Cubs deal Heilman to D-Backs for prospects; Grabow deal near?
The Aaron Heilman experiment ended after one year, while the John Grabow experience seems destined to continue for another couple of seasons at Wrigley Field as the Cubs did a little shuffling of the bullpen Thursday.
They traded Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for left-handed pitcher Scott Maine and first baseman Ryne White.
But of more urgent concern to many, general manager Jim Hendry said the team "is not too far away" from signing Grabow to a two-year deal.
A deal could be announced as early as Friday.
Heilman, 31, heads off to Arizona after going 4-4 with 1 save and a 4.11 ERA in 70 relief appearances last season. In return, the Cubs picked up "two solid guys," according to Hendry.
Maine, 24, combined to go 4-5 with 7 saves and a 2.90 ERA in 48 relief appearances between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno in 2009.
White, 23, whom Hendry compared to Matt Stairs, batted .266 with 18 doubles, 6 home runs, 52 RBI, 65 walks and a .371 on-base percentage in 116 games for Single-A Visalia.
"We feel like we've picked up two solid prospects from the Diamondbacks," Hendry said. "As we move forward in the winter, the way our big- league club sets up and the way we have a lot of arbitration guys, we just felt like we needed to move some people before we got to Indianapolis (for the winter meetings).
"We obviously liked Aaron in his Mets days. We just feel we have some young arms that could be able to take his place in that part of the bullpen."
As for the White Sox these days, there is that rumored three-way deal that would send first baseman Paul Konerko to the Los Angeles Angels.
The Sox reportedly would get San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in the transaction.
If the deal does become reality, White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski would understand but at the same time be a little bummed about it.
"Anybody that was a part of the 2005 team and has done the things that Paul has done for this team, you're going to miss them," Pierzynski told Silvy & Waddle on WMVP 1000-AM on Thursday.
"That would be a move that people would say, 'Wow, what an upgrade - Adrian Gonzalez,' but people forget all the great things Paul Konerko has done.
"He'd definitely be missed, not only by the players but by the fans."