Cubs GM Jim Hendry spent almost all of his offseason undoing most of what he had done over the winter of 2008-09. Every major pickup from previous offseason has been sent packing as the Cubs try to get back into the playoffs. Manager Lou Piniella needs to find Nos. 3 and 4 starting pitchers with LHP Ted Lilly on the shelf, possibly until May 1, as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder. The Cubs may look for another reliever during spring training, but overall, the roster is a veteran one, but one that needs bounce-back years from several players.

ARRIVALS: CF Marlon Byrd (free agent from Rangers), RHP Carlos Silva (trade with Mariners), RHP Jeff Gray (trade with Athletics), OF/INF Xavier Nady (free agent from Yankees), INF Chad Tracy (minor league free agent from Diamondbacks), INF Kevin Millar (minor league free agent from Blue Jays), INF Bryan LaHair (minor league free agent from Mariners).

DEPARTURES: RF Milton Bradley (traded to Mariners), INF/OF Jake Fox (traded to A's), INF Aaron Miles (traded to A's, who traded him to Reds), RHP Rich Harden (free agent, signed with Rangers), RHP Aaron Heilman (traded to Diamondbacks), RHP Kevin Gregg (free agent, signed with Blue Jays), LHP Neal Cotts (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Pirates), OF Reed Johnson (free agent, signed with Dodgers), RHP Chad Fox (free agent, unsigned).

SPRING FOCUS: The Cubs need to find a leadoff hitter, and they could alternate SS Ryan Theriot and RF Kosuke Fukudome once the regular season starts. Manager Lou Piniella will use the spring to see who shakes out as the Nos. 4 and 5 starting pitchers: LHPs Sean Marshall and Tom Gorzelanny and RHPs Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Silva.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Carlos Zambrano

2. RHP Ryan Dempster

3. RHP Randy Wells

4. RHP Carlos Silva

5. LHP Tom Gorzelanny

The rotation will be in flux until LHP Ted Lilly fully recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. That could be in mid-April or not until May 1. Gorzelanny, Silva, LHP Sean Marshall and RHP Jeff Samardzija will compete for the last two slots. The losers in this competition will end up in the bullpen. Zambrano needs to firmly establish himself as the ace, and Wells must show that last year's solid rookie season was no fluke.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Carlos Marmol (closer)

LHP John Grabow

RHP Jeff Samardzija

LHP Sean Marshall

RHP Jeff Gray

RHP Justin Berg

There are no more excuses for Marmol, who pouted last spring after losing the closer's competition to Kevin Gregg. Marmol eventually won the job back in August and then went 11-for-11 in save situations. He'll have to do better than 65 walks and 12 hit batters in 74 innings. Grabow brings a veteran presence and dependability from the left side.

Gray, acquired in a trade with the A's, was slowed by a groin strain early in spring training. Berg is a prospect who caught the Cubs' eye last year in a brief stint by keeping the ball down.

Another bullpen candidate, RHP Angel Guzman, last year showed flashes of the brilliance that once made him a top prospect, but he had to be shut down in September because of triceps issues and now has a torn ligament in his pitching shoulder, which means he won't be ready for opening day.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. SS Ryan Theriot

2. RF Kosuke Fukudome

3. 1B Derrek Lee

4. 3B Aramis Ramirez

5. CF Marlon Byrd

6. LF Alfonso Soriano

7. 2B Mike Fontenot

8. C Geovany Soto

No longer will there be any questions about Soriano batting leadoff. Those days are over, according to Piniella. Theriot and Fukudome likely will split duties in the No. 1 spot, depending on the pitching matchup. Theriot will have to get his on-base percentage back up to 2008 levels. Fukudome has trouble against left-handed pitching. Byrd replaces Milton Bradley in a lineup that has power potential.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Koyie Hill

INF Andres Blanco

INF Jeff Baker

OF Xavier Nady

OF Sam Fuld

1B/OF Chad Tracy or 1B/OF Micah Hoffpauir or 1B/3B Kevin Millar

Nady could supplant Fukudome as the everyday right fielder if his surgically repaired right elbow is OK and if he continues to show he can hit right-handed and left-handed pitching. Hill took some playing time from Soto last season and is a dependable defensive catcher. It's possible Baker could win the everyday second base job if Fontenot falters. Blanco is a smooth fielder. The rest of the bench spots are wide open.

TOP ROOKIES: SS Starlin Castro is this year's phenom, and the Cubs hope he outshines past phenoms Corey Patterson, Hee Seop Choi and Felix Pie. Castro, who doesn't turn 20 until March 24, hit .302 at Class A Daytona last year before batting .288 at Class AA Tennessee. The Cubs won't rush him. RHP Andrew Cashner, the Cubs' top draft pick in 2008, could start or relieve. He had a 1.50 ERA in 12 games last year at Daytona and went 3-4 with a 3.39 ERA at Tennessee. The Cubs figure they're OK either way, with Cashner as a starter or as a reliever.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--2B Mike Fontenot (strained right shoulder) was hurt sliding awkwardly into third base on March 4. He was day-to-day.

--RHP Jeff Gray (groin strain) did not get up to throw off a mound, as hoped, by the exhibition opener because he had been slow to heal. He may pitch off a mound by March 10. He suffered the injury in fielding practice as spring training was starting. "Gray still feels it when he throws," manager Lou Piniella said.

--RHP Angel Guzman (torn ligament in right shoulder) was expected to see Dr. James Andrews during the week of March 15-21. He is out indefinitely and is facing possible career-ending surgery.

--LHP Ted Lilly (left shoulder surgery in November 2009) had begun throwing in February, although not off the mound, before he was slowed by a viral infection. He might return around May 1.

--INF Andres Blanco (sprained right knee) was hurt March 7, and he was expected to be sidelined up to two weeks.

--1B Derrek Lee (bruised left foot) was hurt March 10, and he was expected to miss a week of action.

--3B Aramis Ramirez (right triceps soreness) left the March 13 game, but the ailment was considered minor.

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