CHICAGO – Mark Grace is Mr. Cub no more.

The Chicago Cubs declined to offer the free-agent first baseman arbitration Thursday, ending his 13-year run with the team.

"It's a sad day for him," said Barry Axelrod, Grace's agent. "But life goes on. Team's do things because that's the businesslike thing to do. I don't begrudge them, but it's sad."

The Cubs could negotiate with Grace again, but they'd have to wait until May 1 and he'll be long gone by then. He's expected to reach a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks soon, possibly as early as Friday.

The Cubs also declined to offer arbitration to closer Rick Aguilera, catcher Jeff Reed and infielders Shane Andrews and Jeff Huson.

"Mark reacts like Mark reacts in life. He is an upbeat, optimistic, go-for-it person," Axelrod said. "He basically said, 'Good, that's over, now we can get on with it.' "

Grace had spent his entire career with the Cubs, and said repeatedly that he wanted to retire a Cub. While Sammy Sosa has been the heart of the Cubs the past few seasons, Grace has been their soul. He's been Mr. Cub of the '90s, right down to the ivy he had painted on his Harley-Davidson.

He was particularly proud of being part of the small fraternity of players who spent their entire careers with one team, and he didn't want to end up like former frat brother Chuck Finley.

After spending his first 14 years with the Anaheim Angels, Finley signed with the Cleveland Indians before last season.

Another member, Tony Gwynn, looked like he might leave the group, but he reached a deal with the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

"The difference is, the Padres tried to have him back," Axelrod said. "I don't know that it's a great move for them, but they did it because the guy has been there for 18 years."

But the Cubs' decision hardly came as a surprise. Grace never got an offer from the Cubs, and the more time that passed without negotiations, the worse his prospects of staying in Chicago looked.

Chicago has lost 90 or more games in three of the last four seasons, and that meant changes this offseason. Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail is committed to upgrading the team's pitching and power at the corners, and Grace doesn't fit that plan.

While Grace is a career .309 hitter, the 36-year-old had an off-year last season, hitting .280 with 11 homers and 82 RBIs. He also made $5.3 million last year, and the Cubs would have had to pay more to keep him whether they gave him a new deal or offered arbitration.

And Chicago has two up-and-coming first basemen in Julio Zuleta and Hee Seop Choi.

Axelrod said MacPhail called him Wednesday night and told him the Cubs weren't going to offer Grace a deal or arbitration.

"Mark's upbeat," Axelrod said. "He's going to turn a negative emotion into a positive energy."