MLB.com released updates Tuesday on two players the Chicago Cubs hope to have on their Opening Day roster, starter Matt Garza and third-base hopeful Ian Stewart.


Garza, projected even at this date as the Cubs number one starter, saw his 2012 campaign end in August after a triceps injury and a stress reaction in his right (throwing) elbow.  He managed to make only 18 starts, hurling 103 innings for the Cubbies, about half the innings he had been compiling in his previous three seasons. The report states that Garza had his first throwing session since his shut-down on December 10.  The former Twins and Rays hurler, (and 2008 ALCS MVP), twittered that he felt good after Monday's session.  Garza is aiming to be ready in time for spring training.



Ian Stewart, acquired by Chicago last winter from the Colorado Rockies, managed to appear in only 55 games before a wrist injury ended his summer.  While Stewart failed to show the sock he had demonstrated in Colorado, where he peaked with 25 homers in 2009, (not the first player to suffer that letdown), the Cubs are still counting on him to compete for the third-base job in 2013.  He has been swinging the bat, and as of December 11, not experiencing any pain.

Cubs' blogger Carrie Muskat reports that Stewart is back to full health and working with Hall of Famer Rod Carew this off-season. He is expected to be ready at the outset of spring training.





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