Marlins ship Pierre to Cubs as part of trade
DALLAS -- The Florida Marlins likely finished their salary purge on Wednesday, sending center fielder Juan Pierre to the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Sergio Mitre and Double-A pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto. The only high-priced players remaining on the Marlins roster are 22-game winner Dontrelle Willis and slugger Miguel Cabrera. Pierre is eligible for salary arbitration and expected to make $5 million to $6 million in 2006. The 28-year-old Pierre batted .276 with 181 hits, 96 runs and 57 stolen bases last season. He gives the Cubs the leadoff hitter they lacked in 2005, when they finished fourth, 21 games behind the Cardinals, with a 79-83 record that was their first losing season in three years.

