Former Cub Offseason Updates

Let's check in with where some former Cubs are landing this winter! I will not include the players that were Cubs in 2009, because most of you know where Heilman, Fox, Miles, Bradley, and Harden will be playing next year:

• Former Cubs outfielder Jim Edmonds has continued his trip around the NL Central. After sitting out the 2009 season, the left handed hitting centerfielder has agreed to a minor league deal with the Brewers. He is also invited to big leauge Spring Training. The Brewers will play the Cubs are March 9 & 12 in Cactus League action.
• Rich Hill, who spent a solid year in the Cubs' rotation in 2007 before falling off the map in '08, has signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals. The contract includes an invite to Spring Training in Florida.
• Lefty Neal Cotts has signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.
• Michael Wuertz, who was traded to Oakland last March for two nobodies that have already left the organization, pitched great last year and has avoided arbitration with the A's.
• Cubs' Fan favorite of 2008 Henry Blanco, who played with the Padres last year, has signed a one year deal with the Mets.
• On December 29, another name you might remember found a new home on a two year deal. DeRosa.
• Joey Gathright inked a minor league deal with Toronto in December. The speedster played with the Cubs, Orioles, and Red Sox last year.
• Mark Grudzielanek, who manned second base for the Cubs in 2003, signed a minor league deal with Cleveland earlier this month. He finished last year with the Twins.
• Jerry Hairston Jr. is the newest member of the large group of former Cubs to go on to play for the Padres. (He signed a one year deal on January 18.)
• LaTroy Hawkins will return to Wrigley Field this year as a member of the Brewers. Another guy who's bounced around a lot. Hawkins, by the way, was not a fan favorite.
• Bob Howry will join Aaron Heilman as former Cubs in the Arizona bullpen. Howry was given a one year deal with a club option.
• Jason Kendall, who played briefly with the Cubs in 2007, is now a Royal. He was lucky enough to get a two year deal even in this economy.
• Jason Marquis has signed a two year deal with the Washington Nationals. Many people expected him to go the New York Mets, but instead he signed with the younger Nats club.
• Gary Matthews Jr., who played a forgettable two seasons on the North Side, was shipped to New York for Brian Stokes last week.
• As most of you know, Juan Pierre will return to Chicago, this time sporting a White Sox uni. Maybe this time he'll get cheered at Wrigley.
• Paul Bako, Michael Barrett, Nomar Garciaparra, Daryle Ward, Cliff Floyd, Reed Johnson, Shawn Estes, Mark Prior, Todd Wellemyer, Kevin Gregg, Tom Gordon, Luis Vizcaino, David Weathers, Will Ohman, and Glendon Rusch are all still listed as free agents. Out of this list, who would you most and least like to see return to the Cubs??
• Last but not least, (okay maybe least), Randall Simon has signed with the Rockford Riverhawks of the Northern League.