The Cubs Need to Trade Carlos Zambrano

A season of frustration will be followed by an off-season of change for the Chicago Cubs.

Whether you think those changes should be big or small depends on how close you think the Cubs are to competing with the Cardinals in the division.  I think they’re fairly far away.  So, I think big changes are needed.

One possibility being bandied about is that the Cubs could trade Carlos Zambrano, who in the last few years has degenerated from staff ace to staff buffoon.

Zambrano’s 2009 has been a little too eventful for my tastes.  There have been injuries, largely self-inflicted.  There have been suspensions.  There have been controversial remarks.

The latest mini-firestorm erupted over Carlos’s off-day participation in a softball game.  Fans grumbled.  Carlos shot back, saying, “Maybe if I go to a different city next year, if I get traded, I can do what I want.”

Carlos said afterward that he was only joking about getting traded.  But I don’t think he was joking – I think he’s grown weary of the Chicago media the same way Milton Bradley has – and I don’t think the Cubs are joking when it comes to shopping him around.

Don’t get me wrong:  I still have a soft spot in my heart for Z.  When Mark Prior and Kerry Wood went bust, Z was the one young starter to emerge from that era of promise and actually succeed.

But, as with Prior and Wood, there comes a time when sentiment has to be overcome, and practical thinking has to take over.

The Cubs were guilty of placing their faith in Prior and Wood for too long.  They should’ve gone after other pitchers instead of hoping those guys would get over their physical problems and realize their promise.  They were guided by their hearts instead of their heads.

But, wanting a guy to get better won’t make him get better.  I want Z to get over his mental issues as much as the next guy; I’ve just come to realize that, as long as he remains in Chicago, that’s not going to happen.

In fact, the longer he stays a Cub, the worse it will get.  So, the only sensible move is to trade him this off-season while his value is still relatively high.

It will hurt to do it.  It hurts to have to put your dog to sleep too.  But, it’s the humane thing.  It’s better for the dog and better for you.

Time to send Z to the vet, and tell little Timmy that he’s gone to sleep forever.