More hype from the marketing dept and...I'm sure Kelton and DuBois are holding their breath waiting for Dusty Baker to give them a shot. Not that I want them starting for the Cubs... :D

Cubs eye Cuban pitching standout

Cubs eye Cuban pitching standout
Valdez, Kelton impress in Winter Leagues
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Remember the name Raul Valdez.
The 27-year-old Cuban pitcher will be among those invited to the Chicago Cubs' Spring Training camp in February. Valdez pitched for Azucareros in the Dominican Republic, and was 5-1 with a 0.71 ERA in nine games.

Valdez led the Dominican League in wins and ranked third in strikeouts with 42 in 51 innings. He walked 20 and gave up four runs.

Oneri Fleita, the Cubs' director of player development, wants Valdez in the big league camp this spring to get a better feel for his ability. The left-hander once pitched for the Cuban National team.

2004-05 Winter Leagues
Complete coverage from the Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan leagues. More >

In other winter league play, David Kelton was doing his best to stay in the hunt for the vacant Cubs left fielder job. Kelton batted .310 in 47 games for Oriente in Venezuela with 10 home runs, 12 doubles and 39 RBIs.

Kelton is a candidate for the starting job with the big league team along with Jason Dubois.

Left-handed pitcher Reynel Pinto, the Cubs' minor league pitcher of the year, was 2-2 with a 1.48 ERA in six games (four starts) for Oriente. He fanned 24 in 24 1/3 innings.