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LOS ANGELES -- The Cubs may have stumbled on some synergy during their just completed 4-3 road trip, which was their first winning trip of the season.

And it's a fortunate time to gain some momentum as the Cubs head home to play division rivals Cincinnati and St. Louis

"[Carlos Zambrano] was great, and we hit a couple of long balls that ended up going out," Cubs manager Mike Quade said after a 5-1 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. "It ended up being a pretty good trip. A trip that had its moments."

Former Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly was the victim of home runs hit by Geovany Soto, Carlos Pena and Marlon Byrd, whose homer was his first of the season.

"You didn't think I was going to go 600 plate appearances without a home run," Byrd said. "I just wanted to find my swing and contribute."

It was the first home run for any Cubs player in the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

"I came out here and got some early hitting in," Byrd said. "It's nice to get some live swings in, and see what the ball was going to do."

Pena went deep for the second straight day, while catcher Soto got the team going with the first home run of the day in the fifth.

"I was just trying to put the ball in play with authority," Soto said. "We were facing a pretty good opposing pitcher."

The day belonged to Zambrano, who won his fourth game while going eight innings and yielding just one run.

"I came out in the first inning, and I saw the gun read 92," Zambrano said. "Then I saw the gun again at 94. But it wasn't the velocity. My delivery was nice and easy today. When it went to he plate, it wasn't floating."

Zambrano won his 10th straight road game, a stretch dating back to Aug. 14, 2010.

CHICAGO – Today’s pitching matchup between the Chicago Cubs' Ryan Dempster (1-2, 6.84) and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Ted Lilly (1-2, 4.09 ERA), a former Cub, is more than just two struggling pitchers trying to find their groove. Not only were those two pitchers arguably the two best starters for the Cubs over the past three seasons, they were also pretty much inseparable.

Dempster and Lilly would go jogging together in the mornings and anyone that spent any time in the Cubs clubhouse came away with the clear knowledge that the two were very close friends. However, manager Mike Quade doesn’t expect the two to be buddy-buddy when the game starts.

“They’re best of friends and they won’t be today,” Quade said about the ultra-competitive pitchers, “which is also something I love about them.”

Though Lilly may be a fan favorite and loved by his former Cubs teammates, Quade made it clear that there was only one acceptable outcome for Lilly in today’s game.

“I love Lil to death, but I hope he leaves here with a very unhappy face,” Quade said with a smile.

Meanwhile, there are much more important issues for the Cubs and Dempster. Earlier in the week, Quade talked about how he expects his top three pitchers, Matt Garza, Carlos Zambrano, and Dempster to all turn it around after slow starts.

Zambrano (8 IP, 10 Ks, 0 ER) and Garza (6 IP, 9 Ks, 0 ER) both complied with Quade’s request in their last outings, and the skipper was hopeful that Dempster would follow suit.

“Every day is a big day, and every day you look forward to a guy getting locked in for weeks on end,” Quade said, “No time like the present. With these three guys, I always expect a good outing and hopefully [Dempster] backs that up today.”

Russell on Tuesday? Quade also discussed his plans for Tuesday’s starter against the Colorado Rockies and while he was hesitant to commit 100% to anyone, he said he was leaning towards lefty reliever James Russell one more time.

However, he said this time he and pitching coach Mark Riggins were going to go about it a different way and not use Russell out of the bullpen in the games leading up to his potential start.

“Let him prepare and maybe change his repertoire a little bit, particularly against right-handed hitters,” Quade said Russell, “Let him do a little work on the side so I’m not messing that up and give him his best chance to be successful.”

Russell is 0-2 in his two starts on the season and while he increased his workload to four innings in his last start (after lasting only 1 2/3 in his first one), he also gave up three home runs in taking the loss against the San Diego Padres.

If pitching truly is 80 percent of the game of baseball, the Chicago Cubs may know early in the season if they have the right stuff in the rotation and bullpen to compete.

General manager Jim Hendry sent four prospects and minor-league veteran Sam Fuld to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Matt Garza. The result of the trade replenishes the staff with a strong arm that can replace Ted Lilly, who was traded to the Dodgers last July. Garza, 27, has the potential to win 17-20 games as he moves from the toughest division in baseball, the American League East, into the competitive National League Central.

Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster complete the first three rotation spots for the Cubs. Although Zambrano had been the staff ace through 2007, it has been Dempster along with the departed Lilly who did the heavy lifting in the past three seasons. Dempster, since giving up the closer's role after the 2007 season, has averaged 207 1/3 innings and a shade over 14 wins per season. The 33-year-old also is one of the main leaders on the Cubs. His presence brings a togetherness in the clubhouse on a daily basis.

Most will predict that as Zambrano goes so go the Cubs chances of winning their division. If the last two months of the 2010 season are any indication that he is back to being his old self, then 15 wins, 200-plus innings and another sub-4.00 ERA should be in store for Zambrano, who is listed at 29 years old. He showed everyone, including the front office, that he could pitch a solid six or seven innings without the benefit of a 94-mph fastball. Zambrano was the ultimate pitcher in the last two months of 2010, showing great command of his changeup, split finger and slider while topping out between 89 and 91 mph with the fastball.

Zambrano went 8-0 after returning from the restricted list in August. That type of pitching is a must for the Cubs to compete. Forty-five to 50 wins total for the top three pitchers is essential for the Cubs to play meaningful baseball in late September.

The rest of the rotation is almost an open audition. Although Randy Wells and Carlos Silva were in the rotation in 2010, nothing is promised to them as spring training opens Monday for pitchers and catchers. Silva was one of the top pitchers in the National League before the All-Star break. He began the season 8-0 with a 2.93 ERA in his first 11 starts. After that it was downhill. His problems began with an irregular heartbeat. He left his Aug. 1 start against the Colorado Rockies and went on the disabled list. Silva had a cardiac ablation procedure to correct the heartbeat on Aug. 9. He then missed five weeks and made one start before skipping the rest of the season with elbow tendinitis.
Wells, who was a revelation for the Cubs in 2009, had a tough sophomore season, posting an 8-14 record after winning 12 his rookie season. Wells and Silva will be pushed by youngsters and veterans alike. Andrew Cashner will get a shot at one of the spots as will lefty James Russell. Both spent most of the last season in the bullpen. Veterans Todd Wellemeyer and Braden Looper signed minor-league contracts that are not guaranteed. They will battle with Cashner, Russell, Silva, Wells and Casey Coleman for the fourth and fifth rotation spots.

The Cubs' bullpen looks solid at the start of spring training. Veterans Kerry Wood and Sean Marshall will set up intimidating closer Carlos Marmol. Right-hander Jeff Samardzija will get a long look for a spot in the bullpen. Samardzija, who bounced around the bullpen and rotation the past few years, is out of options and must make the team or be subject to waivers.

If Russell doesn't make the rotation, he and Scott Maine give the Cubs some good left-handed depth behind Marshall. Maine impressed the Cubs enough late last season that they feel he can handle the second or third lefty role if Russell is moved into the rotation. John Grabow, returning from knee surgery, hopes to be the quality left-hander that he was in Pittsburgh. Minor leaguers Chris Carpenter and Jay Jackson will get a long look, too. Both have strong arms and can either start or relieve.

As spring training begins, the Cubs have a lot of pitching depth. The question is how deep does the quality run and will the staff have what it takes to contend with the Reds, Brewers and Cardinals in 2011?

The Chicago Cubs' season was a tale of three parts in 2010: The quick failure of the team to compete, the drama of Lou Piniella retiring and staying on as manager and then retiring again, and the resurgence of the team in the last 40 games under Mike Quade.

Let's take a look at your Cubs season in review:

Rotation

What went right: Carlos Silva was the surprise of the National League in the first half, winning 10 games by the All-Star break while keeping the team afloat along with the usually reliable Ryan Dempster. Carlos Zambrano's return to ace form in the second half gives the feeling of some optimism for the rotation in 2011.

What went wrong: The Cubs' decision to put Zambrano in the bullpen backfired as he was ineffective in that role and also left a gaping hole in the front of the rotation. Randy Wells' sophomore slump resulted in just six wins for the season after having an outstanding rookie season when he won 12 in 2009. Ted Lilly missed three and a half weeks recovering from shoulder surgery then was submarined by his own offense which only scored 2.5 runs per start for him before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Silva went from All-Star to all-question mark in the second half, having a procedure done to correct an irregular heartbeat. Gorzelanny had his share of good starts as did rookie Casey Coleman at the end of the season. Jeff Samardzija's season can be described as incomplete at the major league level.

Bullpen

What went right:Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall emerged as two of the best relievers in the National League. Marmol set a major league record with an average of almost 16 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and was as dominant a closer as there was in the game. Marshall again proved to be the Cubs' most versatile pitcher in the bullpen and Piniella and Quade used Marshall in many different roles. Marshall finally settled into the primary setup man role for Marmol. Other nice stories included the coming of age of Andrew Cashner and James Russell, both of whom will be counted on in 2011 as integral parts of the Cubs bullpen. Cashner started to develop a good breaking ball to go along with his 98-100 mph fastball. Russell was finally used properly under Quade as he flourished facing mostly left-handers in the second half.

What went wrong: The bullpen imploded early and often as the plan to use three rookies and the inexperienced Samardzija caused the team to blow more games early on than any team in baseball. Veteran reliever John Grabow had his worst season protecting an injured knee which finally gave out on him in mid-summer.

Catchers

What went right: Geovany Soto's re-commitment to becoming the type of player he was in 2008 when he won NL Rookie of the Year was a good story for the Cubs. Soto's defense wavered from time to time, but overall it was a positive return for the 2008 All-Star. Koyie Hill continued to be a positive backup for the Cubs.

What went wrong: Soto's season was cut short by shoulder surgery. However a positive out of that is that the Cubs were able to look at Wellington Castillo, who can be projected as a major league catcher in the future.

Infield

What went right: The Starlin Castro era began at shortstop on May 7 with the rookie setting a major league record with 6 RBIs in his first game. Although Castro struggled defensively at times, his arm and range suggest that he will be one of the star shortstops in the majors for the next 10 years. Blake DeWitt, acquired in the Theriot trade, proved to be a solid if not spectacular player at second base, and he showed that he fit well in the clubhouse. Ramirez's return to form in the second half was a key to the Cubs' run production as he led the team with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs. Xavier Nady proved to be a more than efficient first baseman after Derrek Lee was traded, although his power stroke never returned.

What went wrong: The sad tale of the infield centers around Ramirez's and Lee's awful first half slumps which killed any semblance of the Cubs' ability to score runs. Ryan Theriot's bulked-up body took away the bat speed that created a once-prolific singles machine. Defensively, Ramirez was well below average as he looked like a player that had never played the game during the first eight weeks of the season. A thumb injury in the middle of the summer only made things worse for the former All-Star. Lee's dreadful season eventually led to him getting traded to the Atlanta Braves.

Outfield

What went right: General manager Jim Hendry's signing of Marlon Byrd proved to be one of the best moves any team made in the offseason. Byrd was the Cubs' lone all-star, hustling his way to a near-.300 batting average. The Cubs' Energizer Bunny made only three errors in the outfield and should be in strong consideration for a Gold Glove. A lack of run production by Byrd can only be blamed on the failure of Ramirez, Lee and Theriot to do their jobs. The emergence of Tyler Colvin has some Cubs fans excited about his future. Colvin somehow was able to hit 20 home runs while rotating in the outfield with Kosuke Fukudome, Alfonso Soriano, Byrd and Nady. Colvin's year was cut short due to the freak accident that occurred when Castillo's shattered bat pierced Colvin in the chest causing a collapsed lung.

What went wrong: The same story that has occurred for the Cubs over the past four years: a general lack of run production. Fukudome had his usual downturn in mid-summer. Soriano's lack of a hot streak made the Cubs outfield one of the least productive in the league. Not a lot of home runs from this group even with Soriano's 24 and Colvin's 20.

Managers

What went right: Quade taking over the team on Aug. 23 from Piniella was a big-time feel-good story for the fan base. Quade won 24 out of 37 games, putting himself in position to be the full-time manager next season. Veterans and rookies all responded well to Quade, with his friendly but firm communication skills and his decisive handling of the game. Players were told 2-3 days in advance of days that they would have off and lineups were posted early in the day. During his time, Quade benched two veterans who weren't responding to team rules without the media finding out about it. Quade should be a favorite when Hendry and owner Tom Ricketts sit down to hire their new manager later this month.

What went wrong: Surprisingly, even a veteran manager like Piniella was affected by his lame duck status. Players began griping about Piniella by mid-May, complaining about his unorganized way of handling players' days off and posting the lineups late. Piniella's decision to announce his retirement before he was ready to step down proved to be a mistake. Family issues with the death of his uncle and the illness of his mother only conviluted an already bad situation. In defense of Pineilla, a lot of the players who were griping were the same ones who were failing to live up to their contracts.

Front office

What went right: Hendry's signing of Byrd and the trade of Milton Bradley to the Seattle Mariners for Silva changed the entire mood of the clubhouse. Hendry's farm system has produced two Rookie of the Year candidates in Castro and Colvin. Set-up man Cashner may also be a star of the future in the back of the bullpen. For the first time in decades, the Cubs' farm system is sending viable young players to the big leagues. Hendry's best move may prove to have been selecting Quade as Piniella's replacement. The team under Quade rejuvenated a lost season, giving both players and fans a realistic good feeling about a turnaround in 2011.

What went wrong: From January on, Hendry was hamstrung by a payroll that had been maxed out since December of 2008. Hendry's attempts to sign free-agent relievers Matt Capps and Chan Ho Park failed because of a lack of money available. Attempts to trade for San Diego Padres reliever Luke Gregerson and the Toronto Blue Jays' Jason Frasier never materialized. Free-agent setup man Grabow failed in his role.

Offseason

The Cubs must start with hiring a new manager. Quade appears to be the front office and players' choice. The question is whether Ricketts and the marketing department will agree if Hendry chooses Quade over Ryne Sandberg or Eric Wedge. The Cubs' payroll is also a question mark. Ricketts has said that the team's payroll will be slightly less than in 2010. The question is will it be slightly less than the $144 million that was the payroll at the beginning of the season or slightly less after they had traded Lilly, Lee, Theriot and Fontenot in the last third of the season? The question in 2011 will be whether it will be a re-tooling year for the Cubs or will Hendry have the cash to go out on the free-agent market to sign difference-makers like Adam Dunn and Cliff Lee. Other questions center around the young players in the system. Will Castro and Colvin have to deal with a sophomore slump? And will center field prosect Brett Jackson follow Castro's trail to the majors in 2011? All that said, Zambrano must be able to do what he did the last six weeks of the season for a whole year, and Ramirez must return to the 35-home run, 100-RBI player that he was in the past if the Cubs are going to compete in a very winnable NL Central in 2011.

It took until he was 27 years old, but a former 10th overall pick has finally made it to the big leagues. Chicago Cubs starter Thomas Diamond had been producing at Triple-A (104 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings and a 3.16 ERA over 21 starts), and I even considered him for the back end of my "Top 10 for '10" list (below) on a few occasions. But the Cubs just didn't have an open spot in their rotation for him -- until they traded Ted Lilly to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That opened up a spot in their rotation, and Diamond filled it, making a 10-strikeout (albeit with 10 base runners), six-inning debut against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. He did need a lofty 122 pitches just to get through those six innings, but considering some of the trials and tribulations the 2004 first-round pick has been through, just making that start was a victory of sorts.

So is he a "diamond" in the rough?

Read the entire story .

Cubs manager Lou Piniella returned to his team Tuesday after spending three days in Tampa, Fla., attending his uncle’s funeral and dealing with the needs of his ailing 90-year-old mother.

Piniella admitted he didn’t have time to watch any baseball. That’s probably a good thing considering his team has given up 57 runs in the past five games, and, in the process, ran its losing streak to a season high six games.

Monday night the Cubs fell 14 games under .500 for the first time since 2006.

Piniella knows this team is going nowhere at this point. Still, his job is to keep his players focused and playing hard every day.

“It’s going out there and competing every day,” Piniella said. "It’s competing. Forget the wins and the losses. It’s going out there and competing every day and doing the best you possibly can. That’s the big part of being professionals.”

Piniella was candid about the young relief pitchers that he has watched come up and down between Chicago and Triple-A so far this season.

“What I’ve seen here, more than anything else, is the lack of a good second pitch,” Piniella said about the youngster. “That’s what I’ve seen. It’s hard to pitch up here with one pitch. You need two pitches. If you have three, even much the better. The second pitch is the one that has to improve. And that’s what Larry [Rothchild] has been working with as much as or more than anything else. One thing about major league hitters, most of them can hit the fastball. The vast majority can hit a fastball in a fastball count.”

Piniella also had this upadate on Carlos Silva who is be treated for unspecified heart issues at Northwestern by cardiologist Mark Upton.

“He’s going through some treatment today as we speak to try and find out what caused the defibluation,” Piniella said. “We’ll probably have more for you tomorrow or the next day.”

The Cubs’ manager has not talked to either Ryan Theriot or Ted Lilly since they were traded to L.A. on Saturday. But he did ask media relations director Peter Chase to get phone numbers for both players.

“They were two of my favorites,” he said. "Two outstanding young men. I had fun with both of them. I enjoyed seeing them play. I will talk to them.”
Piniella received word of the trade from interim manager Alan Trammel on Saturday after he arrived in Florida."

DENVER -- On a night when Carlos Zambrano returned to the mound for the first time since June 25, the focus wasn't on the star-crossed Cubs pitcher but more on whether his team would be impacted to the point of distraction by the trades of Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot earlier in the day.

"You always want to be the team adding and have a shot," first baseman Derrek Lee said. "But it hasn't worked out for us this year. This year is something none of us could have expected to be in. All of us thought we would be contending for a playoff spot."

Although the Cubs fought back to tie the game in the eighth inning on Lee's three-run homer, Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez put another exclamation point on a loss for the Cubs with a 462-foot walk-off homer off Sean Marshall to complete a cycle and a 6-5 victory.

"It's been a rough year," Lee said. "No question about it, it has been a rough season so far. That's what happens when you have a rough four months. The organization has to make a decision which direction we want to go."

It appears general manager Jim Hendry already made that decision when he tried to trade Lee earlier in the week to the Los Angeles Angels and then followed that up by trading Lilly and Theriot to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. Look for Hendry to continue to try to deal other players off his team over the next month through the waiver process.

DENVER -- The aftershock of the trade that sent Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Los Angeles Dodgers could be felt in the Chicago Cubs clubhouse on Saturday afternoon. Even stand-up guys such as Ryan Dempster wouldn't talk to the media about the team's failed season that led to the veterans getting moved at the trading deadline.

I asked Lilly before he departed for the West Coast for his perspective on what happened to the Cubs this season.

"We as players didn't perform," Lilly said. "I felt like the front office and the organization put the players on the field. We had talent to win. You take into consideration that the game is challenging and there is some competition out there. On top of that, we didn't perform to our potential. I'm certainly of the mindset that it's up the players to get it done on the field, and we weren't able to do that."

Theriot, who has spent his entire career in the Cubs organization, wouldn't use the excuse that moving to second base when Starlin Castro was promoted to play shortstop in early May has affected his game.

"I don't think it was the move but how the season played out," Theriot said. "The Cubs are a proud organization, one that sets themselves up to win. Nobody was happy with what was happening [with their season]. But going from short to second I don't think had too much bearing on it."

Theriot was asked to chime in on what he felt had happened to a once promising season for the Cubs.

"I don't know. We didn't win games," Theriot said. "As you know, we lost a lot of close games. With the young guys that came up, they did a wonderful job. It's always tough when you have a group of young guys. We went through that in 2006, and I think you saw what happened in '07 and '08 [division titles]. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Guys are getting a ton of experience with Starlin, [Andrew Cashner] and Tyler [Colvin], they are going to be primed for the big time the next couple of years."

The building blocks continue for the Cubs. Expect more promotions from Triple-A Iowa the rest of the season. Right-handed pitcher Thomas Diamond makes his debut in the rotation on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

DENVER -- Cubs general manager Jim Hendry had a busy and productive day, trading lefthanded pitcher Ted Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers for Blake DeWitt and two minor-league pitching prospects.

Hendry felt the need to trade Lilly even though the organization still values his services.

“It was a good conversation. I wished him well,” Hendry said. “I think he was happy. It was one of the clubs that he would have liked to go to if he was traded.”

Hendry spoke mostly about the future and his new acquisitions, rather than to dwell on the loss of Lilly and Theriot.

The 24-year-old DeWitt will be the Cubs new starting second baseman.

“We think he’s a real solid player,” Hendry said. “We certainly liked him for years, way back when he entered professional baseball. He’s a tough kid. His better days are way ahead of him. He has a chance to be a complete player. We’re anxious to see him play that position and see how that takes us into the offseason.”

Hendry was asked about the young pitchers acquired in the deal, Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach, son of former Expos third baseman Tim Wallach.

“We really like both of them,” Hendry said. “The Smit kid is really making a lot of strides, throwing the ball very well. And Wallach is a third-round pick from just a year ago’s draft. He comes from good stock. They’re both upper-echelon prospects as to how we ranked their system.”

According to major league sources, Hendry and the Cubs were close to trading Mike Fontenot and Xavier Nady at the deadline, but that deal was never consummated.

“We had dialogues with quite a few clubs the last few days,” Hendry said. “There were all different kinds of deals. But I can’t say for certain how close things might have been today. Sometimes the deals that we were close an hour or two before the deadline are done in August.”

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to trade pitcher Ted Lilly and infielder Ryan Theriot to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Blake DeWitt and pitching prospects Brett Wallach and Kyle Smit.

Read the entire story.

DENVER -- If you watch the Cubs long enough, you will see things happen on the baseball field that have never happened before.

Friday’s losing pitcher, Ryan Dempster, had to watch a 12-run Rockies’ eighth inning while sitting on the bench.

“If you brought out Ramirez, D-Lee and Byrd, and you let them pitch batting practice, and if you put nine fielders out there, I have a real hard time believing they’re going to get 11 hits in a row.”

Those 11 straight hits by Colorado are a new major league record. Dempster, who had control problems, was knocked out the fifth inning, when he failed to retire a hitter. The Cubs’ starting pitcher couldn’t believe what happened to the bullpen in an ill-fated eighth inning.

“It’s embarrassing,” Dempster said. “As much as it is a success [for Colorado] it’s a fluke thing. You can’t do that very often. Hence the reason it’s never been done before.”

Manager Lou Piniella was still shell shocked when he took media questions after the game.

“That eighth inning, I’ve never seen an inning like that, Piniella said. We had two outs and two strikes on a hitter and they scored 12 runs. You don’t expect an inning like that in the big leagues or anywhere."

The last time the Cubs gave up 12 runs in an inning was Sept. 24, 1985 vs. Montreal. The last time the Cubs gave up 10 hits in an inning was June 11, 1989, against the Cardinals.

Piniella leaving team: The Cubs will be without manager Lou Piniella for three games as he attends the wake and funeral of his uncle in Tampa, Fla. Bench coach Alan Trammell will manage the team in his absence. Matt Sinatra will be Trammell’s bench coach.

Trade buzz: The Yankees and Dodgers remain the likely destinations for Ted Lilly as the deadline nears at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Dodgers would like to obtain both Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot. The Cubs have asked for second baseman Blake DeWitt back as part of any trade. The Dodgers have no money to take on the contracts of Lilly and Theriot due to the pending divorce between the team’s owners. Dodger GM Ned Colletti is doing his best to be creative to try to make this deal happen.

The Cubs also have a possible deal with Arizona for second baseman Kelly Johnson. The Diamondbacks have asked for Ryan Theriot and left-handed pitcher James Russell in return. The Cubs have been going back and forth on both deals, knowing they can’t trade Theriot twice.

Zambrano update: Piniella said that the team had decided not to pitch Carlos Zambrano under any circumstance on Friday. He’ll be available out of the bullpen on Saturday.

The Chicago Cubs are in a waiting mode, waiting to jump on any deal that makes sense to them with the non-waiver trading deadline approaching at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had the most interest in left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly, and they’ve been pursuing him for over three weeks. The Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and Cubs GM Jim Hendry had their first discussions about Lilly on July 9 in Hendry’s box at Dodgers Stadium. Since that time, the Dodgers have looked for money in order to acquire the Cubs pitcher.

The Dodgers have financial constraints due to the imminent divorce between the owners of the team, Frank and Jamie McCourt.

Although the Dodgers made a deal for Kansas City’s Scott Podsednik on Saturday, Podsednik’s pro-rated salary was less than $750,000.

Lilly still has $4.3 million left on his contract, which the Cubs expect any team they trade with to take in total.

Second baseman Ryan Theriot’s name has been a part of discussions, but he’s still owed over $1 million in 2010. The Dodgers would be lucky to find enough money and prospects in order to just obtain Lilly.

The New York Yankees have had interest lately in Lilly, as well. General manager Brian Cashman is known to get in on deals quickly, kick the tires and either make the deal or get out.

Arizona has shown interest in Theriot at either second base or eventually playing shortstop. If Arizona eventually trades starter Steven Drew, Theriot could be their everyday guy.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have let teams know that second baseman Kelly Johnson is available. It’s unknown if the Cubs have interest in Johnson, who’s a top-of-the-order left-handed hitter. But they most likely do.

Hendry will not trade either Lilly or Theriot, unless they get the deal they want back. The Cubs are not in the position where they must move their players.

Hendry could just as easily past the non-waiver trading deadline, and deal Lilly or Therior through waivers after Aug. 1.

Although other teams can block trades during that period, Hendry may be in a stronger position to make a trade when other teams start losing their pitchers and position players through injuries.

HOUSTON -- Ted Lilly’s latest outing against Houston may have been his last as a Cub, something the veteran lefthander understands only too well.

Lilly was asked if he’s been hearing all the trade rumors.

“Maybe, that’s what I’ve been hearing and reading, so we’ll see,” Lilly said.

On Tuesday evening, Lilly was slowed by the after-affects of flu-like symptoms over the weekend but was able to battle through 113 pitches in his 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball.

Many big league scouts were on hand to report back on Lilly to their general managers as the trading deadine approaches on Saturday. Lilly has told the Cubs he’d like to stay, however it appears by this weekend’s deadline for non-waiver trades that he’ll be wearing another uniform.

“That’s how it goes,” Lilly said. “I’ve said what I want [to say] before. There’s a lot of things I don’t get a final say in. That’s the way it is.”

Lilly has a limited no-trade clause to eight teams. Sources tell ESPNChicago.com that the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers are two teams in hot pursuit of the Cubs starter. The Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets are also interested.

Lilly was asked if he’d consider coming back with the Cubs as a free agent if he’s dealt to another team.

“I don’t know,” Lilly said. “Where are we, late July? Those kind of things are a ways away. It’s evident I’d prefer to stay here for the future. However, you get the opportunity to become a free agent and those don’t come around too often.”

--RHP Andrew Cashner, who took the loss on Tuesday night, had a seventh inning from hell, walking two batters, hitting two batters, messing up a fielding play on a squeeze bunt, and topping it off by giving up a grand slam to Lance Berkman. The rookie from nearby Montgomery, TX was searching to find some perspective after the game.

“I just didn’t execute my pitches tonight,” Cashner said. “It started with [Humberto] Quintero. I had him 0-2 and couldn’t put him away. I hit him. It just kind of snowballed from there. On the squeeze, I should not have gone home, I should have just taken the out at first base.”

Manager Lou Piniella called the day part of the maturation for the young pitcher.

“If we get Quintero out, they’re going to pinch hit for [pitcher Brett] Myers,” Piniella said. “He’s out of the ballgame. Hitting the hitter, Myers stays in to complete the game.”

--Cubs outfielder Tyler Colvin hit his 16th home run in the ninth inning off of Myers. He now leads all rookies in the majors in home runs. Colvin has hit four home runs in his last eight games.

HOUSTON -- Manager Lou Piniella has changed his rotation for the weekend series in Denver.

Ted Lilly, if he’s still a Cub, won’t pitch Sunday in his regular spot. Instead Piniella will go with Ryan Dempster on Friday, Tom Gorzelanny on Saturday and Carlos Silva on Sunday.

Piniella said his reason for the change was that he didn’t want to throw two left-handers in the Brewers series starting on Monday.

The Cubs manager said that Carlos Zambrano will be available to pitch out of the bullpen in Colorado. Zambrano returns to the team Friday night after last pitching in the major leagues on June 25.

“We look forward to getting him back,” Piniella said. “I said when this happened, ‘time heals wounds’, and it’s been a month. So when he comes back, my condition was that he talks to his teammates. That’s what we’ll ask him to do and we’ll go from there.”