Up to now, much of the discussion of the trade of Carlos Zambrano to the Miami Marlins (reportedly complete pending physicals) has been about what effect it will have on the Chicago Cubs, from getting his antics out of the clubhouse to the effect replacing him with Chris Volstad will have on the Cubs’ rotation.
TIM BROWN: Will Carlos Zambrano Find Happiness In Miami?
At Yahoo, Tim Brown says this deal could finally bring Big Z happiness:
He’s on a contender. He’s pitching for his pal and fellow Venezuelan, manager Ozzie Guillen. He’s in a ballpark surrounded by folks who aren’t so tired of his act they’d just as soon watch him drive away than witness another destructive meltdown, no matter his aptitude.On the other hand, Zambrano pitched for several Cubs contenders and playoff teams, and melted down anyway, although the meltdowns got worse as the team did in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Perhaps being united on a team for the first time with Guillen, who is not only a fellow Venezuelan but one of Z’s best friends, might get him to produce $18 million (his 2012 salary) of value. The deal had to be made, because:
No matter how many sit-downs he had with Theo Epstein, no matter how eloquent the orations on fresh starts and new men, Zambrano had gone toxic in Chicago. There’s no hosing that off the Wrigleyville sidewalk.Brown concludes by saying this is likely Z’s final, no-we-really-mean-it-this-time last chance:
So, I hope Carlos Zambrano sees this for what it is – not one more shot at the career that seemed ahead of him four years ago, but one more shot at being satisfied with the career he looks back on.
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