Marlins Close To Acquiring Carlos Zambrano

[Elite]

The Marlins are close to acquiring Carlos Zambrano from the Cubs, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Zambrano would need to waive his no-trade clause for the teams to complete the deal, but he would presumably be open to playing for friend and fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen. Zambrano and Guillen reportedly discussed the possibility after the 2011 season.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein had a productive meeting with Zambrano after the season, but the right-hander hasn't seemed wanted in Chicago for a while. The Cubs placed Zambrano on the disqualified list last summer following an August outburst and declined to play him in September, after his 30-day suspension ended.

The deal would give the Marlins a projected rotation of Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco and Zambrano. Chris Volstad has started 29 games in each of the past three seasons, but he could become trade bait if the deal goes through. The deal would presumably take the Marlins out of the running for another Cubs starter: right-hander Matt Garza.

It's not yet clear how the Cubs and Marlins would split Zambrano's salary. He will earn $18MM in 2012 and his contract includes an option for 2013 that could vest depending on his health and performance in 2012. He needs to finish in the top four in next year's Cy Young vote and finish the season healthy for the option to vest.

Zambrano, 30, posted a 4.82 ERA with 6.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 42.4% ground ball rate in 145 2/3 innings for the Cubs in 2011. He has spent his entire 11-year career with the Cubs and earned nearly $100MM in the process. Zambrano, a three-time Silver Slugger, owns a .241/.251/.395 career line as a hitter and has hit 23 home runs. The Cubs signed him out of Venezuela in 1997 under former GM Ed Lynch.

The Marlins have a full 40-man roster and would have to clear space for Zambrano unless they're sending a player from their 40-man to Chicago.

MLBTR

Not a fan of Zambrano at all but he might be able to have a decent season with Ozzie as his manager and being in Miami where he'd feel more "at home."

Then again it could explode in the Marlins' faces. Him and Ozzie have very strong personalities and could butt heads really easily and he might feel too comfortable in Miami and get lazy.

 

[Mexi]

this was pretty much inevitable imo
ozzie and z love each other

and congrats to chicago for finally getting rid of him

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

It was definitley time to move on.

Zambrano will be the 5th starter in Florida's rotation and will feel at home playing under Ozzie.

He had some great moments in Chicago, but we've gotta completely overhaul this team.

It's really amazing how many former fixtures have left Chicago/Illinois this year...

Jerry Angelo, Jim Hendry, Ozzie Guillen, Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, Mark Buehrle, Olin Kreutz, Ron Zook

I'm sure I'm probably forgetting somebody else. LOL

 

[snipezo]

Z and Ozzie. That's gonna be interesting.

 

[RipCity32]

Think a lot of people seen that coming.

 

[Barcode]

Z and Ozzie. That's gonna be interesting.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Got to appreciate Miami's hustle here -- like the idea but i think it's gonna backfire and blow up in their faces.

 

[Barcode]

Got to appreciate Miami's hustle here -- like the idea but i think it's gonna backfire and blow up in their faces.

Hang on to that, Loria is a world class doosh and I'll take the under for when he blows the franchise up.