TEMPE, Ariz.-- The Cubs made their first roster cuts Sunday, and none were unexpected.
Right-handers Mitch Atkins and David Patton were optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee, respectively, and seven others were assigned to minor-league camp.
Those seven non-roster players include first-round draft picks Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson. Also sent down were pitchers Jeff Kennard and Vince Perkins, catchers Steve Clevenger and Blake Lalli and outfielder Matt Camp.
The Cubs roster is now down to 51, and will be reduced to 25 by Opening Day.
Randy Wells will start Sunday's game against the Angels, which will be televised on WGN-Ch. 9 at 3 p.m. Kosuke Fukudome will lead off, with Xavier Nady at DH and Kevin Millar at first. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez continue to recover from minor injuries and are expected back by Tuesday.
Get our updates on 
No one wants to buy your crappy flowers buddy! In fact, being from Joliet I'm going to guess that your flowers smell like poop. Next time you want to comment, leave your link to sell your smelly flowers out of it!
They should D/L Nady so they have some extra room. He is pretty useless with a rag arm at this point.
http://www.avasflowers.com/illinois/florist-joliet-il/
Get over it leo.
Good thing cubs wasted a major league roster spot on rule 5 draftee David Patton in 2009. He sure looks like a hot prospect being optioned to AA already. Congratulations to jim hendry and all the scouts involved in getting this phenom to the cubs.
No matter what the rookies show during spring training the Cubs are stuck with overpriced vet contracts they can't get rid of for a few years. You know who they are.
Thats too bad. They really seem like nice guys. I wonder if their families know yet. Just keep your chins up and everything will just be fine. Since they are outfielders maybe we can trade for Reed Johnson. The kid that pitched the no hitter is still there. The Cubbies still need to execute those other 26 players to get to 25 players. I hope they know they have 3 weeks to do this. I got tickets to see them in May 5th against Pittsburgh. Actually, I don't have the tickets yet, but the guy I paid said they are in the mail. The tickets are expensive but I like to see a game at Wrigley Field. As usual, I will be there with my big whistle.