MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cub pitcher Shawn Estes, who is one of the more cerebral pitchers in professional baseball, has even found a way to explain why playing on his fourth team in three years was meant to be.

"Ever since I was 18 years old, the Cubs have shown an interest in me," said Estes who signed a one-year contract with incentives with Chicago on Dec. 20. "If I hadn't been drafted No. 11 overall (by Seattle in 1991), I would've been drafted No. 12 by the Cubs. So it's kind of funny how things come full circle. And now we're full circle. The team that was originally supposed to get me, got me."

Estes, who was named Nevada Player of the Year following his senior season at Douglas High in 1991, was let go by the San Francisco Giants after the 2001 season.

After spending six seasons with San Francisco, he was picked up by the New York Mets for 2002, but was traded last August to Cincinnati in a five-player deal.

"I don't really like to talk about last year because it's in the past," Estes said. "To talk about it means I'm dwelling on the past. I'd rather just talk about the present. Last year was a character builder. I learned a lot from it. I really felt I pitched a lot better than the results showed.

"For me to go back and start talking about all the negative stuff would be defeating the purpose of what I'm trying to accomplish here, and that's to stay in the present."

Last season, he was 5-12 with the Mets and Reds and had a 5.10 ERA.

In perhaps another example of things coming full circle, Dusty Baker, who managed the Giants during Estes' entire career in San Francisco, was hired by the Cubs and is signed through the 2006 season.

Like always, Estes, who won 19 games in 1997, is focusing on becoming more consistent in Chicago. That way, he might still be here when Baker's contract expires.

"I'd love to play in Chicago for a long time. I would love to stay here but as everybody knows, the only way that's going to happen is to see what happens on the field," Estes said. "I'm not as concerned about what the future holds but more about getting better on a day-to-day basis. I had spurts of being able to do that last year. It's a new year."

Estes has a career record of 69-62 with a 4.37 ERA and needs just 96 strikeouts this season to reach 1,000 for his career.

The Cubs would like nothing more than for Estes to blossom into the team's most productive left hander since the early 90s.

The last Chicago pitcher to have a double-digit win total in a season was Greg Hibbard in 1993. The Cubs haven't had a lefty throw more than 10 strikeouts in a game since Steve Wilson did in 1990.

Estes has had 10 double-digit games in his seven-year career.

However, Estes knows that Cub fans would like nothing more than a World Series title, even if it meant him having an average year for them to get one.

"I think that's what they've been waiting for for a long time," Estes said. "And to be able to give that to them would be enjoyable, to finally give Chicago something to cheer about this year."

Back with Dusty

When Baker became the manager of the Chicago Cubs in November, he didn't have a left-handed starting pitcher.

And, he knew he would need one with the slew of solid left-handed hitters in the National League Central, guys like St. Louis' Jim Edmonds, J.D. Drew and Fernando Vina and Houston's Lance Berkman.

"That's probably ... No, that is the reason why I'm here right now because he's here," Estes said of Baker, who has been named N.L. Manager of the Year three times. "It's nice to be back under his command. He had me from the time I was 23, 24 years old.

"I had some success underneath him. I think he remembers the successes more than he does the failures. This is just a more comfortable environment."

Estes said Baker will bring positive results to a city that has been longing for some.

"I think Dusty instills a lot of that winning attitude in this clubhouse and I think the guys have picked up on that," Estes said of Baker, who won the World Series as a player with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981. "I think there's going to be a little different buzz here.

"I've been on some very successful teams. I've never gone to the big dance, I've never been to the World Series with those teams, but there's been a glimmer of hope with them. At least I could kind of taste it. Last year, we lost a lot. So I know the difference between what winning feels like and what losing feels like."

And, Estes feels like Chicago can be a winner this season.

On a team with a staff that has two young fireballers in Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, not to mention a superstar hitter in Sammy Sosa, this just might be the season for the Cubs to win the N.L. Central.

"I think as far as guys who can go out there and strike guys out and as far as horses go, this is the best staff I've been on," Estes said. "I mean we got four really good arms, right-handed guys who can go out there and throw hard.

"This is the first time I've actually been the veteran on a staff and I'm only 30-years-old. I thought that would be the case when I was like 35 or 36. But I'm looking forward to it. I really am."