I don’t think spending $11 million over three years for a guy who’ll only pitch 80 innings makes a lot of sense, but if you’re going to do it, I’m glad LaTroy Hawkins is the guy to do it with. He throws hard and he isn’t really old (about to turn 31).

Once again, Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry seems to be playing to Dusty Baker’s weakness. With Hawkins, the Cubs will have four excellent relievers in the pen. Hopefully that will be enough to keep Baker from abusing his young starting staff so badly. But I think the rest of the bullpen should be had on the cheap with castoffs and minor-leaguers.

As for the Red Sox’s acquisition of Schilling, it obviously gives them a big leg up in a potential playoff matchup against the Yankees. The rotation will be a far cry from this year’s, “Martinez and Lowe, watch out below.”

But don’t give them the AL title yet. The Manny Ramirez matter needs to be handled somehow.

Here’s the possible impact of the Luis Castillo’s re-signing with the Marlins:

* Along with the Marlins’ re-signing Lowell, it’s a sign that Pudge Rodriguez may have to move elswhere — perhaps the Cubs! They only have so much money to go around. If nothing else, they’re clearly demonstrating what their priorities are. In spite of his October heroics, Rodriguez’s market value is still low because of his age and injury history. His 2003 performance has “contract year” written all over it. His value may be depressed enough to make the Cubs’ competitive, if the rumored deal for the Pirates’ Jason Kendall doesn’t work out.

* The downside of it is that Castillo was probably the best second baseman available, a hole the Cubs cannot fill from within. Vina and Grudzielanek are both older, have injury histories and really aren’t great leadoff material.