Healthy Grabow plans on bouncing back

MESA, Ariz. — Lefty John Grabow has become somewhat the forgotten man in the Cubs bullpen.

The 32-year-old Grabow, who came to the Cubs in a July 2009 trade with the Pirates, suffered through a poor season last year. He was 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA, and a sprained left knee limited him to 28 games.

Grabow chose to rehab the knee without surgery and says he’s ready to bounce back.

“If you can always avoid getting cut on, it’s a positive,” he said Tuesday. “I figured the rehab’s just as quick. It’s healed now.”

Grabow lost his late-inning job to lefty Sean Marshall. Right-hander Kerry Wood is back to handle the setup role from the right side.

“I spoke to him today,” manager Mike Quade said of Grabow. “He’s healthy. He feels good. We’ll get the guy back who arrived here from Pittsburgh and pitched against us the way he did so he can be a real effective guy in the back end of that bullpen situation late in the game.”

Quade also said the Cubs could carry three or four left-handed relievers, especially if they open the season with five right-handed starters, as expected.

He’s on first:

Tyler Colvin took groundballs at first base Tuesday without incident. Mike Quade says Colvin and Jeff Baker will get good looks at first this spring as backups to starter Carlos Pena.

“We can’t afford to get into a situation where, God forbid, something happens to Carlos,” Quade said. “You don’t want to come out of spring training believing that’s a possibility but not having given him the games there.”

Smashing debut:

Center fielder Brett Jackson, the Cubs’ No. 1 draft pick from 2009, has reported for camp. The highlight, or lowlight, of his Tuesday may have been breaking the window of a passing car with a long drive.

The number of outfielders on the big-league roster probably will make it impossible for Jackson to do what Tyler Colvin did last year and make the team out of spring. But Jackson knows he can open some eyes, especially after a good 2010 in the minor leagues and playing for Team USA in the fall.

“I’ve just got to get goofy and have a good time,” he said. “We’ll see. Last year was fun. It’s really easy to adapt here, a lot of guys who are willing to take you in and make you feel part of it. From last year’s experience, the nerves are a little less, but they’re certainly still there.”

Trade made:

The Cubs on Tuesday picked up right-handed reliever Robert Coello from the Red Sox for minor-league infielder Tony Thomas. Coello, 26, spent time in Class AA and Class AAA ball last year before making his big-league debut in September.

The converted catcher appeared in six games for Boston with no record. He gave up 3 runs in his first appearance and then pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way over 5 innings. The Cubs will use him as bullpen insurance. Thomas, a third-round pick of the Cubs in 2007, batted .276 with 11 homers last year at Class AA Tennessee. Coello has minor-league options remaining.