Dernier new first-base coach; DeJesus to third

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Cubs' minor-league shuffle continued Monday, and this time, the coaching staff got a key call-up.

Bob Dernier has moved up from being the Cubs' minor-league outfield and baserunning coordinator to first-base coach of the big club, which is in Washington.

Ivan DeJesus moves from first base to third base, taking over for manager Mike Quade, who took over after Lou Piniella retired Sunday.

"That's Mike Quade's call," said farm director Oneri Fleita, who is watching the Cubs' Class AAA Iowa team. "Everybody in the minor leagues is in contention, so it made sense to take somebody from a roving position. I think, more important, it made sense because Quade was in charge of the outfield play and the baserunning.

"So it made sense to take Bobby to the major leagues. I credit him with making an impact on our baserunning in the minor leagues. He's really changed the way guys think about it. You see guys constantly running the bases with their heads up, looking for the extra bases."

Dernier and Ryne Sandberg formed the famed "Daily Double" in 1984, sparking the top of the Cubs' lineup and helping them with the NL East. Sandberg is the manager at Iowa, and he'll be a candidate to succeed Piniella.

Fleita hearkened back to Dernier's day in what he has done in the minors.

"He's kind of created a culture here where players are accountable to each other, which is something interesting to hear him talk about," Fleita said. "When he was a player, they were accountable to each other if a guy didn't get to second base when he was supposed to. He certainly deserves all the credit for all the improvements we've made running the bases."

Roster moves: Outfielder Sam Fuld and catcher Welington Castillo are back at Iowa, optioned Monday. The Cubs activated catcher Geovany Soto off the disabled list and recalled first baseman Micah Hoffpauir from Iowa.

The upshot of the Hoffpauir recall is that it likely means there won't be a rush to use outfielder Tyler Colvin at first base.

Also, pitcher Carlos Silva will throw a side session today, and if that goes well, he could make a minor-league rehab start Thursday.