Paul Maholm close to deal with Cubs

Ken Rosenthal tweeted this morning that the Cubs are close to a deal with Paul Maholm. There’s no word on length or deal, but assuming that Maholm does sign with the Cubs there are two things I think we can be pretty sure of: 

1. Maholm will make a start against the Pirates in which his fastball doesn’t top 87 mph, but he sets a career high in strikeouts. 
2. Jeff Francis will probably be a Pirate in 2012.