Floyd, Blanco to rejoin Cubs today
The Cubs will announce two roster moves before today's game in San Francisco, with outfielder Cliff Floyd and catcher Henry Blanco expected to be activated.
To make room for them, infielder Ronny Cedeno was optioned to Class AAA Iowa, and catcher Koyie Kill was designated for assignment following Monday's 6-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Floyd comes off the restricted list following a seven-day stint on the bereavement list because of the death of his father, Cornelius.
Blanco has been out since May 31 with a cervical herniated disk. Blanco was back at Wrigley Field on Monday following a three-game rehab assignment at Class AAA Iowa for a shoulder problem.
"Henry's ready to go," said manager Lou Piniella.
Floyd thinks he should be ready to play quickly.
"I feel like I've been in this situation before and feel like I should be all right and not disrupt anything that's going on here," Floyd said.
It has been a difficult season for Floyd, dealing with his father's serious illness while trying play through it in his first season with the Cubs.
Floyd has 4 homers and 36 RBI in 79 games, although he is batting .290.
"It's been tough," he said. "I knew my dad was really sick, but I was just hoping he could pull through. He was looking really good and seemed like he was coming around. But things happen for a reason that you can't explain and we're moving on and hopefully we can get past this and win -- then I'll definitely believe he had a part to do with it."
Rejoining his teammates was exactly what Floyd needed.
"I think this is a relief for him, in a way, coming here and getting his mind off his dad and just relaxing and playing some baseball," Piniella said. "I think this is probably good therapy for him."
Many of Floyd's Cubs teammates took Saturday morning off to attend his dad's funeral.
"These are the guys that stood behind me and backed me through this and I thank them," Floyd said. "I'm really blessed to have good people around me."
On June 29, Floyd's father attended his final game at Wrigley Field, arriving in an ambulance and watching from a portable hospital bed in a suite.
"You cherish those memories forever," Floyd said.
Hill, batting .161 in 36 games, was out of options, which prevented him from being sent immediately to Iowa. He could be claimed by another team on waivers, ultimately released or traded by the Cubs, or sent to Iowa if no other teams are interested.
Cardinals 6, Cubs 4
At the plate: The Cubs got 10 hits off five St. Louis pitchers but hit into two double plays and had a runner thrown out at third. Daryle Ward had a homer, double and single to raise his average to .329. Ward, Mark DeRosa and Derrek Lee had solo homers.
On the mound: Relievers Kerry Wood and Michael Wuertz combined to pitch 3 no-hit, shutout innings, but starter Ted Lilly was roughed up in 6 innings for the loss. Carmen Pignatiello threw one pitch, which Rick Ankiel sent into the bleachers.
-- Tim Sassone