Is He on the Block—Or Not?
There is a rumor going around that Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs ace, is headed out of the Windy City via a trade.
May I add that my ambiguously worded article regarding the Mets' offseason intentions may have added some legs to that rumor.
The facts are—there are no facts. Which is why if you re-read my piece you will see that the trade of Zambrano to the Mets for Luis Castillo is "a possibility," not a solid lead.
The Mets are looking to add a veteran No. 2 starter and—at the same time—trade second baseman Castillo.
That being said, it doesn't change the fact that the Mets have expressed interest in Zambrano and the Cubs in Castillo.
It also does not change the fact that Joel Sherman of the NY Post has reported that two AL executives have claimed the Cubs are currently "dangling" Zambrano to see who bites.
It also does not change the fact that baseball columnist Jon Heyman has intimated that Zambrano is "eminently available" but refuses to waive his no-trade clause.
The bottom line here is that Zambrano is owed $54 million over the next three seasons, with a vesting option on a fourth.
Zambrano went 9-7 in 28 starts last year in a season where he had to be DL-ed due to back spasms. He is still considered a workhorse, but the Cubs have to be worried he may start to break down.
At $18 million a year, Chicago should always be shopping him, but not for the small potatoes the Mets may offer. That is why any trade with the Mets for Zambrano would have to involve a third party.
It would also require Zambrano to agree to leave Chicago. Pundits have suggested that Zambrano, a Venezuelan, may be willing to come to New York to be with friends.
The Mets have three of his countrymen on their roster: Johan Santana, Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, and Kelvim Escobar. New York may be the only place he would agree to leave Chicago for.
These are all "possibilities," something I should have been clearer about yesterday. But I resent the comments from people who claim that I fabricated anything. These "rumors" were not started by me. I just put them all in one place for everyone.
My personal feeling is that it would take extraordinary circumstances to get Zambrano to budge on his no-trade clause. It may not happen until 2011.
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