Tony DeMarco

When we last checked in on the Chicago Cubs, we detailed the erosion of the nucleus of talent that got them to the verge of the 2003 World Series, and how it was up to general manager Jim Hendry to accomplish a makeover — or else.

An off-season has all but passed since then, putting Hendry and manager Dusty Baker that much closer to the expiration of their contracts at the end of this season, and how has Hendry fared? It’s a mixed bag — certainly not one that is comparable to the revamping Kenny Williams did ahead of what turned into a World Series-winning sweep for the cross-town White Sox last October.

Trade talks involving everybody from Todd Walker to Mark Prior give reason to believe Hendry’s work isn’t finished. And it shouldn’t be, because at this point in time, there just isn’t enough here to think the Cubs can move past St. Louis and Houston in the National League Central.

On the plus side, Hendry has upgraded the bullpen — always a good place to start in trying to turn around a disappointing 79-83 finish. After giving closer Ryan Dempster a three-year, $15.5-million contract, Hendry struck early on the free-agent market with similar three-year deals to left-hander Scott Eyre and right-hander Bob Howry for a combined $23 million.

Eyre was signed away from San Francisco, where he put up three consecutive quality seasons, and will be reunited with Baker. Howry came from Cleveland following a big year that came two years removed from elbow surgery. Since that point, he has posted a 2.56 ERA.

There also is a chance that Kerry Wood will return to the active roster in a setup role while building endurance to return to the rotation — where he wants to be, and where the Cubs need him to be if they are to have any postseason aspirations in 2006.  

Add in Will Ohman and Michael Wuertz as a middle-innings lefty-righty combination, and this could be a very good bullpen.

But with Wood unlikely to start the season as he recovers from off-season surgery, the rotation isn’t any better than last year — which makes you wonder why Hendry even considered putting one of his top two starters in talked-about deals for Bobby Abreu and Miguel Tejada.

Following Prior and Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux turns 40 and is one year closer to the end of his Hall of Fame career, and Jerome Williams and Glendon Rusch again will get opportunities. They also took an inexpensive flier on Wade Miller, but he is about a month or so behind Wood as far as rehab goes, and can’t be counted on until the second half — if then.

INTERACTIVE Who went where this offseason?

Let’s look at the position-player shuffling as a whole. Gone are Corey Patterson (a move that had to happen), Nomar Garciaparra and Jeromy Burnitz. In are Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones, with at this point, Baker saying he will play 23-year-old Ronny Cedeno at shortstop, as well as 24-year-old Matt Murton in left field– two players who have a combined total of 220 big-league at-bats.

Pierre will bring a quality leadoff hitter, speed and the right attitude for a team still trying to change its image and mentality. Wrigley will cut down on his defensive shortcomings, but will all but take away his triples dimension. The price paid could be steep down the road – Sergio Mitre and pitching prospects Renyel Pinto and Ricky Nolasco.

Jones is seven years younger than Burnitz, but their 2005 numbers were a virtual wash, and the Cubs had to give him a three-year deal. He doesn’t help the on-base percentage need – one that is worsened when Neifi Perez is in the lineup.

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Marquis Grissom and John Mabry are veteran role players who could help, and Derrek Lee should get more than 123 games of protection from Aramis Ramirez, who didn’t play after Aug. 26 due to a strained left quadriceps muscle. But projecting significant improvement from an offense that was ninth in runs despite being second in home runs and tied for second in batting average last season is a stretch.

Fortunately for the Cubs, the Cardinals or Astros had worse off-seasons. But then again, the Cubs finished 21 games behind the former and 10 behind the latter (not to mention two behind Milwaukee), and  they haven’t made up that kind of ground this off-season. Given the lame-duck status of both Hendry and Baker, the need to get off to a good start could be vital.

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