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Could you please help me understand the Jones-for-Infante trade? I know Jones never starts out hot, but he seems to finish that way. And with Cliff Floyd and Craig Monroe not coming back, and Felix Pie's inability to hit at the Major League level, what were the Cubs thinking?
-- Ted M., Hoyleton, Ill.

They were thinking Jones needed a change of scenery.

What does the Infante deal mean for Mark DeRosa? Mark played well all year, and I would hate for him to lose playing time to anyone, especially a career backup who has yet to prove himself.
-- Nick R., Mayville, N.Y.

It means DeRosa can get a day off. Infante wasn't acquired to replace DeRosa, but to fill in at various spots when players such as DeRosa and Ryan Theriot need a breather. Infante also can sub in the outfield if there's a good matchup.

I've been hearing rumors of Carl Crawford coming to the Cubs. Does this rumor have any chance of coming true, and if so, who would the Cubs have to give up?
-- Mike O., Glenview, Ill.

I've heard the rumors, too, but was told the Rays are demanding a little too much for Crawford. High on the Cubs' wish list are a left-handed hitter, more speed and a right fielder, and Crawford could supply all three. He hit .315 with 11 homers, 37 doubles, 80 RBIs and 50 stolen bases for the Rays, although he also struck out a career-high 112 times.

What am I missing with regards to Matt Murton? In the two years I've watched him, he has displayed power, consistent batting average, clutch hitting and hustle. Yet the Cubs continually look to overturn their outfield roster with players who don't have the stats that measure up to Matt's. It seems like Matt is a perfect fit in right field.
-- David W., Fort Worth, Texas

The Cubs are looking for something from Murton that he hasn't shown them yet. What that is, is hard to define. One factor: Murton batted .319 with a .515 slugging percentage off lefties compared to a .257 average with a .396 slugging percentage off right-handed pitchers, which is why he was platooned.

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Looking at Kosuke Fukudome's stats, I was amazed. He is a patient, left-handed power-hitting right fielder with a cannon arm. Are the Cubs pursuing Fukudome at all? If so, how much would he cost?
-- Jeremy T., Hoffman Estates, Ill.

According to Foxsports.com, Fukudome has yet to decide whether he wants to leave Japan, and apparently the Tokyo Giants have made him an offer. He was not expected to make a decision until after Thanksgiving. A left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, he has played the last eight seasons for the Chunichi Dragons, and has a career .397 on-base percentage. The Cubs have scouted him, and are interested. It's just a question of whether Fukudome wants to play in the Major Leagues.

I am a Chicago transplant who now lives in New York City, and I am constantly frustrated in discussions of National League third basemen. I am obviously in David Wright country, but it seems that few here have even heard of Aramis Ramirez. This year's Gold Glove voting proved it. Aramis had one of the best defensive years at the hot corner in all of baseball, and yet he loses to Wright. What does Aramis have to do to be recognized as an elite third baseman in his league?
-- Zak R., New York

Let's look at Wright's numbers compared to Ramirez. Wright played in 159 games, Ramirez 126. Wright totaled 1,418 innings to Ramirez's 1,091. Wright topped Ramirez in total chances, putouts, double plays, and had 324 assists to Ramirez's 260. Yes, Wright made 21 errors to Ramirez's 10, but there are errors and there are "aggressive" errors.

Having said all that, there's more to this than numbers. Derrek Lee made seven errors, Todd Helton made two, and Lee won his third Gold Glove. The managers and coaches who vote for this award evidently saw something in Lee's performance they didn't see in Helton's. The same could apply to Wright and Ramirez.

Ryne Sandberg was very popular last summer in the Midwest League. Will he return to Peoria next year as manager? Or will the Cubs find somewhere new for him to manage?
-- Scott W., Stevens Point, Wis.

I've heard hints that Sandberg will be back as the Chiefs manager. The Cubs will make an official announcement regarding their Minor League staff at the Winter Meetings, which begin Dec. 3.