Carlos Zambrano Would Accept a Trade to the White Sox?

Last week, when rumors of a possible Carlos Zambrano trade bubbled over, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry came forward with his rebuttal: it wasn’t happening. No, not because the Cubs love Zambrano and would never trade him (I still can’t get over the fact that Hendry did not say this); instead, Hendry’s reason? Zambrano has a no-trade clause.

Fair enough, I suppose, as all indications are that Zambrano would invoke that no-trade clause if the Cubs attempted to trade him just about anywhere. Anywhere except… Chicago?

[Zambrano] would invoke his no-trade clause unless it would be to the White Sox, because he wants to stay in Chicago. Baseball Prospectus.

Um, hello. Carlos Zambrano does have a good relationship with White Sox skipper and fellow crazy guy Ozzie Guillen, and perhaps he loves Chicago so much that it’s the only place he’d ever go. That said, it’s hard to imagine Zambrano being too crazy about going to the American League - I don’t think there’s a pitcher in baseball who enjoys batting as much as he does.

Also, there’s probably not too much to get antsy about here anyway: the same BP report noted that the White Sox would be unlikely to actually try and make a move for Zambrano after acquiring Jake Peavy last year.

h/t CCO.

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God’s Wrathwatch: Zambrano Has Successful Rehab Start

Carlos Zambrano threw five innings last night for A ball Peoria, and things went well. Not only in result, but in how he felt.

Pitching against the Clinton LumberKings, Zambrano tossed 5 uneventful innings, giving up 4 hits and no runs. He walked none, struck out five and uncorked 1 wild pitch. Zambrano threw 76 pitches, 54 for strikes.

“It felt good today,” said Zambrano, who has been on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 2. “I like what I see today. It’s different when you pitch against A-ball guys than the big leagues. I think everything is back to normal.” Daily Herald.

Zambrano took batting practice before the game, and was as vigorous as ever: he hit six homers in his BP set.

But he had more to say.

“I want to say something, and I’ll get in trouble with this,” he said. “Sometimes I’m like (Sox manager) Ozzie Guillen. I say some things that people don’t agree with. But every time I go to the DL, I don’t want to go to the DL. Believe me, I hate to be on the DL.

“When I have to go to the DL, sometimes you have to protect your career, and the Cubs are trying to protect my career and do what’s best for me.”

The only part of the quote that could get Zambrano in any trouble is the part where he compared himself in a complimentary way to Ozzie Guillen.

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Ballplayers Hate Lou Piniella, Ozzie Guillen

Apparently Lou Piniella isn’t just unpopular in Cubs fans circles these days.

In a survey of 380 Major League players, 26 percent said they did not want to play for Lou Piniella and 21 percent said they did not want to play for Ozzie Guillen. The results will be published in this week’s Sports Illustrated. Muskat Ramblings.

That makes Lou Piniella the most unpopular manager for players in all of baseball, and Ozzie Guillen is second. Both are actually a surprise to me, as I had always believed that the two were well-liked by those who played for them. But maybe you only hear that from players who currently play with them. Maybe Piniella really is a grousy old coot, and Ozzie really is a douche.

The saving grace for the survey: Tony LaRussa finished third.

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Ozzie Guillen Hates Wrigley Field

Whatever, Ozzie.

“But one thing about Wrigley Field, I puke every time I go there,” Guillen said Sunday morning. “That’s just to be honest. And if Cub fans don’t like the way I talk about Wrigley Field, it’s just Wrigley Field. I don’t say anything about the fans or anything now. But Wrigley Field, they got to respect my opinion. That’s the way I feel.” Hardball.

You know that’s a proxy for saying he hates Cubs fans. Fine. Just for that. It’s picture time. Inspiration from Ozzie, after the jump

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