How close did the new Cubs' regime come to blowing what should have been a slam dunk signing of a team icon and dismiss an inexpensive chance to offer a rare gesture of good will to a fan base being asked to endure a nameless season of rebuilding in 2012?

``About 25 minutes,'' Kerry Wood said.

That's how little margin was left to get Friday's $3-million, one-year deal done (plus a club option for the same price) as Wood said he waited for a call from another team to take a physical that would have meant agreeing with another team.

He wouldn't identify the team. But he said that by the time talks with Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer dragged two months into the new regime's term without resolution, he'd changed his mind about retiring if not returning to the Cubs.

``I wasn't ready to retire. I didn't feel like I wanted to be forced into that,'' he said. ``I still love the game, and I have plenty left. That's what I said [about being a Cub or quitting], but I think people are allowed to change their mind.''

Especially when they feel they're not getting treated with respect. Wood played last year for a steep discount of $1.5 million after leaving multiyear offers on the table, because he wanted to return to the Cubs. He obviously wasn't asking for much more this season in relative baseball-salary terms. And, unlike last year, the Cubs have plenty of payroll room as they refill vacated positions with discount options.

The lefty hitter who hit 20 home runs as a rookie 2010 never got on track in '11, slumping from the start of spring training and spending much of the season at AAA.

The front office and field staff expected Colvin to win the everyday right field job from Kosuke Fukudome when spring training opened last season.

He wound up hitting .150 (.204 on-base percentage) with just six home runs and nearly a 2-to-1 strikeouts-to-hits ratio (58-31) in 222 plate appearances.

This time around he'll be starting over, fighting in Mesa for a big-league job - that is, unless he winds up in Boston as compensation for Theo Epstein (Colvin's name has been loosely linked to those talks).

But general manager Jed Hoyer insists the DeJesus signing doesn't mean the club has given up on Colvin, the Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2006.

``He's certainly not out of the picture,'' Hoyer said. ``He's got to come to camp and look to bounce back from [last season]. We signed DeJesus to round out the lineup and do everything we can to put a competitive lineup on the field. But to say [Colvin's] out of our plans would be wrong.''

Since the veterans-committee process was altered in 2001 to include large numbers of Hall of Famers as voters, no players have been added to the Hall via this process -- leading to multiple changes over the past decade.

But many believe this will be Ron Santo's best chance for enshrinement in that span, and the Cubs have put together a compelling one-page case for the legendary third baseman to lobby committee members.

Twelve votes are needed to get in; committee members are allowed to vote for as many from the finalist list as they want.

Santo figures to have two votes in the bank from the start, with former teammate Billy Williams and longtime Chicago baseball writer Dave Van Dyck on the committee.

The nine others on the ballot: Tony Oliva, Gil Hodges, Ken Boyer, Minnie Minoso, Jim Kaat, Luis Tiant, Allie Reynolds, Buzzie Bavasi and Charles Finley.

MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs are one of numerous teams with top scouts in the Dominican Republic this week to look at power-hitting Cuban defector Yoennis Cespedes.

But the Cuban defector the Cubs are targeting with greater interest, according to sources, is another athletic, hard-hitting outfielder - a seven-years-younger version of the flavor-of-the-month Cespedes: Jorge Soler, 19.

Soler, who defected this year and is expected to become a free agent within weeks, is exactly the kind of player the Cubs' new regime is looking for as it restocks the farm system and tries to build a long-term home-core contender.

The Washington Nationals and New York Yankees are among the teams said to also be interested in the 6-foot-3 Soler.

``He's got a Hanley Ramirez-type body,'' Washington's international scouting director, Johnny DiPuglia told the Washington Post. ``Plus arm. Plus bat speed. He's a good kid, a good-energy kid.''

MEETINGS NOTES - Cubs' GM Jed Hoyer was vague on whether the Cubs planned to retool their roster more through trades or free agency, and talks with agents (for Aaron Harang, Mark Burhrle, Livan Hernandez, etc.) and teams were at full-speculation-fueling speed Tuesday night as GMs filtered into the Pfister Hotel lobby, where dozens of player agents also were gathering, after dinner. ... One pitcher to keep in mind as the hot stove league simmers toward next month's winter meetings: lefty Chris Capuano, who went 11-12, 4.55 (31 starts for Mets in '11) and is said to be seeking a two-year deal (made almost $4 million with incentives last season.

``For a broadcaster to come out and say that, I think it was very low class,'' agent Paul Kinzer said Monday as the annual general managers meetings opened in Milwaukee. ``Especially when a guy's a free agent, to try to damage his [value]. ... That bothered Aramis and bothered me a lot.''

Brenly, during an interview on ESPN 1000's Waddle and Silvy show the week after the season ended, called Ramirez a ``numbers gatherer'' who doesn't hit in the clutch and whose fielding at third base has ``just fallen off the face of the earth.''

``I don't know if it was a personal attack or what,'' Kinzer said. ``But if he had a personal problem with him, he should have come to Aramis or me instead of trying to destroy him in the media. ... The whole time we've been there, it's been a great relationship [with Cubs management]. Why a broadcaster needed to step out and do that I just don't get it. You can ask his managers; they don't feel that way. You can ask Jim Hendry, who was his general manager the whole time; he doesn't feel that way.''

Brenly, who also said during the interview he thought it was best if Ramirez left for another team, did not immediately return a voice message Monday night.

Ramirez, who spent the last 8 ½ seasons with the Cubs, earned a Silver Slugger award for his position this year, when he hit .306 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs. He's a career .299 hitter (.916) OPS with men in scoring position and .353 (1.003) with the bases loaded.

``How can you say he's not a clutch hitter?'' Kinzer said. ``They don't give Silver Sluggers out to punch-and-Judy hitters.''

Kinzer, who also represents free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal and free agent pitcher Matt Capps said he expects all three to be signed by the winter meetings (none with the Cubs).

He seemed optimistic that Ramirez's market would gain speed once Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols signed, especially since Ramirez isn't looking for more than a four-year deal.

He started thinking about one day becoming a manager more than 10 years ago, he said. He believes his background as a catcher is an advantage. He thinks he can successfully manage Carlos Zambrano and associated demons - admittedly with the possible help of a ``stun gun.''

And as much as anything, Sandy Alomar Jr. - the four-time White Sox catcher who still lives in Chicago - says he appreciates the perhaps less-obvious call of interest from the Cubs after getting no call from the White Sox before they surprisingly hired Robin Ventura over Paul Konerko to replace Ozzie Guillen.

Alomar, who interviewed with both the Boston Red Sox and Cubs this week, was rumored to be one of the early favorites for the White Sox job but was never contacted.

``I don't take that personally,'' he said Friday after becoming the fourth - and likely final--candidate to interview for the Cubs' vacancy. ``I have a lot of respect for the White Sox organization. They brought me here many times. I think what [GM] Kenny [Williams] did over there with Robin opens doors for many other people get opportunities to manage without experience.

``They don't owe me a call. They don't owe me anything. They did what they did. You wish them the best of luck. Kenny always treated me with respect when I was there. I have no problem with it.''

So now that he's in the running to manage across town, how would he go about burying the White Sox deeper in the Chicago shadow of the Cubs? How would he manage the clubhouse, the uniqueness of the ballpark and schedule, and the ultra-uniqueness of Zambrano?

And what might make him the best candidate for this job, compared to Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum or Mike Maddux?

``I think I bring a lot of things to the table that maybe some other guys don't bring,'' said the six-time All-Star catcher, who also has a rookie of the year award and a Gold Glove on his resume. ``In regards to being a player, going through injuries in the past, spending a lot of time in the minor leagues as a player, how many times I played in the postseason [five times], going to a World Series [twice], playing for 10 different managers and they all participated in the postseason. Seven of them went to the World Series, and three of them won the World Series [Jack McKeon, Charlie Manuel, Ozzie Guillen].

``I have played for winning people all of my career, and it gave me the opportunity to learn the values and take ability from other people and incorporate it to myself.''

Alomar on other topics:

The Cubs gave their approval for on-the-outs pitcher Carlos Zambrano to pitch during the winter season in Venezuela, where he's expected to make his season debut this weekend and make nine starts in all.

``Actually, I think it's a good thing under the circumstances,'' team president Theo Epstein said. ``He probably needs the innings and it could be good for his state of mind to get out there and perform.''

Zambrano, who has a year left on his contract at $18 million, hasn't pitched for the Cubs since packing his belongings and quitting on the team after being left in a game to get hammered Aug. 12 in Atlanta.

He was placed on the disqualified list and later told to spend the final weeks of the season away from the team, with pay. He finished the season with 145 2/3 innings.

During a national TV broadcast in September, chairman Tom Ricketts said he didn't envision Zambrano pitching for the Cubs again.

Epstein, who said the Cubs have a scout monitoring Zambrano's work and performance in Venezuela, said he plans to talk with Zambrano for the first time sometime within the next week.

He has conspicuously left open the door for Zambrano to return in an apparent attempt to keep alive any semblance of a possible trade market for as much of the former ace's contract as the Cubs might be able to move.

As much as Mike Quade knew it could be coming, it still hit hard enough to send him to one of his quiet spots on the water for a couple of hours Wednesday after being told he was out as the Cubs' manager.

``I've run the gamut of emotion,'' said Quade, who was told in person by team president Theo Epstein. ``Disappointed, upset, irritated, bitter - a little bit of everything. But it comes with the turf. It hadn't come with the turf at this level ever with me. But it's part of the deal.''

In his first big-league managing job, Quade went 95-104 in one full season plus six weeks at the end of 2010. His Cubs finished in fifth place in the National League Central this season with a 71-91 record.

Quade, who hopes to manage again but plans to spend at least the next week or two away from all things baseball, said he was impressed with the way Epstein handled the process.

The met for more than six hours in Chicago Thursday, and after making the decision Esptein flew to Florida on Wednesday to tell Quade personally.

``This is a first-class guy, and I appreciated it,'' Quade said. ``It doesn't mean I'm thrilled with the decision. But at least there's a part of me that understands a little bit and appreciates the way it was done.''

Whether he got a fair shake, given the flaws and lack of depth on a team that lost two starting pitchers to injury the first week of the season, Quade said, ``Nobody promised fair. That's life in baseball - in a lot of things.

``I'm not leaving here with my head down,'' he added. ``I think it was a tough situation that we handled about as well as we could. ... It's part of the deal. We're all accountable. ...

``Given the situation, I'm not unhappy with the way I handled myself or the way the club handled itself.''

Quade, who has a year left on his contract, said where he goes next might be more a matter of ``what presents itself'' than the second shot at big-league managing he'd like to get.

``It's something that I enjoyed doing and something that I would like to do again, but I presume nothing,'' he said. ``I understand who I am. If you're Tony LaRussa, if you're somebody with clout and years under your belt and successes, that's a natural transition. I would love that opportunity to manage gain, but I think you're foolish if you get an opportunity like I did and things don't work out, and you immediately assume I'm on someone's short list.

``The most important thing right now to me is I get away from this for a week and figure out what's available, what am I doing, and who can I talk to about helping their organization in whatever capacity.''

He didn't get the 200 he wanted. But Matt Garza will settle for .500.

The Cubs' best pitcher all season long - and by far their hardest-luck pitcher - pitched another seven strong innings to beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 late Tuesday night to earn his fourth straight victory and finish his first season as a Cub 10-10.

``I don't consider him a .500 pitcher,'' manager Mike Quade said of his most consistent pitcher in 2011. ``I guess the numbers bear him out on that. His ERA and quality starts and all of it - that's all you can do is go out and keep your club in the game.

``For as tough a season as it's been at times, where the hell would be have been without him?''

Garza, who finishes the season with a 3.32 ERA and 20 quality starts, went 6-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 15 starts since the All-Star break - with the Cubs winning eight of his last nine, including his final six.

``It is what it is,'' said Garza, who was disappointed he fell two innings short of his goal of 200 (a result of a two-week DL stint two months into the season). ``I'm happy the way I ended the season. I'm not happy that we're not playing in October, but I'll just take what I did and try to keep rolling in the off-season and get ready for next season.

``I'm hoping to make it better. I'm going to try to improve - another year under my belt, a couple more lessons learned. For me, I think the sky's the limit and I'm just going to keep trying to build until I get there.''

It took a late rally for the Cubs and Garza to get his 10th win - putting him at .500 for the first time this season.

Alfonso Soriano's three-run homer in the eighth gave the Cubs a 4-1 lead - and gave Soriano 26 homers and 88 RBI (a personal best in his five years with the Cubs).

They added two more in the ninth on Blake DeWitt's pinch-hit single.

The Cubs enter the final game of the season Wednesday night with a chance to tie Pittsburgh for fourth in the division and more significantly - if symbolically - to finish off two straight winning months for the first time since 2008.

It has come down to this: Pittsburgh's magic number for clinching fourth place ahead of the Cubs is just one after the Cubs lost a 2-0 game to the San Diego Padres late Monday night on ``Cubs Kids Day'' at Petco Park.

Casey Coleman matched hard-throwing Mat Latos nearly out for out through five innings until legging out a one-out triple in the top of the sixth that left him too winded to get through the bottom half of the inning.

And a Cubs lineup that included just one player who has completed a full season in the big leagues - cleanup man Carlos Pena - managed just two hits.

Besides Coleman's triple - which went for naught when next-batter Tony Campana inexplicably tried to bunt for a hit with the bases loaded - Starlin Castro singled leading off the seventh for his National League-leading 204th hit.

He, too, was stranded at third after stealing second and advancing to third on an infield grounder.

``I wanted to see these guys against the varsity a little bit, and they saw some very good pitching,'' Quade said of Latos (9-14) and veteran relievers Chad Qualls and Heath Bell (43rd save).

Notes and quotes from the night:

--The Cubs need to win their final two games Tuesday and Wednesday to pull off back-to-back winning months for the first time since 2008.

--Catcher Steve Clevenger, who played the whole game, and reliever Rafael Dolis, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, each made his major league debut Monday night.

--Quade on Clevenger: ``I thought he did good. He received well. ... That's a kid that a few years ago, there were questions about his catching ability. I think he's erased a lot of those. He looked good to me and did a lot of things you want to see.''

--Quade said he expects Aramis Ramirez to start today after being sidelined since last Tuesday, when he aggravated a sore quad.

--Despite the loss, Coleman (3-9, 6-40) finished the season stronger than he started. He was 1-3, 4.59 in his last six starts - 1-2, 3.34, if you take out the bad one in Cincinnati Sept. 14.

--Coleman on his season: ``Just a learning experience. I picked up on something late in the year [working with pitching coach Mark Riggins] and had a decent last few starts. The one in Cincinnati was bad; I didn't pitch good, didn't handle the game good. But other than that I felt I made a lot of improvements with Riggy, who helped me out and Q being patient with me late in the year. It definitely gives me more confident going into spring training next year.''

As the Cubs get Wrigley Field decked out for their big October plans - namely, the Ferris Bueller movie night Oct. 1 - a few storylines might be worth watching over the final six games of the season, at St. Louis and at San Diego:

ONE-HIT WONDER: Starlin Castro, 21, needs one hit to become the youngest Cub in history - and sixth youngest in major-league history - to reach 200 hits in a season.

DEAD RED? The Cubs can eliminate the red-hot Cardinals from postseason contention with an unlikely sweep this weekend (depending what wild-card leader Atlanta does against Washington) - or at least deal the Cards a serious blow with two of three.

RETURN OF RAMI: Aramis Ramirez, whose long career with the Cubs appears done in a week, is day-to-day with a quad strain but hopes to return to the lineup for a few more at-bats as a Cub.

SEPEMBER SOLACE? If the Cubs manage a split over the final six games, they'll finish 13-12 in September for back-to-back winning months (16-13 August) for the first time since they had five straight winning months in 2008.

200-200 VISION: Friday's starter, Ryan Dempster, needs 9 1/3 innings in his final two starts to reach 200 innings for the fourth straight season, and a second straight complete game for Matt Garza against San Diego in his final start give the Cubs a slim shot at two 200-inning pitchers for the first time since Dempster and Ted Lilly did it in 2008.

NAME DROPPING: Could be the last chance as Cubs to see - and say goodbyes from afar to - 'Bow, 'Los, Lopy, Hilly, Sori, Rami, Colv, Monty, Q, Riggy, Zues and, uh, Ramon (or, in non-Q speak: John Grabow, Carlos Pena, Rodrigo Lopez, Koyie Hill, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Tyler Colvin, Lou Montanez, Mike Quade, Mark Riggins, Ivan DeJesus and Ramon Ortiz).

Cubs starter Matt Garza didn't like leaving the game in the seventh inning for a reliever, but he had no problem watching the Cubs bullpen finish off a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night that knocked the Giants another game behind the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

A year ago the Cubs helped put the Giants in the playoffs by beating second-place San Diego three out of four times in the final week of the season.

This time the Cubs have done serious damage to the Giants' playoff hopes with back-to-back wins to start the three-game series.

``Well, people damaged our playoff hopes for the first four months, so I'm fine with paying back,'' said Garza (7-10), who went 6 2/3 innings before Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol held the Giants hitless the rest of the way.

``If we're not in, we might as well play spoilers,'' Garza said. ``Playing spoilers isn't as fun, but why not do it and make some people mad at you.''

The Cubs did so much to help the Giants reach the playoffs on the way to an eventual World Series championship last year that the San Francisco that Giants manager Bruce Bochy said it played into his decision to select Quade to his All-Star coaching staff this year.

Quade can kiss any goodwill and gifts from the San Francisco staff goodbye this time around.

``That's all right. It's a good way to go,'' said Quade, who bristled at the idea of enjoying the spoiler role. ``It's a lot more fun to have somebody trying to play spoiler against you. It's always fun to play well, but I don't think anybody relishes that role.''

For the second straight game, Alfonso Soriano got the Cubs' scoring started with a home run - this time a first-inning shot that locals say was the longest home run to left field in the 11-year-old history of AT&T Park.

Randy Wells' best start of the season - to beat Atlanta 3-2 Wednesday night -- might have come just in time for him to remind the Cubs they could have more than a two-man starting rotation coming out of this season.

Even if it took a teammate jumping his ass a few starts back.

``It took a good kick in the butt from a teammate to remind me of the right mindset to go out there and pitch and make things happen,'' Wells said.

Wells retired the first 10 batters he faced Wednesday night and went two outs into the seventh inning with a one-hit shutout - until Chipper Jones unloaded on a long home run over the center field wall.

That was Wells' last batter but it didn't diminish the performance the Cubs have been looking for since a forearm strain sidelined him after a lights-out spring and one strong start in April.

``This one feels pretty good,'' said Wells (5-4), who missed two months with the injury. ``I still won't make any excuses for it, but it definitely was a hard thing to come back from. I think the biggest thing obviously is the physical health, but besides that the confidence - cutting the ball loose and having the confidence that it's going to carry and stay on the line that you want it to. ... Every start the confidence starts to come back and start to feel better.''

With Carlos Zambrano not expected back for the final year of his contract after he quit on the team two weeks ago, only Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster are assured of spots in next year's rotation from the current one.

Rehabbing Andrew Cashner is expected to get another shot at the rotation next spring.

And with Casey Coleman and Rodrigo Lopez the extent of the rest of the depth in that area, Wells could become increasingly important to the Cubs' plans if he closes out the final five weeks of the season strong.

``Coming out of spring training, I never had any doubt that I was going to have a good season,'' he said. ``I learned a lot last year, and even coming off the DL - just a lack of confidence, not sure of yourself.''

Enter the teammate with the swift kick.

``Ever since that day I've felt confidence and been throwing the ball really well,'' he said.

NOTES - Alfonso Soriano, whose two-run homer in the second gave the Cubs the lead for good, had his right forearm bandaged after the game because of a bad bruise from being hit by a pitch in the eighth. He said he was fine and expected to return to the lineup Thursday. ... Carlos Marmol became only the second pitcher in Cubs history to record 30 saves in consecutive seasons when he got No. 30 Wednesday (Lee Smith had four straight 30-save seasons in the 1980s). ... Aramis Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 13 games, during which he's hitting .560 (28-for-50) with four homers, three doubles, 14 RBIs and seven walks.

ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine spent a chunk of Sunday night's broadcast picking apart Starlin Castro's body language and apparent lack of readiness between pitches - even using a split screen to catch him digging for sunflower seeds and otherwise not being prepared to field his position as his pitcher began his delivery.

Valentine suggested it was something that needed to be ``addressed,'' and specifically by veterans on the team such as Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena.

But Cub manager Mike Quade, who has not shied from his own public critiques of his 21-year-old shortstop this season, said he didn't see a problem.

Castro made a throwing error in the fifth inning but it had nothing to do with preparedness.

``I'll have to talk to my infield people about that,'' Quade said of the criticism from a broadcaster who was open about his interest in the Cubs' managing job a year ago.

``The sunflower seed thing - guys stay loose, with sunflower seeds, whatever. I don't know,'' said Quade, who seemed to see much ado about nothing in the criticism. ``[Matt] Holliday must have been doing some seeds, too, when [Rodrigo Lopez and Castro] picked him off. ...

``I'll have to ask [my coaches] about that and maybe call Bobby and see what he saw.''

``It's something new every time,'' said Coleman, who joined the team in Houston Monday in advance of his fourth recall from AAA Iowa of the season - this time to take Carlos Zambrano's spot in the rotation, starting Wednesday. ``I'm just glad to be here.''

Even though manager Mike Quade said he envisions the right-hander ``in the rotation for quite some time,'' Coleman says he's under no illusions about filling the shoes of the departed Zambrano.

``I'm not looking to replace Z,'' he said. ``No one will be able to do that with the Cubs for a long time. I'm just coming up here trying to help give this team innings and stay out of the bullpen as long as possible ... and help the team stay on the roll that they're on.''

If anyone doubted the Cubs' ability to handle life without Z, the results seem to speak for themselves - going 3-for-3 since he cleared out his locker Friday night, including a 4-3 win over Houston Monday night on the strength of a pair of two-run doubles by Carlos Pena and Geo Soto.

The Cubs have won 12 of 15 games in all, and a victory in either of the next two games would give them five straight series wins.

For Coleman, who struggled in his first two stints with the Cubs this year - in part because of an abbreviated spring training - the past few weeks have been his best of the season.

``No excuses. I needed to do a better job earlier in the year,'' said Coleman, whose strong finish with the big-league club last year suggested bigger things for 2011 . ``At the same time, when they sent me down I went down there and got some things together and started throwing strikes again. I feel like I'm at the point where I was last year at the end of the year.''