The problem is finding the right bat.

The trade market is thin. The Padres' Brian Giles would fit nicely, but has a full no-trade clause. The Cardinals would not trade Rick Ankiel to their biggest rival. The Marlins' Jeremy Hermida is available, but less than proven.

The Royals are keeping David DeJesus and probably will not move Mark Teahen. The Giants would not trade Randy Winn unless they signed Manny Ramirez or another slugger, a notion that general manager Brian Sabean seemed to dismiss on Thursday.

That leaves free agents.

Adam Dunn is out — Dunn in right and Alfonso Soriano in left would compromise the Cubs too much defensively. Bobby Abreu plays right, but one GM describes him as "brutal" in the field. Raul Ibanez has made only 10 starts in right since 2002, but — like another free agent, Ken Griffey Jr. — played for Lou Piniella in Seattle.

If the Cubs signed a lesser defender, they could replace him with Reed Johnson or Kosuke Fukudome in the late innings. Of course, if that were their plan, they might not want to pay their new right fielder big money.

One more thought, perhaps the most intriguing thought: Milton Bradley. The Cubs would need to be convinced that Bradley, a switch-hitter, could stay healthy for 140 games. And they would need to be confident that Piniella and Bradley could co-exist comfortably.