Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and restricted-list Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who we learned were BFFs after their dinner together on the day Z was suspended for his dugout tantrum, are going to be together in Chicago during the All-Star break:
↵↵↵Rather than leave for Miami or Venezuela for the All-Star break next week, Guillen is staying in Chicago to shoot a Pepsi commercial that will air in Latin American countries. His co-stars will be Los Angeles Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu, San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval … and Cubs problem child Carlos Zambrano.
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So could this lead to talk about Z being traded to the Sox? Ozzie sidesteps the question:
↵↵↵‘’First of all, [the Sox] don’t have any money to [get] Zambrano — straight up,‘’ Guillen said Thursday. ’’We got kids in the minor leagues that I think can do the job. Recruit? First of all, I respect people’s job that recruit people. I didn’t even recruit Freddy [Garcia], and I’m better friends with Freddy. … When we needed a right fielder, I didn’t recruit Abreu.
↵‘’The last thing I want [the Cubs] to talk about or people to talk about is I want [Zambrano] to come to the White Sox. I don’t have that power, and I respect the people above me that do that job.’’
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What Ozzie says is true; Sox prospect Daniel Hudson, who may replace the injured Jake Peavy soon, is the real deal. But Ozzie is also the one manager who might be able to harness Z. Perhaps Jim Hendry will dial up Kenny Williams during the All-Star break. The Cubs would have to eat a lot of contract… but it might be worth it, for both teams.