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CHICAGO -- Blake DeWitt has elected to remain with the Chicago Cubs organization, accepting his outright to Triple-A Iowa.

The Cubs designated DeWitt for assignment on May 6 in order to recall Travis Wood from Triple-A Iowa. Wood made one start in place of Matt Garza, who was suffering from the effects of a flu virus, and then was sent back down immediately after his outing.

DeWitt was not claimed by any other team after going through waivers. He could have declined his outright to Iowa and become a free agent, but he would have forfeited what was left of his $1.1 million deal for this season.

DeWitt is expected to report to Iowa on Friday.

It was the second time this year DeWitt could have opted out of his contract. He was taken off the 40-man roster in February when Adrian Cardenas was claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. He elected to stay with the Cubs, though, and ended up making the big-league roster out of spring training.

In just 18 games this season, DeWitt batted .138 (4-for-29) with one RBI. DeWitt was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2010 trade deadline along with pitchers Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot.

CHICAGO -- Blake DeWitt, who was designated for assignment earlier this month, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Iowa.

DeWitt can still decline the outright and become a free agent, but that move would void what is left of the $1.1 million deal he signed this past offseason.

The utility man batted .138 (4-for-29) in limited duty and was designated for assignment after Matt Garza came down with the flu and Travis Wood had to be recalled to take his spot in the rotation for a day.

CHICAGO -- Perhaps only Blake DeWitt is a big fan of the rain currently delaying the Chicago Cubs-Los Angeles Dodgers game at Wrigley Field on Sunday afternoon.

DeWitt is set to be designated for assignment so that Travis Wood can pitch in Sunday’s game. But that move won’t become official until just before game time. If the game isn’t started then no move is expected.

As of 2:15 p.m. CST, DeWitt technically was still on the Cubs roster.

Because it is the Dodgers’ final trip to Chicago everything is being done to make sure the game is played and it becomes official.

If it doesn’t happen, though, Wood won’t be needed to pitch and DeWitt can presumably keep his roster spot, unless a different move will be made.

CHICAGO -- The flu virus that has swept through the Cubs clubhouse over the last week. It finally cost somebody their job, and he wasn't even sick.

Blake DeWitt was designated for assignment Sunday so that Travis Wood could be added to the active roster. Wood will start Sunday in place of Matt Garza, who is one of four Cubs players and counting who have come down with a nasty flu-type virus.

DeWitt had been healthy, by physical standards anyway, but his offensive numbers had not been in limited action. The left-handed bat off the bench and occasional utility man was batting just .138 (4-for-29) with one RBI and one run scored.

DeWitt will now have to pass through waivers where he can be claimed by another team. If he makes it through waivers he can accept an assignment to Triple-A Iowa or elect to become a free agent.

“Hopefully he clears waivers and elects to stay with us,” manager Dale Sveum said. “It’s just an unfortunate thing. More than anything, just because of the flu bug it cost a guy a job in the big leagues. Our only chance to do anything was with him.”

Garza joined Scott Maine and Jeff Baker as Cubs players who were stricken by the virus, which first appeared when the team was in Philadelphia. Ian Stewart was the latest to fall ill and was replaced in the lineup Sunday by Joe Mather.

CINCINNATI -- Blake DeWitt received a second consecutive day in the Chicago Cubs starting lineup Tuesday and both opportunities appeared to be rooted in his success against Cincinnati Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.

DeWitt is 9-for-25 (.360) with two home runs and four RBIs in his career against Arroyo, the Reds starter in Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series. His start Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies was manager Dale Sveum’s way to get DeWitt on the ground and running heading into the matchup with Arroyo.

“It was just a time to get [DeWitt] two days in a row and get [Darwin] Barney a couple of days off,” Sveum said. “Barney’s still going to play every day for the most part. [DeWitt's] numbers against Arroyo are just too good to sit him. He has to play in a game like this when his numbers are that good off somebody.”

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CHICAGO -- Blake DeWitt said he was fine and ready to contribute one day after he was a late scratch from the starting lineup.

Scheduled to get his first start of the season Sunday, DeWitt was pulled from the lineup at the last minute because of back spasms. Darwin Barney was back in the lineup in his place.

DeWitt shrugged when he was asked if he was feeling fine Monday, moments after taking some swings in early batting practice. “It was only back spasms,” he said.

Manager Dale Sveum was a little more clear on the situation saying that DeWitt wasn't completely 100 percent but he was good enough to be available off the bench as a pinch hitter.

MESA, Ariz. -- Much of the reason Blake DeWitt was able to make the Chicago Cubs roster this spring was on display the day he got the word that he would be heading north with the major league club.

When the spring started, DeWitt was off the 40-man roster and had to scratch and claw his way to a spot. So when his hard work was rewarded, he certainly must have celebrated properly.

Asked if he treated himself to a nice dinner the night he made the roster, DeWitt said he did not. So then there must have been a bottle of champagne. Nope. Perhaps he will shave his beard now to mark the occasion? Negative.

While DeWitt admits there was joy in accomplishing his main goal this spring, he remained cool, calm and collected when he got the news.

“Coming off the bench late in a game to pinch hit, it will teach you that real quick to not get too high or too low because you’re going to get yourself in some trouble,” DeWitt said.

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The Chicago Cubs tried to put together a late rally on Monday but fell just short in a 3-2 split-squad defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Scottsdale, Ariz.

The good: Blake DeWitt and Ian Stewart broke through against Arizona ace Ian Kennedy in the seventh inning with back-to-back doubles for a run. For DeWitt, his two hits keep alive his quest for a roster spot. Stewart is trying to get into a groove with a just over a week remaining in spring training after missing time with a tight quadriceps muscle.

The bad: David DeJesus remains one of the few Cubs players to not get hot for at least a short stretch this spring. He went 0-for-3 Monday, but there is no shame in that against Kennedy. He did coax a walk. But his batting average has dropped to .182 and there are just eight games remaining for the projected leadoff hitter to get on track before Opening Day.

Beyond the box score: Despite taking the loss, Jay Jackson continues to show that he can be effective if the Cubs need some help from a right-hander this season. Jackson, who will start the season at Triple-A Iowa, gave up three runs and seven hits over four innings against a solid Diamondbacks’ lineup. He has a 2.77 ERA in Cactus League play.

Up next: Cubs right-hander Matt Garza (2-2, 5.84) will pitch opposite Cincinnati Reds right-hander Mat Latos (2-0, 1.93) in a 3 p.m. CST start from Goodyear.

MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs kept it close into the late innings on Tuesday before the Texas Rangers ran away with a 6-2 victory. The Cubs lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

The good: Starlin Castro has delivered a solid spring and only seems to be heating up. Castro went 2-for-4 Tuesday with a triple and a double and is batting .318 (14-for-44). Before the game he was working on both defensive and offensive tips with manager Dale Sveum. The two even poured over video to adjust things with his offensive approach.

The bad: Lendy Castillo got into trouble with a walk, a hit batter and another walk in consecutive batters to load the bases. A single allowed two runs to break a tie in the eighth inning. Castillo, who is a Rule 5 pickup, needs to make the major-league roster or be offered back to his former team for half the $50,000 selection fee. It was just the second time this spring he had given up a run in seven outings.

Outside the box: Blake DeWitt continues to make his case as a utility guy and left-handed hitter off the bench. He went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, making solid contact in all four at-bats. At this point, DeWitt is ahead of Adrian Cardenas for a big league job. Cardenas is the player who knocked DeWitt off the 40-man roster when he was obtained off waivers from the A’s in February.

Up next: The Cubs have their only off-day of the spring Wednesday. They return to action Thursday with right-hander Matt Garza (1-2, 9.82 ERA) facing off against the Rangers’ Colby Lewis (0-1, 3.00) in a 3:05 p.m. start from Surprise.

PEORIA, Ariz. -- As if on cue, Joe Mather delivered a two-run single Monday not long after Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum said the utility man has basically made the Opening Day roster.

“I’d be lying if I said it was real close,” Sveum said when asked where Mather stood in the backup outfield spot battle. “The guy’s doing everything he possibly can. He can play so many positions, he can hit the ball out of the ballpark. He’s hit all kinds of pitching so far. He’s hit velocity, he’s hit side-arm right-handers. He played a heck of a center field [over the weekend] in Vegas. He can steal you a base.”

In fact, the entire roster has appeared to take shape. As it looks now, the five-man bench would consist of Mather, Reed Johnson, Blake DeWitt, Jeff Baker and a backup catcher (either Steve Clevenger or Welington Castillo).

“I think probably next Monday, a week from today is when we’ll probably have everything done, whether it’s told everybody or whatever,” Sveum said. “Everybody will know where they’re going and all that. We’ll probably pair down here some after the off day [Wednesday] and then by next Monday, Tuesday we’ll have things pretty much done. I hope we can do it by then.”

DeWitt’s name has come up in recent trade rumors, and if he was dealt it could open a spot for a player such as Adrian Cardenas or Alfredo Amezaga to become a backup middle infielder.

Despite breaking through with a pair of hits Sunday, speedy outfielder Tony Campana appears headed to Triple-A Iowa to open the season.

PHOENIX -- While Blake DeWitt was back playing Saturday, both Darwin Barney and Ian Stewart continued to be on the mend.

DeWitt was in the lineup at third base in the Cubs’ split-squad game at Las Vegas against the Texas Rangers. It was his first action since getting hit on the hand by a pitch in a game Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.

Barney (side strain) and Stewart (tight quadriceps muscle) have both been out of action since early in the week. Neither injury is considered to be serious and both players are expected to return to action next week.

Barney is working through his injury with the team in Las Vegas. Stewart has remained in Arizona as he recovers.

Adrian Cardenas started at second base at Las Vegas and Jeff Baker started at second in Phoenix against the A’s. DeWitt started at third at Las Vegas, while Josh Vitters started at third against the A’s.

MESA, Ariz. -- What looked to be a rough day health-wise for the Chicago Cubs on Thursday has instead shed a light on just how void of serious injuries the club has been this spring.

Ian Stewart, Darwin Barney and Blake DeWitt all missed playing time Thursday with various ailments. But on Friday all three were deemed to have issues that weren’t considered serious.

DeWitt had what could have been the most damaging injury of all when he was hit by a pitch in his right hand. His X-rays came back negative, though, and he could be back playing in a few days.

Also getting rest over the next few days will be Stewart for right quadriceps tightness and Barney for a strained left side. Stewart was even taking ground balls during batting practice on Friday, a solid sign that he could be back soon.

“Everything is a little bit day to day but nothing, knock on wood, has been major so far,” manager Dale Sveum said. “We have been pretty lucky this spring so far.”

Other minor ailments this spring were the back strain for left-hander John Gaub and a groin issue that kept catcher Geovany Soto out of about 10 days of workouts. He is back playing now. Catcher Jason Jaramillo, a non-roster invitee, had probably the worst issue to deal with having quad injuries on both legs.

MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs will march out a drastically different lineup Monday after most of their regulars played in the spring opener a day earlier.

It’s not completely the “B” team that will face the Oakland A's, but there will be plenty of youth as Tony Campana leads off and plays center field, followed by Darwin Barney (second base) and Starlin Castro (shortstop).

Bryan LaHair (first base) will be the cleanup hitter for the second consecutive day, followed by Jeff Baker (right field) and Reed Johnson (left field). The bottom three of the order consists of Steve Clevenger (catcher), Blake DeWitt (designated hitter) and Josh Vitters (third base).

New manager Dale Sveum is big on pacing his veterans, at least through the early part of the Cactus League schedule. That means established players such as Alfonso Soriano, David DeJesus, Marlon Byrd and Ian Stewart will all get a break.

“We don’t have the core guys out there today so it will always be a scattered lineup when that happens,” Sveum said.

MESA, Ariz. -- So far, Blake DeWitt looks unfazed by the setback he was dealt late in the offseason.

Outrighted off the 40-man roster when the Cubs claimed infielder Adrian Cardenas off waivers, DeWitt admitted that he didn’t know what to think when he hit the open road to drive to the desert for spring training.

Even before Cactus League games have started, DeWitt has made an impression on the new manager Dale Sveum. But it wasn’t as if Sveum needed to be that convinced about DeWitt’s hard-nosed approach.

“I know the result wasn’t there but he had two of probably the best at-bats I saw all year off [Brewers closer John] Axford last year,” said Sveum, who was the hitting coach in Milwaukee last season. “Even though he didn’t get a hit I think he lined out one time and had about a 10-pitch at-bat and then struck out. That’s what you want, the quality, consistent at-bats from guys who aren’t playing every day.”

Without a roster spot guaranteed this year, DeWitt insisted he wasn’t going to stress about it. His goal was to have fun and so far so good. He batted ninth as the designated hitter in Friday’s intrasquad game and delivered three hits.

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MESA, Ariz. -- Once Blake DeWitt hit the open road, his mind was free and he was ready to play baseball again.

The Cubs’ utility man from last season had what he called a "weird" month when he settled on a contract to avoid arbitration, was removed from the 40-man roster and then learned he could become a free agent if he desired.

Ultimately DeWitt decided to take the $1.1 million deal he received from the Cubs, but he doesn’t have a guaranteed spot on the Opening Day roster.

"It was one of those things that was all unknown to me," DeWitt said Thursday about the moves that left him on the outside looking in at the 40-man squad. "I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know all the rules. Maybe that's why I wasn't too worried about it, I guess. I don't know."

Since his goal was to always fight for a starting job when he arrived in camp, looking at things in that sense, nothing had really changed.

"No matter if you play 10 years in the league or are looking for your first taste in the big leagues, that's your goal going into spring training every year is to make the team. So nothing's changed. There's no added stress. There's no anxiety. It's go out and have fun."

There will be a lot of work to do, though. The reason he was moved off the 40-man was because the Cubs claimed infielder Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland A's. That means that DeWitt won't just have to battle Darwin Barney for the starting second base job, he'll have to beat out Cardenas as well.

"It’s one of those things that regardless you're coming in to win a job and that's the same approach I'm going to take," DeWitt said.

It was the solitude of his drive from his hometown in Missouri to the Arizona desert that helped him to clear his mind.

"It's a little bit of a drive. It was fun seeing parts of the country I never seen," he said. "I was looking out of the plane window the other times so getting to drive was a lot of fun."

As for his decision to return, there wasn’t really a whole lot to think about. By returning he gets his $1.1 million whether he is playing in the minor leagues or in Wrigley Field. It was probably going to be tough to make that from another club if he became a free agent.

But in no way is DeWitt considering the Cubs the team he is stuck with in order to make top dollar.

"I had a decision to make, and I am extremely happy being here today," he said. "Driving out here it was one of those things that I was ready to get back on the field and ready to get back playing. That was one of the things that was kind of weird about the situation. This time of the year you're ready to get back on the field and to not know where you're going to be it was kind of strange."

He knows where he will be now and that's reassuring.

"Chicago is a great city," he said. "You want to be a part of something here as a player. It's a special place, and I'm looking forward to being here again."