Cubs working on deal to keep Garciaparra; Walker could be in the mix

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has a priority list in place asnext week's winter meetings approach, and at the top of that list fornow is shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who could be returning despitespeculation to the contrary.

Hendry, who orchestrated the blockbuster four-team trade thatbrought the longtime Boston Red Sox shortstop to the Cubs at the July31 deadline, has been meeting with agent Arn Tellem on a deal to keepGarciaparra, 31, even if it becomes a short-term contract.

I've been talking to Arn quite regularly," Hendry said Wednesday.Both sides would like to get something done. Hopefully we'll getsomething done quickly."

That means before Tuesday, the deadline for teams to offerarbitration to their free agents. That's also the eve of the annualwinter meetings, when a flurry of deals is expected.

Pitcher Matt Clement is likely to get an arbitration offer fromthe Cubs, more to ensure that the team would get draft picks ascompensation for another team signing the right-handed starter.

The Cubs see an arbitration offer as a no-lose proposition withClement, who likely would get only a one-year deal with the Cubs ifhe accepts arbitration. Clement is among a handful of starterscoveted by several teams and is likely to get multiyear offers.

A multiyear deal between Garciaparra and the Cubs is less likely,unless the two-time American League batting champion would accept acontract tied to incentives.

Garciaparra came to the Cubs in the final year of a seven-year,$44.25 million deal with the Red Sox, but Hendry's talks with Tellemprobably are focusing on a lower figure than the $11.5 million hemade last season.

Tellem was in meetings Wednesday and was not available.

Garciaparra has let it be known he would consider a short-term,even one-year, contract to rebound from his injury-plagued 2004season and gamble on increasing his worth as a free agent.

Garciaparra hit .297 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 43 gameswith the Cubs, but he missed 11 games with a groin strain and thelingering effects of Achilles tendinitis that began in springtraining.

Garciaparra might be a more economical option than free-agentshortstops Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera, though Hendry has hadinterest in both. Cabrera, then with the Montreal Expos, was Hendry'soriginal target in the July 31 deal, but he ended up with the Red Soxwhen Garciaparra came to the Cubs.

Renteria and Cabrera are likely to command costly multiyear deals.

The other half of the Cubs' double-play combination is anotherconcern Hendry is moving to address.

We have some interest in bringing Todd Walker back," he said, butwe also have kept our eyes on some other possibilities."

Walker, one of the few left-handed bats in the Cubs' lineup, hit.274 with 15 homers and 50 RBI in 129 games. He made his greatestimpact early in the season, batting .323 in April while MarkGrudzielanek was out with Achilles tendinitis.

But the Cubs aren't likely to offer arbitration to Walker, whomade $1.75 million last season. The Texas Rangers have shown interestin Walker, who has played four of his eight seasons in the AmericanLeague.

Tony Womack, who had a career season with the St. Louis Cardinalsafter spending September 2003 with the Cubs, is another second-baseoption. But at 36, he might be a risk for a long-term deal.