Z CONTRACT: On Hold Due to Trib Sale

[E.J.]

Crap. This can't be good.

[C.C.]

Thanks Trib! You've been awesome from day one. One last parting shot to the fans, huh? :x

 

It wouldn't feel right without one last kick to the gut.

[erik316wttn]

I knew it.

 

You ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS should expect the very worst from this team.

 

I knew they'd dick around and not get it done and delay and procrastinate and all that. Z is going to walk after this year.

 

Maddux all over again. Dammit.

[Jon]

I don't really get all the pessimism for this deal. Hendry said during the game that he and the rest of the front office have been dealing with this since they were in Las Vegas. And he surely was well aware that it was a likely deal before that. The only thing that has changed is that the deal sale of the Tribune Company was made public.

 

This isn't the reason why the deal isn't done. If the two sides weren't as close as was reported by numerous sources, then this could be a way of pulling back. But more likely, it's an easy way for Hendry to make Zambrano's agent cave a little bit.

[Shilzzz]

this is ridiculous. they had to have known that the company was going to be sold, and probably knew fairly accurately the amount and to whom months ago... not sure how they think they are going to replace those numbers, and i bet hendry doesn't have a replacement plan...

 

out of 4 starters the cubs have brought up in the last several years(wood, cruz, prior, z), zambrano is the only one that has really worked out. this is a joke.

[Elrhino]

This is manna from heaven as far as I'm concerned. The Cubs should not be in a hurry to give any pitcher 5/$80 million. This gives the Cubs the perfect opportunity to sit back for a couple of months and re-evaluate. If Z still wants to play hardball, he can be moved in July.

[Shilzzz]

This is manna from heaven as far as I'm concerned. The Cubs should not be in a hurry to give any pitcher 5/$80 million. This gives the Cubs the perfect opportunity to sit back for a couple of months and re-evaluate. If Z still wants to play hardball, he can be moved in July.

 

yeah, i mean, maybe we should just keep signing free agents like marquis and lilly forever... those middle of the road #4 starters are so much cheaper!

[shnsajax]

I don't see how this affects anything. Its not a suprise, we all knew this was coming. It might just mean, we have to wait a few days till his name signs the contract while the paperwork for the Tribune is being processed.

 

If your going through a divorce, your usually not allowed to buy stuff with the assets that are shared until the paperwork is finalized.

[C.C.]

This is manna from heaven as far as I'm concerned. The Cubs should not be in a hurry to give any pitcher 5/$80 million. This gives the Cubs the perfect opportunity to sit back for a couple of months and re-evaluate. If Z still wants to play hardball, he can be moved in July.

 

Yeah, that will show him! Just like what we did with Maddux!

[98navigator]

I don't see how this affects anything. Its not a suprise, we all knew this was coming. It might just mean, we have to wait a few days till his name signs the contract while the paperwork for the Tribune is being processed.

 

If your going through a divorce, your usually not allowed to buy stuff with the assets that are shared until the paperwork is finalized.

 

That's true. We have to see how things develop this week. The sale was imminent because the Trib had a self imposed deadline of 3/31 to report a plan to its shareholders... There should be some word on the status of this deal in a few days.

 

Not resigning Zambrano takes away from the team's on-field value. Of course, some could argue successfully that a longterm contract also detracts from the bottom line. I guess it depends on what the potential new owner(s) is looking for; pure profit or a turn key competitive team.

[SouthSideRyan]

I was getting worried that there wasn't enough insane freaking out going regarding Z's contract situation. This is much more fun.

[shnsajax]

I don't see how this affects anything. Its not a suprise, we all knew this was coming. It might just mean, we have to wait a few days till his name signs the contract while the paperwork for the Tribune is being processed.

 

If your going through a divorce, your usually not allowed to buy stuff with the assets that are shared until the paperwork is finalized.

 

That's true. We have to see how things develop this week. The sale was imminent because the Trib had a self imposed deadline of 3/31 to report a plan to its shareholders... There should be some word on the status of this deal in a few days.

 

Not resigning Zambrano takes away from the team's on-field value. Of course, some could argue successfully that a longterm contract also detracts from the bottom line. I guess it depends on what the potential new owner(s) is looking for; pure profit or a turn key competitive team.

 

If nothing else that will only eliminate the poential owners that we do not want. :-)

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

[Roast]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

yeah, and Arod is bad in the "clutch"....

[Sammy Sofa]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

I'd love to get ARod for Z under the right circumstances, but saying Zambrano can't throw strikes is absurd.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

I'd love to get ARod for Z under the right circumstances, but saying Zambrano can't throw strikes is absurd.

 

Not really. Z led the majors in walks (115) last season.

[Sammy Sofa]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

I'd love to get ARod for Z under the right circumstances, but saying Zambrano can't throw strikes is absurd.

 

Not really. Z led the majors in walks (115) last season.

 

I know that...that's the main reason besides his back issues that I would trade him. But he also had a ton of strike outs. You gotta throw strikes to have those.

[Rob]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

I'd love to get ARod for Z under the right circumstances, but saying Zambrano can't throw strikes is absurd.

 

Not really. Z led the majors in walks (115) last season.

 

He was also fourth in the league in strikeouts (a mere six off the leader). Can't get those without throwing strikes.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

I'd love to get ARod for Z under the right circumstances, but saying Zambrano can't throw strikes is absurd.

 

Not really. Z led the majors in walks (115) last season.

 

I know that...that's the main reason besides his back issues that I would trade him. But he also had a ton of strike outs. You gotta throw strikes to have those.

 

Z gets a lot of swings and misses on stuff out of the strike zone - great movement.

 

I really don't think he throws that many true strikes (assuming the batter doesn't swing). I could care less as long as he gets guys out, but issuing free passes before the Donkey comes up is bad. :(

 

I'm not for trading Z if he's signed for 5/85 (or thereabouts) b/c we don't have an ace to replace him. We really don't have anyone in the pipeline that has a solid chance to be a staff ace. His injury concerns, like you mentioned, scare me too.

 

If we have to pay anywhere near what Z would get on the FA market (could happen if we table the contract) then I'd say trade him at the break.

 

The Cubs could get screwed either way. Hopefully the future is kind to Cub fans.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Trade Zambrano for A-Rod, please. Z can't throw strikes. I'll take the HOF-er at SS and take my chances with a different starting pitcher.

 

I'd love to get ARod for Z under the right circumstances, but saying Zambrano can't throw strikes is absurd.

 

Not really. Z led the majors in walks (115) last season.

 

He was also fourth in the league in strikeouts (a mere six off the leader). Can't get those without throwing strikes.

 

Sure you can. How many guys to you see swing and miss on stuff outside the strike zone? Plenty. Especially with Z.

 

It's all part of the game. His movement is fantastic, but I'd still like to see him hit the zone more frequently.

[Ivy Walls]

First thing Zell is not buying this comglomerate for anything but upside, look at 30% return so $2.5B short term return. So pertinent for the Cubs if they are going to be sold this year they are not going to look long term anywhere, (why the FA signings), and Piniella who has won in one year. That would save McDon and Hendry's jobs or at least provide them a resume.

 

I just can't see the Cubs being able to sign Z for a long term unless Hendry convinces Zell and Co that this is not a long term liability. My guess is there is already a couple of potential suitors for the club and Zell will know the value of the club and the best value is winning.

 

That said I just don't think the Cubs will be able to stable Murton, Gallagher or Veal, Patterson and even Pie if it means they can secure a pennent this year.

 

What is needed is moving Soriano from CF and playing LF and getting a real CF'er. Is that Griffey or Suzuki I am not sure but what if the Cubs offered Seattle Murton, Gallagher, Patterson and even another for Suzuki now. What if the Cubs went after Clemens at $25M this year that would put the Cubs way up talent wise.

 

Anyway win now or else.

[Amazing_Grace]

This just makes the Lilly and Marquis signings look worse than they already did. How you sign one mediocre #3 starter and a pathetic 5 starter without resigning the only pitcher who has been consistently above average for the past several seasons is beyond me.

 

This just proves, once again, that Jim Hendry is one of the worst GMs in all of baseball and should have been fired at the end of last season. After saddling the team's future with all the backloaded deals, NOW the Trib gets a conscience about what the new owner would want. I'm sorry but this is beyond inexcusable. The only way to atone for this fiasco would be for Jim to trade Zambrano before the season ends, so hopefully, we'll get something out of the situation. Jim won't do it unless the Cubs are well off the pace in July, though.

 

Whoever the new owner is, and whatever they do with payroll, I hope the first thing they do is show Hendry the door and hire someone who does a better job of prioritizing where money needs to be spent and who doesn't have a baseball philosophy that's older than I am. Payroll isn't, and never has been, the Cubs problem. The problem is how they spend it.

[nilodnayr]

First thing Zell is not buying this comglomerate for anything but upside, look at 30% return so $2.5B short term return. So pertinent for the Cubs if they are going to be sold this year they are not going to look long term anywhere, (why the FA signings), and Piniella who has won in one year. That would save McDon and Hendry's jobs or at least provide them a resume.

 

I just can't see the Cubs being able to sign Z for a long term unless Hendry convinces Zell and Co that this is not a long term liability. My guess is there is already a couple of potential suitors for the club and Zell will know the value of the club and the best value is winning.

 

That said I just don't think the Cubs will be able to stable Murton, Gallagher or Veal, Patterson and even Pie if it means they can secure a pennent this year.

 

What is needed is moving Soriano from CF and playing LF and getting a real CF'er. Is that Griffey or Suzuki I am not sure but what if the Cubs offered Seattle Murton, Gallagher, Patterson and even another for Suzuki now. What if the Cubs went after Clemens at $25M this year that would put the Cubs way up talent wise.

 

Anyway win now or else.

 

Well that only makes sense if you feel that signing Z for 75-85 would heighten or lessen the value of the team. If I had the money I would pay more money for the team with Z rather than without. I'd have to believe that anyone shelling out that type of cash for this team might want us to have an Ace. But might be just me.

[Sammy Sofa]

I am not sure but what if the Cubs offered Seattle Murton, Gallagher, Patterson and even another for Suzuki now.

 

That's way overpaying for Ichiro. Any one of those guys on their own might be too much for Ichiro.

[shnsajax]

I am not sure but what if the Cubs offered Seattle Murton, Gallagher, Patterson and even another for Suzuki now.

 

That's way overpaying for Ichiro. Any one of those guys on their own might be too much for Ichiro.

 

especially FA to be Ichiro.