Carlos Zambrano goes to the Miami Marlins – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs have made it official. The indecision and uncertainty involved in the case of starter Carlos Zambrano came to an end as the club traded him for Miami Marlins’ Chris Volstad. Famously known for his emotional outbursts, Zambrano will now have
Ozzie Guillen – another Venezuelan, as his manager in the Marlins.
The 30-year old pitcher was showing signs of great improvement during the Venezuelan Winter League, but it was never known if the Chicago Cubs were willing to take him back in the team especially after the arrival of Theo Epstein.
However, with the waiver to the Miami Marlins and $19.25 million option for 2013, Zambrano is now officially a part of the new team. The starter will have Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes in the new club; something of great excitement for him.
Nonetheless, what will be remembered about this player is the fact that he became a part of the Cubs when he was merely 16. The stint he had with the Cubs saw him win 125 games, losing 81 with an ERA of 3.61.
Importantly, he remained second best in the club’s history in strike-outs (with 1,542) and was at the 15th position with 125 wins. To add more, he is the only pitcher with 23 homers in his career. Not only that, since 1975 that is the most homers
hit by any pitcher since Bob Gibson last did it.
Having achieved so many wonderful things in his career, Zambrano cannot retain his chance to be in the team for the reasons obviously known to the club itself. Theo Epstein, the president of baseball operations for the Cubs, wished him good luck.
"We're glad for him that he has a chance for a new start and a place where he can build new relationships and establish a new reputation for himself," Epstein said. "We think he has the chance to do that in Miami."
With controversy that followed the player like a shadow, it will nevertheless be interesting to see how he remains out of the media’s sight as he joins the Marlins.
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