Carlos Zambrano Traded to Marlins: How the Move Shakes out for the Chicago Cubs

Good riddance, Big Z. In your case, the "Z" stands for "zero," as in what a zero you were for the Cubs in terms of attitude these past few years.

According to ESPN Chicago, Carlos Zambrano was traded to the Miami Marlins for veteran right-handed pitcher Chris Volstad.

The trade unites Zambrano with his friend and fellow Venezuelan, Ozzie Guillen.

On the surface, the trade would appear to work in the Marlins favor. For one, the Cubs have agreed to pay $15 million of the $18 million owed to Zambrano for the coming season.

For another, he has had a better career on the mound. Zambrano was 9-7 in 2011 with a 4.82 ERA, while Volstad went 5-13 with a very similar 4.89 ERA for Miami.

However, over their respective careers, Zambrano has dominated. Volstad is 32-39 with a 4.59 ERA over parts of four seasons.

Zambrano, meanwhile, is 125-81 with a 3.60 ERA over parts of 11 seasons with Chicago and is a two-time All-Star.

But it is the distractions and tantrums he throws on and off the field that made Zambrano expendable.

Zambrano left Atlanta's Turner Field during a game in 2011, leading to him being put on the disqualified list. He was activated on Sept. 11, but did not pitch again for the Cubs.

The volatile Zambrano has had other highly-publicized outbursts with the Cubs.

He had a dugout altercation with former teammate Derrek Lee in 2010, which led to a suspension. After that game, Zambrano had dinner with Guillen, who supported him. 

Zambrano was told by new Cubs president Theo Epstein that he would "have to show significant change to be accepted back by his teammates."

Well, that isn't necessary now.

If his head is on straight, Zambrano can still flash the talent to be an ace starter, while Volstad is not nearly as talented.

This obviously wasn't a salary dump, with the Cubs picking up such a large chunk of Zambrano's salary.

Instead, this was borne from the desire of the Cubs to rid themselves of a player they consider somewhat of a pariah.

While I won't miss Zambrano, if he pitches well for Guillen then the Cubs will end up looking pretty bad here. Yet it was something that had to be done, in the opinion of many Cubs fans and the front office.

Good riddance, Big Z, and don't let the door hit you on the way out. Or is that Zambrano hitting the door?