The Cubs have released 33-year old righty swinging infielder Edgar Gonzalez. Gonzalez played in 9 games in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he was 8 for 28 (.286 avg, .726 OPS) with 1 run scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He last played in the majors back in 2009. He has played in 193 games in his two years in the majors and he is 122 of 478 (.255 avg, .693 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. This isn’t much of a loss for the Cubs.

The Cubs have designated 36-year old righty reliever/starter Rodrigo Lopez. Lopez pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP. He pitched in 30 games (16 starts) in his two years with the Cubs and he was 6-7 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. This is not much of a loss for the Cubs as Michael Bowden will take over Lopez’ spot in the bullpen moving forward.

UPDATE: (4/25/2012) - Rodrigo Lopez cleared waivers and he has accepted an outright assignment to AAA to stay in the Cubs’ organization.

The Chicago Cubs have dealt 34-year old righty swinging Marlon Byrd to the Red Sox along with a lot of cash for 25-year old righty reliever/starter Michael Bowden and a player to be named later. Byrd played in 13 games for the Cubs this year and he was 3 for 43 (.070 avg, .219 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs. He played in 284 games in his three years with the Cubs and he is 296 of 1,069 (.277 avg, .729 OPS) with 136 runs scored, 21 homers, 103 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Michael Bowden pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox earlier this year and he was 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Bowden has now pitched in 39 games (2 starts) in his two years with the Red Sox and he is 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. This was a good deal for the Cubs as Bowden might be able to help them out of the pen this year and Marlon Byrd is lost at the plate right now.

The Cubs have lost 26-year old lefty reliever John Gaub on waivers to the Tampa Bay Rays. Gaub pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 50 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 4-4 with 7 saves, a 3.42 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. This isn’t much of a loss for the Cubs going forward.

The Cubs have claimed 26-year old lefty swinging 2B/SS Luis Valbuena off waivers from the Blue Jays. He played in 17 games for the Indians last year and he was 9 for 43 (.209 avg, .506 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. Valbuena has now played in 225 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 166 of 735 (.226 avg, .630 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 13 homers, 57 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. This was a good pickup for the Cubs as Valbuena might be able to help them at 2B at some point in 2012.