More scrutiny ahead for Zambrano.

Byline: Paul Sullivan

CHICAGO _ Just as a shark springs to life at the first drop of blood in the water, Carlos Zambrano's next start on Wednesday in Milwaukee is expected to draw intense interest from baseball's high rollers.

The Cubs may not be shopping their emotional ace, as general manager Jim Hendry reiterated on Sunday, but that won't stop general managers of selected high-revenue teams from letting Hendry know they're only a speed-dial away.

"If the Cubs want to trade me, it's a business, what can I do?" Zambrano told reporters on Saturday. "I've got to go somewhere else and pitch my game and do my job. Plus, I don't have to see your faces anymore."

Zambrano will have seven more starts before the All-Star break, at which point he'll probably have a good idea as to whether he'll be the prime attraction at the July 31 trading deadline.

If the Cubs fall out of contention, he'll be the most talked-about name out there. Even if they do get back in, any unsigned free agent-to-be is bound to be discussed in trade talks.

This year's trade deadline takes on added significance for Hendry, because it might be his final chance to fix the Cubs before new ownership takes over after the season.

Does Hendry roll the dice that Zambrano will recover from his early-season malaise and eventually re-sign after the season, knowing the Cubs could lose him with nothing in return?

Or does he go to a team like the New York Mets, who may have both the need and the desire to get a deal done?

If Zambrano punched his ticket out of town, literally and figuratively, the Cubs probably could expect a quality starter, a power-pitching set up man and an athletic outfield prospect in return. If the Cubs were to deal Zambrano, it's unlikely he'll go to another NL team, unless no American League team is interested in taking on a high-maintenance pitcher with an equally high upside.

The worst-case scenario applies as well to Michael Barrett, also eligible for free agency after this season. The Cubs have yet to begin talking about re-signing Barrett, considered a lower priority than Zambrano because he won't break the bank.

The Cubs are not looking to trade Barrett, but if they did, they probably couldn't deal him without getting a starting catcher in return. His trade value is considerably less than Zambrano's, especially after his slow start offensively, and the developments of the last week.

The decision to call up 28-year-old Koyie Hill as Henry Blanco's replacement, instead of 24-year-old prospect Geovany Soto, suggests the team does not have a replacement in-house in case Barrett leaves as a free agent. Despite hitting .314 in his third season at Triple-A Iowa, Soto was passed over for a minor-league free-agent pickup who played only 20 games last year before elbow problems ended his year at Triple-A Columbus.

Unless the Cubs go the trade route, the top free-agent catchers in November are Jason Kendall, Jorge Posada and Paul LoDuca, all of whom are in their mid-30s, and possibly 36-year-old Ivan Rodriguez, if the Tigers don't pick up his $13 million option.

While manager-in-limbo Lou Piniella said he doesn't plan to team Zambrano and Barrett up again, at least for the immediate future, both combatants said they still could work together.

"When I had a family problem the day before I pitched against the White Sox, he was one of the guys who came to me and talked to me ... and I appreciate that," Zambrano said of Barrett.

"I love Carlos Zambrano," Barrett said moments later.

Can the Odd Couple of Chicago baseball co-exist, in a high-pressure game, where trusting each other is a necessity?

A check of the numbers suggests it's possible.

Zambrano has compiled a 3.27 ERA with Blanco catching this season, and a 7.52 ERA with Barrett. But in previous years, Zambrano's ERA has not been markedly different whether Barrett or his backup was catching.

In 2004, Zambrano had a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings with Paul Bako behind the plate, and a 2.75 ERA in 196 2/3 innings with Barrett catching. In 2005, it was 3.25 in 83 innings with Blanco, and 3.27 in 140 1/3 innings with Barrett. Last season , it was 3.35 in 131 2/3 innings with Barrett, as opposed to 3.82 in 75 1/3 innings with Blanco.

A pitcher's earned-run average with a catcher is not always a true barometer of the catcher's performance handling him, but the comparable ERAs indicate Zambrano really hasn't suffered with Barrett behind the plate.

Perception, however, can sometimes trump reality.

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(c) 2007, Chicago Tribune.

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