According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Cubs have talked to free agent left-handers Jeff Francis and Paul Maholm. We have heard about Maholm, but Francis is a new one. The 30-year-old left-hander compiled a 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio in 183 innings this past season for the Royals. Either would fill a spot in the backend of the starting rotation, though the Cubs would have less urgency to sign them if they land Travis Wood in a trade with the Reds.

Jeff Francis' agent is scheduled to meet with Pirates, Marlins and Twins at some point this week. The Mariners have also been linked to the veteran lefty. Francis posted a pedestrian 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio in 183 innings this past season for the Royals, but the market for available starting pitching is bleak.

According to FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, the Pirates are among the teams with interest in Jeff Francis. The 30-year-old free agent left-hander is also drawing interest from the Twins and Rockies. Francis posted a pedestrian 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio over 183 innings for the Royals in 2011, but he'd make a fine back-end starter in either Pittsburgh, Minnesota or Colorado.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Twins have had initial talks with a representative for free agent Jeff Francis. The Twins view Francis as a fallback option now that Chris Capuano has signed with the Dodgers. Talks with Francis appear preliminary in nature, but they should have further discussions during the Winter Meetings next week in Dallas. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio over 183 innings with the Royals this season. Morosi notes that the Twins also have interest in free agent right-hander Edwin Jackson, but they are concerned that his asking price will be too high. He's probably not a very realistic option in the first place.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Rockies are interested in bringing back free agent starter Jeff Francis. Francis spent all of his career in the Rockies organization up until this past year when he signed with the Royals. He posted a 4.82 ERA and 1.44 WHIP but did stay healthy for 31 starts, which is notable after he missed a good chunk of the previous three years with shoulder issues. Francis has said that he's open to returning to Denver.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that he hasn't dismissed the possibility of re-signing free agent left-hander Jeff Francis. "We're still open-minded with that," said Moore. "We'll have to see how the rest of the free-agent market unfolds. You can't discount the innings that Jeff Francis gave up last year." Francis, who turns 31 in February, posted a 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio over 183 innings with the Royals this season. Dutton suspects that the southpaw is likely a fallback option if they are unsuccessful in their efforts to re-sign Bruce Chen.

Jeff Francis was victorious in his final start of the season Thursday, limiting the White Sox to two runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings in a 7-2 win. He struck out a pair. The Royals want to keep Francis' innings in check this year as this is easily the most work he's had since 2007. It's just his second win since the beginning of August and just his four quality starts in 12 outings after the break. A free agent this offseason, Francis' year concludes with a 6-16 record, 4.82 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.

The Royals plan to shut down Jeff Francis after Thursday's start against the White Sox. Francis, 30, has a 4.88 ERA over 30 starts this season. He has 177 innings under his belt, which is his biggest workload since the 2007 season. The veteran southpaw will be a free agent this offseason.

Jeff Francis fell to 5-15 on Sunday, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings of Kansas City's 9-6 setback against the Indians. He failed to record a strikeout for just the second time in 29 starts this season. Now the owner of a 4.72 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 89/37 K/BB ratio through 173 2/3 innings, Francis will get the Mariners in Seattle on Friday.

Jeff Francis threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball Tuesday, allowing only two hits and a walk, but was stuck with a no-decision in Kansas City's 10-inning loss to Detroit. Francis can't buy a break, though he was opposite one of the major's other tough-luck pitchers, Doug Fister, who also received a no-decision despite a well-pitched game. Francis has won just twice in his last 14 outings, but at least he earned his third quality start in his last nine trips to the hill.