Long-time Cubs righty Carlos Zambrano will return to the hill, per Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com (via Twitter). At this point, though, there’s no indication he has his sights set on a return to the majors; rather, the soon-to-be-36-year-old will suit up for Venezuelan Winter League action. Zambrano last pitched in the majors in 2012 and spent time in the minors in 2013 before hanging up his spikes. Before that, he threw 1,826 2/3 innings of 3.60 ERA ball for the Cubs from 2001 through 2012.
Let’s take a look at the latest from the game’s central divisions:
- Brewers GM David Stearns talked about his team’s promising start and what it might (or might not) mean for his deadline planning, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes. Stearns is undeniably pleased with the fact that his club sits atop the NL Central standings, and didn’t shy away from the possibility that the wins could continue to come sooner than had been anticipated. But he also suggested that the imperative of sustainable building would largely remain the same. “The plan is to consistently win major league games over a period of years,” he said. “If that process begins a little bit sooner than people expected, that’s great. And we’ll react accordingly. But it doesn’t change our strategy; it doesn’t change our plan.”
- With the White Sox reportedly beating out the Cardinals to sign Cuban prospect Luis Robert, Bernie Miklasz of 101sports.com wonders whether St. Louis should have been more aggressive in its bidding. You’ll need to read through his entire argument to see how you feel, but the gist is the view that the organization ought to have been willing to stake a greater bet on a potential impact talent — particularly given the fact that it had a unique opportunity with many big spenders unable to go after Robert and plenty of available resources given the team’s meager draft assets this summer.
- The Tigers’ efforts to transition Anthony Gose from outfielder to pitcher became official today, as he was activated at Class A Lakeland to work out of the pen. While he didn’t escape from his first inning of action unscathed, Gose did make quite an impression. Per Lakeland assistant GM Dan Lauer, on Twitter, Gose was clocked at 99 mph with his debut heater.
Now a Big Z comeback is something I want to see.
He’d be better off coming back as a DH.
He mu$t be broke
Probably still has more $$$ than you
Highly doubt he’s broke. Not like he’s trying to come back in MLB. He might just be bored blasting bombs in his slow pitch softball team.
99 MPH heater from a player that just been converted to a pitcher is very impressive. Let’s hope he won’t blow his arm out.
Speed was always Gose’s best attribute, be it on the base paths or in the outfield and now with his fastball.
cardinals commited no error.
Gose would be well served to work on matters between his ears, too. After all, 90% of the game is mental, unlike that other half.
Especially when it is believed they offered more money than the White Sox.
whoops, wrong post
Except they didn’t. The GM went on record saying they weren’t comfortable offering as much as the Sox ended up signing him for
You mean the losing GM made up an excuse for why a player didn’t sign with them despite offering more money? Guess that’s enough proof for me.
Good luck Anthony. I’ve seen a lot of pitchers convert from position players, and my impression is that they suffer a lot of arm problems.. Build it up slowly, because most major league pitchers have been pitching since they were kids and have a good foundation before they turn pro.
I believe Gose was a pitcher in HS
There’s been many MLB hitters who began as MLB pitchers. I know Bob Lemon and Kenney Janson were converted the other way but, I can only think of Bucky Walters who converted from a MLB position player into a MLB pitcher.
Ankiel
Doolittle
Never mind. I read it wrong
Day after Eric Gagne gives up, Carlos Zambrano starts.
Gatorade coolers beware…..
Doesn’t mattet if most big spenders couldn’t go after Robert, it only takes one to drive up the price.
Yes. Twenty of the thirty MLB teams had an opportunity to offer more than $300k to sign Robert during the current international FA period.
That’s not really accurate.
Most teams not in the penalty had agreements with future July 2nd Intl. talent.. Backing out to bid on Robert would be catastrophic for future negotiations in Latin America.
Red birds are always the smartest team and it will be known that way because Robert will be bust
Yeah, sure. That’s why the Cardinals reportedly offered the most dollars to sign Robert but were rebuffed when the White Sox offered a more persuasive presentation.
Yah. It’s a good thing they were smart enough to not offer Heyward a ton of money too…
No they didn’t offer the most. Multiple sources, including Mozeliak, have come out and said the Cardinals weren’t comfortable going to the price the White Sox did. While it’s disappointing the Cardinals missed out on a big-time prospect, it is purely because they were outbid (no matter what the reports say about how Robert was “blown away” by the White Sox video presentation…it always came down to $$$).
This whole notion that free agents are turning down more lucrative offers from STL to go elsewhere is way overblown and actually wrong. The Cardinals may have offered more overall dollars to Heyward, but the AAV was lower and it didn’t include any opt-outs (whereas the Cubs offered him a contract with multiple opt-out clauses).
Actually, the Cardinals GM suggested (in hindsight) the Cardinals weren’t prepared to exceed the $50MM threshold for Robert including tax penalties. Some reports say the White Sox will be on the hook for $45-47MM when all is said and done. The actual signing bonus and overage penalties should be known to all this week when Robert is officially signed.
Btw-FA signings don’t always come down to dollars. It didn’t with Yoenis Cespedes in New York, Alex Gordon in Kansas City and Jose Abreu with the White Sox back in 2013. All reportedly had higher offers on the table than the ones they ultimately signed for.
Wrong on Abreu.
I never said FA signings always come down to it. But for a 19 year old kid getting a massive payday, it came down to money. I know the Alex Gordon story, but comparing his situation to Robert is a bit apples-to-oranges. The Abreu comparison is apt though. I know CWS have a strong history with Cuban-born players, so I’m sure that played a part in Robert’s decision. But I think money was the main determinant and I think it will be confirmed that the White Sox simply offered more than the Cardinals. And good on them, it’s a great signing for a team that is really positioning itself to have a good shot at contention in a few years.
Also I don’t get your point in the first paragraph. Yes, Mozeliak said they weren’t prepared to go as high as the White Sox did. Isn’t that just confirming my point? He point blank said “it’s really hard to justify those types of dollars for any player with a lack of a proven track record.” That’s pretty clear that the Cardinals’ offer wasn’t even equal to the White Sox. So to say that they offered more but Robert chose the White Sox because he was enamored with the culture/intangible things doesn’t seem justified
Are any of those “multiple sources” not on the Cardinals payroll?
Also, unless they offered substantially less (making the probably incorrect assumption that they didn’t offer more), that’s a BS excuse IMO. You can’t offer $45mil, for example, and say you’re “uncomfortable” offering $50mil. The difference is pretty negligible at that point.
Amen Aaron!
If they were the smartest team they would cleared their evidence or found a way while they were cheating during their hacking scheme…. so there’s that..
One of-if not- the best hitting pitchers coming back? Giants got to call
zomboring has problems. hits too many batters, has anger issues. stay away from mlb zombrano.
The best hitting pitcher I’ve ever seen no dout
Zambrano pitched for the Marlins in 2012, not the Cubs, just thought I’d say it
Only “Soon to be 36 years old” for Big Z? It seems like he’s been out of baseball forever. Why did Big Z leave baseball at such a young age?
Cause no one wanted to put up with his act.
Please—General Manager Mozelak— please quit telling Cardinal Nation of all of the money and other assets the Cardinal Franchise has for top tiered player accusations. You are the most out of touch with current market player values than any GM in Major League Baseball. With giving you the benefit of the doubt, you are at least 3 years behind your counterparts. Seriously, $80 million for a lead off hitter that can’t hit .250. $30 million on a reliever that can’t throw strikes. Retaining Jonathan Broxton on the team? Then Passing on Luis Robert. The Cardinals faithful, (players, fans, the organization) deserves better than your lackadaisical, uncaring, arrogance and constant petty excuses. It’s about time you stepped away!!! You are wasting the clubs money, energy, focus, and the General Managers position!
As a Cardinals fan. The very fact they did not pursue Robert aggressively with so many big money teams out of the running is an absolute joke.