Cubs News & Notes

-The Cubs, the most aggressive club at the general managers' meetings, are just getting started.
-The team's ideal blueprint, according to new manager Lou Piniella, includes the addition of two more hitters and two starting pitchers.
-If they signed free agent Alfonso Soriano, their No. 1 target, to play center, they likely would add a lesser outfield bat to alternate with Jacque Jones and Matt Murton.
-Soriano figures to cost at least $90 million. A free-agent starting pitcher such as Ted Lilly or Gil Meche also will be expensive. The Cubs plan to trade for a second starter.
-Perhaps the most fascinating development in the aftermath of the DeRosa signing is that the Cubs continue to pursue free agent Julio Lugo, whom they envision batting leadoff and possibly moving to center field, according to major-league sources.
-Lugo, a shortstop for most of his career, probably would fit with the Cubs only if the team failed to land Soriano. He has played just one game in center, but he's a terrific athlete and high-energy player who was a favorite of Piniella's with the Devil Rays.
-The Cubs also could trade shortstop Cesar Izturis, perhaps to the Red Sox, to create a spot for Lugo. Izturis, however, is valued for his defense - he won a Gold Glove in 2004 and was an All-Star in '05.
-DeRosa will be the Cubs' regular at second and occasionally fill in at other positions; he turned down a chance to be the Giants' starting third baseman to sign with the Cubs, according to a source with knowledge of his offers.