"Chicago Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa has left spring training in Arizona to undergo further tests on his heart at a Chicago hospital," reports the AP. "DeRosa met briefly with reporters at the Cubs spring training camp on Monday and said he may consider an unspecified surgical procedure to get his heart back into rhythm." He does hope to be back on the field within a week. The Cubs are certainly losing bargaining power in a possible Brian Roberts trade with this news. We wish DeRosa the best.

At least Mark DeRosa is honest enough to say that he'd rather play everyday than the team get better: "I find it hard to believe I'm going to get playing time if you acquire a player of that caliber [Brian Roberts]. You've got Fukudome in right, you've got Aramis at third, you've got Roberts at second, you've got [Alfonso Soriano] in left. Where am I going to play? That was my question [to Hendry], and that was my approach. It's not like you're acquiring another super utility player, and we can all bounce around and all give each other days off and all find a happy medium." (Hat tip: Bleed Cubbie Blue.)

In a very thought provoking article in today's Sun-Times, staff reporter Gordon Wittenmeyer notes that all the money spent has not created a cohesive team form either the offensive or defensive perspective. See: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/360635,CST-SPT-gordo27.article

One question I have is whether there should not be an even bolder change in the field. Why not put Alfonso Soriano back into a second-baseman role? That could give Cliff Floyd playing time, keep Pie around, and let Murton fight it out with Jones and Derosa for right. Keep Theriot playing as long as he is hitting. Izturis and Jones could be traded, for that matter.

Just a thought. Soriano might feel relieved to be back at second and start hitting.

In his first season of full-time play last year, at age 31, DeRosa hit .296/.357/.456, good for an adjusted OPS 3% above league average. For his career, DeRosa has an adjusted OPS 5% below league average. DeRosa will presumably be the favorite for starting second baseman (career 106 Rate2 in 114 games). But he could also be the shortstop (career 113 Rate2 in 137 games) if Cesar Izturis gets hurt or can't hit. He could also be a platoon partner for Jacque Jones in rightfield (career 106 Rate2 in 90 games). DeRosa has an 876 OPS against lefties the past three seasons. In other words, DeRosa can play a number of positions like Jose Macias and Freddie Bynum, but plays them better and also has some adeptness at the plate. His flexibility provides options should Ryan Theriot prove that September was no fluke.

Three years and into an age 34 season is a long contract for someone like DeRosa, and Jim Hendry has a history of paying above market prices for role players, but DeRosa is useful and can help the Cubs win if used properly.

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