Carlos Zambrano has recanted recent comments that he would leave the Chicago Cubs as a free agent after this season if he doesn't get a multi-year contract during spring training.
Even though he would rather get a new deal done by the season opener, Zambrano said Thursday he would be willing to negotiate a contract this fall, but will not discuss one during the season. Of course, the Cubs have dibs.
Zambrano said that reporters misconstrued what he said regarding his lack of a long-term deal, "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 want to sign with the Cubs. 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."
In a television interview with WGN-TV this week, the Cubs' ace spoke adamantly in the third person, "I want to sign with the Cubs before the season starts," he told the TV station. "If they don't sign me, sorry, but I must go. That's what Carlos Zambrano thinks."
Zambrano, who has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Tuesday, will get a big pay raise no matter what. He earned $6.5 million last season while going 16-7 with a 3.41 ERA and 210 strikeouts, then asked for $15.5 million in arbitration. The team countered at $11,025,000, which is more than any player has been awarded thus far.
The 25-year-old Venezuelan signed with the Cubs in July of 1997, making his major league debut in 2001. Since 2004, he has a 46-21 record.
[MSNBC Sports]
2 comments:
don't back down c-zam! the cubs should just forward wood and prior's paychecks to you!
Cause you know he'll be the only one steady in the rotation by May.
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