Carlos Marmol (hand) expects to return to game action on Monday. Marmol left Tuesday's game after feeling a cramp in his right hand and tightness in his neck, but an MRI revealed no significant nerve issues. The Cubs' closer is scheduled to throw a side session Thursday.

An MRI taken Wednesday on Carlos Marmol's right hand revealed no significant nerve issues. Marmol should be back on his normal schedule in a couple of days. The 29-year-old Chicago closer has made three straight scoreless appearances in the Cactus League since his rough early outings.

Carlos Marmol is being sent for a precautionary MRI after feeling a cramp in his right hand during Tuesday's outing. It doesn't appear to be a major concern, but he'll undergo tests for some peace of mind. Marmol has allowed seven runs over 5 1/3 innings this spring (11.81 ERA), but he has three straight scoreless appearances.

Carlos Marmol exited Tuesday's game against the Rangers with an apparent injury. Marmol struck out one batter over two-thirds of an inning before being visited on the mound by Cubs' manager Dale Sveum and a team trainer. The exact nature of the injury isn't yet clear, but we should hear an update soon.

Carlos Marmol had a rough day in Chicago's 8-6 win over the Reds on Monday, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks in only one inning of work. Not good. Marmol tallied just one strikeout in watching his Cactus League ERA soar to 23.63 through his first 2 2/3 innings of work. Ugly spring numbers aren't typically a concern for established major-league pitchers, but they are not a good sign for a closer who posted a 5.91 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 47/26 K/BB ratio in 32 innings after the All-Star break last season.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum and pitching coach Chris Bosio watched Carlos Marmol's first side session of the spring intently on Sunday, giving him pointers in an attempt to get the closer back to his pre-2011 dominance. On the docket, particularly, was Marmol's cutter, which he admitted messed up his mechanics last year. "He is what he is - he's an impressive closer but he's a slider guy with one of the best, unhittable sliders that we've seen in a long time," Sveum said. "That's what he is and unfortunately sometimes he can get into a lot of pitches in innings because of it, but it's so devastating he gets out of it, too. You don't want him doing anything that Carlos Marmol isn't used to. I think he'll be back to that this year." Marmol lost 15 pounds over the winter. The 29-year-old righty posted an underwhelming 4.01 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this past year for Chicago.

Closers Carlos Marmol and Joakim Soria could be acquired for "the right price," according to FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi. WEEI's Rob Bradford reported earlier this month that the Red Sox and Royals engaged in failed trade talks regarding Soria. Kansas City was seeking multiple big-time prospects in return and the Red Sox weren't willing to splurge. With Jonathan Broxton in tow and Greg Holland coming off a breakout year, it might make sense to send Soria packing. But, if Soria bounces back in 2012 as the Royals expect, he'll still be a relative bargain over the next three years at $22.75 million. Marmol, meanwhile, looks to be an expendable commodity on a Cubs team planning on a "complete and total rebuild." Marmol posted an underwhelming 4.01 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this past year for Chicago, but he'd likely fetch a decent prospect or two because of the potential he's shown in the past. The 29-year-old righty is owed $7 million next season and $9.8 million in 2013.

According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, Cubs closer Carlos Marmol is drawing trade interest. If new Cubs president Theo Epstein really wants to shake things up and start from scratch, moving Marmol might make sense. He posted an underwhelming 4.01 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this past year for Chicago, but he'd likely fetch a decent prospect or two because of the potential he's shown in the past. The 29-year-old righty is owed $7 million next season and $9.8 million in 2013.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Tuesday that he doesn't envision Carlos Marmol losing the closer's role. Marmol posted a 4.01 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this season while leading the majors with 10 blown saves. Hoyer sees his 2010 season as reason to believe in a rebound, but he'll need to recapture his velocity in order to pitch at a similar level again. The 29-year-old right-hander is owed $7 million next season and $9.8 million in 2013.

Carlos Marmol imploded in epic fashion Saturday, allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth in a 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. Ugly. Marmol gave up one hit and issued three walks, including one with the bases loaded to the tie the game. He then uncorked a wild pitch to allow the winning run to score. It was his major-league leading 10th blown save of the season.