Who Stays? Who Goes?

Ever since the "dugout slugout" between Cubs catcher Michael Barrett and pitcher Carlos Zambrano, many Chicago sports fans have debated about the future of each player. After tonight, some fans might be leaning towards letting go of Barrett.

Again, there was another confrontation between Barrett and another Cubs starting pitcher during tonight's 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners. This time it was lefty Rich Hill. Hill and Barrett shared words, and were immediately separated by pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

The Barrett/Zambrano debate has really kicked into high gear of late. Zambrano is 2-0 since the incident, while Barrett continues to struggle behind the plate defensively and offensively. It begs the question, which one is more important to the team.

At one point, it was Barrett. Despite his defensive short comings, Barrett has been a top-tier offensive catcher since coming to the Cubs. Last year he posted career highs in home runs, RBIs & batting average. Barrett's offense was very important to this ball club, seeing that its every day shortstop (Cesar Izturis) had a career on-base percentage hovering around .300.

On the other hand, some Cubs fans (and management) could argue that Big Z was expendable. The Cubs have several pitching prospects rising quickly through the minor leagues including lefty Donald Veal, and righties Sean Gallagher and Jeff Samardizija.

However, 27-year old aces that throw 200 innings don't grow on trees, especially not in Wrigleyville. But Zambrano's attitude---and the fact that he's a total nut job---rub a lot of people the wrong way.

At the end of this season, both Zambrano and Barrett will become free agents and that's where it gets interesting.

Trading Zambrano would bring back the bigger bounty, something like what the Marlins got when they traded SP Josh Beckett and 3B Mike Lowell to the Red Sox for their top hitting and pitching prospects (SS Hanley Ramirez and SP Anibal Sanchez.)

As for Barrett, the jury is still out. His struggles this year offensively and defensively really lessen his value in the trade market. Not to mention his perceived anger management problems. However, MLB scouts are more afraid of Big Z's emotions than Mikey B's.

There are plenty of trade partners out there and if the right deal came along, who knows who might be shipped out. Barrett could fit on a team in the AL who isn't getting much offense from the catcher's spot or from their designated hitter. Zambrano could fit anywhere there is a hole in the starting roation.

If both players hit the market, it leaves the Cubs with at least $20 million to spend on the free agent market.

Some would have you believe that the Cubs might be saving up for Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez (who would likely move to SS if he came to the Cubs) in the even he exercises an out clause in his contract this off-season. Others would tell you that the Cubs could go after Braves CF Andruw Jones, moving rookie Felix Pie to RF.

However, at this point these notes are all rumors and hearsay and nothing will be put in place until the new Cubs management (hopefully Mark Cuban) is put into place.

As of right now, both will play out their contract with the Cubs until they are out of the NL Central race (which won't likely be soon, seeing that the NL Central leading Brewers were no-hit tonight by Justin Verlander.)