One of my favorite things to do is to look at the weekly mailbag section on Cubs.com and see how much I agree or disagree with Carrie Muskat’s replies to the readers. This week, the first question dealt with the Angel Pagan trade.

Why would the Cubs trade Pagan when he offers a right-handed-hitting option in unsettled center field? Unless either/both of those [Minor League players] received are projected highly, I see no reason to weaken the current roster by trading a switch-hitter with speed, solid defense, some power and versatility who is both inexpensive and young. I just don’t get it.
– Ty W., Ramona, Calif.

Pagan is a career .219 hitter vs. left-handed pitchers, so he didn’t provide much of a right-handed option. He also has a career .189 average as a pinch-hitter, and the Cubs wanted more off the bench. For whatever reason, the Cubs saw more potential in the players they already have.

I’ve seen some bloggers question the Pagan move and make the comment that they don’t understand why the move was made. When you look at Pagan, remember that he was stricken with colitis late in the year, and missed a good amount of time. It wasn’t the first time in his career that he was injured. The Cubs looked at what they had in the OF spot and simply ranked him as the # 6 outfielder on the depth chart. With Felix Pie and Sam Fuld both available to play all three positions, there simply wasn’t playing time available for Pagan. The team figures to go into the season with Soriano in left and Fukudome in right. Center should be a battle between Fuld and Pie with Matt Murton filling in as a corner guy off the bench. Don’t forget that Eric Patterson is waiting in the wings as well.

Geovany Soto is a fine young catcher. But the only backup is Henry Blanco, a soft-hitting veteran who is prone to injury. Are the Cubs thinking about getting another catcher, promoting someone from Iowa, or just leaving it as is?
– Wes T., Portage, Ind.

Blanco had a freak injury to his neck last season, so I don’t think that makes him injury prone. He did play this winter in Venezuela, batting .243 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 47 games. The Cubs also will have catchers Koyie Hill and JD Closser in camp this spring. Both have big league experience. Hill hit .161 in 36 games for the Cubs last season with two homers and 12 RBIs — including five vs. the Giants on July 18 — and batted .322 in 47 games for Triple-A Iowa. Closser has a career .239 average in 160 big league games over three seasons with Colorado. He began last season with the Brewers’ Triple-A team, and hit .188 in 17 games before he was dealt to Oakland, and hit .238 in 81 games for the Athletics’ Triple-A team.

Closser is a better option compared to Hill, and it’s my hope that he gets more of a chance as the third catcher should a need arise. We should be able to know what’s on the team’s mind based on where the two of them are assigned out of spring training. I really hope that Closser gets the starting nod in Iowa with Hill filling in as a backup.