Chicago Cubs’ Theo Epstein to decide Carlos Zambrano’s fate – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs’ chairman Tom Ricketts on Tuesday, November 29 said the fate of Carlos Zambrano will now be decided by Theo Epstein, the head of baseball operations for the club.
Ricketts had previously stated that he found it hard imagining Zambrano returning to the Cubs especially after the incident that shook the club. Zambrano had left the field, promptly announcing his retirement in August after a disconcerting game.
He was ejected from the game against Atlanta Braves after he threw at Chipper Jones twice; not to mention the career high five home-runs that he gave up. The moment he was ejected, he cleared out his locker and announced he was retiring.
It was in this light that it was thought that he will not be able to make his way back into the club again given the chairman’s assertion in September. However, on Tuesday, Ricketts left it to the president baseball operations Theo Epstein to decide whatever
he thought was right.
"What Theo said publicly is he's willing to give Carlos a chance to earn his way back on the team," Ricketts said. "It's [Epstein's] decision, and I support it 100 percent."
When Zambrano cleared the locker and left, the then manager Mike Quade was stunned, calling it a disappointment.
“I’m really disappointed. His locker is empty. I don’t know where he’s at. He walked out on 24 guys that are battling their (butts) off for him. I don’t know where he’s gone or what he’s doing. I heard he’s retired, or talking about retiring.”
It is important to recall that he had an $18 million salary left for 2012 back then. Given the fact that Zambrano was considered one of the best pitchers that the club has, there have been talks surrounding his fate as to whether he will be allowed the opportunity
to pitch again.
In the whole season, his ERA stood at 4.82, something that could not be called reassuring given the power that his arm has and the experience as a pitcher he possesses. It remains to be seen now as to what Epstein does in this regard.
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