I’m tired of Cubbie nation blowing smoke up our asses on how great Z is. He has great potential..but the fact of the matter is that he will never ever live up to it. Milton is a headcase/cry baby…..We are still suck with Soriano though….Thats the one piece thats needs to be traded.

But Zambrano probably wouldn’t go.

It would be amusing to watch Bradley in NYC

The last few years he’s been a checkbook GM. Well, he’s boxed himself in with some big contracts. Z is the one big contract he has that could be moved due to Z’s age and undeveloped potential. His injuries have been mostly head scratchers, not the kind of stuff you worry about a pitcher having. He gets cramps because he doesn’t drink enough water, that is different than a guy coming off Tommy John surgery.
I could actually see Z going to the Yankees for ego purposes. He wants a big stage, and NYC would provide that. Plus, he’d have more marketing possibilities.
As far as Milton and Joe G. Won’t happen. I am sure Joe would take Z, but Milton doesn’t have the upside that Z does to try and work through the headaches.

The Yankees are going to be desperate for starting pitching and can afford both contracts. We add speed and outfield defense, which we need desperately. This will allow Soriano to not have to cover as much ground as his knee heals. We also free up a ton of money. I too have been a defender of both Z and Gameboard, but neither one is entirely happy in Chicago and both might flourish someplace else.

Considered not good enough to be the Yankees 4th outfielder? I swear I hear that all the time on Sports Radio here.

If they need to shed salary, whatever…I’m not going to argue as that’s the new owners decision but don’t think this Gardner guy is the messiah for the outfield either.

I would sign John Lackey who is as good or possibly even better than Zambrano. Lackey would probably cost less than what Zambrano is making and they don’t have to trade any prospects.

I definitely understand the desire to move salary, but making that deal this offseason? I wouldn’t do. Melancon and McAllister are very solid talents, and I’m quite high on McAllister. Dunn is a lefty pen arm in the upper levels (we have depth there) and Russo is a decent middle infielder, but likely a backup at best, and perhaps a guy that goes up and down.

Sure, the money reduced would be huge … but in an offseason when the pitching market is bad, I just don’t think that is enough of a return. Furthermore, if the idea is to deal Z and then make deals for other players to fill roles, well, you’ve got to get enough talent to justify the deal and you also have a big hole to replace in the rotation. As much as I like the young arms in the system, that’s a load that we can’t replace right away.

Look, this isn’t to say that I’m against dealing Z. Rather, I’m open to the idea if it makes sense. Here’s the thing – the Cubs are in a terrible financial position, but there’s really only 1 horrible contract, and that’s Soriano’s. Zambrano does have 4/73 remaining, which is really bad, but it’s not immovable bad. The problem is, in moving Z this offseason, if your intent is to trade to allow flexibility, you have limited pickings in the FA market to replace Z and build upon the team. That means you need enough talent to justify a deal, and while I really like McAllister and Melancon, I don’t love them enough.

Is it a situation where possibly the value of Z to us will be greater than the value of Z in general? That’s a fair question to ask and one I’m not certain on. I just don’t think the above proposed deal of Z and Bradley for that return is enough to make me do the deal.

Btw, I don’t see the Yankees doing the deal unless the Cubs eat money, and I don’t see the Cubs eating money, as that would take away from the deal. If the Yankees make moves this offseason, I don’t expect it to be on the starting pitching front. They’ll see if Wang will come back on a minor league deal (boy they screwed that one up this offseason by not having Wang rehab … what idiocy … granted, Wang has to speak up more). If not, I think they’ll move Hughes to the rotation, go after a setup arm (Melancon could fit into the mix), slide Hughes into the rotation, and sign a mid-end of the rotation guy for competition. I expect them to make a play for a bat, perhaps as a top of the order guy to replace Damon.

but it’s not post worthy, just a random thought on my part that probably has been expressed by others already. It probably wouldn’t be pondered by either side, so again, I’m not expecting it, but I think I would be interested to see if JJ Hardy could be pried away, with increasing speculation that he’s going to be moved. I expect his offense to level out a bit, in the positive direction, next year, and his defense is a bit better than Ryan Theriot’s. That said, Hardy doesn’t fit any immediate, must have need for us right now.

Some thoughts -

a. I’d want quality, not quantity in return. It’s not that our system is foolproof and we’ll be definitely producing quality talent. There’s no certainty on prospects. It’s just, we have enough arm depth and only a few positions where we have clear immediate and long range questions as of right now, and Zambrano is still good enough that, when combined with the down market, he should, even in the contract, net a solid return.

c. I’d want a solid, close young starting arm. A lefty would be nice, but again, point A.

d. I’d prefer use this trade to try and add another top of the order guy in one fell swoop. Placing all the chips in a potential Chone Figgins bag this offseason … eh.

Okay, so … well, there aren’t many apparent answers that fit in a non-blockbuster trade (Reyes type) scenario. Certainly, we can open it up to multi-team deals, but those deals are the exceptions and not the rule. To ponder this for a moment, let’s go the reverse way – what teams can we likely chop off of possible Z destinations?

Florida – Pitching isn’t a huge issue, and there’s the money factor.
Washington – With Rizzo, they are building … for the future.
Atlanta – They’ve got more than enough pitching, don’t have that much flexibility anymore, and need offense.

All NL Central clubs – Look, I’m open to dealing within the division if the right deal came along, but the chances of that happening I think is rather slim, and I don’t see the Cubs wanting to deal with Z on a regular basis.

San Francisco – Pitching simply isn’t an issue for them.
San Diego and Arizona – Money factors.
Blue Jays – They likely will shop Halladay again.
Rays – Money wouldn’t work, and rotation isn’t a huge issue.
White Sox – Made their move for a pitcher already.
Indians – Money factors will probably take them out.
Athletics – Money doesn’t seem to fit here.
Mariners – They are staring at a Felix Hernandez extension … if they can get it done, and I think Z (Jack Zduriencik) prefers to build his squad.

What does that leave us with and is there a fit? Some of these teams are unlikely, but I couldn’t write it off just yet.

Texas – Finances is an issue, but going after a solid veteran arm to help the top of the rotation may be something they ponder. The number of young talent here makes a trade possible, though I don’t see a top of the order guy that is readily available.

Los Angeles Angels – This would certainly qualify as a big splash. Add in a fairly iffy system, and there are questions on fit, but there’s enough to make a deal work for me. The money is there, though, to likely make something like this happen, with money clearing. They’d probably prefer resigning Lackey, though. Also, don’t see a top of the order bat.

Minnesota Twins – File this under a it’s impossible …. but … ? Why? They need pitching help, and the system isn’t going to provide anyone next year (top prospect David Bromberg is two years away probably, along with lefty Tyler Robertson). They also have to give Mauer every reason to come back. Money would obviously be a huge … HUGE … HUUUUUGE issue here.

Kansas City – Dayton Moore’s made some crazy moves, and their offense is the question right now … but I wouldn’t rule him out of something like this. Unlikely, but if you add Z to Greinke and Meche, along with Soria in the pen, if they get some offense, this wouldn’t be a team that anyone would want to deal with if they made it to the postseason. Money would be an issue here as well.

Detroit – I want to say no … but they supposedly could have some money to use (and there are rumors they may shop Granderson).

Yankees – Obviously, can’t rule them out, but I have my doubts they’d go this route. Also, not sure the young pitching that we would want to get in return would be available.

Red Sox – They may shop Matsuzaka, and as we saw this year with Boston, you can never have enough pitching depth. They seem more likely to go for a cheaper guy, though.

Orioles – The team has the young pitching, could use a veteran arm at the top … and there’s a dreaded name here. Granted, I don’t see Baltimore moving said dreaded name anymore. The fit is definitely here.

Colorado – I really don’t see this, but I couldn’t write it off for some reason.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Does Torre want to deal with Z? I’m not so sure on that. Is Z the top of the rotation arm they are searching for? I’m not so sure on that either.

New York Mets – Could definitely use the pitching help, although there isn’t the young arm in return that I would really love.

Philadelphia – I really should write them off … as the chances are slim to none, but the system’s there and they could probably move money around to make it happen.

Is there a scenario here that seems realistic to me that makes a ton of sense, sans blockbuster or 3-way deal? I’m not sure. Obviously, the above parameters set would be an ideal return (quality, young, ready arm, leadoff hitter). Again, though, as noted above, I think finding that trade that makes a ton of sense, sans 3 way or blockbuster, is unlikely. So the question needs to be, is there a potentially likely trade scenario that makes enough sense, to me?

1. One scenario that could catch my fancy also belongs with a team that probably shouldn’t be on the list, but that would be Colorado. With Dexter Fowler set for CF and Eric Young Jr. mediocre at 2nd and being work in the OF more, he might be a top of the order type that’s available. Granted, his glove for the OF is still more of an unknown at this moment in time. The problem with a Colorado deal, though, would be that

a) Would the calm Jim Tracy want the volatile Z?
b) Their pitching has been fairly solid this year, particularly Marquis, Hammel, de la Rosa, and Jimenez. I expect some of those guys to slip a bit (… cough … Marquis … cough … ), but do they feel a push?
c) Even if they feel said push … do they have the money?

One way around that would probably be to perhaps eat Aaron Cook’s contract as a return. Cook’s come back to earth, but that would be a decent guy to fill out a rotation. Eric Young Jr., Aaron Cook, and prospects would get enough of my attention to ponder … but … would the Cubs take a chance on a youngster like Young Jr. filling a key role in a fairly new position for him?

2. Another possibility that catches my attention somewhat would be Texas, but like Colorado, this is a team that might not be able to be in the mix. Julio Borbon has the range to be decent in CF, although really, he might be a corner OF. He certainly has a leadoff skillset. There’s certainly enough arms to pluck someone that would be worthwhile that the Rangers might be amenable to moving. The problem here is money, and I’m not sure there’s an easy answer. Whereas Cook could fill out the rotation next year and balance the money a bit in a Colorado deal, there isn’t a scenario here that strikes me. Also, like the first scenario, that would require the Cubs willing to gamble with a youngster for a key role.

3. DGU has been crowing about the Angels for awhile, and there are some possibilities there. Macier Izturis likely could be dangled, and a youngster like Trevor Reckling would be a nice addition to the top of our system (but would they move him … Will Smith could be a thought). More would be needed, but the potential is there for something that makes enough sense. Much as I love Izturis’ discipline, I don’t really love him as a top of the order guy. Okay I guess. If we deal with the Angels, money would be an issue in that, I would want them to pick up most of the contract.

The Twins fascinate me as a possibility, with their new field. Finances is an issue, and they really don’t have a leadoff hitter that would likely be available that isn’t a prospect. I could dangle through some more mock scenarios, but I want to end on this. The Sam Fuld types of the world aren’t great players. These guys might be depth players for most situations. For the Cubs situation, though, I still think Sam Fuld should get a long look. Here’s a guy that works the count and runs the bases well. Can he get on base enough to be of value? That’s what we need to now, but again, he upgrades CF and is a potential top of the order bat, the type of bat that might be hard to find this offseason. Why not? The situation fits. (I’m also aware that this sort of strikes away from my point about getting a top of the order bat, because if Fuld can fill that role, then we can just focus on quality, but I get the feeling that Fuld isn’t going to be given that long of a look for the role. Hope I’m wrong.) Get Fuld in there now to see what he has.
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Again, let me repeat, I wasn’t looking at blockbuster type deals or 3-ways here. And … it’s just my thoughts.

Was built around a five year window and this is year three.

Granted they could change things, and I like Gardner, kind of a poor man’s Ellsbury, but I’d like to see this team given one more year at least.

that hiring Duncan in the offseason would convert Z into a #1 pitcher.