Scott Podsednik doesn’t belong on the North Side, and it’s not just a White Sox thing, either.

The guy’s injury prone and his defense isn’t what it use to be, which was never above average to begin with.

Despite Podsednik’s ability as a solid leadoff man, he’s just not the fit the Cubs need in center field. Better options are available (Reed Johnson) and the Cubs are better off taking a flyer on Scotty Pods.

Besides, an aging Alfonso Soriano in left field is already enough poor defense to overcome. Adding a second sub-par defender isn’t the shot-in-the- arm Jim Hendry should be looking for.

–Signing a two-year deal with San Francisco is a good move for Mark DeRosa. He’ll be a full-time starter at third base and the Giants are on the cusp of being a playoff contender.

DeRosa’s likable personality makes him a good fit on any club, but with San Fran he’ll fit in exceptionally well. The city’s forward thinking crowd will love D-Ro the same way in which they did the well-spoken Rich Aurilia for so many years.

The Cubs don’t face the Giants until mid-August when they play a  four game set at San Francisco. DeRosa’s return to Wrigley comes the following month for a three-game series against the Cubs in late September.

–Former-Cub Bob Howry is returning to his native state to pitch for the D-Backs. I always liked Howry the person: solid dude, and a true professional at his craft. The results of his pitching, however, not so much.

I’ll give the guy credit for his first two seasons with the Cubs, which were fairly good, but his last in ‘08 ended in shambles. I can’t remember another Cubs reliever who gave up more big home runs since Mike Remlinger and Kyle Farnsworth.

As it was, the Cubs smartly cut ties with Howry and he eventually signed with San Francisco last offseason.

As expected, the 35-year-old fell flat posting a 2-6 record and 3.39 ERA. Apparently, however, Arizona is so desperate for bullpen help Howry is a fit. Oh, how the once mighty Bob Howry and the Arizona Diamondbacks have fallen!

Strangely, I became a fan of former-Cub Doug Glanville while he was playing in Philadelphia, and not Chicago.

In high school my friends and I would take games in from the center field seats. With our sophomoric maturity at its peek, we relentlessly heckled the visiting team’s center fielder (not one of my prouder moments, mind you!).

Most players ignored us, but some shot us looks of disbelief and disapproval, which sadly entertained us. Others, however, like Glanville acknowledged the hazing and even played back.

Glanville’s specialty was flashing us his bright smile. The more we unloaded on him the wider it got. And for good measure, Glanville often faked throwing the baseball our way after catching the third out of an inning, and we loved him for it!

Now a regular contributor to the New York Times, Glanville wrote an interesting piece about the luxuries of being a pro athlete and how the behavior and downfall of Tiger Woods came to be.

Below I’ve pasted a few clips from the article. You can read the piece in its entirety here.

• Apparently, I had skipped a few of the steps to social acceptance, and before I knew it, “unapproachable” and “woman” were no longer being used in the same sentence.

• It was like a kid finding Batman’s belt in the lost and found. No point in giving it back until you’ve tried all your new powers.

• As you climb the baseball ladder, your social confidence explodes. You receive the sort of attention you never did as an acne-ridden honors student. Quite frankly, it is addictive, and when you are in it, there seems to be no end in sight.

• In an athlete’s environment, money can be its own pollutant; you can become desensitized to the significance of what it can buy.

The bullpen could use a little rest so I’ll be taking a few days off to chew seeds and spend time with the family.

Enjoy the holidays and we’ll get back in touch next week!

When I said Tuesday the Cubs would get a sweet deal in return for Zambrano I wasn’t talking about Kie Igawa, who apparently was the return piece, offered by the Yankees.

Igawa is 31-years-old with a career 6.66 ERA in just 16 major league games. Not to mention, he missed all of ‘09 throwing in the minor leagues.

Reportedly, however, the Cubs were still interested in eating the $8 million left on Igawa’s contract. Eh? To even think Igawa is the tipping point for such a deal is incredulous.

–Matt Capps has agreed to terms with the Nationals. It seems saving games is more important to him than winning, which is fine by me and thankful he’s not a Cub.

I’m still not completely sold on the idea of Marmol saving games, either. He’s gone wild putting men on base via hit batters and walks, which is exactly what closers can’t afford to do.

Had Capps, on the other hand, picked the Cubs he certainly competes for the closer’s role this spring and at the very least plays for a winner, even as a set-up man. Instead, he climbs the latter one rung from Pittsburgh to Washington. Congratulations!

–While the attention of the Cubs’ offseason stays focused on adding both a center fielder and more bullpen help, it’s important not to overlook the bench, which is indeed thin.

The importance of a strong bench is necessary for the Cubs’ older lineup, which needs its rest in order to win the Central.

However unfortunate, guys like Lee, Ramirez and Soriano can’t be counted on to play 150 games fully healthy, and right now the Cubs can’t plug those many holes.

Koyie Hill is a good fit off the bench as is Reed Johnson, if the Cubs choose to resign him. Other than those two, it’s slim pickins’.

I’d prefer the Cubs not trade Carlos Zambrano.

You don’t easily replace top-of the-rotation arms in the big leagues. And to win anything you’ve got to have those golden arms…especially in the rotation.

I’m not, however, bothered by the rumors the Cubs are listening to offers for him. Zambrano’s stock is high and it’s likely the Cubs would get a sweet deal in return while ridding itself of a hot-tempered, lazy and fragile self-anointed star.

Zambrano’s visible talent to be great has never come under fire, but his motivation to do so rightfully has. That alone gives Jim Hendry the green light to put out feelers.

The embarrassment of last season’s performance should motivate Z to greater heights in 2010. But if it’s another season clouded by childish on-the-field meltdowns and lazy preparation, Zambrano should be dealt elsewhere.

Of course, trading Z this offseason wouldn’t be easy on two fronts. First, he has a full no trade clause and a whopping $91.5 million dollar contract.

Secondly, even without reaching his full potential Zambrano is still better than most starters in the league, which only a hand-full of would be available anyway.

The Cubs have given Zambrano all a pitcher could ask for: plenty of money and a talented cast around him. It’s time Carlos lives up to the expectations and his contract. Play hard for the Cubs or play elsewhere.

Milton Bradley had to go, that was a given.

Whoever the Cubs got in return didn’t much matter; just making Bradley Cubs’ history was sufficient.

As it turns out, it’s right-hander Carlos Silva, who’s been dead weight (and over weight) for the Mariners the past two years.

Silva, however, is better than his 5-18 record in Seattle.

He proved that during his six years spent between Philadelphia and Minnesota, which eventually landed him the big-money deal that paid him an outrageous $12.5 million last season. A season, mind you, that ended after eight games and a bum right shoulder.

Now whether or not Silva returns to his old form, where he twice won 13 or more games, is yet to be determined. But at just 30-years-old, there’s still hope for him.

Milton, obviously, had no hope and no place with the Cubs, which isn’t the case for Silva. The Cubs have openings in both the rotation and the bullpen leaving Silva a fighting chance should he lose some weight and recover well from the shoulder ailment. It’s long odds, but not unthinkable, either.

It’s impossible to get the short end of a deal that sends Bradley packing, but my gut says Milton out performs Silva by miles next year. Not that really I care, regardless of what happens with Carlos Silva on the North Side.

Let’s not confuse the Milton Bradley trade for a great day in Cubs’ history. The fact is it’s far from it.

Sorry, but trading the most cankerous sore in Cubs’ history for Carlos Silva just isn’t on par with no-hitters, record setting performances or dare I say, a world championship.

Doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see Bradley go. The truth is I’m thrilled.

Bradley, after all, is the lone player I’ve wanted gone since last January when Hendry officially made him the worst player he’s ever signed, and since early February when I said Bradley was the main cog keeping the Cubs from winning a championship and lastly, since Bradley divided the locker room by mid-summer and sank the Cub into a late season downward spiral.

Bradley’s stay on the North Side was flat out embarrassing. His poor play, antics and childish behavior never made for a special day, but rather a necessary day to part ways with the malcontent.

Bradley was, in every sense of the word, a complete failure. And who wants to celebrate that?

For certain, you breathe a sigh of relief knowing Bradley is gone to Seattle, perhaps even crack a smile, but there’s no trumpeting this as a great day for the Cubs.

All we can say is, at last the embarrassment is over.

Sad knowing the biggest news this offseason is the grand opening of the The Rink at Wrigley, which opens Saturday at 11 a.m.

Further details include:

-Ryan Dempster throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita.

-Ice dancers from the nationally prominent Starlights Synchronized Skating organization will also perform.

-Complimentary skating will be open for the first hour following the ceremony on a first-come, first-served basis. *courtesy the Cubs Community Connection.

And, Jim Hendry officially announces the arrival of Pat Burrell in exchange for Milton Bradley…ok, wishful thinking.

Here’s the list of the 10 best Cubs players during the last decade according to ESPNChicago.com.

• 10. Mark DeRosa
• 9. Mark Prior
• 8. Ryan Theriot
• 7. Moises Alou
• 6. Sammy Sosa

• 5. Ryan Dempster
• 4. Kerry Wood
• 3. Derrek Lee
• 2. Carlos Zambrano
• 1. Aramis Ramirez

I’d drop the last three in favor of Ted Lilly, Jon Lieber and Greg Maddux. But I’m interested in your suggestions, too! Respond.

–The Cubs have struck out looking this offseason.

Jim Hendry has whiffed on signing the top-two available centerfielders. First Curtis Granderson and now Mike Cameron, who signed a two year deal with Boston Tuesday.

Very frustrating, obviously, with centerfield a priority and the Cubs standing pat in favor of guys like Coco Crisp, Marlon Byrd, Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel: none of which I’d like to see suiting up for the Cubs.

But seeing as how that’s all that’s left to choose from I’ll take them in the order listed above.

–Not in favor of the Cubs signing Joel Piniero, either. The guy thrived in St. Louis, like so many before him, under the tutelage of pitching guru Dave Duncan. Makes me skeptical Piniero can keep pace away from Duncan’s watchful eye.

–Glad to see Santo back in the booth for another three years. I’ll never confuse Santo for being a great broadcaster, but his emotions are real and relatable to Cubs fans, which I respect immensely.

Pat Hughes on the other hand, is HOF worthy and expected to sign an extension as well. Together, of course, they’re dynamite on the air and I feel fortunate to spend so many of hours of my summer with them!