The Cubs have acquired 27-year old righty swinging IF/OF Jeff Baker from the Rockies in return for 23-year old righty reliever Alberto Alburquerque. Baker only has played in 12 games for the Rockies this season (due to injury) and he was 3 for 23 (.130 avg, .384 OPS) with 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Baker has played in 231 games in his major league career and he is 144 for 561 (.257 avg, .771 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 22 homers, 88 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. With the Cubs not hitting the ball at all Baker should get his big chance to show what he can do. Alburquerque has pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in A-ball this season and he is 1-0 with 2 saves, a 2.08 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. This was a good move for the Cubs.

The Cubs have designated 33-year old utility man Ryan Freel for assignment. Freel played in 14 games for the Cubs this season and he was 4 for 28 (.143 avg, .369 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. This just hasn’t been Freel’s year as he has played in 23 games with the O’s and Cubs in which he is 6 for 43 (.140 avg) with 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Freel has a career batting average of .269 (.726 OPS) in 526 games so he will likely do better with whatever team gives him a chance next.

Whispers have been heard that the Cubs will get rid of Carlos Zambrano if they fall out of the race. He’s hard to handle both on and off the field due to his temper but it’s hard to argue with his results. Zambrano has pitched in 13 games (all starts) for the Cubs this season and he is 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. In his career with the Cubs, the 28-year old Zambrano has pitched in 244 games (233 starts) in which he is 100-64 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Carlos is also a outstanding switch hitter. He has batted in 255 games in which he is 125 for 527 (.237 avg, .634 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 18 homers and 50 RBIs. The Cubs would be dumb to get rid of Zambrano and he would be very hard to replace.

Milton Bradley is a team cancer and now he has even pissed off his manager. You had to wonder how long it would take before Lou Piniella and Bradley had it out and it happened it a big way recently. The Cubs amazingly gave Bradley a three year deal after he played in 126 games for the Rangers last season in which he was 133 for 414 (.321 avg, .999 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 22 homers and 77 RBIs. Bradley was mostly a DH last season which was part of the reason he played in so many games last year. He’s been a injury prone player when forced to play in the field and that was another reason the Cubs should have signed someone else to play the outfield. Bradley has played in 60 games for the Cubs this season and he is 44 for 182 (.242 avg, .734 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 5 homers and 17 RBIs. The Cubs would have been better off to keep Mark DeRosa or sign Adam Dunn who is actually being paid a little less than Bradley and his contract was one year shorter. DeRosa is now on the enemy St. Louis Cardinals and that’s a bad thing for the Cubs. DeRosa has played in 76 games this season and he is 75 for 287 (.261 avg) with 47 runs scored, 13 homers and 50 RBIs. His versatility has been missed by the Cubs. Adam Dunn has been very good for the Nationals this season. He has played in 76 games for the Nationals this season and he is 69 for 265 (.260 avg, .924 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 20 homers and 56 RBIs. The Cubs should have stayed away from Bradley because he’s a poison to team chemistry and he’s injury prone. The Cubs are stuck with Bradley because he’s virtually untradeable because of disposition.

The Cubs have placed righty starting pitcher Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list with a back strain. He has started 8 games for the Cubs this season and he is 4-2 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Harden still has electric stuff as he has whiffed 53 batters in only 43 2/3 innings this season but staying healthy has always been a problem for him.