Phil Rogers's post on Baseball | Latest updates on Sulia

Josh Vitters didn’t get a long look by the Caracas Lions this winter. He was released yesterday and returns home

today, according to team president Luis Avila in a story reported by El Universal in Venezuela. Vitters was 0-for-7 in two games in Caracas, last playing on Nov. 18. He hit .304 with 17 home runs for Triple-A Iowa last season but batted only .121 with two homers in 36 games for the Cubs. He appears headed to a return to Iowa in 2013 as Cubs GM Jed Hoyer explores other third base options. Two arbitration-eligible third basemen (Ian Stewart and Luis Valbuena) remain on the roster leading into the Friday deadline to tender contracts and the Cubs are reportedly in negotiations with free-agent infielder Jeff Keppinger. He hits right-handed and could serve as a complement to the left-handed-hitting Valbuena or Stewart. Rebuilding Vitters' confidence could be the first order of business next spring, if the former first-round pick isn't traded or dumped before then.