CHICAGO — Embattled Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he would like to pitch again for Chicago and was simply frustrated when he told club personnel he wanted to retire after his most recent start.
In his first public comments since the team banished him after another meltdown, Zambrano told Comcast SportsNet Chicago in a phone interview Monday that he wants to remain a Cub.
“Of course, man,” Zambrano said. “I want to keep pitching for the Cubs.”
Zambrano cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring after giving up five homers and being ejected from Friday night’s 10-4 loss to Atlanta following two inside pitches to Chipper Jones.
The Cubs placed Zambrano on the disqualified list Saturday and said the right-hander would receive no pay and have no part in team activities for 30 days after the latest in a long line of incidents.
Footnotes.
UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole, the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a minor-league contract with an $8 million signing bonus.
Cole had been among 23 first- round draft picks facing a Monday night deadline to reach agreements with major-league teams.
• The Detroit Tigers acquired outfielder Delmon Young from division rival Minnesota for a minor-league pitcher and a player to be named later.
The Associated Press
