Carlos Zambrano To the Minors? An Opportunity Awaits Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry

Chicago Cubs fans, I want to give you the opportunity to sit in the general manager's chair for a minute and tell me what you would do if you were Jim Hendry for a day.

Other than fire yourself, that is.

Would you consider sending Carlos Zambrano to the minors to stretch out for an eventual return to the rotation, even if it means having to put Big Z on waivers?

Well, that's exactly what I would do. In fact, I don't see that as a problem for the Cubs. I see this as an opportunity to shed his salary.

Look, there may not even be a team willing to absorb the enormous salary remaining on the five year, $91.5 million contract that Big Z signed in 2007.

So if not, then he clears waivers and goes to Iowa to stretch out his arm. No problem.

For unless the Cubs make up a fake injury, Zambrano cannot be sent to the minors, because he's out of options and isn't injured so it wouldn't be considered a rehab assignment.

But, not only does putting him on waivers solve that problem, what if just one team sees this as an opportunity to get a starting pitcher who has had success in the big leagues without having to sacrifice a player?

Anyone remember last year's Chicago White Sox waiver acquisition of Alex Rios, for example?

I'm not sure if a waiver claim can override a full no-trade clause like Zambrano has, but it's worth a try. And after going through the embarrassment of this mess the Cubs have put him through, he just might be willing to waive that clause anyway.

Let's face it, while he has been a good soldier, you know Zambrano wasn't thrilled about having to go to the bullpen.

No matter what, this is really a no-lose situation for Hendry.

If Zambrano clears waivers, they simply send him to the minors instead of hoping for a starter to fail so that they can get him an opportunity to pitch long relief.

And if a team actually claims him, they suddenly find themselves with about $18 million a year to spend improving the team.

Even if Hendry doesn't want to let Z go for nothing, perhaps he could work out a deal where he pays part of the salary and gets a prospect or two in return.

Now the no-trade clause may impede this idea from ever materializing, but I hope Hendry is at least considering it.

Let's face it, Zambrano is not worth what he's making, and so any chance to offload that salary must be thought about long and hard, in my opinion.

Now, if you're concerned that doing this might make Zambrano even more angry than he probably is over this whole situation, don't worry.

The Cubs are masters of the PR machine. They can spin-doctor the whole thing by saying they only put him on waivers to slip him through to Iowa and never intended to let another team take him.

So what do you think, Cubs fans.

Too much trouble?

Well, keep in mind what Henry J. Kaiser once wrote: "Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes."