Mets Interested in Zambrano?

According to Jon Heyman, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano “appears eminently available.”

Zambrano’s an interesting pitcher. Like Javier Vazquez, he always manages to outperform his FIP. I do not believe he has missed any time on the DL with an arm injury- I think his injuries the last two years have been back and hamstring related. I think he is very easily a 3-4 win pitcher, partly due to his ERA.-FIP disparity, with the potential for a Vazquez esque 2008. Age is still on his side- he’s just 28 after all. However, he is due over $52 million the next three years- Matt Holliday money- and that $52 million could be better spent on a position player in the near future.

Thus, unless the Cubbies are willing to cover almost a third of Zambrano’s money over the next three years, I am not even vaguely interested. Interestingly enough, Luis Castillo, whom the Cubs have been linked to about three dozen times, mostly in connection with Milton Bradley, is due $12 million over the next two years.

Many fans cringe thinking what prospects they might have to surrender, but in this regard, I don’t think the Vazquez deal is a fair comparison. Vazquez has a stellar record of durability, coming off a 6.6 win season, and a far more favorable contract (just $11.5 million next year).

I think the Yankees trade for Bobby Abreu in the summer of 2006 is more reminiscent of what it would take.  Abreu, who according to WAR was clearly more valuable than Zambrano at the time of the trade, was 32 at the time and owed the remainder of his $13.6 million in 06, plus $31 million the next two years (the Yankees also received the late Cory Lidle, who was a fairly productive pitcher at the time). In return, the Phillies netted a failing first round pick in C.J. Henry (who washed out after 2008), Matt Smith, Jesus Sanchez, and Carlos Monasterios (don’t worry, you’re not the only one who’s never heard of them).

Mets:

Carlos Zambrano

Mike Fontenot

Cubs:

Luis Castillo

Jeff Francoeur

Jefry Marte

Eddie Kunz

2 GCL prospects

Come on Omar, make it happen.