A day or two later, after the Rangers worked out, Kinsler invited him to grab a salad at a local bakery. Nothing really big there, except that Hamilton says it's the first time any professional teammate ever invited him for a meal.

''No,'' Hendry told the Sun-Times on Sunday. ''We're going to have to add somebody before Opening Day. I can't say for sure because you are going to have to acquire somebody from somewhere else, but we are going to have to add at least another outfielder to be in the mix off the bench -- from the right side.''

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''You try to hold off and try to get the best guy you can,'' Hendry said. ''And that's what we're still going to try to do. And the other things, you don't know whether they are going to happen.''

The ''other things'' likely center on the Cubs' hunt for Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, though sources from both sides indicate a deal probably wouldn't be struck until the final days of camp. The Cubs also have interest in Boston Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, a switch hitter, and the Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd, a righty-swinging outfielder who could play center.

The need for another outfielder has become so great, manager Lou Piniella will give right fielder Kosuke Fukudome some looks in center this week.

''One thing we don't have here is a backup center fielder,'' Piniella said. ''I said we weren't going to keep both young center fielders [Felix Pie and Sam Fuld] here. I'm going to have to play Fukudome in center a little bit this week.''

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''I think Jim will be able to pick up a center fielder,'' Piniella said.

Hendry has been working overtime to swing a deal.

''You can even see from our spring training games where we're a little short out there,'' Hendry said. ''We never anticipate large trades are going to get made, so you don't count on having a lot different team than you have right now.''