(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) History shows Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is not opposed to wheeling and dealing -- especially toward the end of spring training.

And with four prospects fighting for a fifth spot in the rotation, it would appear that dealing for a starting pitcher would be on the top of his list this week.

But Hendry indicated that for now he is satisfied with the four-man competition between left-handers Sean Marshall and Rich Hill and right-handers Angel Guzman and Jae Kuk Ryu. Since the Cubs won't need a fifth starter until April 15 (because of three off-days in the first two weeks of the season) and because injured Kerry Wood (shoulder and knee surgeries) could be back in late April, the fifth starter could only make one or two starts, so trading for a starter doesn't appear in the cards.

Insiders said that the Cubs had little interest in picking up second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who was embroiled in a controversy in Washington before finally agreeing to move to the outfield.

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NOTES

--1B Derrek Lee plans to return to the lineup Thursday against Seattle. Lee, who is nursing a bruised shoulder since he dove for a ball March 12 in a World Baseball Classic game, had been taking batting practice this week but wasn't ready for live pitching. Lee missed three games with a similar injury last year.

--LHP Sean Marshall, who hasn't pitched above the Double-A level, has thrown 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the Cactus League without allowing a run. He and three other prospects are in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation to open the season, and he is impressing manager Dusty Baker with his command. In a three-inning stint against Milwaukee on Tuesday, Marshall threw 37 pitches, 27 of them strikes. Baker was impressed that Marshall threw first-pitch strikes 11 times out of 12 batters faced.

--RHP Jae Kuk Ryu is one of four pitchers in the mix for the fifth starter's spot to open the season, but he has pitched well enough that he also could be considered for a long-relief spot.

--C Jake Fox was sent to minor league camp after hitting .400 with five RBIs in nine games with the parent club. Fox benefited from the absence of Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco for more than two weeks while the pair played in the World Baseball Classic. Fox never figured to make the team out of camp, but he put himself in a solid position to be a call-up if Barrett or Blanco gets injured.

--C Dennis Anderson was sent to minor league camp. Anderson hit .273 in eight games with two RBIs. Anderson was able to show the coaching staff what he could do in the absence of veterans Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco, who both missed more than two weeks playing in the World Baseball Classic.

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