Zambrano trade a huge win for Cubs

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With the trade of Carlos Zambrano to the Miami Marlins now done, pending physicals, it looks to be a huge win for the Cubs and the new regime of Theo Epstein. While I am not sure that Chris Volstad will ever approach the career that Zambrano had in a Cubs uniform, it really doesnt matter how well he pitches as long as he is a solid teammate and not a divisive influence in the clubhouse. Simply getting Zambrano out of Wrigley Field is a tremendous move by the new Cubs regime.

Zambrano was blessed with tremendous ability, and at the start of his Cubs career he looked to be a developing force in the rotation. As his career moved along he showed a great fastball and outstanding movement on a variety of pitches and it was that potential that earned him a 91.5 million contract extension.

However, with the contract came a new level of expectations from the team and the fan base and Zambrano collapsed under the weight of those expectations. He was a negative influence on the team with multiple incidents that alienated his teammates and a succession of managers and coaches and after he was ejected in August in a game in Atlanta and told clubhouse personnel that he was retiring his fate was sealed.

Zambrano will go down in Cubs history as a player with incredible potential who never reached the level of success that he should have because of his inability to control his emotions. Epstein and Jed Hoyer had no choice today when they traded Big Z to the Marlins, where he will be reunited with his friend and Venezuelan countryman Ozzie Guillen. Ozzie thinks that a change of scenery and his guiding hand will turn Big Z back into the pitcher that he once was.

After watching Zambrano for his entire career I am not sure Ozzie realizes just what he is getting himself into. Declining skills and an explosive personality could be a combustible combination in Miami.

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