The Cubs have released 35-year old lefty starting pitcher Doug Davis. Davis started 9 games for the Cubs this year and he was 1-7 with a 6.50 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Davis gave up 59 hits and he also walked 26 batters in only 45 2/3 innings for the Cubs this year, so he wasn’t missing many bats when he was throwing strikes. In his last two years, Davis has pitched in 17 games (all starts) and he is 2-11 with a 6.96 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. I have a feeling that his career could be over.

33-year old switch-hitting infielder Bobby Scales has left the Cubs to sign with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. Scales played in 68 games in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he was 70 for 230 (.304 avg, .959 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 9 homers, 43 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. In parts of two years with the Cubs, Scales was 34 for 137 (.248 avg, .743 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers, 17 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This was a good move for Scales as he will get a chance to make more money in Japan before his career ends.

The odds of 28-year old lefty swinging 1B Bryan LaHair seem to go up every day with the way he is playing in AAA-ball right now. LaHair has played in 73 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 92 for 259 (.355 avg, 1.106 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 21 homers and 59 RBIs. If the Cubs wind up moving Carlos Pena in a deal, they might just give LaHair his second chance in the minors. LaHair’s only major league experience came back in 2008. He played in 45 games for the Mariners in 2008 and he was 34 for 136 (.250 avg, .661 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs.

33-year old lefty swinging 1B Carlos Pena is finally starting to pay off the Cubs for their patience with him while he was slumping earlier in the year. In Carlos Pena’s last 10 games, Pena is 9 for 36 (.250 avg) with 8 runs scored, 5 homers and 9 RBIs. Pena has now played in 73 games this year for the Cubs and he is 51 for 230 (.222 avg, .780 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 14 homers and 39 RBIs. The Cubs hope he keeps ripping the ball because they are likely going to be sellers at the trade deadline and Pena could be a very nice chip to move in the trade market.

30-year old righty starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano has been up and down this year. In his four starts so far in June, Zambrano is 1-2 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has pitched two good games in June and two awful ones. He has pitched in 16 games (all starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 6-4 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Zambrano only has 7 quality starts so far this year, so he’s been either really good or really bad. You never know what you’re going to get when Carlos Zambrano hits the pitching mound. The one thing you do know about Carlos is that he’s going to hit the ball. He is 10 for 32 (.313 avg, .822 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs.