The Cubs are on hold after making trade proposals to two separate teams Tuesday, one involving Florida center fielder Juan Pierre.
General manager Jim Hendry said either trade could happen Wednesday, or either one could be could declined by the other teams.
“I can’t put a time frame on it,” Hendry said.
The Marlins were thought to be trying to find a better proposal for Pierre than what the Cubs were offering, rumored to be pitcher Sergio Mitre and Double-A pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Reynel Pinto.
Hendry’s second proposed trade also involved one player coming in return for several Cubs. He has been in contact with Tampa Bay, which has left-handed-hitting right fielder Aubrey Huff and shortstop Julio Lugo available.
Lugo also was rumored in a three-way deal Tuesday, with Tampa Bay receiving prospects in return and Atlanta getting shortstop Edgar Renteria from Boston. The Cubs have other pitchers, notably Jerome Williams and Todd Wellemeyer, plus Corey Patterson and Todd Walker who could be included in a trade.
If the Cubs obtained Pierre and Lugo, it would change their lineup dramatically. They would bat first and second, and Lugo likely would play shortstop. Huff would be the power bat to replace Jeromy Burnitz in right field, but the Cubs also have talked with other teams about left-handed hitters.
Players who would fit that mold and might be available include the Mets’ Cliff Floyd and the Diamondbacks’ Shawn Green, both of whom have Chicago roots, and the Phillies’ Bobby Abreu, who would command a high return in pitching talent.
As for Pierre, 28, he was paid $3.7 million last season and is eligible for salary arbitration, which could take his salary as high as $5 million for next season despite an off-year statistically. He still stole 57 bases and hit .276.
The Marlins are anxious to dump his salary before leaving the winter meetings Thursday.
Mitre was 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 21 appearances with the Cubs. He started seven games and threw one shutout. Nolasco is a highly regarded 23-year-old right-hander who was 14-3 with a 2.89 ERA at West Tenn.
With the loss of desired free agent Rafael Furcal right before the winter meetings, Hendry has been on a whirlwind schedule in an attempt to make up. He was asked if he could end up overpaying in talent because of the Cubs’ glaring needs.
“Overpaying is a funny word,” he said. “I think we do a good job of setting boundaries. I try to treat player transactions the same as I do money [free agent] ones. If I don’t feel we can live with it, I won’t do it.
“I was going to pursue some people whether we got Furcal or not. The only pressure I feel is to put a better team on the field so we win more than 79 games.”
Hendry appears intent on filling his needs before leaving Dallas. He said neither of his proposed Tuesday trades involved a right-handed-hitting outfielder, but that a left-hander “is not set in stone” if he can’t find the right lefty.
While waiting for the trades, Hendry continued talking with other clubs.
“We have to keep the flow going with other clubs even if [possible trades] are not as prioritized,” Hendry said. “We’ve talked to four or five clubs every day. You just can’t focus on your first priorities and then try to catch up a few days later [if they fall through].”
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dvandyck@tribune.com
