Nomar

Garciaparra

Previous reports had him on Jose’s steriod list.

Nomar has let his average plummet from .343 to a shameful .324.

“Running and fielding is probably the toughest part right now,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We just have to do it the right way at the right pace.” Garciaparra remains day-to-day for now.

Another good sign: Before their mini-break, the Cubs were able to start Nomar every day on the turf in Montreal. Keep him active.

Walker doesn’t believe the Cubs will pay the price to keep Nomar. “There’s no doubt he’d want to come back,’' Walker said. “The issue is money. Do the Cubs want to pay him what he’s worth? I doubt it, I don’t know. That’s the main issue. I think Nomar’s worth that type of money and I don’t think the Cubs are going to give it to him.’'

The Sun-Times speculated that the Cubs might be willing to re-sign Nomar to a three-year deal with base salaries in the $7 million-$8 million range. They’re kidding themselves if they think that’s a possibility.

“I don’t know who’s going to want me. That’s a factor,” Garciaparra said. “I don’t know who’s out there, who’s interested, any of that. (I want to play) where I can continue to keep a smile on my face.” Nomar is originally from Southern California, so he might take a look at a western team. The Cubs will likely make an offer to him for PR reasons, but it won’t be in the neighborhood Nomar is seeking.

The hot rumor is that Nomar will be willing to take a one-year deal in order to rebuild his value. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be staying in Chicago, though. The Angels and maybe the Giants figure to be interested.

Nomar expects to be in the lineup today, so if the Cubs are going to disable him and let him rest for September it would make sense to do it now and be able to back-date it by three games.

Both the Cubs and Garciaparra say the tests and his last two games off are precautionary, but owners still have to be concerned.