Julie posted last night about the Cubs trading Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for Chris Volstad. If we’d all been listening to Theo Epstein’s interview on WGN radio yesterday, we would have seen the writing on the wall.
“The Carlos Zambrano of 2011 and years previous can’t fit into the culture that we have here,” Epstein said. “Change needs to happen and change will happen. Either he’ll change and buy in and fit into this culture — and I understand there are a lot of skeptics around about that, and I understand that, and frankly, I’m skeptical as well.
“He needs to prove to us that he can change and be part of this culture,” Epstein said, “or we’ll change the personnel and move forward with people who are proud to be Cubs and treat their teammates with respect, treat the fans with respect and can be part of a winning culture in the Cubs’ clubhouse.”
So what do we know about Chris Volstad? We know he started LOHO day in 2008, the day the legend of Chad “J’Accuse” Gaudin was born. This was the same day the true nature of Reed Johnson and Mark DeRosa’s pecs was revealed. So Chris Volstad is already a part of our history. As for his baseball prowess…
Volstad, 25, was 5-13 with a 4.89 ERA in 29 starts last season with the Marlins, striking out 117 over 165 2/3 innings. In 103 games over four seasons in Florida, he was 32-39 with a 4.59 ERA. Volstad earned $445,000 last season; he will not be a free agent until after the 2014 season.
I suppose the important numbers there are his salary and team control through 2014. He’s also 6’8″, so will be an asset on the Cubs’ off-season basketball team.
Other things gleaned from Theo’s WGN radio session yesterday, courtesy of MLBTR.
Epstein said he’d be greatly disappointed if the Cubs don’t re-sign Kerry Wood. Wood signed a below-market $1.5MM deal last offseason but is said to want a market value deal this winter.
(snip)
The Cubs expect to start Bryan LaHair at first base. The 29-year-old posted a .331/.405/.664 line with 38 home runs at Triple-A in 2011. He also posted an .885 OPS in 69 plate appearances with the big league club.
(snip)
The Cubs are “very committed” to Carlos Marmol as their closer.
Here’s a link to the WGN Radio interview should you be inclined to listen.
No matter if they are good or bad this coming season, the Cubs going to be very boring.
That might not be a bad thing.
I had no idea that Volstad was that tall. Wow.
I’m ok with this, and I know thats not a popular sentiment around here, but its what I feel
I am not negating the great pitching that Zambrano has brought, or, that when he was in control of himself he was one of the most entertaining guys around, in a good way.
so Zambrano, good luck in Miami, I think you’ll like it, and I really hope that you’ll pitch to the highest of your ability, and hey, its the Marlins, they are due for another World Series, go get that ring!
I’m glad he’s gone. I was tired of him. But I thought, outside of how I felt about him, that he might have more value at the trade deadline.
…assuming he didn’t do something else that landed him on the suspended/ineligible list.
So what really would be the loss in that case?
There’s really no loss here. Z cooked his own goose and everyone was just waiting for either his contract to expire or some team to take him.
I can’t disagree with what Epstein’s been doing, which is to tear it all apart for the purpose of rebuilding it from scratch. The Cubs needed to do that for two years already as the team became very stale and was obviously declining very rapidly to the degree of basically looking like an expansion franchise.
If they can only do something with Soriano now, but I highly doubt it.
Aside from him, Epstein can now concentrate on beneficial trades with the chips he has left.
As far as Soriano, you can number count out the Orioles from taking away some Cubs junk.
Potentially yet another ding to his reputation = lower value.
His value can’t get any lower.
Maybe someone can do us all a huge favor and pour some “juice” in his juice or sprinkle some steroid powder in his Wheaties just before his drug test.
*snort*
The worst part about this is that the Cubs are really going to miss Z’s bat this year…especially with the lineup they are going to be putting out there this year.
I assume that was said tongue-in-cheek? The offensive component of his WAR must be something like 0.8 for his position.
It was a joke…but is was also a stab at the Cubs offense which is going to be horrible this year.
I was one of the people who went berserk when Quade suggested using Z as a pinch hitter regularly.
I thought it was hilarious.
Miami definitely is the victor in this deal.I can’t see how we got so little out of this situation.Money and talent for…….??? It will be bedlam when Zombrano makes his 1st start in Chicago. Can’t wait.
They got a #4 or #5 starter based on the numbers…
Z has the potential to play better, but over the last 3 seasons, his numbers (and velocity) have continued to get worse.
I just wish the Cubs had been honest about wanting to move him, rather than this big “he’s going to have to prove himself” crap. He went to winterball and got 10,000 stitches in his face trying to “prove himself.”
I suspect that Z and his agent actually told Jed and Theo that he wanted to go to Miami.
I disagree. I think he wanted to stay.
Then why did he wave his no-trade clause?
I don’t think he had much choice. Of course, I think Miami was his first choice of where to go, but I do think he wanted to stay.
Because the Cubs gave him back 2.4 million dollars of the 3 mil he lost by “retiring” last year – a pretty big incentive…
They had two choices. The first was to say they’re actively shopping him and that there is no way he’ll make the team. The second was to say that he has a chance to earn his way back to the team. What would have been the results of either choice?
Choice A (no chance of returning) results in Carlos Zambrano being designated for assignment and signed by another team. This choice is also a slap in the face to someone who was quite valuable to this organization for a decade. He’s so useless that they’re willing to publicly state he’s gone no matter what.
Choice B (chance to return) results in the Cubs being able to trade him and get something (anything) in return. This choice states publicly that Zambrano is still a valuable pitcher who was once very good and an important member of the franchise.
Choice C Make him the starting 1st baseman.
I don’t like what the Cubs got in return, but for someone owed $18 million who isn’t especially likable, you get nothing in return.
Choice C: Keeping him on the team and seeing how he reacts under the new regime.
not going to work because it would make Kerry Wood upset…and we all know that Kerry Wood gets what Kerry Wood wants.
That would be a huge risk on Epstein’s part and potentially end up putting his plan (whatever it really is) back.
I’m kinda thinking that Epstein is pretty focused on what he wants to do and won’t put up with or even expose himself to any sideshows or distractions that he feels could be possible.
Ramirez loafing? Don’t even want to deal with it!
Z about to explode? Fuhgeddaboudit!
Choice D:Theo called some players to see if they wanted Z back. Answer, no.Sounds like if there were no trade partners, Theo and Tom Ricketts were going to take Z to an arbitrator on his contract.
I really don’t care what guys like Dempster, DeWitt, and Baker think.
Zambrano said he didn’t want a trade, and the Cubs had to repay $2.4M he lost last year to accept it. So he was either being a jerk who was making life as hard as possible for the Cubs . . . or he really wanted to stay and his teammates effectively told him to take a leap.
I really hope it’s the former – no judgement here. But if it’s the latter that makes me a little sad.
Loved Julie’s “whole lotta crazy” comment yesterday. Put on the salsa music and let’s boogie!
Volstad appears to be a ground ball pitcher…
unfortunately, the flyballs he does allow fly out of the ballpark a little too often.
And Dan Bernstein practically quoted my comment word for word just now on the Score.
Volstad’s WAR over the last 2 seasons: 3.1
Zambrano’s WAR over the last 2 seasons: 3.2
With that said, I suspect that the 2012 projections for the two pitchers are vastly different.
So, are we going to call him “Voldemort” or what?
That’s a stupid nickname. I don’t think anyone should be called Voldemort.
Since his name is Volstad theres “Vollie”,”New Guy” or “Temp”….
*snort* Temp.
So, I guess if he’s at Cubs Con, Volstad will be easy to recognize since he’s like 9 feet tall, huh?
He’s taking over for Sean Marshall.
he’s totally not hot like Sean Marshall though.
Today the Cubs rotation is:
Garza
Dempster
Wood
Cashner
Volstad
and Wells is in the bullpen.
My bet is Cashner in the bullpen and Wells in the rotation.
As I recall, either Jed or Theo mentioned that Cashner would be in the rotation, but I’m not 100% positive about that.
Wood a starter? Interesting. It’s something I Wood like to see. I think take it short early and build up the innings would work. And be ready for the World Series run.
Wrong Wood.
Right. Because I’m sure Kerry’s arm’s only gotten more durable as he’s gotten older . . .
he’s been resting
Fair enough.
Travis Wood.
Just watched Kerry on ABC7 here in Chicago. He’s still talking like he’s on the team and will be until he retires.
Z is done. Stick a fork in him.
His numbers have gotten worse every year and he’s lost 2 feet off his fastball.
We traded a #5 starter for a #4 starter and got rid of a problem.
GREAT trade!
Branch Rickey called it addition by subtraction.
It appears that Dave Duncan will NOT return as pitching coach for the Cards – he is taking time off to spend time with his ailing wife, and will return in some other capacity for St. Louis.
Crap – I love the idea of the Cardinals losing key personnel, but I can’t be happy about the man’s wife having brain cancer, either.
Best wishes to a former part-time Tribe catcher with good pop…
http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2012/01/orioles-talked-to-cubs-about-soriano.html
Appears Epstein’s been shopping Soriano to AL teams for the past 6 weeks but hasn’t been able to find a deal he’s happy with.
Interesting to say the least.