Carlos Zambrano

[nymr83]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763803

]"If they don't sign me, sorry, but I must go. That's what Carlos Zambrano thinks." -- Carlos Zambrano

so besides talking like Rickey Henderson, This article raises an interesting question...how much leverage does Zambrano gain from this stance?
clearly he will get paid a boatload on the open market so he is hardly cutting off much interest in him (as some lesser players would be by telling a club they have no shot at resigning him)
do you think this will work?
do you think other players with a year or more left before free agency will try this in the future?
i know players have often said in the past "i won't talk contract during the season" but thats very different from this, do you think this becomes the new standard negotiating ploy if Zambrano succeeds?

sorry to start a new thread for what may likely not get many responces, but i couldnt find an appropriate thread for this

[Frayed Knot]

"i know players have often said in the past "i won't talk contract during the season" but thats very different from this, do you think this becomes the new standard negotiating ploy if Zambrano succeeds? "

I don't see how this tactic is new or different

[metirish]

It's hard to imagine that the Cubs would not tie up Zambrano with a big fat contract,with all the money they doled out already why stop now.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

I'm glad the Mets didn't give Barry Zito-money to Barry Zito, but for Zambrano, I'd be plenty happy.

[nymr83]

="Frayed Knot"]"i know players have often said in the past "i won't talk contract during the season" but thats very different from this, do you think this becomes the new standard negotiating ploy if Zambrano succeeds? " I don't see how this tactic is new or different

you don't see the difference between "sign me now or you'll have to talk to me along with everyone else after the season" and "sign me now or you never will"?

[nymr83]

metirish wrote: It's hard to imagine that the Cubs would not tie up Zambrano with a big fat contract,with all the money they doled out already why stop now.

agreed. you can't pay ted friggin lilly if you arent ready to pay carlos zambrano

[Frayed Knot]

]you don't see the difference between "sign me now or you'll have to talk to me along with everyone else after the season" and "sign me now or you never will"?

I don't think that's what he's saying, and if it is what he's saying then it's not what he means.
I read "pay me now or I'll go" as;
- I'll go the free-agent route
or as
- I'll have the freedom to go and then you'll have to bid for me

Put it this way; if he reaches the FA stage and the Cubs decide to be major players ... he'll listen.

[metirish]

If Jim Hendry lets Zambrano become a FA then Hendry should be fired..........or shot.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Fired is hopefully more likely.

[smg58]

On one hand, it would take an awful lot of explaining if they spend all this money then let Zambrano walk.

On the other hand, he'll command a scary contract for a pitcher. 7 years and $140M would probably be needed to get it done; I doubt he settles for "only" what Zito got.

I still think you have to do it. No pitcher's arm comes with a money-back guarantee -- which explains why Zambrano wants a deal done now -- but if you want to keep a pitcher like Zambrano then at some point you quit the posturing and open your wallet.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Seems like the only one posturing is Zambrano. And he's coming across like a huge jerk.

[Frayed Knot]

Sounds like his agent gave him a quickie lesson on the economics of closing doors:

Carlos Zambrano backed off recent comments that he would leave the Chicago Cubs as a free agent after this season if he doesn't get a multiyear contract during spring training.
Although he would rather get a new deal done by opening day, the pitcher said Thursday he would be willing to negotiate next fall. He won't discuss a contract during the season, though.
"They have the first look," Zambrano said ... "I didn't say that if they don't sign me before the end of spring training I will not sign with the Cubs. I didn't say that. I just said they have till the beginning of the season; if not, I don't want to talk about (a) contract during the season."


IOW, never mind what I said then, this is what I'm saying now.

[nymr83]

"Hola! Mi llamo Carlos"

[metirish]

Right now I would give the Cubs whatever they wanted in a trade for Zambrano.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'd love to get him but "whatever they wanted" is a bit extreme, especially for a pitcher in his walk year.

[metirish]

Well yeah that is extreme,but Humber,Pelfrey and Heilman should do it...Omar then signs him to a five year deal and we have a legit #1 pitcher..

[Guest Edgy DC]

Let's avoid fantasizing about swooping in whenever a player throws darts at his organization.

[metirish]

Well I can dream...............

[Guest Edgy DC]

I dream about Mets (Humber, Pelfrey, and Heilman, for instance). Zambrano wears a Cub uniform and I view him with suspicion at best.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Yes, I'd rather see Humber or Pelfrey become that legitimate number 1.

The Mets can talk to (or about) Zambrano in November, if he's available. Imagine the Mets trading three young pitchers for a guy named Zambrano. Mike Francesca would condemn the deal because it's been proven that you shouldn't trade young pitchers for guys named Zambrano.

[nymr83]

even for a guy of Zambrano's caliber that proposed deal is insane for a guy in his walk year and i'd STILL hesitate to do it even with a "signing window."