Zambrano Wants To Sign With Cubs

The key is not to pay him for what he's done but for what he will do over the next five years. It really seems that his best is not yet to come, hard as it is to believe.

I look at his pitching mechanics, and I just can't see how he'll be healthy over the next 5 years. But, maybe he is a freak.

"Has Zambrano's performance since then changed my mind? It certainly makes the decision tougher. I don't have a good answer here..."

Then you're really not thinking very hard. Look at the list of free agent pitchers for 2008 and tell me who's better or even close to Zambrano. Other than Colon, who is hurt, none of them is.

The Dbacks do have several infield players who are experienced in LF and all 3 of the OF players can play CF fairly well.

"Look at the list of free agent pitchers for 2008 and tell me who's better or even close to Zambrano."

Signing a player because of a weak free agent class is always a bad idea. An example is Soriano, who got tons of money because he was the best of the 2006-07 class. He's not a star. Zito too.

You're not thinking too hard.

Mike Myers and his .811 OPSa vs Lefties designated for assignment. Terrible this year, but someone will take a flier on him.

Tim, while I am with your general line of thought, the Cubs have to pay Zambrano and have to keep him.
They cannot spend all that money and let their best pitcher go, what does that say?
Even 100million for Zambrano if it takes that in 5years. He makes the money spent of Soriano, Rameriz, Lilly etc worthwhile. Shelling out that cash and letting your best pitcher walk will turn you into a nothing team with a massive payroll.

Ala Gil Meche, the Cubs have to get Zambrano signed. Royals had to spend far too much to get a FA to sign there. And spending far too much will get more FA to sign there, which will help make them better.

If I'm a prospective buyer, I would rather take a team with Z on it than without....it would make them more attractive to me.

Plus, do we really believe that they are going to have ANY trouble at all finding an owner? Anyone that would buy the Cubs without Zambrano is SURE to buy them with him. It makes no sense why anyone in their right mind would be like "they have their ace signed for 5 years...nevermind, I'm not interested anymore." I know the payroll goes up...I don't care. No one is going to back out because they signed Zambrano, no one. And if they do, they have no business owning the Cubs anyway. None.

I don't think there is a shortage of buyers for the Cubs. But here's the bottom line. The Tribune makes more money in the sale if the Cubs don't add payroll. For instance, a $100 million contract. It may be a pebble in an ocean to the Trib, but since when have they ever put winning above the almight $? This is not a baseball decision, it's purely business. Each contract creates debt and debt lowers the sale price (however little) of a team. It's not like the Trib will be able to sell the highest bidder (still doesn't make sense how in America you have to sell to whomever baseballs says you can sell to), they'll have to sell to one of Bud and Jerry's boys.

Wouldn't you agree that Hendry can't add payroll anymore? It's obvious. You got Jim Hendry who is always looking to make a splash and he gets Jason Kendall with zero contract on him. I'm sure behind closed doors, there are things told to Hendry we don't know about.

If it were up to Hendry, I'm certain Zambrano would have been signed on or before opening day and they probably would have traded for a guy like Griffey.

"It appears that five years and $90MM would get the job done."

Ummm...yeah, the article said that. That was the proposed deal a long while ago. Right now it's going to depend on new ownership. Until they narrow it down to a couple of suitors, Zambrano won't be signed.

I think Zambrano will be a risky move (for any team). A power arm that has thrown a lot of innings...I've seen this story before. The velocity goes down, and they're not the same pitcher. Risky business is Zambrano.

Teetz,

Yep...pretty tough to be that bad at both...they could have at least hired somebody that had a clue...either in baseball or just business in general.

tsizzle,

"Risky business is Zambrano."

A risk anyone with the money would take. Anyone.

Adun, gotta disagree…

TALENT ~ agree, almost anyone would take
TALENT + RISK ~ agree
TALENT + RISK + COST (his contract) ~ nope, only a handful would gamble on it…

Teams are becoming much smarter when it comes to pitchers contracts ~ insurance will no longer cover the plus-3yr deals so they must! All you have to do is look again at one of is best comparables ~ Bartolo Colon. Colon didn’t get nearly the attention that everyone claimed he would when he hit the market. It was a question of “when he gets hurt, how much will it hurt us” and the situation with Big-Z is no different… Also, look at Zito and the fact that everyone assumed that the Mets WOULD sign him; truth is they were reluctant to go over 5 years though and didn’t sign him ~ despite the fact that he isn’t the injury risk Z is…

Zambrano wont find the huge range of teams seriously looking at him on the FA market, he will get his contract because it only takes one or two teams to drive up the price, but it wont be more than 3-4 teams honestly willing to spend 5/100+ on him.

I also doubt that even the Mets will even be THAT interested since they have had better production out of cheap signings than all the biog contracts they have given out ~ but that is just my feeling…

I said

"A risk anyone with the money would take. Anyone."

Meaning anyone with money, meaning the biggest market teams. Meaning the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, and Mets, and possibly others.

The teams that don't go after him is because they can't afford him, NOT because they wouldn't LOVE to have him on their roster. Zambrano is an ACE. Flat out, bottom line, he is an ACE. He has no hit stuff nearly every time out, is WAY less of a head case than people think, and has been probably the best pitcher in baseball since the beginning of June.

He has given NO indication that he is injury prone...NONE. Everyone says that because he is a power pitcher and because of how big he is....but thats all they have. There is ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF that he will ever have injury trouble.

So let me get this straight, you wouldn't want a guy that will win you 15 to 20 games?

You don't want a guy that nearly always stikes out 200 batters each season, is among the league leaders in BAA, gives you 210 to 230 IP every year, gives you an ERA under 3.5 every year...and takes the ball every 5th day?

Oh, by the way, he is 26!!!

If he isn't worth paying 20 mil per year for 5 years...besides Johan, I'm not sure who is!!!

The mets didn't go after Zito because...well, how should I put this, HE SUCKS!!! They probably figured they would be better off waiting and seeing if Z went on the market because he is worth the money they gave Zito....and by FAR a better signing for the same money.

Again, you can say all you want about injuries and Bartolo Colon.....but there is NO PROOF WHATSOEVER! He has never ever had a history of injuries, so I think its pretty unfair of you to just ignore that.

you don't think Boston and the Mets would be in on Zambrano??? Believe me, there is NO ONE that Minaya would rather have....at least that will be a free agent. No one.

"I know its trendy to say "Zito sucks", but it has almost no facts behind it really..."

There are facts, its called his numbers this year and the trend he has been on for a few years, actually since his cy young, not to mention the lost velocity. Those are all facts, and they all point to that contract being absolutely horrendous.

You can say that you think Zambrano will get injured all you want because of his weight and because you compare him to Bartolo Colon. So are you seriously telling me that you would rather have Zito at his contract than Z, even for the same contract??

Come on dude...you can try and hate on Z all you want...but all he has ever done is pitch at the highest level for years, and done it without getting injured.

"He hasnt had a injury yet so that proves something?"

Yes...it proves all he can possibly prove so far. The question is, what has he done to prove he is heading for an injury, pitch a lot? Come on.

"You implied not to compare him, but you do realize that Colon also never had an injury before his contract with Anaheim right?"

If I implied not to compare him, why are you comparing him? Zambrano and Colon are two different people. By the way, Zambrano is a MUCH, MUCH better athlete. He is probably the best athlete for his size in baseball...Bartolo....not so much. When is the last time you saw him flying around the bases and making diving catches. Their bodies make look the same to you, but you are making a judgment that isn't fair.

Here is the thing Dark...I don't think you can ever say that a guy that has done nothing but NOT get injured is going to get injured. All he has ever shown is that he is a horse, and doesn't get injured.

I understand that you think that the wear and tear is going to get him injured at some point, and honestly, thats a valid opinion. I just disagree that it is certain to get him injured. You may be right, he might get injured....but to me, all signs point to him being a horse and being completely reliable, as he has done his ENTIRE career. If he does get injured, I would guess that its something more fluke than serious arm problems.

ok dude, whatever...