10/2 Zambrano to Marlins?

With Ozzie Guillen leaving the White Sox to manage the Marlins, there has been speculation that Carlos Zambrano will join him in Florida. The two Venezuelans are close and have helped each other’s charities. It’s no secret the Cubs want to find Zambrano a new home after his early exit from the Aug. 12 game against the Braves when he told teammates he was “retiring.”  According to a report in Venezuela’s El Nacional by reporter Ignacio Serrano, Guillen has reached out to Zambrano and wants to bring him to Miami. Zambrano is owed $18 million next season on his contract, and the report says the Marlins would pay that money in deferred payments. Whether the Cubs can make that move before they name a new GM remains to be seen, but such a deal would benefit both sides. During the team’s final road trip, Mike Quade was asked if Big Z could return. “I don’t know,” Quade said. “That’s a tough question for me to answer. I’d like his arm back if he fit into the mix. It would be tough for him to come back, for me. If he did, then you deal with it. It would be tough.”

– Carrie Muskat