The Chicago Cubs released Italian reliever Alessandro Maestri last week. However he didn’t stay unemployed for long, as he was signed by the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. The Cubs had signed Maestri in 2006 and he quickly moved up the ladder in the following years. But after a 3.69 ERA at Double-A in 2009 he struggled last year at the same level and even got demoted to High A. Following this year’s Spring Training the Cubs hadn’t a spot for him anymore. Overall the 25-year-old from Cesena, Italy had a career ERA of 3.75 in 191 minor league games (20 starts). He struck out 337 batters in 376 2/3 innings, walking 146.