Cubs keeping options open with Dempster

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Closer controversy? What closer controversy, especially in December?

Cubs manager Lou Piniella acknowledged Wednesday that Ryan Dempster will get every shot to return to the starting rotation in spring training. But he seemed to leave the door open to Dempster going back to closing games if that didn't work out.

"Spring training's going to answer those things," Piniella said. "Dempster saved 28 out of 31. That's a pretty darn good percentage.

"Believe me, we're going to have to give this more thought. Obviously, we told him we were going to give him a chance to start, and we'll see how he looks.

"The Red Sox went to camp last year at Ft. Myers with (Jonathan) Papelbon being a starter, and halfway through spring training, they changed their mind, and he had a heck of a year out of the bullpen.

"I'm not saying that's going to happen with Dempster, but it possibly could."

Later in the day, general manager Jim Hendry gave his take.

"This isn't going to be 2 bad starts in March and he's out," Hendry said. "But you can't go back and do it the other way. You can't get to camp and say, 'Hey, gee, we kind of need you because we made a trade back then and we didn't get another starter and this guy got hurt.

"Somebody broke down, and they're not going to be ready. Can you get ready for 4 innings by April 2?' "

Hendry added that he has "every confidence" Dempster can win 14 or 15 games.

Making Hill better: The Cubs will need lefty Rich Hill to take another step forward in his career.

Hill, who turns 28 in March, was 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA this year, throwing 195 innings.

"I see a young man, truthfully, who still has upside to him," Lou Piniella said. "I think he needs to learn to pitch a little better with men in scoring position, where he doesn't lose concentration from the hitter but still is able to hold runners better than he has.

"At the same time, I see a kid who fights himself trying to strive for perfection. This is not a perfect game. Those are the two areas I think he needs to improve on the most. But he's young."

One idea the Cubs are mulling is to send Hill to minor-league games during spring training and set up men-on-base situations for him.

The end is near: The winter meetings wrap up today. The big event is the Rule 5 draft, and Jim Hendry said the Cubs may take somebody.

If a club selects a player in the major-league portion of the draft, it must keep him on the big-league roster all year or offer him back to his original club.

Still the shortstop: Despite a bad September fade that hurt his stats, Ryan Theriot will be the Cubs' shortstop in 2008, according to the manager.

"He earned it," Lou Piniella said. "He played really, really well."

Whispers: The Cubs still don't know if they'll trade pitcher Mark Prior before the Dec. 12 deadline. The San Diego Padres' interest may have cooled, but Dusty Baker's Reds, along with Texas and other teams, may be interested. … Lou Piniella reiterated that Jason Marquis will be in the rotation despite a disappointing finish to 2007.