Piniella: Cubs will add outfielder, reliever

Cubs manager Lou Piniella probably says a little too much for his bosses' liking when it comes to player acquisitions.

Piniella stopped just short of saying what the Cubs had planned for their holes in the bullpen and with an extra outfielder, but he seemed enthusiastic about the possibilities.

"We're going to add a couple more players before spring training starts," Piniella said Saturday between sessions at the Cubs convention. "And I would think - how can I say this - there will be significant, nice players. We're going to add some nice players here. We're not talking just adding players.

"We're talking about getting a good fourth outfielder. We're talking about getting a good late-inning relief pitcher. Nice pieces here."

Case closed: After being asked during a fan session with his coaches why it took three years for him to realize Alfonso Soriano wasn't a leadoff hitter, Lou Piniella expanded with reporters.

"He was signed here for a lot of money because of the success that he had out of the leadoff spot, and when we got him here, Alfonso was stealing 40 to 45 bases a year," Piniella said. "Then, we made the decision, with Soriano's consent, to move him to the sixth spot. Now, we're not looking at him as a leadoff hitter anymore. We're looking at him as a tail-end of the middle of the lineup hitter."

No big deal: Although he's heading into the final year of his contract, Lou Piniella expressed no worries about it becoming a distraction.

"I'm not concerned about my future at all," he said. "Tony (La Russa) is in St. Louis on a one-year deal. So is Joe Torre in Los Angeles. Bobby Cox took a one-year deal in Atlanta. I'm going to do my job the best I possibly can day in and day out regardless if I'm signed for one year or 10 years.

"It doesn't bother me in the least. My situation should not be and will not be a focus. We're going to concentrate on our baseball team winning as many games as possible, and let the guys play. That'll be enough to keep everybody satisfied this summer."

May for Lilly? Lou Piniella stated he believed lefty Ted Lilly wouldn't be ready until May 1. Lilly is coming off shoulder surgery. Lilly said Friday he has no timetable.

"Our doctors, trainers think Lilly will be ready by May 1," Piniella said. "If we're going to miss a pitcher, the first month is the best month because of rainouts, more days off. You're always looking to get work for people. Teddy feels pretty good. He thinks he's going to be ready sooner, but we're not going to push him all that much."

No controversy: Carlos Marmol is the closer heading into spring training. The previous two years, there was competition for the job. Marmol expressed unhappiness in spring training last year after Kevin Gregg won the job.

Marmol became the closer in August after Gregg faltered.

"I think the right decision was made last year, starting out with Gregg and giving Marmol a little more chance to develop," Piniella said. "Actually, Gregg did a nice job for the first half of the season. He started to have some problems after the All-Star Game. We put Marmol in there, and he responded. This year, he's our closer. No closer controversy. No closer decisions. I don't think we'll have any (controversies)."