Courtesy Chicago Sun Times

(December 15, 2009) Ron Santo has had to learn to deal with mechanical problems as well as health problems since wearing prosthetic legs as a result of diabetes. But the popular former Cubs third baseman has taken care of one other deal, his contract with WGN-AM (720) to continue as color analyst on Cubs broadcasts.

Santo has signed a three-year contract that continues his 20-year career in the booth and gives him leeway to take time off if his health requires it.

''There are a lot of perks because of my legs,'' said Santo, a double amputee because of his 50-year struggle with diabetes. ''I go nuts when I can't be at the games, but I have to think about my family and my health. So if I'm not feeling well or get wiped out, I'll take certain days off, and they [WGN] have no problem with that.''

Santo, 69, had some health problems last season and took some road trips off. The new contract continues to allow for those situations.

Santo and play-by-play partner Pat Hughes have teamed for the last 14 years and remain extremely popular, even when the team has played poorly on the field. Hughes' contract extends through the 2010 season.

Santo had a problem in November when one of his artificial legs malfunctioned, but said he otherwise is feeling well.

''You know, with mechanical legs, you sometimes can have some problems with screws and things,'' he said Monday from his Arizona home. ''I'm feeling good, and I'm on a real good [conditioning] program now where I'm on a stationary bike, and my wife got me a special chair that I can do sit-ups in. My sugar levels have been great, and I'm feeling great.''

Santo plans to attend the annual Cubs Convention in January. ''I know the fans look forward to seeing me, and I'm looking forward to meeting [new team owner] Tom Ricketts,'' he said.

Santo hopes the new ownership will keep Arizona as the Cubs' spring-training home. The team is weighing overtures from cities in Florida.

''I know the Los Angeles Dodgers and the White Sox got an $80 million facility built for them [near Goodyear, Ariz.], and I'm sure [the Cubs] would like the HoHoKams [the Mesa service organization that helps run the team's spring-training facility] to build something new,'' he said.

The Cubs have spent the last 42 springs in Arizona, the last 31 in Mesa. The team's current facility was built in 1997. The Cubs are said to account for about $52 million in annual income for the state because of their popularity there.

Mesa and Maricopa County officials are weighing whether vacant land to the north of the current park could be used for a new facility.

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