Today the Cubs announced that they have signed utility player Thomas Perez to a minor league deal.  He will be playing for the Iowa Cubs more then likely.  Perez does get a invite to spring training to show the coach what he  can do though.

I expect that this deal was done because Piniella knows Thomas, and knows the Cubs could always use insurance during the season.  Injuries will happen so it is nice to have major league players in the minor leagues that can help you out.

Perez played in 99 games with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006, including 68 starts (33 at shortstop, 18 at second base, 13 at third base, three in right field and one at first base). He batted .257 after the All-Star break and finished with a .212 average, 12 doubles and 16 RBIs.

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Andre “The Hawk” Dawson came up short for the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday.  It was the sixth time that Dawson was on the ballet.  Dawson received 309 votes, which came out to be 56.7%.  To be elected into the Hall Of Fame, a player must receiver 75% of the votes.

Dawson will be back on the 2008 Hall of Fame ballot, along with former teammates Tim Raines and Shawon Dunston. Raines and Dawson were together in Montreal from 1979-86, and Dawson was with Dunston and the Chicago Cubs from 1987-92. The two can vouch for the type of player Dawson is, that being one of the hardest workers that they have ever played with.

With Dawson not making into the Hall this year, I don’t expect him to ever make it.  Which is really a shame, the Hawk was a great player and if he wouldn’t have started his career out in Montreal, his knees would have held up longer where he would have put up even bigger stats.

Pitchers Sean Gallagher, Ryan O’Malley and Carmen Pignatiello, catcher Jake Fox, second baseman Eric Patterson and No. 1 draft pick Tyler Colvin are among 11 players who have been invited to the Chicago Cubs spring camp.The team announced the additions on Tuesday. The other pitchers include Adam Harben and Randy Wells, while infielders Mike Kinkade and Casey McGehee, and outfielder Chris Walker also were invited to Mesa, Ariz.

The most notable of the players are Eric Patterson, younger brother of former Cubs player Corey Patterson.  He can play 2nd base, but has been working in the outfield as well. Also Sean Gallagher and Ryan O’Malley, two nice pitching prospects for the Cubbies.

One of the suprises of this group is Colvin, who was the Cubs 1st round draft pick in last years draft. At Class A Boise last season, he led the Northwest League with six triples, was second with 53 RBIs, and was third with 50 runs and 128 total bases. The left-handed hitter batted .314 in 30 July games and finished the year with 11 home runs.

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Finally, former White Sux player Neil Cotts and the Cubs have agreed on a contract.  The contract is calling for $825,00 for one year.  It is double what Cotts made last year with the White Sux when he went 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA.

Expect Cotts to help out the bullpeen from the left side, especially if Ohman gets moved in a Jacque Jones deal before the season starts.  Hopefully he can regain his form and not suck it up like he did with the White Sox.

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