Cubs Sign Zambrano To Monster Extension With Sale Looming

Zambrano Receives Highest Annual Contract Ever In Cubs History

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY: In Chicago, Dave van Dyck noted since McDonough took over last September, the team has committed almost $400M in player salaries, including Zambrano’s deal. van Dyck noted with the Cubs for sale, the "value of the team would be lessened without a staff ace” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/18).   A source said that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and his staff “did not keep the groups exploring a purchase of the Cubs informed" about the negotiations. The source: “Some of the potential investors won't be very happy. If I'm buying the team, I'd say, 'Let me make the decision'" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/18). The SUN-TIMES' Jay Mariotti wrote it is “much easier to spend the next owner's money. … With the franchise sale pending, [the Tribune Co.] had to have called someone for official approval, probably [Selig], a close friend of leading prospective owner John Canning” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/18). Yesterday, Mariotti wrote the Cubs “better win. For a long time. … Tribune Co. has chosen to vault the next ownership group into baseball's top-four aristocracy, with [McDonough] largely behind the quantum leap after squeezing every possible revenue-stream penny from the Wrigley Field experience. Unless a future beancounter says otherwise, the Cub$ have anointed themselves as long-term money lords of the [NL] Central” (SUN-TIMES, 8/19).

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