Out of the Box: Barrett the Padre

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email

First, there was that incident with Carlos Zambrano in the dugout on June 1. At the time, Barrett was in the midst of a 5-for-33 slump (.152), with the Cubs in a 2-9 skid themselves. Since then, he picked up his play at the plate, but manager Lou Piniella -- tired of Barrett's troubles with defense and pitch-calling -- would grant Barrett only 10 starts in the team's next 17 games, hardly the kind of workload on which a guy can make much of a fantasy impact. Barrett wouldn't start another Zambrano game; defense-minded backup Koyie Hill, he of the .218 career batting average, would become Zambrano's personal catcher.

Finally, on Wednesday morning, the Cubs rid themselves of what they perceived to be one of their bigger headaches, trading Barrett to the San Diego Padres in exchange for catcher Rob Bowen and minor league outfielder Kyler Burke.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email
• Subscribe

Tristan H. Cockcroft | email

Fantasy

• Follow
• Archive

• Staff writer for ESPN.com
• Two-time LABR, 2012 Tout Wars Champion
• Member of FSWA Hall of Fame