Zambrano figures to benefit from Soriano deal with Cubs By Paul Sullivan Tribune staff reporter November 21, 2006, 9:47 PM CST 重點：Zambrano明年11月成為FA 希望簽 6YR 85M~90M 而且期望留在芝加哥 2007年 Zambrano和HILL在ROTATION上 MILLER&COTTS爭五號 想要交易來D-TRAIN 乳溝可能會來守中外野直到PIE長好 MURTON會守左外 而且打擊絕對不會比PLATOON差 FLOYD會簽但是要他腳傷沒問題 而且順位很後面 PIE 2008年才準備讓他上來 之前不會在簽外野的長約 The second-happiest Cub, after Alfonso Soriano, is probably Carlos Zambrano. Soriano scored big with his $136 million contract and Zambrano stands to become the next beneficiary of general manager Jim Hendry's spending spree.If the Cubs don't sign Zambrano to an extension before the start of the 2007 season, they risk losing their ace to free agency next November. Zambrano will be seeking a six-year deal for around $85 million to $90 million, sources said, and because he will be only 26 when he's eligible for free agency, the Venezuelan right-hander is certain to get a handful of teams willing to make that long-term commitment. Unlike Aramis Ramirez, Zambrano is not expected to give the Cubs a significant hometown discount, though his preference is to stay in Chicago. Meanwhile, Hendry continues his search for a couple of starters to follow Zambrano in the '07 rotation. "Where we were [in 2003-04], we thought we had it going," Hendry said "[We] got derailed and none of us saw it coming. We have a lot of good people coming through the system, a lot of good arms, but for the first time in a while we need some more pitching, and some more position players, either in a regular role or bench help." Zambrano and Rich Hill are the only certainties for the rotation, while Wade Miller and Neal Cotts are possibilities for the fifth spot. Mark Prior remains the mystery man who could be No. 2 or could be pitching in simulated games, depending on his shoulder's strength. Among the candidates Hendry is considering are Gil Meche, a former Lou Piniella favorite in Seattle, Vicente Padilla, a hard-throwing right-hander with untapped potential, Jake Westbrook, who posted a 2.88 home earned-run average at Cleveland, and projects Miguel Batista and Jason Marquis. The starters' market may be slow to develop because there are only two standouts—Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt—and a dozen or so second-tier pitchers. The Cubs could go the trade route and will be very interested if Florida's Dontrelle Willis is put on the block, a move the Marlins aren't planning. The outfield picture remains a puzzle, with Soriano the only certainty. "It's impossible to see how it's going," Hendry said. "We have so many other key things to address." Sources said the Cubs' interest in shortstop Julio Lugo, another Piniella favorite, is lukewarm. But they already have received word from Lugo that he would agree to play center field if he came to Chicago, with the possibility of moving back to short when top prospect Felix Pie is ready to play in center. The Cubs believe Lugo could make the transition to the outfield easily, and would be a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Soriano. Matt Murton looks like he will have no worse than a platoon role in left, depending on whether Jacque Jones gets traded. Mets corner outfielder Cliff Floyd is still on the Cubs' radar, but he isn't a priority because of the uncertainty of his foot injury. Pie, meanwhile, won't be expected to make the team in spring training, but Hendry doesn't intend to bring in a center fielder to block his path to the majors. "We're not going to get another long-term, extended deal in the outfield," he said. "If Pie is good enough to play this year, he will, and he's certainly going to be good enough to play [in '08]." Hendry cautioned that Pie is only 21, that he missed half a season at Double A in 2005 with a broken leg and that he had a slow start at Triple-A Iowa last year. But Pie also is the kind of athletic outfielder Piniella craves and the Cubs certainly lack left-handed hitters. Pie would figure to feel far less pressure batting low in the power lineup the Cubs now have, but Hendry dodged a question about the chances of him joining Soriano in the Opening Day outfield. -- if the earth open up in my feet i woundn't move till i say this,lois,will you marry me? --

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