Cubs to Shop Zambrano this Off-Season

ChronicKerr · Post #1 » by **ChronicKerr** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:12 pm

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ba ... 9559.story

Despite the fact that Zambrano has a full no-trade clause, the Cubs plan on shopping him this off-season, sources said, believing he'll waive the clause to go to the right team, as Jake Peavy eventually did when the Padres consummated a deal this summer with the White Sox.

Zambrano said recently he's weary of the media scrutiny after being criticized for playing softball on a scheduled day off during his rehab stint.

"Maybe if I go to a different city next year, if I get traded, I can do what I want," Zambrano told the Tribune.

Zambrano later said he was kidding and has veto power over any trade.

SportsWorld · Post #2 » by **SportsWorld** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:01 pm

Nobody will take him.

#1TKfan · Post #3 » by **#1TKfan** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:05 pm

oh im sure there will be a taker. the question is what can we get for him?

SportsWorld · Post #4 » by **SportsWorld** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:51 pm

#1TKfan wrote:oh im sure there will be a taker. the question is what can we get for him?

Vernon Wells!

Posey H8er · Post #5 » by **Posey H8er** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:25 am

Carlos Zambrano rhp
5 years/$91.5M (2008-12), plus 2013 vesting option
signed extension with Cubs 8/17/07
$5M signing bonus
08:$15M, 09:$17.75M, 10:$17.875M, 11:$17.875M, 12:$18M, 13:$19.25M vesting player option
full no-trade clause
award bonus: $75,000 for All Star selection
Zambrano receives 2013 player option if he is first or second in 2011 Cy Young vote or if he finishes in top 4 in 2012 Cy Young vote and is healthy at end of 2012
1 year/$12.4M (2007)
re-signed 2/07 (avoided arbitration, $15.5M-$11.025M)
1 year/$6.5M (2006)
re-signed 2/06, avoided arbitration ($7.2M-$6M)
$75,000 bonus for Silver Slugger award
1 year/$3.76M (2005)
re-signed 1/05, avoided arbitration ($4M-$3.4M)
1 year/$0.45M (2004)
award bonus: $25,000 for All Star selection
1 year/$0.34M (2003)
agent: Barry Praver
ML service: 7.042

cold5 · Post #6 » by **cold5** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:53 am

You would think Z would get as much if not more than the package Rays got for Kazmir if they paid team some of contract. However I don't think we should trade Z. The guy still has a ton of potential and really is an ace when he's on. You don't throw no-hitters against any team, particularly a solid offensive team if you don't have great potential. If he really works hard and Rothschild really works with him on command, he will be an ace. If Dave Duncan came in, just imagine the results. If you just dump Z for chump change or just do it for the simple purpose of doing it, you will probably regret. I know there are some people who want to go on a fire sale but it will not help this team. I could understand it if we got a system as deep as the Rays or the Rangers and good free agent pickups who could put us through just one or two at most mediocre years but I doubt that will happen. Our system is already picking up and going a fire sale that won't even start to help the team for about 3-5 years would suck and would probably infuriate the city of Chicago to not even and try and compete. I've said this before if we add a consistent bullpen, a consistent bench, and consistent middle infield, this team would take a huge leap forward.

SportsWorld · Post #7 » by **SportsWorld** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:55 am

Nobody is going to take Z. He's not worth his contract at all. And we can't trade Zambrano to the American League because he'll just reject the trade because he wants to hit in the N. Z will be a Cub next season.

The Sheik · Post #8 » by **The Sheik** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:37 am

I cant see us getting much of anything. The problem is Zambrano is very inconsistent and I would say his work ethic is questionable. He is emotionally vested in his pitching, but that doesnt mean he is committed to being the best he can be. Zs ego gets in the way a lot of the time. We might be able to get a Kazmir type deal, but a GM or team would have to be enamored with Z to give up the prospects.

cold5 · Post #9 » by **cold5** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:16 pm

The Sheik wrote:I cant see us getting much of anything. The problem is Zambrano is very inconsistent and I would say his work ethic is questionable. He is emotionally vested in his pitching, but that doesnt mean he is committed to being the best he can be. Zs ego gets in the way a lot of the time. We might be able to get a Kazmir type deal, but a GM or team would have to be enamored with Z to give up the prospects.

With Dave Duncan or any other good pitching coach like Brad Arnsberg I think we would see a lot of improvement in Z.

The Sheik · Post #10 » by **The Sheik** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:19 am

cold5 wrote:With Dave Duncan or any other good pitching coach like Brad Arnsberg I think we would see a lot of improvement in Z.

...and that should be the alternative IMO. Somebodies head needs to be on the chopping block this winter. Lou is safe. It comes down to Hendry, Rothschild or Von Joshua (although in his case he could be reassigned and another hitting coach can be hired).

ChronicKerr · Post #11 » by **ChronicKerr** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:19 pm

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/16707/20090916/zambrano_doesnt_care_if_cubs_trade_him/

Chicago Sun-Times - Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano got defensive when asked by the Chicago Sun-Tines how he would handle being shopped this offseason.

"I don't care," Zambrano said. "If the Cubs want to trade me, it's because they don't like me anymore. And I have to move on. What else can I do? Just move on."

If the Cubs were to trade Zambrano, who has $54 million left on a contract that runs through the 2012 season, he would have to waive his no-trade clause.

"I don't want to," Zambrano said of possibly waiving the clause before ending the interview.