As noted by Arizona Phil at The Cub Reporter, the Chicago Cubs yesterday removed two players from the 40-man roster by declining to tender them contracts for the 2007 season: RHP Adam Harben and C Jose Reyes.

"The Chicago Cubs agreed to a two-year contract Wednesday with backup catcher Henry Blanco," reports the AP. "There is a mutual option for 2009." The AP doesn't give financial details, but Arizona Phil at The Cub Reporter writes that ESPN 1000's Bruce Levine is reporting the deal is worth $5M. As I've repeatedly said before, Jim Hendry doesn't overpay for his stars. He overpays for utility players and relief pitchers.

The Cubs clearly have little confidence in the future development of either Geovany Soto or Jose Reyes, which makes you wonder if the Cubs will remove one of them from the 40-man roster and expose them to the Rule 5 draft.

The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Adam Harben from the Minnesota Twins to complete the Phil Nevin trade. The Cub Reporter has more.

The Cubs also waived Jerome Williams, who was then claimed by the Oakland A's, and called up pitcher Jae-kuk Ryu and catcher Jose Reyes following the close of Iowa's season.

Felix Pie was not called up.