Cubs

To some degree, the 1969 Mets' 27-game improvement was foreshadowed by their losing 37 one-run games in '68, when Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman had made them better than most knew. The teams looking for a lift after not winning their share of one-run games in 2010 include the Tigers (16-26), Cubs (22-32), Red Sox (22-26), Cardinals (20-22) and Angels (24-25). … Lou Piniella 's agreement to work as a special assistant for the Giants is a one-year deal, which will be revisited after the season.

Nationals Report: 3 prospects to be dealt for Cubs pitcher Gorzelanny The Chicago Cubs have agreed to trade pitcher Tom Gorzelanny to the Washington Nationals for prospects, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. MLB.com, citing two unidentified baseball sources, reported that outfielder Michael Burgess , right-hander A.J. Morris and left-hander Graham Hicks would be sent to the Cubs as part of the trade. Gorzelanny, a 28-year-old left-hander, is 36-37 with a 4.68ERA in six seasons.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Nobody boos when their team overspends. Nobody rushes to write a check for season tickets when their team trades its most popular player for three guys known only to immediate family and Baseball America subscribers. Fans and the teams they follow always are looking for immediate gratification, no matter the cost. There is, however, one underlying catch to the plan. "There's not going to be any less desire to win next year than there is this year," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said as he was working to blow his budget with the signing of two of baseball's most productive first basemen.

In the spirit of Ozzie Guillen-for-Logan Morrison, there are a series of answers to the malaise that has befallen both of Chicago's team. At last week's general managers' meeting in Orlando, the Cubs and White Sox were in such sorry states of repair that they almost mirrored the Indians in terms of headline appeal. This is said knowing the sexiest Indians rumor of the week was they were not interested in Eric Chavez. Laugh if you want, but the White Sox and Cubs talk wasn't much better.

Hiring signals change Dom Amore Hartford Courant When the Cubs made this choice, the question one must ask is, what are the organization's short- and long-term needs and how are they served? Mike Quade is an outstanding baseball man, an organization man, a longtime minor league manager who has made a reputation of helping to develop young talent. If that's the kind of team the Cubs intend to have, he is the right man for the job. Ryne Sandberg would have been the perfect choice if selling tickets were a priority, but the novelty of having a hometown hero in the dugout fades quickly if he doesn't produce.

The Cubs settled on Mike Quade as the team's manager after an impressive late-season audition, agreeing to a two-year contract with a club option for 2013. Quade took over as the Chicago skipper on Aug. 23 following Lou Piniella's abrupt retirement the day before and led the Cubs to a 24-13 record over the season's final 37 games, the second-best mark during that span. The 53-year-old Quade completed his eighth season with the organization. He previously served as the team's third-base coach for nearly four seasons before replacing Piniella.

One potential trading partner for the Cubs if they decide to shop Carlos Zambrano are the Red Sox, possibly for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is owed only $10 million for each of the next two seasons. … There's a lot of debate in Boston about whether catcher Jason Varitek (above) should return. Manager Terry Francona said you have to take emotion out of the equation, which sounds like the end of an era. … Shaun Marcum and other Blue Jays pitchers claimed the atmosphere was "more relaxed" in the Jays' clubhouse without Roy Halladay this year.

NEW YORK — They were teacher-student batterymates 10 years ago with the Cubs, and now Joe Girardi and Kerry Wood are reunited in a manager-player role. "It's great," Wood said. "Honestly, it's the same as when he was catching. He was kind of like a manager then. Joe's always been a student of the game and great baseball mind and nothing's changed. "The only thing is he's not wearing the gear anymore. " Girardi is wearing the boss' hat now, and since Wood arrived from the Indians on July 31, theirs has been a unique relationship.

Piniella vs. the curse Paul Sullivan Chicago Tribune We were nearing the end of Lou Piniella's first spring training as Cubs manager when we saw him conversing with a Japanese TV reporter near the Cubs dugout at HoHoKam Park. All of a sudden, Piniella started shouting "I don't believe in curses," and stepped on a stuffed animal that was supposed to represent a billy goat, grounding it into the dirt with his right foot. We were all shocked. As it turned out, Piniella, and later Ernie Banks, had been asked to snuff out the curse for a Japanese TV show.

Manager Joe Girardi must have influenced the Yankees' addition of Kerry Wood (above). He caught Wood with the Cubs in 2000-02 but it seems like a reach to expect Wood to succeed where Joba Chamberlain has failed in consistently getting leads to Mariano Rivera. Wood has been a mess with the Indians. … Player most surprisingly not traded: Brett Myers. Astros owner Drayton McLane never will throw in the towel. He sees Myers becoming a replacement for Roy Oswalt , but he's a risky guy to give an extension, and the Astros aren't going anywhere for at least a couple of years.