Cubs, Zambrano Still Talking
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says the Cubs spoke with Carlos Zambrano's agent yesterday, and they'll talk more this week regarding a contract extension. Wittenmyer expects the five-year deal to include the $12.4MM he's making this year and come in around $75-85MM total.
Pure speculation, but Buster Olney believes the Cubs could announce a Zambrano extension on Opening Day (Monday) to create some positive vibes to start the season. Olney is thinking five years, $85MM - the top end of Wittenmyer's range.
At this point, it seems highly unlikely that no agreement is reached by Opening Day. Sorry, Mets fans.
I guess I shgould be expecting a call from Omar next off season. I got to get my arm back in shape untill then.
Posted by: coolpapabell | March 28, 2007 at 10:59 AM
After all of this "back and forth", the only conclusion I can come to is that these "expected ranges" are way off, the reporters are all wrong, and Zambrano is asking for something more realistic (like maybe $105M over 5).
Because not even the Cubs are stupid enough not to jump on the chance to sign him for $85M over 5.
Posted by: bobo | March 28, 2007 at 01:03 PM
They will do it! They need to do it! If Big Z walks... I fear How our pitching staff will look going into 2008!
Posted by: CHI-TONW28 | March 28, 2007 at 03:29 PM
Why are you guys getting him so cheap if these are his free agent years? On the market he could get way more than 15/year. Thats a big hometown discount...
Posted by: Guitar Hero | March 28, 2007 at 06:11 PM
"Sorry Mets fans."
Yes...they are, but let's wait for the season to start, before we get into name calling.
Posted by: PeteRose | March 28, 2007 at 06:53 PM
Guitar hero...... Maybe because his heart is in chicago. Its where he wants to play. Also because he see's the team he is on improving.
Posted by: ptk420biatch | March 29, 2007 at 12:08 AM
I, too, would expect that the deal will be worth somewhere around 5/$85. That's an average of $17 million per year.
My idea -quite a while ago- was that J.H. should go for a deal worth about 5/$80, with incentives that could take the deal up to $90-$95 million. There could be a club option for a sixth year at around $19-$20 million. I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure that such a deal would get the job done pretty quickly.
Posted by: MarkH | March 29, 2007 at 08:54 AM
P.S.- The Cubs need to do what it takes to get this deal done before Opening Day. "Z" loves the Cubs, but he likes his money A LOT. They don't want to take a chance on him becoming a F.A., then having somebody like Hicks, Sabean, Epstein, Omar, or, worse, Steinbrenner to come along and offer him $850 million over 25 years.
Before last season ended, I said that the Cubs should make re-signing "Z" their first priority, because I knew that some insane person would overpay for Zito. Directly after the season, they might have been able to get Carlos for around what Carpenter and Oswalt signed for. Now, they'll have to pay Zito money. Not good GM-ing on the part of Hendry.
Posted by: MarkH | March 29, 2007 at 09:02 AM