Cubs working on trade with Marlins?

It was reported on Monday in the Chicago Sun-Times that the Cubs are working on a trade that would send 24-year old RHP Juan Cruz to the Florida Marlins in exchange for relief pitchers Tim Spooneybarger and Armando Almanza.

Cruz was 3-11 last year with a 3.98 ERA in 45 total games. He started in 9 of them. In 142 career innings, he has a 3.74 ERA.

Spooneybarger, 23, appeared in 51 games out of the bullpen for the Braves last year. He ended the year with a 2.63 ERA. The Marlins acquired him along with RHP Ryan Baker during the offseason in exchange for LHP Mike Hampton.

Almanza, 30, worked in 51 games last year for the Marlins, also out of the bullpen, and posted a 4.34 ERA. He entered the league in 1999 with Florida, and has a career 4.36 ERA in 184 career games.

Hendry leaves Winter Meetings with nothing

Chicago Cubs General manager Jim Hendry left the Winter Meetings on Monday without having signed or acquired a single player.

There still are players available to the Cubs liking, such as 2B Jeff Kent, who they are interested in signing if he would move to 3rd base.

He likely will no longer be a Giant, after the Giants signed 2B/3B Edgardo Alfonzo on Sunday.

LH reliever Mike Stanton, whom the Cubs were pursuing, was signed by the New York Mets on Monday, a 3-year deal worth 9$ million.

Stanton had a 3.00 ERA in 79 games for the Yankees in 2002. He worked out of the bullpen.

It also now looks as if the Cubs probably will not sign C Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.

Rodriguez had 19 home runs, 60 RBI's, and a .314 average in 108 games for the Rangers last year.

On Monday, it was reported by ESPN that Hendry said "It's not feasible" that the Cubs will sign Pudge.

Hendry and Pudge's agent, Jeff Moorad, met over the weekend and Monday, but couldn't come to a financial agreement.

Rodriguez will likely sign with the Orioles, who are now the top suitors for the all-star catcher.