In Barry Rozner's Daily Herald column this morning, Ryne Sandberg is the guest, ostensibly to talk about his Hall of Fame chances. In the end, Rozner lets the mild mannered one go off down a path of subtly slamming the players of today for their less-than-subtle abuse of performance enhancing drugs, which Ryno seems to view as an abuse of the game itself.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that Desi Relaford has offers from the Cubs, Rockies and Rangers. He can apparently play all the positions the newly-re-signed Jose Macias plays, plus shortstop. Is the Cubs' offer now withdrawn, because Macias has been signed, or is Jose just a stop-gap measure?

Southtown
North Siders tender contracts to five players, re-sign Macias (Vorva)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Jockeying heats up in Beltran derby (van Dyck)
Reds sign Mercker to 2-year deal (AP)

Sun-Times
Engineers say nets at Wrigley should remain in place (Spelman)