Cubs trade infielder AndresBlanco to Rangers

MESA, Ariz. - The Cubs freed some roster space Saturday by trading backup infielder Andres Blanco to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash.

With second baseman Mike Fontenot getting work at shortstop this spring, Blanco's days as a Cub appeared numbered anyway. He was out of minor-league options, so the Cubs were able to get something for him.

The trade opens the way for the Cubs to keep a veteran such as Kevin Millar and/or Chad Tracy. The Cubs also outrighted pitcher Mike Parisi to Class AAA Iowa.

The Cubs chose Parisi from St. Louis in the Rule 5 draft last December. Because Parisi had been outrighted once by St. Louis in the past, he had the right to elect minor-league free agency. He did so and chose the Cubs.

General manager Jim Hendry lauded Blanco, who played in 53 games for the Cubs last year.

"He did a very good job for us last year when we were in a pinch," Hendry said. "Outstanding defender. No doubt he'll help the Rangers in that capacity."

Hendry also cited the Cubs having Darwin Barney and phenom Starlin Castro in the minor leagues as reasons it was palatable to part with Blanco.

No 'Cubs tax'? Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig visited HoHoKam Park on Saturday and said that Major League Baseball has taken over the process surrounding the controversial "Cubs tax" that has been proposed to fund a new spring training home for the team in Mesa.

To hear Selig tell it, the ticket surcharge is all but dead.

"It got a little out of hand and a little unfortunate," Selig said. "We're working toward a solution. There will be a solution. There has to be a solution. We're going to stay in until we get a deal done. My hope is that the Cubs get what they want here and that it's satisfactory, not only for the Cubs and for baseball, but for the other teams"

A bill passed the Arizona House with the so-called Cubs tax in it, but a final bill still needs to be ironed out. Selig acknowledged the Cubs' importance to the Cactus League.

"Look today," he said, pointing toward the crowd of 13,462. "They've been here for so long. I think it's important that they're here. They have a great history here. It's important to the state of Arizona."

But Selig also stated: "To tax everybody for somebody is a dangerous precedent. ... There are economic solutions to everything, and we have to be smart about it."

Selig termed it "a fair statement" that there would be no "Cubs tax" throughout the Phoenix valley.

Marmol aid: Reliever Carlos Marmol rebounded from Friday's rough outing with a scoreless ninth Saturday. He walked the first batter but finished by striking out two. Manager Lou Piniella said Friday that Marmol had to get more "on top" of the ball so that his slider would break more sharply.

No one with the Cubs expressed worry about Marmol, the Cubs' closer.

"I'm OK," Marmol said. "What happened yesterday happens to everybody. I tried to make my pitch; they hit a home run and a basehit. Keep battling. We're in spring training right now. What I'm looking for right now is not to walk people and throw strikes.

"I can't feel my slider. That's why I hit people with my slider. I can't feel my slider with my hand, my grip. So I want to leave here."