Could Carlos Zambrano Be Heading To The Mets?

On Monday night, SI.com’s Jon Heyman posted via Twitter that the Cubs are very motivated to trade often disgruntled starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano.

Before getting Javier Vasquez, the Yankees definitely talked to the Cubs about Zambrano, who appears eminently available.

Yesterday, John Fennelly of Bleacher Report reported the following,

Cubs’ pitcher Carlos Zambrano could also be headed to the Mets. A trade, perhaps involving a third team, to bring Zambrano to Flushing remains a possibility.

I am very intrigued by Zambrano, and despite the occasional headache he may give you, there is no doubting his talent and ability.

Zambrano would certainly fit the bill as a number two starter for the Mets, but do the Mets have the pieces to make it work for the Cubs?

Or, like Fennelly states, will a third team be needed to complete the trifecta that can land Zambrano in Flushing?

Zambrano, 28, had a down season as did most of the Cubs players in 2009. Still, he posted a respectable 3.77 ERA and struck out 152 batters while walking 73 in 169 innings pitched.

In his career, Zambrano has a 105-68 won-loss record; a .607 winning percentage, along with a 3.51 ERA.

He’s also pretty handy with the bat and won his third Silver Slugger after clubbing 4 homers last season. He has a career batting average of .236.

With Lackey, Halladay and Wolf all off the table, I would love to see the Mets make a big effort to land Zambrano who I believe is better than any other options left in the free agent market.