Pie And Guzman Safe

Neither Pie nor Guzman is being dangled in any swaps that general manager Jim Hendry is considering before the non-waiver trade deadline passes Saturday. The Cubs have high hopes for Pie and Guzman and won't tamper with their future by letting go of either one.

The most staggering speculation this week was that the Florida Marlins might consider trading closer Armando Benitez to the Cubs for Pie and Guzman if the defending World Series champions decide by the end of the week that they are sellers and not buyers. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel floated that possibility.

But even though Benitez is among the National League leaders with 33 saves -- one behind Danny Graves' league-leading 34 for the Cincinnati Reds -- that deal never would have a chance if the Marlins insist on Pie and Guzman. Not to mention the fact the Cubs and Marlins have not been in contact about any deals in recent weeks.

Rest easy Cubs fans on that issue atleast.