Sunday, April 1, 2007

Blockbuster deal going down in Chicago

Jim Hendry is at it again. With no regard for the salary or the team needs, he again struck a deal. It had been rumored that the Mets would have interest in Zambrano if he hit the open market but with the deadline to resign Zambrano coming to a close, instead they nabbed him before he hit the open market. In return for Zambrano the Cubs will recieve OF prospect Lastings Milledge, Starting Pitcher Mike Pelfrey and a Minor Leaguer to be named later. The deal is contingent on the Mets reaching a long term deal with Zambrano in the 48 hour time frame the Cubs have allowed. Upon hearing that Zambrano would not sign a long term deal with the Cubs, the offers for Zambrano went way down and this was the one that the Cubs deemed to be the best. The other interested parties are rumored to have included the New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers (who recently lost Kenny Rogers), the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the surprisingly the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox names surfaced as well. Pelfrey will join the Cubs rotation as the #4 starter. Ted Lilly will start opening day. Milledge will start the season in AAA unless the Cubs can swing Jones before tomorrow -- which is unlikely. The Minor Leaguer to be named later is expected to be Single A pitcher Kevin Tomasiewicz. Hendry and Minaya both declined comment because the trade is not official yet.

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