Per SI.com's Jon Heyman, Carlos Pena is unlikely to accept the Cubs' offer of arbitration. Pena "has a multi-year market after nice season on north side," according to Heyman. The slugger would stand to make a decent salary if he accepted the arbitration offer, but he'll look for a multi-year contract first. The 33-year-old first baseman had an .819 OPS and 28 homers in 153 games this past season for the Cubs.

Carlos Pena was offered arbitration by the Cubs. Pena would stand to make a decent salary if he accepted the arbitration offer, but he'll look for a multi-year contract first on the free agent market. The 33-year-old first baseman had an .819 OPS and 28 homers in 153 games this past season for the Cubs.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Carlos Pena thinks the hiring of Theo Epstein bodes well for his chances to return next season. "No doubt,'' said Pena. "He is the type of person I definitely appreciate and a professional that I appreciate. Playing against him so many years, and playing for him briefly in 2006, I've got nothing but good things to say.'' Pena hit just .225 in his only season as the Cubs' first baseman but his 101 walks and .357 on-base percentage offer enough value that Chicago could consider bringing him back. His .486 career slugging and .838 OPS appear to fit the general mold that Epstein has targeted during his nine-year tenure with Boston.

Cubs manager Mike Quade will keep starting Carlos Pena at first base while Pena tries to get to 30 home runs. He's at 28 right now. Bryan LaHair has been mashing the ball since being called up and is primarily a first baseman, but it sounds like he'll have to settle for part-time duty in the outfield. Of course, Pena could hit two homers in a hurry and then the Cubs could rest him. "You got a guy driving toward 30 home runs, who has been a huge part of this ballclub, both on the field and off the field," Quade said. "We need him in the lineup to win ballgames, and he's been a big part of that this year."

Carlos Pena doubled home his 77th RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Reds. Pena has now doubled in three consecutive games, and is batting .324 with nine extra-base hits and nine RBI in the month of September. Hitting .233/.357/.474 on the season, Pena is apparently a good bet to return to the Cubs in 2012.

Carlos Pena had a triple, a double and a go-ahead infield single in the top of the 11th as the Cubs beat the Mets 10-6 on Sunday night. The single scored the first of six runs in the top of the 11th. Pena also knocked in a run with his triple and walked on the night. It's just the fourth time this season he's had a three-hit game. Of course, he's better known for the homers and the walks.

Carlos Pena doubled, homered and drove in three runs in Chicago's win over the Reds on Wednesday. Pena's 26th home run of the season was his second of September. Batting .227/.355/.461 on the season, Pena is on track to finish with an OPS above .800 for the fourth time in five years.

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the "initial belief" is that the Cubs are unlikely to trade Carlos Pena to the Yankees. Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com reported Wednesday night that Pena was told by Cubs interim GM Randy Bush that they were pulling him off waivers, so we're pretty sure there's not much of a story left here. The Cubs will keep the 33-year-old slugger through the end of the season and have expressed interest in re-signing him this winter.

Carlos Pena was told by the Cubs' front office that he will be pulled back from waivers. Pena was claimed Wednesday by the Yankees, but the Cubs have no interest in dealing the 33-year-old slugger. In fact, they're hoping to re-sign him this offseason. He's batting .223/.341/.449 with 23 homers and 67 RBI.

According to SI's Jon Heyman, the Yankees were the team that put a claim on the Cubs' Carlos Pena. The Yanks are plenty familiar with Pena from his days as the Rays' starting first baseman and could look to make a deal if they view him as an upgrade at DH. Pena, 33, has tallied 23 home runs and 67 RBI in 124 games this year. He's on a one-year, $10 million contract with Chicago.