"There he was Thursday — the slugger the Cubs have been waiting for, all but salivating for. The All-Star, power-hitting, Dominican-born, ''character-guy'' first baseman pulling on a Cubs uniform for the first time and taking batting practice on his first day of spring training with his new club.

Come on, put your Albert Pujols fantasies back in your pocket for at least a few months.

It's Carlos Pena time — pillow contract, left-handed power swing, prove-I'm-not-a-.196-hitter motivation and all.

And if it turns out Pena is just keeping a seat warm for the Almighty Pujols, who'll be a free agent this fall .?.?.

''That's fine,'' said the Cubs' new $10 million slugger, who was able to laugh about all the Pujols chatter leading up to his own arrival at Fitch Park. ''I haven't even given it enough attention for it to be amusing to me. It's one of those things where I'm a Cub today, and I'm just going to embrace that.''"