From tomorrows Trib: >Whispers The Cubs have an interest in signing San Diego's Dave Roberts and making him their new leadoff man if Juan Pierre leaves, as expected. Pierre told the Miami Herald he would be interested in returning to the Marlins, but hasn't heard from them. … Arizona right-hander Miguel Batista could return to the Cubs as a fifth starter after going 11-8 with a 4.58 earned-run average. … Most of the experts have Carlos Lee headed to Houston because he has a ranch there, but sources close to Lee insist the Cubs are his preferred destination because of his numbers in Wrigley Field and a chance to show up the White Sox. … The Cubs are expected to be in on the Jason Schmidt sweepstakes but probably won't go longer than four years because of the injury factor. Schmidt, with Barry Zito one of two prominent free-agent starters, is expected to wind up in Seattle.<< I'm sick at the thought of bringing in a guy like Batista... Why not just have Marshall and Marmol in there instead? Sounds like a Shawn Estes type of signing to me. I truly have issues signing players like Dave Roberts and Batista--what good are these type of players? These are players that should go to the SFGiants. These are not 'win a world series players', they're 'field a .500 team players.