Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano was one of the many names this offseason that was being passed around as possible trade bait.  Now it looks like he'll be making a move...internally.

According to the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan, Zambrano will be moving to the bullpen to accommodate the return of injured pitcher Ted Lilly.  Carlos Silva, the man who was seemingly destined for the pen when the time came, will continue to start.

On a day that has Michael McCaskey retiring and getting replaced by his younger brother George, and the day after the Bears schedule is released, the Blackhawks lose to the seventh-seed Nashville Predators, and LeBron James gushes about how awesome Chicago is, we have news that trumps all those stories. 

Cubs beat writer Paul Sullivan has reported via his Twitter page that three-time all-star starter Carlos Zambrano will be moving to the bullpen when Ted Lilly returns to the rotation this weekend.

"Because of his stuff," Chicago Cubs manager says Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano is moving to the bullpen beginning Friday.

So now the Cubs have Alfonso Soriano making $18 million to play seven innings in left, and Zambrano making $17.875 million to pitch 3-5 innings per week.

Jim Hendry: EPIC FAIL.

Manager Lou Piniella went on to say that this isn't a "panic move," but has indicated to Chicago media that it might be permanent.

Game No. 17 of 162 in Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ summer-long journey featured a revived Jose Reyes and an impressive pitching performance from this week’s hottest pickup: Mike Pelfrey .

Game No. 17 – Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets

David Ortiz’ recent profanity-laced tantrum with the Boston media isn’t his first meltdown, and if he continues to hit poorly, Big Papi’s spoiled inner child will certainly rear his ugly head once again.

Yet Papi isn’t the only head case roaming the diamonds of America’s pastime. As you read this, half-whacked megastars and journeymen alike are getting ready to take the field all over today’s MLB slate.

They are all so different.

So much was made of the fact that while, yes, Carlos Zambrano pitched terribly on Monday, at least he didn't act like a maniac on the mound.

Oh yeah, that has been the source of much of the criticism levied against Big Z over the years.

That is, he has acted immature at times, and that his behavior on the mound is part of the reason why he has failed to live up to his status as the ace of the Cubs.

So a slimmer, calmer Zambrano showed up in camp this spring and most everyone said that he was headed for a monster season.

Meanwhile, what happened?

It’s a tale of two teams, but three cities. And as Charles Dickens wrote, it’s a tale of the years they intertwined from the start, one enjoying a “season (or seasons) of light,” the other dreading a “season of darkness.”

The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs always pop up on each other’s schedules at least twice, sometimes more, every year. But rarely do they begin a regular season against each other.

In the last ten years, Cubs fans have seen their share of disappointing seasons, bad trades, over-hyped prospects and greedy super stars.

No other franchise in the entire MLB has experienced more disappointment then Chicago, and here is a tribute to the best players that graciously took the blame.

102 years of painful seasons has made the Wrigley faithful the most loyal and passionate fans in all of sports, though times may seem tough.

Though thousands of players have set foot into the hallowed walls of Wrigley Field, these athletes have proven to be the best since the Y2K.

There's an old cliche that tells us you can't teach talent.

While that may be true, some players get more out of their talent than others. To date, Carlos Zambrano has always fallen into the underachiever category.

Look, it has never been a question of whether he has the stuff to succeed; rather, it has always been a question of preparation, self-control, and health.

This article was originally published at TheDailyCub.com , my blog covering the Chicago Cubs throughout the season.

This is going to be the first in a four-part series breaking down four positions for the Chicago Cubs.

Part one is going to be break down the Chicago Cubs’ pitching, after this article I will be taking on the infield, outfield, and bullpen.

The Cubs have been known for having solid starting pitching, and this season should be no different. Here is the expected rotation: