract in the fall of 2006. When talking to ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday, he seemed unsure about the status of his ability to decline a trade, saying that his 5-and-10 rights wouldn’t kick in until next season. A major league source confirmed however that Soriano does already have a no-trade clause in his contract.

“If they want to trade me, (it) depends on them,” Soriano said. “My control is to play nine innings and try to make the team better, try to win.”

Recently, the New York Yankees have been rumored to have interest in their former player as a designated hitter.

There is about $63 million left on Soriano’s contract that runs through 2014.