Soto likely to miss a month

Geovany Soto will have to go on the disabled list after all, and that left the Cubs scrambling for a backup catcher.

Soto, last year's Rookie of the Year, likely will be out up to a month with a strained left oblique. He'll leave Sunday for Arizona to work out and rehab.

"That's the best for the team," Soto said. "Get down there as soon as possible to jump back. Hopefully, it's a two-week deal."

Most likely, the injury will keep Soto out the better part of a month, according to Cubs manager Lou Piniella.

That left the Cubs with Koyie Hill as their No. 1 catcher, with Jake Fox as the backup.

The Cubs did not officially put Soto on the DL Friday because they were hopeful of trading for a major-league backup. They appeared to have interest in the Phillies' Chris Coste, but the Astros claimed him on waivers after Coste was designated for assignment.

If the Cubs can't make a trade, they can call up a catcher from the minor leagues. They have veterans Mark Johnson and Chris Robinson at Class AAA Iowa along with prospect Steve Clevenger. Johnson has been on the DL with a sore neck. Robinson, whom the Cubs obtained in 2006 in a trade with Detroit for Neifi Perez, has not played in the big leagues.

Soto injured himself during batting practice Wednesday and had an MRI that night.

"I was trying to hit the ball the other way and keep hitting the ball to the middle," Soto said. "I felt like something grabbed me. They said it's moderate to mild. The doctor says it's not even close to the worst you can have, so that's a good sign."

Hello, Jeff: The Cubs brought reliever Jeff Stevens to the big leagues Friday, and he worked a 1-2-3 ninth in his big-league debut, even taking a batted ball from Brendan Ryan off his upper body.

Stevens was one of three pitching prospects the Cubs got from Cleveland last winter for Mark DeRosa, who now is on St. Louis' DL.

At Class AAA Iowa, Stevens was 0-3 with a 2.18 ERA and 2 saves.

"Big series to show up for, so I'm very excited about it," he said. "Pretty much everybody be ready (at Iowa) because you don't know who's going to get called next. I wasn't expecting that call, but everyone's ready and willing if they get that call."

This and that: Aramis Ramirez has hit safely in three straight games (4-for-12) - Ryan Theriot recorded his team-leading 30th multihit game with a pair of singles ... Derrek Lee has 6 homers in his last 9 games.