To get lowell...check it out

 

Double-A right-hander Angel Guzman, who was named Sunday to the Futures Game, was one of the most impressive Cubs pitchers in spring training and is likely to be on Florida's wish list in any future trade talks concerning Mike Lowell.

 

While not naming names, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry made it clear he's not going to part with his best prospects in any deal for a big-name player.

 

"We worked awful hard to get some of our young pitching in place, not only for 2003 but for '04 and '05 and after that," Hendry said. "There are certain people it wouldn't make sense to move in any deal."

 

Hendry has heard Lowell's name mentioned everywhere he goes, but shrugs off the non-stop rumors that Lowell is likely to be a Cub by Aug. 1.

 

"Obviously people care, the fans care," Hendry said. "You always want to get better, but sometimes you have to look at the rationale behind why somebody would want to trade certain people.

 

"If somebody called tomorrow who lost their center fielder, I wouldn't be trading Corey Patterson, no matter what. I guess it's positive that people think you're trying to get better and certain people would help, but there's really not much you can do about it."

 

Estes watch

 

The Cubs moved Mark Prior back in the rotation and inserted Shawn Estes between Prior and Wood. Estes lasted only one inning against the White Sox last Friday and forced manager Dusty Baker to overextend his bullpen.

 

"Shawn has been a little inconsistent," Baker said. "Matt [Clement]has been more consistent, but had a rough outing the last time. It put a little pressure on the bullpen, so we split it up, put an innings [eater] in between a guy who may not go as many innings. You always want to break up Prior and Wood, much like the Astros broke up Nolan Ryan and J.R. Richard [with] Joe Niekro in between."

 

Hendry said there is no plan to take Estes out of the rotation, despite his 5.80 earned-run average.

 

"He had an awful day [Friday], but he has had a lot of good days too," he said. "We'll see how he responds Wednesday. There are no immediate plans for him not to be pitching. He just had an awful day. He's not the first guy who has had a horrific first inning, and he won't be the last. But he has pitched well for five, six other games, and beat some pretty good clubs. And he's left-handed.

 

"His history with Dusty is he doesn't stay in a bad outing for long. We'll just have to play it by ear."

 

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Another Mike Lowell article....he wont get traded untill after the All star Game!!!

 

Marlins' Lowell unlikely to move until after All-Star Game

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry doesn't mind persistent speculation about what he'll do to strengthen the Cubs' offense, especially the possibility of acquiring Florida Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell.

 

"It's human nature,'' Hendry said. "Obviously, fans care. You always want to get better, but you have to think about what the rationale of the other team is. If someone lost a center fielder and called, I wouldn't trade Corey Patterson for anything.''

 

Hendry's pursuit of Lowell may be on hold because of Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest's posture to hold off on any possible move until after the All-Star Game on July 15. Lowell, who entered Tuesday as the major-league leader in home runs with 23, is all but assured of being selected, and Beinfest wants him wearing a Marlins uniform.

 

Lowell is on a number of teams' wish lists, but Hendry is as concerned about making the right deal as he is about making any deal. He isn't necessarily reluctant to trade away pitching prospects, as he did last year in trading then-Class A pitcher Dontrelle Willis to Florida for Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca. But Hendry has said no repeatedly to teams inquiring about current starters Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano.

 

''There are some people we won't part with,'' he said. ''We worked hard to get our young pitching in order, not only for now but for 2004, 2005 and beyond.''

 

Hendry dismissed suggestions he wouldn't trade prospects again because Willis has emerged as a front-line starter for Florida.

 

"It's still a good deal,'' he said. ''Dontrelle is a great kid. I hope he wins every game when he's not pitching against the Cubs. We had a need for a closer, and Clement turned into either the second or third starter, however you want to consider it. I think both sides are happy with the deal.

 

''If people say why did you trade him, well, he was an eighth-round pick, so seven rounds passed with no one taking him. I think Admin Beinfest did a good job scouting our system. There were some people I didn't want to put in the deal and didn't. We knew Dontrelle had a chance to be good, but good for him.''

 

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good

nice atricle btw

They aren't getting Lowell...

 

It's all falling into place...

 

You'll see...