"Carlos Pena will be back in the Cubs' lineup today after getting a day off against a left-hander Saturday.

But what about a week from now? Or maybe a year from now? Could he still be part of the Cubs' lineup?

With the non-waiver trade deadline one week from today, the Cubs' actions over the next seven days should reveal a glimpse into how drastically they plan to shake up the roster — and how deep they feel they can dig into their farm system — to turn around this year's mess.

Pena, who signed that one-year, $10 million ''pillow contract'' in December, could be a key indicator.

''We all know where the deadline is and all that,'' Pena said. ''We're aware of that. But to be quite honest, I haven't really spent too much time thinking about me, the possibility of that happening to me, of change.''

Changes are definitely coming, with the only issue being a matter of how sweeping.

The Cubs would eat salary to move some of their high-priced veterans, including a boatload of cash to move Alfonso Soriano (although one longtime National League team official said there's ''not a big enough boat'' for that to happen). Lesser-priced players with track records already are on other teams' wish lists, including Kerry Wood (several teams), Jeff Baker (linked to the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies) and Reed Johnson (the Phillies are said to have interest). But the Cubs don't plan to move guys in the plans for next year, including Baker.

A lot of talk in recent weeks has surrounded hot-hitting third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who says he won't waive his no-trade rights.

But Pena, the left-handed slugger on the other side of the diamond, doesn't have the same no-trade rights. And while he's expected to draw more serious interest from contenders as the deadline nears, there's a growing sense that the Cubs might consider him an option for first base next year."