"Z" You Later?

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Feb 13, 2007 5:00PM

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, still awaiting his Feb 20th salary arbitration hearing, made a pretty strong declaration on Monday. Entering the final year of his current deal, he stated that if he and the Cubs don't come to an agreement on a multi-year contract before the season begins, he's leaving the Cubs when he becomes a free agent after the upcoming season.

In an interview with WGN Channel 9, he said:

I'm ready to sign, and I would do my job anyway with the Cubs this year. Whatever happens, I don't want to know [anything] about a contract during the season. I want to sign with the Cubs before the season starts. If they don't sign me, sorry, but I must go. That's what Carlos Zambrano thinks.

Zambrano made $6.5 million in 2006, when he went 16-7 with a 3.41 ERA for the Cubs. The clear workhorse of the rotation, he made 33 starts and pitched over 214 innings -- no other Cubs pitcher made more than 24 starts or pitched more than 136 innings.

With the recent signings of Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis, Zambrano has every reason to feel unappreciated. Lilly received a $40 million, 4-year deal after going 15-13 for the Blue Jays while Marquis will get $21 million over 3 years in spite of a sub-.500 record and an ERA north of 6.00. If those two are worth that kind of bank, than Zambrano is worth the kind of money ($18 million a year) elite free agents like Barry Zito got. The question is, do the Cubs have that kind of cash left to spend?

Our bet is, after the huge shopping spree this winter, the Cubs wallet is a little light. If they can't come up with the money soon -- the season begins in about 6 weeks -- the Cubs risk losing the one pitcher they have been able to depend on over the past 5 years. Not very smart planning by Jim Hendry!

Image via ChicagoCubsBlog.com