Good news on Soriano, Baker; neither as bad as expected

The Cubs were bracing for the worst, but they got two pieces of injury news Saturday that left them breathing a little easier.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano went for an MRI on his left knee two days ahead of schedule because the pain had gotten so bad. Manager Lou Piniella said the test revealed only inflammation and that the team doctor would examine Soriano today and likely administer a cortisone shot. Soriano probably will miss a couple more days.

Jeff Baker was supposed to start at third base, but he took a groundball off his right pinkie finger during batting practice and had to be scratched from the lineup. Baker went for X-rays, and the Cubs said those turned up negative.

With Soriano, the knee has been bothering him since late April, and he is hoping to avoid off-season surgery. If Soriano has only inflammation, he may be able to get by without going under the knife. Even so, Piniella didn't want to play him Saturday.

"There's no sense delaying it; he wasn't going to play today," Piniella said before the game. "He's not moving well. I'm not going to do that to a player. You know what? Give him all the credit in the world. He goes out there, and he does the best he can."

Harden update: There are reports that the Cubs may be able to work out a trade with the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Rich Harden, whom the Cubs put on waivers last week. Reports say the Twins have been awarded the claim.

The Cubs and Twins have until Monday to finalize a deal, if the Cubs indeed are interested in dealing Harden. The alternatives are to let Harden go on waivers (which the Cubs won't do) or for the Cubs to pull Harden back off waivers and keep him.

Heavy-headed: Pitcher Ryan Dempster tried out a new batting helmet, one that is supposed to provide extra protection. He said it was a tad heavy as he ran the bases.

"Running around the bases like Mark Kelso," Dempster said, referring to a former football player. "It actually made me faster because all I had to do was lean forward. ... I just thought I'd try it out. It kind of felt like my own bobblehead day."

Minor matters: The Cubs' Class A Daytona club got a combined 7-inning no-hitter Friday in the second game of a doubleheader against Clearwater.

Pitchers Oswaldo Martinez and Naperville's Mike Perconte worked 4 and 3 innings, respectively, as Daytona won 3-0. It was Daytona's second no-hitter in two weeks, as Martinez was one of four pitchers to combine on a 7-inning no-hitter against Dunedin on Aug. 15.

Martinez, 20, was signed out of Mexico in 2006. Perconte, 23, was signed last year as a undrafted free agent.