The Cubs have some payroll flexibility to add a veteran player without long-term contract commitment, and Jim Hendry is making daily rounds of calls on position players and pitchers -- mostly left-handers such as Joe Beimel and George Sherrill.
But what do the Cubs actually need?
Determining the right answer to that question might be harder than actually pulling off a deal.
A lefty for the bullpen gives the Cubs the kind of depth to not only take the burden off Sean Marshall, the only lefty out there now, but it also provides the luxury of considering a move of Marshall to the rotation to cover the rotation's injury du jour, if necessary.
But what about going after a starter to cover Ted Lilly's absence for what appears to be at least the next three weeks? (Randy Wells' and Kevin Hart's combined 8-5 record and 2.90 ERA notwithstanding)
Or what about a catcher to cover what could be a lingering problem for Geo Soto and that oblique injury? (Jake Fox's good-looking stint behind the plate Monday night notwithstanding)
Or a bat for the bench? Or some infield depth?
Or a salary dump of, say, $30 million -- all right, forget that one.
But given a few million of 2009 payroll room and an ideal world of trading partners, what should the Cubs pursue most in the final days before Friday's deadline?
