Cubs President Andy MacPhail termed negotiations with the agent for former Dodgers closer Jeff Shaw “very preliminary, explorative.”
Shaw, 35, saved 43 games for the Dodgers last season but said he was retiring to spend more time with his family at home in Ohio. The Cubs, however, are in the market for a closer now that Tom Gordon likely will be sidelined at least three months with a torn shoulder muscle.
“I just think it’s an appropriate measure when you consider the loss of [Gordon],” MacPhail said Sunday of the Shaw talks. “Where it goes I have no idea.”
Shaw’s agent, Joe Bick, has indicated Shaw might be willing to sign with the Cubs.
“We all understand if something is to be done, the sooner the better for all parties,” MacPhail said. Shaw is “a month behind. It’s a function of resources, the role we would envision for him, the data we have on him, and then making a determination what their level of interest is.”
Manager Don Baylor indicated he was in favor of considering Shaw.
“Experienced guys in that role are sometimes hard to find, those guys who can get the last three outs,” he said.
One of those apparently eliminating himself is right-hander Carlos Zambrano, who has struggled in three outings, giving up six runs in eight innings.
“I’m going to have to start him to see if I can get him straightened out,” Baylor said of Zambrano. “He’ll have a start Thursday.”
Rosy future: Apparently the outfield is not set just yet.
Sammy Sosa, of course, has right field and Moises Alou, who will make his spring debut Monday against the Giants, will hold down left field. Highly regarded prospect Corey Patterson appeared to be targeted for center field.
But Baylor raised the possibility of hot-hitting Roosevelt Brown, who leads the team with 12 hits this spring, winning the job. Brown went 1-for-4 Sunday and is batting .361. Patterson was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and is batting .235. Baylor said he’d rest Patterson and play Brown in center Monday.
Patterson, Baylor noted, tends to press when things aren’t going well.
“I see that wheel spinning a little bit with him,” he said. “I’ll give him a couple of days and get him back in there.”
Brown, 26, batted .346 and .309 the last two years in Triple A, with brief stops in Chicago. Though his fielding is suspect, especially for a center fielder, his hitting is making it hard for Baylor to make a decision.
“I worked hard this off-season and I’m starting to reap some benefits,” Brown said.
Patterson, meanwhile, hasn’t lost confidence.
“Mentally I’m a lot better,” he said. “I’m not worrying about a whole lot. I’m going out, being myself and having fun.”
Prior appointment: Despite his impressive pitching thus far, top draft pick Mark Prior will start the season in the minors.
“We feel strongly the best thing for Mark when he starts his professional career [is to] do it in an environment that is not overly pressurized for his and our longterm benefit,” MacPhail said. “How long he stays there is a function of two things: how well he does and how badly we need him.”
Who’s on third? Although MacPhail says he’s not worried about third baseman Bill Mueller’s return, it has to be a concern when a player with a knee injury has swelling almost a year later.
Then again, it may not be the way Mark Bellhorn is hitting. The 27-year-old former Oakland prospect had two more hits and a walk Sunday and is batting .480 with 12 hits in 25 at-bats.
“I’m happy with the way I’ve played so far,” Bellhorn said. “I wanted to come in and play well and make an impression and hopefully make this team..”
End it all: It’s Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds again Monday when the Cubs entertain the Giants. They had a verbal contretemps last week over what Bonds allegedly said to Sosa, but Sosa would like to drop the matter for now.
“I don’t want to get into it,” he said.
SPRING REPORT
Cubs recap
SCORE: Cubs 6, Angels 5.
SPRING RECORD: 5-7.
AT THE PLATE: Second baseman Bobby Hill hit a two-run game-winning homer on the first pitch to him in the bottom of the ninth inning.
ON THE MOUND: Starter Jason Bere gave up three runs in four innings, all to consecutive batters in the fourth inning with a double, single and home run after he had retired 10 straight hitters.
IN THE FIELD: Corey Patterson made his third error of the spring with a high throw from center field that allowed a runner to get into scoring position.
PROSPECTS: David Kelton hit a pinch home run to begin the Cubs’ comeback from a 5-1 deficit in the eighth inning. Manager Don Baylor called Kelton one of the organziation’s top hitting prospects.
NEXT UP: Vs. San Francisco at 2:05 p.m. Monday. Jesus Sanchez will start.Cubs recap
