The Cubs have re-signed 31-year old lefty reliever John Grabow to a 2-year, $7.5 million dollar deal. Grabow pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 0-0 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He pitched in 75 games (0 starts) overall for the Cubs & Pirates last season and he was 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Grabow has now pitched in 420 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 20-15 with 6 saves, a 4.03 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. It looks like $3.75 million bucks is the going rate for a slightly above average lefty reliever in the majors.

The Cubs have traded 31-year old righty reliever Aaron Heilman to the D-Backs for 24-year old lefty reliever Scott Maine and 23-year old lefty swinging 1B Ryne White. Heilman pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 4-4 with 1 save, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Maine pitched pretty well in AA+AAA ball last year working in 48 games (0 starts) in which he was 4-5 with 7 saves, a 2.90 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He could have a chance to win a job in the Cubs’ bullpen as early as this spring. Ryne White was the D-Backs #18 rated prospect heading into the 2009 season according to Baseball America. He played in 116 games in A-ball last season and he was 111 for 418 (.266 avg, .727 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 6 homers and 52 RBIs. The Cubs got a decent return for a pitcher they just didn’t want anymore in Heilman so I give them a thumbs up for this move.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Randy Wells finished sixth in the voting for the Rookie of the Year Award in the N.L. Wells pitched in 27 games (all starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Wells was one of the MVPs of the Cubs last season and they hope that he can continue to excel in 2010 and beyond for them.

The Cubs could be without 33-year old lefty starting pitcher Ted Lilly for the start of the 2010 season because of recent shoulder surgery. This would be a big blow to the Cubs as Lilly has been their most consistent player since coming to Chicago. Lilly started 27 games for the Cubs last season and he was 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Lilly has now pitched in 95 games (all starts) in three years with the Cubs and he is 44-26 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Cubs need Lilly back healthy early on in the baseball season because he is the one pitcher the Cubs can’t replace.