Phillies Announce Carlos Zambrano Signing-Talk No Longer Premature

What Ruben Amaro called “ridicuously premature” earlier in the week has now become reality.

The Phillies havea greed to a minor league contract – minor league contract – with Carlos Zambrano, formerly of the Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, Long Island Ducks, and anger management seminars.

Aug. 22, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Miami Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The 32-year-old right hander is known for his clubhouse-ripping demeanor, and for his starting pitching capabilities.  The Phillies are on the hunt for organizational depth at starting pitching, a statement deemed ludicrous when reported to Phillies fans from 2011.

It’s a move we’re becoming slowly accustomed to, and hopefully learning not to react to without reading – Remember Luis Castillo?  Hated him.  Phillies brought him in to fart around in spring training, then cut him loose.  Yuniesky Betancourt, Delmon Young; they’re all low cost, low risk fellows just looking for work and by their very presence provide depth.

Now, the Phillies have some vacancies in the rotation, and who knows what the future will bring.  Somebody’s go to go in there, and Zambrano, probably desperate the chance to get back into the majors, decided his verbal agreement with the Long Island Ducks was not worth the chance to play in an affiliated minor league system.

So, now we wait to see what hilarious cataclysms unfold to bring Zambrano to the mound in Citizens Bank Park.