The Cubs have released veteran reliever Shingo Takatsu. “Mr. Zero” was anything but this spring for the Cubs as he was 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP in 5 games. This is good for the Cubs who can focus on some of their younger pitchers for the bullpen instead of dealing with washed up pitchers.

The Cubs have signed 29-year old switch hitter Alex Cintron to a minor league contract. Cintron will compete for a job on the bench with Mike Fontenot and Ronny Cedeno. Cintron played in 68 games last season for the White Sox and he was 45 for 185 (.243 avg, .605 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 2 homers and 19 RBIs. Cintron has now played in 598 games in his major league career and he is 525 for 1,897 (.277 avg, .716 OPS) with 231 runs scored, 32 homers and 212 RBIs. This was a good move for the Cubs as Cintron is a solid player.

The Cubs didn’t do a lot in the off season but they didn’t feel that they had to. The biggest move that the Cubs made was signing right fielder Kosuke Fukudome. The Cubs expect a lot out of Fukudome as he had big time power in Japan, but Japanese power doesn’t always translate into huge numbers in the states. He should he a solid player but not an All-Star. The Cubs made a couple nice moves under the radar as they signed Jon Lieber and traded for righty reliever Jose Ascanio from the Braves.

OFF SEASON GRADE FOR THE FRONT OFFICE: C

39 year old righty sidewinder Shingo Takatsu has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. Takatsu last pitched in the majors in 2005 with the Mets. Takatsu has pitched in 99 games in his major league career and he is 8-6 with 27 saves, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. If Mr. Zero has anything left he could help out the early part of the Cubs bullpen.

The Cubs have signed 37-year old righty starter Jon Lieber. Lieber will bump Jason Marquis or Ryan Dempster from the starting rotation as long as he stays healthy. Lieber is the last pitcher to win 20 games in a season for the Cubs (20-6) in 2001. Lieber pitched in 14 games (12 starts) last season for the Phillies and he was 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Lieber has now pitched in 376 games (325 starts) in his major league career and he is 129-121 with 2 saves, a 4.28 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.