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Zambrano Links: Coleman, Dempster, Wells

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Following Friday's meltdown against the Braves, Carlos Zambrano cleared out his locker and threatened to retire, leading the Cubs to place him on the disqualified list. The union will file a grievance tomorrow, and Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider required) writes that the Cubs may be left with a "thin defense" for their decision. Regardless of the outcome though, Olney thinks the team's actions make it clear that they're done with Big Z's antics, and that the right-hander won't be a Cub by next spring. Here's the latest chatter on the situation:

  • The Cubs will call up Casey Coleman to take Zambrano's spot in the rotation, tweets Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
  • Ryan Dempster tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that there's a positive vibe in the clubhouse now, and said of Zambrano, "He's made his bed; he's got to sleep in it."
  • With Zambrano likely out of the picture for 2012, Randy Wells' performance down the stretch could affect how much pitching help the Cubs pursue this winter, as Wittenmyer writes in a separate piece.
  • Rick Morrissey of the Sun-Times says Zambrano only ever cared about himself, and that the Cubs should have been done with him long ago.
  • Ozzie Guillen, a good friend of Zambrano's, said the pitcher "should feel embarrassed, should regret what he said or what he did," according to the Tribune's Dave van Dyck.
  • Although a report yesterday suggested Zambrano had moved his belongings back into his locker, Sullivan says that isn't the case, and that Wells has moved his things into the empty locker.

Central Notes: Leyland, Big Z, Brewers, Lindor

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Here's the latest from some of baseball's central clubs, as the division-leading Tigers stage a comeback against the O's on the strength of a Miguel Cabrera three-run bomb …

  • Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who signed a one-year extension through 2012 on Monday, won't retire even if his club goes deep into the postseason, two sources tell Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
  • The Cubs knew within two hours of Carlos Zambrano's tirade that he wasn't serious about retiring, and the righty returned his belongings to his locker later that night, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Of course, these are the events that led to Big Z being added to the disqualified list earlier today.
  • The Brewers probably won't reach agreement with their first-round picks, Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley, before Monday, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter).
  • Talks twixt the Indians and first-round pick Francisco Lindor (No. 8 overall) could also come down to the wire on Monday, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Lindor, a shortstop, is represented by Sportsmeter, LLC, the same agency that brokered supplemental rounder Nick Castellanos' $3.45MM bonus with the Tigers last season, as Bastian notes. That sum was the fifth-highest among last year's first and supplemental rounders.

Cubs’ Pick Baez Remains Unsigned

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7:25pm: The Cubs have not reached an agreement with Baez, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).

6:48pm: The Cubs have agreed to terms with shortstop Javier Baez, the No. 9 overall selection in this year's draft, according to Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (via Twitter).

The terms of the contract have not yet been announced. MLB's slot recommendation for the No. 9 pick is $1.962MM, according to Baseball America.

Baez, 18, was selected out of Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla. He was the fourth position player and second shortstop taken, the first being Francisco Lindor, whom the Indians took at No. 8. Per our list of first and supplemental rounders, Baez becomes the 11th first-round selection to agree to terms or sign.

Cubs To Retain GM Jim Hendry

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The Cubs will hold onto general manager Jim Hendry, barring a change of thinking among the team's owners, the Ricketts family, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).

There has been plenty of speculation over the course of this season, another disappointing one for the North Siders, that this could be Hendry's last year at the helm, although it has been reported previously on several occasions that the Ricketts and Hendry have a strong relationship. Tom Ricketts, chairman and one of the owners of the Cubs, gave Hendry a vote of confidence last season.

This offseason and next will be big ones for the Cubs. Aramis Ramirez (club option), Carlos Pena, John Grabow and Kerry Wood will be free agents after this season. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Sean Marshall are slated to be free agents the following offseason. Alfonso Soriano, whose eight-year, $136MM deal has been a defining transaction of Hendry's tenure, is under contract through 2014.

Hendry became the GM of the Cubs in 2002, succeeding Andy MacPhail. The Cubs have reached the postseason three times under his guidance.

Cubs Place Carlos Zambrano On Disqualified List

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2:56pm: The Cubs have placed Zambrano on the disqualified list, reports Sullivan (all Twitter links). Zambrano can not be with the team for 30 days and will not be paid during that time. MLB and the players' union will use the 30 days to discuss the next step, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter).

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter) that the union will file a grievance on Zambrano's behalf, challenging the decision. Praver told Hendry that his client "is not in the retirement mode," and the GM also said he "[feels] badly about action towards Braves." He said saying that throwing at Chipper was "inappropriate."

12:52pm: Hendry and Praver have been discussing the situation and are trying to figure out "what Zambrano was actually thinking," according to Sullivan. If things are not resolved by this afternoon, Sullivan says the Cubs are likely to place the right-hander on the restricted list indefinitely. He has not filed retirement papers.

Zambrano still got paid during last year's stint on the restricted list, but the move will free up a roster spot for the Cubs.

8:34am: Carlos Zambrano gave up five home runs to the Braves in 4 1/3 innings last night, then was ejected after throwing two consecutive inside pitches to Chipper Jones. After the ejection, Zambrano cleared out his locker and told the team trainer that he was retiring, according to Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune (Twitter links).

"We will respect his wishes and honor them and move forward," said GM Jim Hendry, though manager Mike Quade was understandably angry with his right-hander. "I'm really disappointed. His locker is empty. I don't know where he's at. He walked out on 24 guys that are battling their (butts) off for him. I don't know where he's gone or what he's doing. I heard he has retired, or talking about retiring … I can't have a guy walking out on 24 guys, that's for damn sure."

There are a number of reasons to be skeptical about Zambrano's retirement talk. For one, he's always been a behavioral wildcard, but more importantly, there is over $22MM left on his contract, which he'd forfeit by retiring. Zambrano is represented by Barry Praver of Praver Shapiro Sports Management, who will surely try to talk his client out of calling it quits.

The Cubs suspended Zambrano indefinitely following another tirade last June, keeping him on the shelf for a little more than a month. The team also suspended Milton Bradley for "conduct detrimental to the team" in September 2009, forcing him to sit out the rest of the year before trading him in the offseason. It seems unlikely that Zambrano will follow through on his retirement talk, but the Cubs could be so tired of his act that they'll trade him this winter no matter what the cost, similar to what they did with Bradley.

Zambrano, 30, owns a 4.82 ERA with career lows in strikeout (6.2 K/9) and ground ball (42.4%) rate this season. He is owed just over $4MM for the remainder of 2011 plus $18MM in 2012. A $19.25MM vesting option for 2014 based on Cy Young Award finishes is unlikely to kick in. Zambrano also has a full no-trade clause in his contract, but that didn't stop the Cubs from trying to unload him before the trade deadline.

Draft Notes: Meo, Braves, Blue Jays

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The latest draft signings, with the deadline for deals just four days away…

  • Lou Nero of Octagon Sports reports that second rounder Anthony Meo has signed with the D'Backs (Twitter link). Meo obtained an above-slot bonus of $625K, according to Callis, who notes that MLB's recommended bonus was 580K (Twitter link).
  • The Marlins have signed second rounder Adam Conley, a left-handed pitcher out of Washington State, for $625K, according to Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (via Twitter).
  • The Athletics have signed third rounder B.A. Vollmuth, a third baseman out of Southern Miss, for $304.2K, according to Callis (via Twitter).
  • The Royals have signed fifth rounder Patrick Leonard, a high school outfielder from Texas, for $600K, writes Callis. It's the highest bonus awarded to a player outside the first four rounds this year, according to Callis. The MLB commissioner's office slot recommendation for that selection, No. 156 overall, is $161K.
  • The Cubs have signed seventh-rounder Trevor Gretzky, a high school first baseman out of California, for $375K, according to Callis (on Twitter). Trevor is the son of hockey great Wayne Gretzky and was a San Diego State recruit.
  • The Yankees have officially signed 25th round pick Adam Smith for $157.5K, according to Callis (on Twitter). The third baseman will be converted into a right-handed pitcher.
  • The Braves signed 14th round pick Navery Moore for $400K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The Vanderbilt right-hander can throw 92-96 mph and has now obtained the second-highest known bonus after the second round so far this year.
  • The Blue Jays signed 17th rounder Brady Dragmire, according to Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (on Twitter).

Quick Hits: Tigers, Phillies, Soriano

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Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin is starting to look like one of the top acquisitions of last offseason. He has a .279/.332/.408 line with seven homers and 29 stolen bases after today's game. Here are today's ilnks…

Dave Bush Elects Free Agency

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Dave Bush has opted out of his minor league deal with the Cubs to become a free agent, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald (on Twitter).

The Cubs signed Bush last month after Texas designated him for assignment and released him. The 31-year-old posted a 5.79 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 37 1/3 innings for the Rangers as a middle reliever and spot starter this year. 

Though Bush pitched primarily out of the bullpen for the Rangers, he returned to the rotation for the Iowa Cubs. In 22 Triple-A innings, Bush posted a 6.14 ERA with 4.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 before opting out of his contract.

Draft Notes: Cubs, Giants, Indians, Capps, Winkler, O’s

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For the latest on which top picks have signed, check out this post on MLBTR's sidebar. Here's the latest on this year's draftees…

  • The Cubs have signed fifth rounder Tayler Scott for just under $280K, tweets Callis. The high school right-hander from Arizona was committed to attend the University of Arizona, and is said to throw in the low-90's with a good breaking ball. MLB's slot recommendation was approximately $158K.
  • Callis reports (on Twitter) that the Giants have signed fifth rounder Chris Marlowe for $145K, just above MLB's slot recommendation of $134K. He's a righty reliever from Oklahoma State with a big fastball.
  • The Indians signed 43rd round pick Geoff Davenport for $100K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The left-hander is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
  • Mariners draft pick Carter Capps, who signed yesterday, obtained a $500K bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The recommended bonus for the third rounder was $243K.
  • The D'Backs have agreed to terms with tenth rounder Kyle Winkler, according to Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (on Twitter).
  • The Orioles agreed to terms with 42nd round right-hander Jason McCracken, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The O's continue talking with their top picks, but nothing has changed regarding their status, according to scouting director Joe Jordan.

Zambrano, Farnsworth Placed On Waivers

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The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano and the Rays' Kyle Farnsworth were among the players placed on waivers yesterday, according to MLB.com's Peter Gammons (via Twitter).  Teams have 48 business hours to make a claim on either player, giving them until Tuesday.  This news doesn't necessarily mean that the Cubs and Rays are looking to deal Zambrano and Farnsworth, respectively.  Hundreds of players are expected to hit the waiver wire in the month of August.

Earlier this week, both players were identified as August trade candidates by MLBTR's Tim Dierkes.

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