More fromPhil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune:
The Cubs clearly aren’t blown away by any of the center fielders on the free agent market, preferring to explore trades. One name to file away is Fernando Perez.
Perez, who turns 27 in April, owns a .289/.375/.402 batting line in parts of six minor league seasons with the Rays organization. A switch-hitter, Perez is blessed with supreme speed -- 199 stolen bases in 584 minor league games -- but he has yet to find a real opportunity on the major league level. He was limited to just 35 games between the minors and the majors last season due to a broken left wrist suffered during an attempted diving catch in spring training. He underwent surgery on his left shoulder in October, an injury likely caused by the same play, but he is expected to be ready for the start of the 2010 season.
It would be a nice move for general manager Jim Hendry in the sense that the Cubs wouldn’t have to add much payroll to an already bloated outfield, but since Perez is under team control through 2013, it would probably cost them a premium prospect. The club remains linked to Marlon Byrd, Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel in free agency.
