A few details and updates on players of interest - or rumored interest - to the Cubs from this morning's Sun-Times, based on dozens of conversations in recent days with agents, Cubs officials and other major league sources:

No surprise here, Carlos Zambrano win the Silver Slugger for NL pitchers.

What comes to mind first?

Cubs manager Lou Piniella took a broadside a few weeks ago from a segment of media and fans who blamed him for the team's back-to-back playoff failures, but Wednesday afternoon he could be rewarded for his role in the Cubs earning those consecutive playoff appearances, when the BBWAA Manager of the Year Awards are announced.