Cubs take a flyer on veteran righty Lopez

In their never-ending search for some kind of pitching, any kind of pitching, the Cubs made a minor-league deal Thursday.

They acquired 35-year-old right-hander Rodrigo Lopez from the Atlanta organization for minor-league lefty Ryan Buchter. Lopez will join the Cubs on Friday and be activated. The Cubs will option reliever Justin Berg back to Class AAA Iowa.

It's likely the Cubs will use Lopez as a swingman at the beginning, but it is possible he could slip into the rotation, especially if the Cubs don't feel veteran lefty Doug Davis can help them. Davis starts Friday against the Pirates.

At Class AAA Gwinnett, Lopez was 6-1 with a 2.59 ERA. He started 33 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year, going 7-16 with a 5.00 ERA. He's pitched for five major-league teams, compiling a record of 75-89 with a 4.85 ERA.

“We've been scouring, looking for people like this,” said general manager Jim Hendry. “He's had a real good year in Triple-A for the Braves. We thought it was a good move for us, obviously with our injury situation and some setbacks at the Triple-A level. We have some real good kids in Double-A that we want to get to Triple-A at some point in the next few weeks that are high-level prospects.

“We've given a lot of guys opportunities. Some thrive on them, and some have it. We need to keep trying to get better.”

Currently, starting pitchers Andrew Cashner, Matt Garza and Randy Wells are on the disabled list. Wells will return Saturday, and Garza is scheduled to return at the end of next week.

Infielder Jeff Baker played with Lopez in Colorado.

“He's a competitor,” Baker said. “He works quick. He throws hard. He mixes it up. He's got confidence in all his pitches. The thing I liked about playing behind Rodrigo was that he's fearless.”

Power blasts:Kosuke Fukudome hit his first homer of the year in Thursday's 9-3 win over the Mets. Carlos Pena hit his sixth of the year and his second at Wrigley Field. All 6 of Pena's homers have come in his last 20 games. #8220;Getting better, little by little, hitting the daylights out of that ball,#8221; said manager Mike Quade. #8220;That's what he's here for, really. As the conditions improve and his swing gets better, there will be more of those balls leave the ballpark.#8221;