Carlos Pena Claimed By Yankees

The New York Yankees have been awarded the waiver claim on Chicago Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena, according to SI's Jon Heyman. It was reported earlier that an unknown team claimed Pena. The two clubs have 48 hours to work a trade, otherwise the Cubs will be able to pull Pena off waivers.

Heyman follows up his report by saying that a deal is unlikely, much like the Wandy Rodriguez and Heath Bell claims. The current issue is trying to decipher exactly how much the Cubs want to keep Pena on the roster while considering their current options at first base. While they could save almost $1.7 million by dealing him to New York, the Cubs have an incentive to keep Pena and see what they can get for him on the open market after the season.

Further throwing a wrench into the process is that Chicago just fired its General Manager, Jim Hendry. Anyone think interim GM Randy Bush has the stones to deal with the Yankees? Now might be a good time to audition, Randy.*

*with the full acknowledgement that Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts has told Bush he's looking outside the organization for an experienced General Manager.