Need a midweek pick-me-up? We’re just 12 days away from the first pitch of the Chicago Cubs 2012 Cactus League season March 4 against the Oakland Athletics at HoHoKam Park. (Photo by Stephen Green)

After months of back-and-forth, the Theo Epstein compensation issue has finally been settled with the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs today assigned right-handed pitcher Chris Carpenter and a player to be named to the Red Sox for a player to be named.

“I am relieved that this process is over and particularly pleased that the teams were able to reach agreement on their own without intervention from MLB,” Epstein said. “I truly hope and believe that this resolution will benefit both clubs, as well as Chris, who is an extremely talented reliever joining a great organization at a time when there’s some opportunity in the major league bullpen.”

Last season, Carpenter combined to make 42 relief appearances between Double-A Tennessee, Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs, his first major league action. The 26-year-old right-hander spent most of his time with Iowa, going 2-3 with one save and a 6.53 ERA (22 ER/30.1 IP) in 22 relief outings. Carpenter posted no record and a 2.79 ERA (3 ER/9.2 IP) in 10 relief outings in the majors.

The Red Sox and Cubs have been locked in a disagreement over the Epstein compensation package for months, ever since he left the Red Sox shortly after the end of the 2011 season to become the Cubs president of baseball operations. The Red Sox initially asked for some of the Cubs’ top major and minor league talent, including pitcher Matt Garza and outfielder Brett Jackson.

“More than anything, I’m excited that we can all move forward and focus exclusively on getting ready for the season,” Epstein said. “I wish Chris and the Red Sox nothing but the best in 2012 and beyond.”

The Cubs 6-Game Pack, which goes on sale today, provides a choice of 10 different preselected, six-game plans, each headlined by some of the schedule’s most popular games, including Opening Day against the Washington Nationals, rivalry matchups with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox, and rare visits by the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers.

If you want to customize your plan, the Cubs 9-Game Pack features tickets to Opening Day; weekend series with the Red Sox, Cardinals and White Sox; and matchups with the Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.

Both deals include the Budweiser Bleachers and the reserved seating bowl. To purchase tickets, go to cubs.com.

It’s February and that means baseball is back! Well … almost. Cubs pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., Feb. 18, and the first Cactus League game is March 4. Cubs management has spent the entire offseason strengthening the team, and now we get to see how they look in the hot Arizona sun.

They say the youth shall lead us, so Vine Line kicks off the Cactus League season with our annual Minor League Prospectus issue. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have pledged to make the team younger and more athletic, and that all starts on the farm. We profile the names you need to know in the Cubs minor league system, from top draft picks like Brett Jackson and Javier Baez to flamethrowers Dillon Maples and Tony Zych.

We also go in-depth with Senior Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jason McLeod to discuss his experience in Boston and San Diego, his shared history with Epstein and Hoyer, and how he will construct a top-notch farm system here in Chicago. He already helped build a World Series winner in Boston, and he’s working hard to create the same foundation on the North Side.

“It comes back to who your scouts are, how good they are at evaluating players, how good your system and processes are on cultivating that information, and using it to make the best decisions you can,” McLeod said. “That is what our focus is going to be on.”

Finally, if December was about adding bats, last month was all about the arms race. Cubs beat writer Bruce Miles looks at the many additions to the pitching staff and how they’ll benefit the team this season.

If you live in the Chicago area, you can grab the February issue at select Barnes and Noble, Jewel, Walgreens and Meier locations. Or subscribe to Vine Line today. We’ll see you in Mesa!

The 24-year-old Cardenas hit .314 with 28 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 70 runs scored, 51 RBI and a .374 on-base percentage in 127 games with Triple-A Sacramento last season. The versatile infielder, who plays primarily second base, saw time at second, shortstop, third base and left field. He was originally selected by the Phillies in the supplemental round of the 2006 draft.

DeWitt, a former first-round pick of the Dodgers, was acquired in the July 2010 deal that sent Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to L.A. In his first full season with the Cubs, he batted .265 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBIs in 121 games.

The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Matt Garza avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to terms on a 2012 contract. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.

Garza, 28, is expected to anchor the Cubs pitching staff this season, after going 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA in 31 starts last year. He also led the team in strikeouts, with 197 in 198 innings pitched. Last season, Garza’s first with the Cubs, marked the third time in his career he’s reached at least 10 wins.

Garza was acquired from Tampa Bay in an eight-player deal on Jan. 8, 2011. He’s holds a 52-54 career mark, with a 3.83 ERA in 152 appearances (149 starts) with Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Chicago.

Former Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry has been hired by the New York Yankees as a special assistant to longtime GM Brian Cashman. Hendry spent 17 years in the Cubs organization and was the GM from 2002-11, during which time the team won three division titles (2003, 2007, 2008). During Hendry’s tenure, the Cubs posted an overall record of 749-748.

With only a few weeks to go until pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 18, the Cubs have invited 21 non-roster players to major league Spring Training camp. The invitees include veterans who have had success in the major leagues, such as Manny Corpas and Alfredo Amezaga, and top prospects, such as Brett Jackson and Trey McNutt. The Cubs’ first full-squad workout is scheduled for Fri., Feb. 24.

The Cubs 2012 non-roster invitees:

Pitchers – right-handers Marco Carrillo, Manuel Corpas, Jay Jackson, Rodrigo Lopez, Trey McNutt, Blake Parker and Dae-Eun Rhee, and left-handers Trever Miller and Chris Rusin

Catchers – Michael Brenly, Jason Jaramillo and Blake Lalli

Infielders – Alfredo Amezaga, Edgar Gonzalez, Jonathan Mota, Bobby Scales and Matt Tolbert

Outfielders – Jim Adduci, Jae-Hoon Ha, Brett Jackson and Joe Mather

This may be the true definition of “fantasy camp.” Cubs fan and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and NHL legend Chris Chelios at the Cubs Fantasy Camp in Mesa, Ariz.  (Photo by Warren Wimmer)

And watch for the February Minor League Prospectus issue, which will be out soon. As Cubs fans prep for Spring Training, we provide in-depth analysis of all the players to know in the farm system. We also profile the newest Cubs pitchers, recap the Cubs Convention and go one-on-one with Senior Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jason McLeod.

Grab a copy while you’re out or subscribe to Vine Line now.