Diamondbacks starter, and former Chicago Cub, Jason Marquis took a liner off his leg last night, and he’ll now be out four to six weeks with a broken leg. The Diamondbacks acquired Marquis at the trade deadline in the hopes he could help them with a stretch run.
With Marquis out, might the D-backs be looking for another pitcher?
Buster Olney suggests that, if they are, they could consider, among others, Cubs starters Carlos Zambrano and Rodrigo Lopez. Both, Olney says, have cleared waivers.
First, the less exciting option: if the Diamondbacks wanted Lopez – a marginal upgrade, at best – they wouldn’t have to send the Cubs much more than a low-level, not-great prospect and take on Lopez’s minimal salary obligation. Lopez can eat innings, and has shown the ability to throw a good game every now and again. But the Diamondbacks can do better, if they desire. Lopez, after all, did lose a league-high 16 games in a Diamondbacks jersey last year.
Which takes us to Zambrano. This is not about Zambrano’s present value, which is at an all-time low. It’s about the Diamondbacks’ need, combined with Zambrano’s upside. Ok, the low present value matters, too: the Diamondbacks could get Zambrano for next to nothing if they offer the Cubs some salary relief. Might not he be worth the risk?
There is still the matter of Zambrano’s no-trade rights. I doubt many believe he would invoke them after what’s happened (even before this weekend, Zambrano said he’d accept a trade if the Cubs wanted to move him), but it’s a consideration.
To me, it seems equally likely that the Diamondbacks will call up first round draft pick Trevor Bauer, whom they signed to a Major League contract last month. Most experts thought Bauer, one of the best college pitchers this year, was just about ML ready at the time of the draft, and he’s done nothing but destroy minor league hitters since then. Probably the one thing holding the D-backs back is the length of Bauer’s season – it would become incredibly long if he pitched through September and into October.
I think the Cubs would pay over Z salary just to get rid of him. How about 30M and Grabow for a decent prospect? It would be cheaper than the legal cost they will accrue battling the union and Z. Question: Can the Cubs even trade him while on the disqualified list?
Commissioner’s office doesn’t allow payments of cash (over contract) like that, IIRC.
As for the DQ list, I’d think they could just reinstate him, and then trade him.
Your just dumping all over my punch bowl today.
Yeah, I noticed that. I kind of am.
I guess you just need to make a better effort today. (I kid, I kid)
Another webmaster dumped in my punch bowl once, ONCE!
Wow, at this point if they could unload Z for some pine tar and a bag of used BP balls, I’d take it.
Hey Brett, on a side note I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work. Especially around the trade deadline, your tweets and FB updates kept me in the loop with everything Cub!
Thanks, CCF. Glad to hear I’m helping out even north of the border. Appreciate the compliment.
hold on there hoser; you’re assuming he’s from the great white north, homeland of our own ryan dempster, becasue of his user name… but, his moniker could be a spoof of his favorite beverage… he could be a canadian CLUB fan! huh? right?
what am i saying, no one likes canadian club
Can we just trade Z straight up for a couple bats??
A couple of 34oz bats would be great. I don’t think another team would give us more than that.