July 2, 2013 Tribune Cubs near deal with Dodgers to unload Marmol Trade would provide a little salary relief By Paul Sullivan OAKLAND — When Carlos Marmol was asked to waive a no-trade clause to go to the Angels last November, his original response was "no thanks." Marmol eventually relented, but the Cubs pulled out on the deal at the last minute and let Marmol return as the team's closer. That didn't work so well. Eight months later, the Cubs appear to be ready to send Marmol to Los Angeles once again, but this time to the Dodgers. Cubs President Theo Epstein was unavailable for comment on an ESPN report the two sides were close to a deal. A source said the deal is likely to happen, providing the Cubs with minimal salary relief from the remaining $4.9 million on Marmol's $20 million deal. Thus will end a chapter of Cubs history that began with much promise but imploded like a ninth-inning walk, wild pitch, hit batter and walk-off hit. Marmol, who was designated for assignment last Tuesday, would give the Dodgers some late-inning options. He wouldn't replace 25-year-old closer Kenley Jansen, but he would provide the Dodgers with a veteran arm for a setup role. Jansen took over after Brandon League lost closer job on June 10 with his fourth blown save. Jansen has seven saves and a 2.41 ERA in 41 games. The Cubs' priority is to not have to pay the rest of Marmol's salary. If they didn't trade him during the 10-day period, he'd become a free agent and the Cubs would be responsible for the entire salary. Marmol took over as Cubs closer on Aug. 18, 2009, replacing Kevin Gregg, who eventually took Marmol's job this season. "Obviously he has the stuff to do it, and he has the toughness to do it," then-manager Lou Piniella said upon making the change in 2009. "It's just a question of getting the ball over the plate." Four years later, that question remains. But in spite of the nightmarish ending, Marmol still wound up ranked third in franchise history in saves (117), first in relief appearances (470), and first in strikeouts (657). He was hoping to go to a contender, feeling he can prove his first half was just a slump and not the end of a career. In 2013, Marmol contributed to a bullpen collapse that has haunted the Cubs since the opening week, when he lost his closer's role. The Cubs bullpen ranked 25th on Monday with a 4.29 ERA, and was tied with the Orioles and Dodgers for most blown saves (16) in the majors. "Obviously the bullpen has been the biggest culprit, but it's not to lay everything at the feet of the bullpen," Epstein said Sunday. "We also have to get better opening up games when we get leads early. We've fallen into the habit of making some quick outs in the middle." Marmol's stay in Chicago was a roller-coaster ride that culminated in the blown game in New York that had Alfonso Soriano throwing a trash can afterward. The Cubs conceded Marmol had become a "distraction," and decided to designate him for assignment after futile attempts to deal him. When Marmol signed his $20 million deal in spring training of 2011, he said: "It's not just about money. I feel good here in Chicago. Hopefully I can sign a 10-year deal (after 2013)." Cubs general manager Hendry added: "I hope I'm here to do it." Hendry was fired the next season. The Marmol era ends now. -- Tribune Marmol gone, but Cubs' bullpen problems aren't Camp's ERA at 7.04 By Paul Sullivan OAKLAND — With or without Carlos Marmol, the Cubs' bullpen remains a problem area. Shawn Camp's season-long slump continued over the weekend in Seattle, leaving the Cubs with decisions on whether to keep him. Camp gave up three runs on two home runs in the eighth inning of Sunday's 7-6 win over the Mariners, after giving up the game-winning hit in the 10th inning in Friday night's loss. "He's getting guys with two strikes and not being able to put them away," manager Dale Sveum said. "Just making some big mistakes in those situations right now." Camp has a 7.04 earned-run average and three blown saves in three opportunities. He spent three weeks on the disabled list with a right big toe sprain before returning on June 15. He doesn't have enough innings to qualify, but the worst ERA by a relief pitcher in the majors is the Tigers' Phil Coke at 6.29. Hector Rondon, the Cubs' Rule 5 pick, is third-worst at 6.08, and Marmol is fifth-worst at 5.86. Soriano watch: Alfonso Soriano has taken to the DH role, and appears to be heating up in time for the Cubs' sell- off. Soriano went 7-for-14 with two homers and five RBIs in the three-game series in Seattle. He typically gets hot in the second half. Last year he had 17 home runs and 60 RBIs in the second half. "You can count on it happening, for sure," Jeff Samardzija said. "When he gets going, look out. Hopefully that (game-winning home run Saturday) really gets him going, and the crazy thing is, his numbers are still pretty good and he hasn't been hitting that many home runs (nine). Think about when he gets going and what a difference that's going to be." -- Tribune Signing period for international players important for Chicago teams Cubs have 2nd-most money to spend; Sox eyeing 16-year-old Zapata By Phil Rogers Sixteen-year-old Micker Zapata stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 225 pounds. He was born in the Virgin Islands and speaks fluent English, but is serious enough about baseball that he moved to the Dominican Republic two years to improve his training. Zapata has great bat speed to go along with his size, throws well enough to play right field and has the best raw power of any prospect in Latin America. Ben Badler, who covers international players for Baseball America, links the White Sox to Zapata. Baseball's 2013-14 signing period for international players begins Tuesday. It provides important opportunities for both Chicago teams. While the Cubs have the second-most money to spend — with an allocated pool of $4,557,200 — based off their finish in 2012, the White Sox are working just as hard to grab talented teenagers from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and elsewhere. The White Sox have an allotment of $2,168,300, and could use more than half of that on Zapata, if early reports prove accurate. The Cubs, meanwhile, have two of the top players in their sights and were identified as front- runners to sign Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez and Venezuelan shortstop Gleyber Torres. Both Chicago teams have become serious players on the international front, although it could be five to six years before the players they are signing are good enough to reach the big leagues. The White Sox and Cubs failed to land their share of talent in Latin America in the decade that led to the collapse of both farm systems. Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts built a new academy in the Dominican Republic and gave team President Theo Epstein the financial backing to pursue the biggest-ticket players around. The White Sox haven't been as financially aggressive but imported a top Latin America scout, Marco Paddy, almost two years ago. Hiring Paddy away from the Blue Jays was an admission that they needed outside help to solve a problem that went from bad to worse when then-assistant general manager Dave Wilder was caught taking kickbacks from players, none of whom have proven to be worth the money they were given. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn says the team has been looking to international talent as well as increased spending in the draft to address their flawed talent pipeline. "A couple years ago we started the process — both domestically in the draft, as well as internationally and with some of our trade acquisitions — of building a stronger core within the farm system,'' Hahn said Sunday. "We do have players that we are high on that we think can be impact players in Chicago. Obviously, we didn't feel they were ready in 2013, and we'll see how we look at the end of the season about which ones can come in 2014.'' All teams were given international allotments of $2.9 million last year before the sliding scale was introduced for 2013-14. The White Sox signed at least six players they hope will climb onto their list of top prospects in future seasons, the most significant of whom is Dominican outfielder Hanleth Otano. Another player gifted with raw power, the 6-4 Otano signed for $550,000. He's hitting only .220 in the Dominican Summer League but has shown the knack of being a run-producer, with 16 RBIs in 21 games. The Sox also signed Dominican third baseman Luis Castillo, Dominican shortstop Johan Cruz and Dominican center fielder Antonio Rodriguez last year. It's too early to get too excited about any of these players, but they represent a start for an organization that needed to broaden the net it throws over players. "We have invested more in the last 18 months in the system,'' Hahn said.