Welcome, Jim Edmonds

As you’ve surely heard by now, the Cubs signed centerfielder Jim Edmonds last night after he cleared waivers. Though Edmonds will be paid the remainder of his $8 million 2008 contract by the Padres and Cardinals, the Cubs will only be responsible for the major-league minimum.

Manager Lou Piniella has put him in the No. 6 hole in the lineup today, with backups Ronny Cedeno and Henry Blanco taking the next two spots:

Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Fukudome, RF

Edmonds, CF

Cedeno, 2B

Blanco, C

Dempster, RHP

Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (3-3, 3.60 ERA) takes the hill for San Diego.

Media notes

Some interesting facts: The Cubs bullpen went five games without allowing a run before Kerry Wood allowed one with two outs in the ninth last night. They had gone 19.0 scoreless innings, extending back to May 7 at Cincinnati. … Ryan Theriot went 2-for-4 last night with a walk to give him 18 multi-hit games this season, one behind major-league-leader Chipper Jones. … The Chicago lineup has averaged 5.9 runs per game this year, tops in the big leagues, and 7.0 at home.