Around NL Central Spring Training, 4/2: Final Roster Spots

Cardinals: The team solved their final roster battle on Thursday, trading Julio Lugo to the Orioles for a PTBNL or cash and making room for Nick Stavinoha, Allen Craig and Joe Mather to all open the season with the team...On an otherwise slow day in camp, Mark McGwire took the opportunity to take batting practice with the team Thursday, and hit a few home runs to left.

Brewers: The team remains concerned about Corey Hart's poor spring, and has reportedly been in touch with Jermaine Dye about the possibility of joining the outfield. Doug Melvin refused comment on the topic Thursday. ..if the Brewers signed Dye, they would reportedly look to deal Hart, with the Nationals being one rumored target.

Astros: Felipe Paulino, scheduled to make his final preseason appearance on Saturday, has been scratched after suffering back spasms earlier in the week, and will be replaced by Bud Norris. Paulino is still expected to start the fifth game of the season...With Lance Berkman on the DL to open the season, Geoff Blum is expected to get most of the playing time at first base, but Pedro Feliz will get some starts against left handed pitchers...Casey Daigle is expected to pitch in relief in AAA, but had an outstanding performance in his final Grapefruit League start, pitching four perfect innings with three strikeouts.

Cubs: Geovany Soto was scratched from Thursday's Cactus League finale, but there's nothing to worry about: Soto was pulled in favor of Koyie Hill, who hadn't had a chance to catch Carlos Silva yet this spring...The team has been happy with Silva's performance this spring, and gave him the fourth spot in the rotation...All told, the Cubs drew 152,493 fans to 14 home games in Mesa this spring. That's 10,892 per game, up from 10,690 in 2009.

Pirates: As the team departed Bradenton for a weekend exhibition series in Philadelphia, some roster questions still remain: Pitcher Hayden Penn, outfielders Steve Pearce and John Raynor and infielder Ramon Vazquez are all on the trip, but only two can make the team...pitcher Virgil Vazquez, who was expected to open the season in the minors, has been traded to the Rays for a PTBNL or cash.

Reds: The team's front office still has a lot of decisions to make and not much time left: As of Thursday night, the Reds still had 38 players in major league camp. They'll also need to open up two 40-man roster spots for Laynce Nix and Mike Leake, who were non-roster invitees this spring and appear to have made the team.