Big Z moved to the bullpen

After four dreadful starts, Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella announced today that the team is moving Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen to help out the struggling relief corps. Ted Lilly is returning from the disabled list to assume the vacated rotation spot, and the Chicago brass must feel this is the best way to improve the team’s 6.15 relief ERA. He’ll be available for the first time on Friday.

Zambrano posted a 7.45 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP in his four starts (19.1 IP), but the peripherals aren’t awful. His strikeout rate (12.10 K/9) is through the roof, and even though that’s destined to regress, he should be able to top his 7.74 career K/9 while working in relief. His walk rate is a bit higher than usual at 4.66 BB/9, but he’s allowed an unfathomable amount of homeruns – more than one for every five balls hit in the air, nearly triple his 7.4% HR/FB from 2008-2009.

Closer Carlos Marmol has been ridiculously good in limited action, so don’t expect Zambrano to wrestle the job from him anytime soon. Very few setup men are worth carrying in a standard 5×5, 12-team mixed league, but if Big Z’s homerun rate returns to normal and he maintains a high strikeout rate, he’s definitely worth a roster spot as you wait for his inevitable return to the rotation. And believe me, it’ll happen at some point. Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny are holding down starting jobs, and Zambrano is making close to $18M this year. There’s no way this move is permanent.

For Zambrano owners, there’s nothing more you can do than grind your teeth and wait out this temporary setback. He’ll gain RP eligibility soon enough, so that added roster flexibility is a nice little fringe benefit. If you don’t own Zambrano, now’s a great time to go out and try to buy low on him in a trade. The potential for high quality production in the second half is well worth the risk.