Remember Joel Guzman?

There was a time when a kid named Joel Guzman was basically the top infield prospect in all of baseball. He was 19, 20 years old, and he had the world laid out before him. Guzman was a lock to man shortstop or third base for the Dodgers for years to come.

And then, well, he just kind of stopped being awesome. A year later, he was marginalized, traded to the Rays, and hasn’t been heard from since. Until now, when he signed a minor league deal - sans Spring Training invite - with the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles have signed corner infielder/outfielder Joel Guzman, once one of baseball’s top prospects, to a minor league deal. He will not receive an invite to major league camp.

The former Los Angeles Dodgers’ ballyhooed prospect was dealt to Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006 as part of the Julio Lugo, trade-deadline deal.

He was with the Washington Nationals organization last year, batting a combined .268 with 12 homers at Double-A and Triple-A. Guzman, 25, batted .232 in 24 big league games with the Dodgers and Devil Rays. baltimoresun.com.

Why am I bringing this up?

I love the idea that Starlin Castro is the future for the Chicago Cubs at shortstop. I really do. He’s clearly got all the skills, but he still has to actually develop into the player we’re all projecting him to be. A lot can happen along that road.

And when folks talk about refusing to trade Starlin Castro in any deal, I would just ask: remember Joel Guzman.

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The Bad News? No Orlando Hudson. The Good News? No Adam Kennedy.

The Chicago Cubs were never really into Orlando Hudson, despite his ability at the top of the order and the fact that he plays the one position that the Cubs could reasonably add a bat (after center field).  And now that the Twins have signed him to a deal around $5 million, we know why - he was going to cost too much.

But in the meantime, we kept hearing the Cubs’ name attached to another second baseman - one that was decidedly not an upgrade over what the Cubs currently have - Adam Kennedy. Well, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

A few hours after losing out to the Twins in the Orlando Hudson sweepstakes, the Nationals stayed busy by agreeing to terms with free-agent second baseman Adam Kennedy, according to a baseball source. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Nationals have not confirmed that a deal has been reached.

The left-handed-hitting Kennedy had a nice comeback season in 2009, hitting .289 with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Athletics. The previous two years, he played in just a combined 202 games because of injuries. MLB.com.

Obviously if Kennedy plays like he did last year, he’s a starting caliber second baseman, particularly on a team like the Nationals. But for the Cubs to have spent money on him would have been a crime.

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The Cubs Are Considering Kris Benson

Though the Chicago Cubs are not looking for another starting pitcher - or looking to make any other considerable free agent acquisitions - they’ll continue to monitor guys they can snag on minor league deals. One such guy is formerly mediocre starting pitcher Kris Benson.

A number of National League teams are keeping track of Kris Benson’s progress, including the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds and Nationals, according to one major league source.

The Dodgers are also looking to add starting depth but are a more remote possibility, sources indicated.

Last week, Benson’s agent said he expected the free agent right-hander to join a new team within the next few weeks. FOX Sports on MSN.

Benson, 35, pitched a little bit - terribly - last year for the Rangers, but before that hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2006. It’s highly doubtful he’ll come back and contribute meaningfully.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a reason to sign him. Her name, my friends, is Anna Benson.

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The Cubs and Adam Kennedy? Wha?

The Chicago Cubs are widely known to be looking for a reserve outfielder and a right-handed reliever. And that’s it. Right?

The representative for free agent Adam Kennedy said he remains in talks with three teams about the infielder.

Two clubs are interested in Kennedy as their everyday second baseman, Paul Cohen said. Another has interest in Kennedy as a super-utility player.

“We have narrowed it down to three teams,” Cohen said.

Cohen wouldn’t address specific clubs, but the Cubs and Nationals are known to be looking for a second baseman. FOX Sports.

Umm. What?

If the Cubs are looking for a second baseman, that fact is “known” by, well, no one. The Cubs have repeatedly said they’re pleased with a Jeff Baker - Mike Fontenot platoon at second. Even if the Cubs were looking for a second baseman, it’s hard to imagine anyone - yes, even Jim Hendry - believe Adam Kennedy was an upgrade over the current tandem.

Kennedy, 34, had his best season in seven years last year in Oakland (ok, so he definitely fits the Hendry free agent mold), but even it wasn’t spectacular: he hit .289 and put up a .758 OPS. The preceding two years, he failed to even eclipse the .700 mark. His career line is a yawn-inspiring .277/.330/.391.

Even if the Cubs were merely looking at him as a reserve, that would make little sense. Ignoring the fact that the Cubs will have only five bench spots, and ignoring the fact that Jeff Baker, Mike Fontenot and Andres Blanco are virtual locks to be a part of the team come Opening Day, Kennedy isn’t much of a reserve. Before last season, he’d played, for all intents and purposes, exclusively at second base in his career. Last year, he split time at third base - where he was bad.

Let’s hope this is a rumor completely bereft of legs.

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Jim Hendry Hearts Relievers: Cubs Remain Interested in Kiko Calero

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry continues his search for a right-handed veteran reliever, and one name that has popped up from time to time is Kiko Calero. It’s popping up again because the Cubs are interested if the money is right.

Calero, 35, is a free agent after putting together a very good 2009 season with the Florida Marlins. He went 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 67 appearances.

It can be said with certainty that few available relievers are coming off a better year. His 60 innings were a career high, even though he missed roughly three weeks with inflammation in his right (throwing) shoulder.

More than anything, that shoulder probably explains why Calero hasn’t been signed already. He was also sidelined by a torn rotator cuff in 2008, when he made only five big-league appearances with Oakland.

The Cubs are among the teams that have checked on Calero, two major league sources said Tuesday. But their interest is probably contingent on how confident their medical officials are in the health of Calero’s shoulder.

While the Cubs are committed to Carlos Marmol as their closer, they would like to add another late-inning reliever, the sources said. FOX Sports on MSN.

The market for a guy with dominating 2009 numbers has been surprisingly thin; obviously this is based on the shoulder issues. Hence, from the Cubs perspective, if the money is right, they’ll happily take a chance on Calero (as they should).

But counting on him would be a tremendous mistake.

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Always a Bridesmaid - Capps Chooses Nats

In the wee hours of the morning, reliever Matt Capps made his decision: he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals. Looks like he’s getting a $3.5 million base salary, with incentives that could take it closer to $4 million, which sounds about right. Most folks are guessing that he chose one-year and less total money from the Nats over a two-year and more money from the Chicago Cubs.

And he almost certainly made the right decision.

Thing is, the Nationals are going to make Capps their closer. Capps, in only his fifth year in the league, will have another year of arbitration-eligibility after this year before full-on free agency in 2012. Right or wrong, when it comes to arbitration, if you have “saves” on your stat sheet, all other stats seem to fall out the window. By taking the one-year deal with the Nats, and racking up the saves, Capps stands to make more money in the end than he would have by signing with the Cubs. Let’s just hope he doesn’t expect to, you know, win.

Or does he? From Capps on the decision:

“But I really like the decisions the Nationals have made this offseason and their commitment to winning beyond 2010. I’m excited about what can be.” MLB.com.

That may be the most ridiculous quote ever, for two distinct reasons:

(1) Yes, the Nationals have clearly shown a commitment to winning. You know, by signing… um… Jason Marquis and Ivan Rodriguez. Yes. Clear commitment.

and

(2) Thickly dripped irony: stating that the reason you’re signing with a team is because they’ve shown a commitment to winning beyond 2010 when you’re signing a one-year deal for 2010.

Look, dude. Your reason for choosing the Nats was perfectly understandable and reasonable. No need to offer some lip-service bs after the fact.

For the Cubs part, this is good and bad. Capps is a good pitcher, no doubt, so it stinks to miss out. Yet, as I’ve made very clear, I think the bullpen is the wrong place for this team to be spending its ever-dwindling remaining payroll. Odds are, though, that Jim Hendry will continue to pursue a reliever, which could result in the Cubs landing a worse pitcher at the same price. So, well, I guess it’s mostly bad, but only because of the guy running the show.

Remember when Jim Hendry had to make certain moves to ensure that Dusty Baker wouldn’t trot the wrong players out there? Well, this is kind of like that, one step up the foodchain. What can Tom Ricketts do to ensure that Jim Hendry won’t sign the wrong players in the first place?

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Capps Decision Looming - He’s Leaning Toward the Nats

Matt Capps’ agent has stated that the pitcher’s decision is forthcoming this evening, and there are various reports that he’s leaning toward the Nationals because they are offering an opportunity to close. I’d been holding off on posting anything because the decision is at hand, but while we wait the final word, I thought it worth updating those who are in the midst of an Obsessive Matt Capps Watch.

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Matt Capps is Expected to Decide Between Cubs and Nationals Today

Multiple reports suggest that free agent reliever, and current Chicago Cubs top target, Matt Capps will be deciding between contract offers from the Cubs and the Washington Nationals later today. The values of the contracts are unknown at this point, but if I had to guess, Capps is likely deciding between a one-year deal and a chance to close with the Nationals, and a two-year deal and a chance to win with the Cubs.

Capps’ former bullpen-mate John Grabow has been on the horn, trying to sway Capps’ decision.

“I basically told him about the organization and how the guys are in the clubhouse,” Grabow said Tuesday from his Arizona home. “If he comes to the Cubs, he’s coming to a contender.”

The Cubs starting pitchers do go deep in games, which, Grabow said, could mean a lot of meaningful innings for Capps. The difference could come down to what Capps wants to do. The Nationals are looking for a closer, while the Cubs already have named Carlos Marmol as their closer. Marmol took over in mid August for Kevin Gregg, and went 11-for-11 in save situations. Marmol also walked a lot of batters.

Grabow said Capps is exactly what a manager wants — he’s durable and throws strikes.

“I told him, if you come to the Cubs, you might not close right away but things happen,” Grabow said. “[Capps] is a great guy. He’ll take the ball every single day. He’s a bulldog. He’s the sort of guy you want in your bullpen.” Muskat Ramblings.

Oh, well if he’s a bulldog…

I’ve probably been too hard on Capps given how tremendously good he was prior to last year. If he pitches like he did from 2006 to 2008, we will all be thrilled with this signing. My gripe is less with Matt Capps being signed, and more with the idea that the Cubs apparently have such limited funds, and are spending $8, 9, 10 million to add to the bullpen.

That all said, boy howdy was Capps bad last year. The articles you read that report his ERA last year (5.80) really only tell you part of the story. Prior to last year, his career WHIP (walks and hits per inning - gives you an idea of how many batters he lets on base per inning) was hovering around a very, very good 1.000, but last year that number exploded to 1.656. That’ll happen when you give up 12 hits per 9 innings, and your walks per nine doubles from where it had previously been.

Some of the comments have suggested that Capps was dealing with injury issues last year, so let’s hope that’s all 2009 was: an injury-wrecked aberration.

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