If this season couldn’t get any worse for the Cubs they have sent 34-year old 1B Derek Lee to the Braves for 19-year old righty starter/reliever Robinson Lopez, 23-year old righty reliever Tyrelle Harris and 22-year old lefty reliever Jeffrey Lorick. Lee played in 109 games for the Cubs this year and he was 105 of 418 (.251 avg, .751 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 16 homers and 56 RBIs. He played 7 years for the Cubs appearing in 924 games in which he was 1,046 of 3,514 (.298 avg, .903 OPS) with 578 runs scored, 179 homers, 574 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. The Cubs will likely use a lot of players to replace Lee at 1B the rest of this season. Look for the Cubs’ offense and defense to be weaker the rest of the year without Lee.

Robinson Lopez came into this season as the Braves’ #16 ranked prospect according to Baseball America. Lopez has pitched in 24 games (16 starts) in A-ball this year and he is 3-8 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now played in 35 games (24 starts) in his two years in the minors and he is 6-9 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Tyrelle Harris has pitched in 30 games (1 start) in A+AA-ball this year and he is 1-2 with 6 saves, a 2.90 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Harris has whiffed 60 batters this year while allowing only 38 hits in 49 2/3 innings showing what kind of stuff he has. Harris has now pitched in 42 games (1 start) in his two years in the minors and he is 3-2 with 7 saves, a 2.42 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Jeffrey Lorick has pitched in 27 games (4 starts) in A-ball this year and he is 3-6 with 4 saves, a 2.24 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 44 games (7 starts) in his two years in the minors and he is 5-7 with 7 saves, a 2.95 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

This was a trade the Cubs had to make as they acquire three live arms for Lee. Still, Lee will be missed as he had a outstanding career for the Cubbies.

The Chicago Cubs have replaced Ted Lilly in the starting rotation with 29-year old righty Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs hope that Zambrano finishes the 2010 season strong so that they can trade him over the winter. Zambrano has pitched in 26 games (10 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 3-6 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Big Z has allowed 79 hits and he has walked 36 batters in only 64 1/3 innings this season for the Cubs. But, he has also struck out 60 batters so I think his troubles are in his head right now. He still has the talent to excel as long as he can get motivated and stay focused like he has until this year in his career.

The Cubs have traded 30-year old lefty swinging infielder Mike Fontenot to the Giants for 22-year old righty swinging outfielder Evan Crawford. Fontenot played in 75 games for the Cubs this year and he is 48 of 169 (.284 avg, .734 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 20 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He played in 422 games in his five years with the Cubs and he was 276 of 1,025 (.269 avg, .757 OPS) with 130 runs scored, 22 homers, 132 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Crawford played in 109 games in A-ball for the Giants this year and he was 110 of 432 (.255 avg, .684 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 4 homers, 29 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. He has now played in 156 games in his two years in the minors and he is 164 of 612 (.268 avg, .706 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 5 homers, 59 RBIs and 38 stolen bases. Crawford doesn’t have a huge upside but he will bring speed to the Cubs’ organization.

31-year old lefty reliever John Grabow tore his medial collateral ligament in his left elbow on a rehab assignment ending his season. Grabow is done for the year for the Cubbies. He pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. In his two years with the Cubs, Grabow has pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in which he is 3-3 with 1 save, a 5.33 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. The Cubs won’t miss Grabow as they are just playing out the string the rest of the way.

The Cubs have placed starting catcher Geovany Soto on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder sprain. Soto has played in 88 games for the Cubs this year and he is 76 of 264 (.288 avg, .920 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 15 homers and 45 RBIs. Koyie Hill could get a increase in playing time if he hits the ball. He has played in 48 games this year for the Cubbies and he is 22 of 114 (.193 avg, .477 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs. 23-year old righty swinging catcher Welington Castillo has been called up to replace Soto on the roster. He was the Cubs’ #27 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Castillo has played in 65 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 57 of 227 (.251 avg, .823 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 13 homers and 57 RBIs. He has now played in 359 games in his five years in the minors and he is 316 of 1,219 (.259 avg, .726 OPS) with 148 runs scored, 39 homers and 177 RBIs.