The Chicago Cubs are now on the cusp of a major rebuild, and bringing in general manager Theo Epstein is going to put that plan on the fast track. As the Cubs and Boston Red Sox try to figure out a compensation package, it is allowing fans to start hypothesizing about what the franchise can do next.

According to ESPN, the Epstein deal with Chicago is just about done, with the only hitch being the names of the players heading back to Boston as compensation. Epstein is still under contract with Boston, meaning Chicago has to make it worthwhile for the organization to part ways with the now former GM. Once that deal gets done, Epstein can begin his offseason moves with a franchise longing for a championship.

One huge asset that Epstein will have in Chicago is that the Cubs will be down to just $72.8 million in salaries for the 2012 season. The contracts then plummet to just $28.8 million in 2013, showing just how much room he will have to bring in new players. There hasn’t been a ceiling established for how much Epstein can spend, but it probably won’t be as much as he had to work with in Boston.

Two players that the Cubs would love to get off the books are Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano, who both stand to make $19 million in 2012. Soriano has a deal through 2014, but Zambrano’s comes to an end in the 2012 season. Aramis Ramirez has a team option for 2012 as well, but if the Cubs decline the option, the price will be just $2 million for the organization.

The immediate questions for Chicago will be whether to re-sign first baseman Carlos Pena and reliever Kerry Wood. Then arbitration deals or long-term contracts with Matt Garza and Geovany Soto will take place. Several other free agents and arbitration eligible players will probably receive smaller deals, and then Epstein can begin the real re-building process.

The Cubs also finished 2011 with the fifth worst record in baseball, meaning at least one high-value pick will come from the 2012 MLB Draft. Re-building through the draft isn’t want fans are going to want to see though, and Epstein gets tasked with pulling off big trades and signing big name free agents that will make an immediate impact on the lineup. His success with the Cubs will also be measured against the two championships he helped bring to Boston, and the window to reconstruct the Cubs won’t be as big.

Fielder, 27, is expected to command an eight-year contract worth more than the $180 million the New York Yankees gave to Mark Teixeira in 2009.

MARLINS MOVE ON REYES

The Florida Marlins, setting the early pace with an aggressive approach to free agency, will meet with free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes Wednesday, SI.com reported Tuesday.

Reyes, 28, hit .337 with seven homers and 44 RBI in only 126 games with the New York Mets in 2011.

The Marlins also are talking with pitcher Mark Buehrle, former ace of the Chicago White Sox.

There are mixed reports about the Milwaukee Brewers’ interest in Reyes. They may be targeting the shortstop because they have little chance of re-signing Fielder, but they are also concerned about Reyes’ tendency to get hurt.

The Detroit Tigers reportedly are mulling whether to enter the Reyes sweepstakes.

FRANCONA IN THE CARDS?

Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona was interviewed Tuesday by the St. Louis Cardinals to replace the retired Tony La Russa.

“We just had a dialogue,” Francona told the Post Dispatch. “I enjoy talking about baseball — a lot. Without going into details, we discussed pretty basic philosophy. I’d call it an enjoyable, casual conversation.”

Francona also is thought to be a candidate for the Chicago Cubs’ managerial vacancy but wouldn’t confirm it, saying it was “kind of private.”

ORIOLES BOSS NEEDS TO BE SHARP

Dan Duquette has been away from Major League Baseball since 2002.

In a sense, the Baltimore Orioles have been away since 1997.

The Orioles introduced Duquette Tuesday as executive vice-president of baseball operations. It’s his first big-league job since being fired nine years ago as Boston Red Sox general manager, soon after new ownership took over.

Duquette was the Montreal Expos GM from September 1991 through January 1994 before going to Boston.

The 53-year-old will have his hands full rebuilding the Orioles — they have had 14 consecutive losing seasons.

“I’m here to build a contending team that everyone in Baltimore can be proud of,” Duquette told the Baltimore Sun. “I’ve kept my skills sharp … I’ve maintained my contacts. My focus is going to be sharper (after being away from the game).”

Duquette has been running a sports academy in Massachusetts.

INTEREST IN ZAMBRANO

The Kansas City Royals are among the teams interested in suspended/semi-retired pitcher Carlos Zambrano.

Zambrano bolted the Cubs locker room early on Aug. 12 and told some people he was retiring. The Cubs suspended him and are likely to do what they can to get rid of his $19-million salary for 2012, including paying part of it.

“We would have to be interested … Carlos Zambrano is a heckuva competitor,” Royals GM Dayton Moore told CSNChicago.com. “Carlos Zambrano has had a lot of success in the major leagues. (He) is actually a very pleasant, easy going, classy person off the field. Sometimes, as with all of us the competitiveness takes over and brings out qualities in us that we are not proud of.”

Zambrano, 30, is a three-time all-star with a career record of 125-81 record.

CLEMENS’ FEE BID OPPOSED

Federal prosecutors urged a judge Tuesday to reject Roger Clemens’ request that the U.S. government pay some of his legal fees and costs, stemming from a prosecution mistake that caused a mistrial in his steroids case.

In July, the judge declared a mistrial because prosecutors mistakenly played a video clip that included inadmissible evidence.

Clemens had been charged with perjury, making false statements and obstruction over testimony to Congress in 2008 when he denied ever taking steroids and human growth hormones during his pitching career. He has pleaded not guilty and faces a new trial in April.

Prosecutors said legal fees may be awarded only if there had been a finding of “sanctionable misconduct that is tantamount to bad faith.”

Around the leagues

Oakland announced it had reached agreement on a three-year contract with manager Bob Melvin. He owns a 535-557 career managerial record in eight seasons. … Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie (finger) will miss the rest of the season. …Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes has received an injection of painkiller to alleviate a seven-year-old back injury that recurred. … White Sox shortstop Omar Vizquel, 44, wants to return for a 24th season.

Presley reached four times and scored twice as Pittsburgh snapped a five-game losing streak. Josh Harrison doubled, singled and scored twice.

“It was a good team win,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We had some guys throw some things in from top to bottom today.”

Burres (1-0), who was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, allowed one run and five hits over 5 1-3 innings. The left-hander started on short notice after Jeff Karstens was scratched with what the team is calling “fatigue.”

“(Burres) did a very professional job,” Hurdle said. “He’s pitched in the big leagues before so he wasn’t overwhelmed with anything. I thought he kept the ball down especially well today.”

It’s been a rough season for Burres, who went 4-5 with a 4.99 ERA in 20 games, 13 starts, for Pittsburgh last year. He had a 5-9 record and a 4.66 ERA with Indianapolis when he was promoted.

“I was anxious for Brian’s start,” Hurdle said. “To go down as he did, as professional as he did, start after start. Never a complaint. Hard work. Gets the opportunity and comes up here and pitches. To end up five-plus (innings) with one run on the day, that’s just good stuff.”

The 30-year-old Burres said it was nice to get a win in his return to the majors.

“I’ve been feeling good the last couple of weeks and it’s good to just carry that feeling into my start today,” he said.

“Most of the day I just tried to throw strikes and let my defense do the work.”

Four Pirates relievers combined for 3 2-3 perfect innings, with Joel Hanrahan picking up his 33rd save in 36 chances. Jason Grilli got the last two outs of the sixth, Chris Leroux pitched the seventh and Jose Veras worked the eighth before Hanrahan struck out two in the ninth.

Carlos Pena went deep for the Cubs, who have lost nine of 12. The first baseman now has at least 25 homers in five straight seasons and six times overall in his career.

“I said this before, just the fact that I’ve been able to hit one in the big leagues is a blessing to me and I’m very grateful for it, let alone hit so many,” Pena said.

Ryan Dempster (10-11) worked out of a couple of early jams and held Pittsburgh to three runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out nine, two shy of his season best, and threw a season-high 121 pitches.

“I tried to survive those first couple innings, they fouled off a lot of pitches,” Dempster said. “I was able to get out there and get into the seventh.”

Pena connected in the second, hitting a drive to the deepest part of center field to give the Cubs the lead.

“That pitch I just left up a little bit and he did a good job of hitting hit hard,” Burres said.

Pittsburgh responded with two in the third. Presley led off with a triple off the right-field wall and Harrison followed with a single to right. Garrett Jones added a two-out RBI double.

“You just try to see pitches and get on base,” Presley said. “I was familiar with Dempster from the last time facing him so I tried to be a little more aggressive.”

Neither team mounted much offense after that. The Cubs stranded two runners in the third and fourth. The Pirates didn’t threaten again until Presley’s one-out triple in the seventh chased Dempster. Presley scored on Jose Tabata’s two-out single off Kerry Wood.

Presley became the first Pirate to record two triples in a game since Andrew McCutchen on June 8, 2009. He has five triples on the season.

“Presley ignited us at the top, stayed on base and made some things happen,” Hurdle said. “Harrison gave us some life.”

The only damper on the day for the Pirates came when McCutchen was hit in the left hand in the first inning. He remained in the game to run the bases, but was replaced by Tabata before the Cubs batted in the bottom half.

The team said McCutchen does not have a fracture and is listed as day to day.

NOTES: The Cubs promoted 1B Bryan LaHair from Triple-A Iowa. LaHair’s 38 home runs for Iowa were leading the minor leagues. . The Cubs announced that RHP Carlos Zambrano will not pitch for them again this season, even though his time on the disqualified list expires on Sept. 11. . Pirates 1B Derrek Lee (left wrist) took batting practice and the team hopes to activate him from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday if all goes well. . The Cubs will send RHP Casey Coleman to the hill on Saturday to face Pittsburgh RHP Ross Ohlendorf. Coleman has an 11.34 ERA in 19 2-3 innings at Wrigley Field this season.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Brian Burres pitched into the sixth in his first start of the season and Alex Presley had two triples, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Friday. 

Presley reached four times and scored twice as Pittsburgh snapped a five-game losing streak. Josh Harrison doubled, singled and scored twice. 

Burres (1-0) allowed one run and five hits over 5 1-3 innings. The left-hander was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. 

Four Pirates relievers combined for 3 2-3 perfect innings, with Joel Hanrahan picking up his 33rd save in 36 chances. Jason Grilli got the last two outs of the sixth, Chris Leroux pitched the seventh and Jose Veras worked the eighth before Hanrahan struck out two in the ninth. 

Carlos Pena went deep for the Cubs, who have lost nine of 12. The first baseman now has at least 25 homers in five straight seasons and six times overall in his career. 

Ryan Dempster (10-11) worked out of a couple of early jams and held Pittsburgh to three runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out nine, two shy of his season best, and threw a season-high 121 pitches. 

Pena connected in the second, hitting a drive to the deepest part of center field to give the Cubs the lead. 

Pittsburgh responded with two in the third. Presley led off with a triple off the right-field wall and Harrison followed with a single to right. Garrett Jones added a two-out RBI double. 

Neither team mounted much offense after that. The Cubs stranded two runners in the third and fourth. The Pirates didn’t threaten again until Presley’s one-out triple in the seventh chased Dempster. Presley scored on Jose Tabata’s two-out single off Kerry Wood. 

Presley became the first Pirate to record two triples in a game since Andrew McCutchen on June 8, 2009. He has five triples on the season. 

Fielding woes have plagued the Cubs, who entered with a major league-leading 114 errors and added two more on Friday. That doesn’t include a miscue in the first when Harrison’s grounder to shortstop Starlin Castro was misplayed into a rare infield double when the Cubs failed to cover second base. 

McCutchen was hit in the left wrist area in the first inning. He remained in the game to run the bases, but was replaced by Tabata before the Cubs batted in the bottom half. 

NOTES: The Cubs promoted 1B Bryan LaHair from Triple-A Iowa. LaHair’s 38 home runs for Iowa were leading the minor leagues. . Cubs RHP Andrew Cashner (right rotator cuff sprain) pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab outing for Iowa. Manager Mike Quade said Cashner reached 99 mph with his fastball and the club is hopeful he will return to the big leagues next week. . The Cubs announced that RHP Carlos Zambrano will not pitch for them again this season, even though his time on the disqualified list expires on Sept. 11. . RHP Jeff Karstens (shoulder), who was scratched from his scheduled start Friday, played catch but is likely to miss more than just this start, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. . Pirates 1B Derrek Lee (left wrist) took batting practice and the team hopes to activate him from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday if all goes well. . The Cubs will send RHP Casey Coleman to the hill on Saturday to face Pittsburgh RHP Ross Ohlendorf. Coleman has an 11.34 ERA in 19 2-3 innings at Wrigley Field this season.

CHICAGO (AP) — Brian Burres pitched into the sixth in his first start of the season and Alex Presley had two triples, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Friday.

Presley reached four times and scored twice as Pittsburgh snapped a five-game losing streak. Josh Harrison doubled, singled and scored twice.

Burres (1-0) allowed one run and five hits over 5 1-3 innings. The left-hander was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Four Pirates relievers combined for 3 2-3 perfect innings, with Joel Hanrahan picking up his 33rd save in 36 chances. Jason Grilli got the last two outs of the sixth, Chris Leroux pitched the seventh and Jose Veras worked the eighth before Hanrahan struck out two in the ninth.

Carlos Pena went deep for the Cubs, who have lost nine of 12. The first baseman now has at least 25 homers in five straight seasons and six times overall in his career.

Ryan Dempster (10-11) worked out of a couple of early jams and held Pittsburgh to three runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out nine, two shy of his season best, and threw a season-high 121 pitches.

Pena connected in the second, hitting a drive to the deepest part of center field to give the Cubs the lead.

Pittsburgh responded with two in the third. Presley led off with a triple off the right-field wall and Harrison followed with a single to right. Garrett Jones added a two-out RBI double.

Neither team mounted much offense after that. The Cubs stranded two runners in the third and fourth. The Pirates didn’t threaten again until Presley’s one-out triple in the seventh chased Dempster. Presley scored on Jose Tabata’s two-out single off Kerry Wood.

Presley became the first Pirate to record two triples in a game since Andrew McCutchen on June 8, 2009. He has five triples on the season.

Fielding woes have plagued the Cubs, who entered with a major league-leading 114 errors and added two more on Friday. That doesn’t include a miscue in the first when Harrison’s grounder to shortstop Starlin Castro was misplayed into a rare infield double when the Cubs failed to cover second base.

McCutchen was hit in the left wrist area in the first inning. He remained in the game to run the bases, but was replaced by Tabata before the Cubs batted in the bottom half.

NOTES: The Cubs promoted 1B Bryan LaHair from Triple-A Iowa. LaHair’s 38 home runs for Iowa were leading the minor leagues. . Cubs RHP Andrew Cashner (right rotator cuff sprain) pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab outing for Iowa. Manager Mike Quade said Cashner reached 99 mph with his fastball and the club is hopeful he will return to the big leagues next week. . The Cubs announced that RHP Carlos Zambrano will not pitch for them again this season, even though his time on the disqualified list expires on Sept. 11. . RHP Jeff Karstens (shoulder), who was scratched from his scheduled start Friday, played catch but is likely to miss more than just this start, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. . Pirates 1B Derrek Lee (left wrist) took batting practice and the team hopes to activate him from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday if all goes well. . The Cubs will send RHP Casey Coleman to the hill on Saturday to face Pittsburgh RHP Ross Ohlendorf. Coleman has an 11.34 ERA in 19 2-3 innings at Wrigley Field this season.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs’ right-hander Carlos Zambrano will sit out the rest of the season after his 30-day suspension ends after games of Sept. 11.

The Cubs said Friday they’ll pay Zambrano after the suspension ends but there’s insufficient time for him to get ready to pitch again. The Cubs also said a grievance filed on Zambrano’s behalf will be processed by the players’ union, Major League Baseball and the team during the offseason.

Zambrano cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring after giving up five homers and being ejected during a loss to Atlanta on Aug. 12. His ejection followed two inside pitches to Chipper Jones.

He said he intended to be at the ballpark the next day, but his agent Barry Praver told him not to “because we were in the middle of discussions with the union and the Cubs.” The Cubs placed Zambrano on the disqualified list the next day and said he would receive no pay and have no part in team activities for 30 days.

“It was a disappointing situation and we’ll let things take their course now,” manager Mike Quade said Friday before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

“That’s it, let’s see where the grievance situation goes. They’ve made decisions and that’s where we’re at now.”

Zambrano was also put on a restricted list last season after he became incensed by what he thought was poor defense against the White Sox and got into a shouting match with then-teammate Derrek Lee. Zambrano underwent anger management counseling, returned to the team and pitched well.

Asked whether Zambrano can still be a winning pitcher in the major leagues, Quade said: “He was. Depending on how this plays out, he’s still got something to offer. The numbers bear that out.”

The Cubs expected more when Zambrano signed a $91.5 million deal over five seasons through 2012, including a $17.85 million salary this season and $18 million in 2012.

Zambrano is 125-81 with a 3.60 career ERA after breaking in with the Cubs in 2001. He has thrown a no-hitter against the Astros. He was 9-7 this season before the suspension, but his pitching has often been overshadowed by his outbursts.

In 2009, he went on tirade against an umpire, throwing a baseball into the outfield, pretending to eject the umpire and slamming his glove against the dugout fence, a tantrum that led to a suspension.

In 2007, he got into a fight with teammate and catcher Michael Barrett, first in the dugout and then in the locker room. Barrett ended up with a bruise under his eye and a cut lip.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs’ right-hander Carlos Zambrano will sit out the rest of the season after his 30-day suspension ends after games of Sept. 11.

The Cubs said Friday they’ll pay Zambrano after the suspension ends but there’s insufficient time for him to get ready to pitch again. The Cubs also said a grievance filed on Zambrano’s behalf will be processed by the players’ union, Major League Baseball and the team during the offseason.

Zambrano cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring after giving up five homers and being ejected during a loss to Atlanta on Aug. 12. His ejection followed two inside pitches to Chipper Jones.

He said he intended to be at the ballpark the next day, but his agent Barry Praver told him not to “because we were in the middle of discussions with the union and the Cubs.” The Cubs placed Zambrano on the disqualified list the next day and said he would receive no pay and have no part in team activities for 30 days.

Zambrano was also put on a restricted list last season after he became incensed by what he thought was poor defense against the White Sox and got into a shouting match with then-teammate Derrek Lee. Zambrano underwent anger management counseling, returned to the team and pitched well.

The Cubs expected more when Zambrano signed a $91.5 million deal over five seasons through 2012, including a $17.85 million salary this season and $18 million in 2012.

Zambrano is 125-81 with a 3.60 career ERA after breaking in with the Cubs in 2001. He has thrown a no-hitter against the Astros. He was 9-7 this season before the suspension, but his pitching has often been overshadowed by his outbursts.

In 2009, he went on tirade against an umpire, throwing a baseball into the outfield, pretending to eject the umpire and slamming his glove against the dugout fence, a tantrum that led to a suspension.

In 2007, he got into a fight with teammate and catcher Michael Barrett, first in the dugout and then in the locker room. Barrett ended up with a bruise under his eye and a cut lip.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs’ right-hander Carlos Zambrano will sit out the rest of the season after his 30-day suspension ends after games of Sept. 11.

The Cubs said Friday they’ll pay Zambrano after the suspension ends but there’s insufficient time for him to get ready to pitch again. The Cubs also said a grievance filed on Zambrano’s behalf will be processed by the players’ union, Major League Baseball and the team during the offseason.

Zambrano cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring after giving up five homers and being ejected during a loss to Atlanta on Aug. 12. His ejection followed two inside pitches to Chipper Jones.

He said he intended to be at the ballpark the next day, but his agent Barry Praver told him not to “because we were in the middle of discussions with the union and the Cubs.” The Cubs placed Zambrano on the disqualified list the next day and said he would receive no pay and have no part in team activities for 30 days.

Zambrano was also put on a restricted list last season after he became incensed by what he thought was poor defense against the White Sox and got into a shouting match with then-teammate Derrek Lee. Zambrano underwent anger management counseling, returned to the team and pitched well.

The Cubs expected more when Zambrano signed a $91.5 million deal over five seasons through 2012, including a $17.85 million salary this season and $18 million in 2012.

Zambrano is 125-81 with a 3.60 career ERA after breaking in with the Cubs in 2001. He has thrown a no-hitter against the Astros. He was 9-7 this season before the suspension, but his pitching has often been overshadowed by his outbursts.

In 2009, he went on tirade against an umpire, throwing a baseball into the outfield, pretending to eject the umpire and slamming his glove against the dugout fence, a tantrum that led to a suspension.

In 2007, he got into a fight with teammate and catcher Michael Barrett, first in the dugout and then in the locker room. Barrett ended up with a bruise under his eye and a cut lip.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.