Apparently the Cubs might be talking to the Expos about Orlando Cabrera

General manager Jim Hendry declined to discuss a report that the Cubs have spoken to Montreal about 29-year-old Orlando Cabrera, who's hitting .286 in July after a rough start.

The Cubs likely would have to give up a decent pitching prospect along with Gonzalez, who will become a free agent at the end of the year and isn't in the team's 2005 plans.

Gonzalez earns $5.75 million while Cabrera makes $6 million, so their salaries are a virtual wash. Hendry is looking to improve the offense and perhaps add a reliever before the July 31 trading deadline.

I will take it I guess. But he isn't going to help anymore than keeping A-gonz. To me a nothing deal if it happens. We take a inconsistent hitting SS and replace him with another inconsistent hitting SS.

The only thing that makes him better than A-gonz is he doesn't strike out 100+ times a year.