Cubs pick up Jason Kendall from A's

The Cubs traded Rob Bowen and minor leaguer Jerry Blevins for Jason Kendall tonight. Kendall is hitting a paltry .226 at the moment, but Cubs GM Jim Hendry assures that Kendall is a much better second half hitter.

Let's hope Jim is right and Kendall impacts the Cubs like Kenny Lofton did in 2003 rather than like Phil Nevin did last season.