According to ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine, the Cubs have agreed to trade right-hander Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for right-hander Chris Volstad.

The Cubs will eat $15 million of the $18 million remaining on Zambrano's boar of a contract. Volstad has been a disappointment in south Florida, but he's a former first-round pick and doesn't turn 26 years old until the end of the 2012 season. Perhaps he'll flourish with a change of scenery. Big Z posted a 4.82 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 145 2/3 innings last year for the Cubs. He will function as Miami's fifth starter, behind Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins are close to acquiring Carlos Zambrano from the Cubs.

Rumors of a possible Big Z trade to Miami began surfacing as soon as fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen was named the Marlins' new manager. And now it's close to actually happening. The 30-year-old Zambrano posted a rough 4.82 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 145 2/3 innings last season for Chicago before landing on the disqualified list in mid-August because of conduct detrimental to the team. He's owed $18 million in 2012 and carries a $19.25 million vesting option for 2013.

During an appearance Wednesday on WGN radio in Chicago, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said "change needs to happen" in order for Carlos Zambrano to stay with the team.

"The Carlos Zambrano of 2011 and years previous can't fit into the culture that we have here," said Epstein. "Change needs to happen and change will happen. Either he'll change and buy in and fit into this culture-and I understand there are a lot of skeptics around about that, and I understand that, and frankly, I'm skeptical as well." Many assumed that Big Z was a goner after he finished the season on the disqualified list, but the new front office would ideally like to squeeze some value out of him since his $18 million salary for 2012 makes him nearly impossible to trade. However, if he doesn't behave himself during spring training, it's clear that Epstein wouldn't have an issue with cutting him loose.

New Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio told MLB Network Radio that likes Carlos Zambrano's "fire", but plans to "help him channel (his) emotions."

What looked like an impossibility several months ago -- Big Z returning to the Cubs -- has now turned into a probability. He is scheduled to earn $18 million from the Cubs next season. Club president Theo Epstein met with him last month in Chicago and laid out a plan for him to return in good graces. Bosio, 48, will be tasked with keeping Zambrano under control and coaxing him to a renaissance season. Zambrano went 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA this season, but was 43-26 with a 3.96 ERA over the four years prior to that.

Carlos Zambrano (face) is expected to return to the mound this week in the Venezuelan Winter League and might start on Wednesday.

Zambrano was hit in the lip by a comebacker on Nov. 18 and required 18 stitches and caused mild tissue damage. Zambrano had a 3.29 ERA and 12/6 K/BB ratio over his first three winter league outings. He is scheduled to earn $18 million from the Cubs next season.

Chris Bosio confirmed to the Appleton Post-Crescent on Friday that he has accepted an offer to be the Cubs' next pitching coach.

"All of those long-suffering Cubs fans, their will to win, their want to win, their passion to win, it's going to be a lot of good energy,'' said Bosio. "It's going to be agonizing at times, and rewarding as well. That's the rigors of the season. But we're going to try and create some magic at Wrigley.'' Bosio, 48, served as an advanced scout with the Brewers' organization this season before being promoted to pitching coach with Triple-A Nashville in September. He was teammates with new Cubs manager Dale Sveum from 1986-1991 and both were coaches on the Brewers' staff for the final two months of the 2009 season. According to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, an official announcement is expected next week.

Carlos Zambrano is expected to sit out another week before being cleared for his next start in the Venezuelan Winter League.

The timetable for Zambrano's return has been pushed back until December 6 after doctors advised him to rest in order to fully recover from a head injury that required ''18 stitches'' and caused ''mild'' tissue damage. Prior to the injury, Zambrano had a 3.29 ERA and 12/6 K/BB ratio over his first three winter league outings. He is scheduled to earn $18 million from the Cubs next season.

Carlos Zambrano likely won't make his next appearance in the Venezuelan Winter League until next Tuesday.

Zambrano was hit in the lip by a comebacker during his last start Friday and required 10 stitches. Big Z initially hoped to make his next start, originally scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday, but he will not be cleared to return to the mound until he completes an examination Friday.

Carlos Zambrano (face) will be examined Monday to determine when he can pitch again for Caribes of the Venezuelan Winter League.

Zambrano had to leave his last start after taking a line drive off his lip and was taken to a local hospital, where he received 10 stitches. He said shortly after the injury that he expected to make his next start, which would come Wednesday or Thursday, but we'll have to see what the doctors say Monday.

Updating a previous item, Carlos Zambrano sustained soft tissue damage after being hit by a line drive while pitching in Venezuela on Friday.

"He's a bull," Caribes GM Sam Moscatel said. "He's OK. We spoke (Friday) night after he had the surgery, and he said he wants to make his next start on Friday." Zambrano is slated to undergo more tests in the coming days. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed he received 18 stitches after being hit on the side of the head. He was making just his third winter league start prior to the injury.

Carlos Zambrano was taken to the Hospital and received stitches after being hit in the face with a line drive during Friday night's start for Caribes de Anzoategui in the Venezuelan Winter League.

The Cubs have given Zambrano permission to pitch in winter ball to "earn his way back" to staying with the team, despite the risk of injury and the fact that he's owed $18 million in 2012. Club president Theo Epstein met with 'Big Z' last week in Chicago and laid out a plan for him to return to good graces. He currently has a 3.29 ERA and 12/6 K/BB ratio over his first three winter league outings.

Cubs president of baseball operations said Monday night that Carlos Zambrano will have a chance to "earn his way back" to staying with the team.

Epstein made the comments after meeting with Zambrano and his agent Monday in Chicago. "I told him we'd give him the right to earn his way back to being a Cub," said Zambrano. "Nothing would be given to him." Big Z ended the season on the disqualified list after cleaning out his locker and walking out on the team, but he is still owed $18 million next season. If he doesn't behave himself during spring training, the Cubs will likely cut him loose.

Carlos Zambrano and Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein met for lunch in Chicago on Monday, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, was also present for the lunch meeting. Many assumed that Big Z was a goner after he finished the season on the disqualified list, but it's possible the new front office may have a different strategy in mind. Trading him won't be easy, as the 30-year-old right-hander is due $18 million next season and has a $19.25 million vesting option for 2013.

Carlos Zambrano yielded three runs over six innings Saturday in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Big Z struck out five but walked two batters. He allowed two runs over 2 2/3 innings in his debut earlier this week. The Cubs are closely monitoring his outings.

Carlos Zambrano told Venezuelan newspaper Lider en Deportes that he received a "friendly" phone call from Cubs president Theo Epstein this week.

The article was translated by Nick Collias of MLB Trade Rumors. According to Zambrano, Epstein promised to call him at a later date in order to set up a personal meeting in the United States. "We talked for a while. Now I'm waiting for him to tell me when we'll meet," said Zambrano. "It might be after the winter meetings that the GMs have, which is in Milwaukee this year." It's not clear what the Cubs' intend to do with Zambrano, but he has been linked to the Marlins and Royals so far this offseason. Big Z is due $18 million next season and has a $19.25 million vesting option for 2013.

After talking with members of the Royals' front office, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star gets the sense that they will pursue Carlos Zambrano only if he's released.

Given how in-depth general manager Dayton Moore spoke on Zambrano during a recent radio program, it seems like he has more than passing interest, but perhaps that's not the case. If Zambrano is released, which is a possibility, we would expect a good number of teams to be interested in giving him a shot. Big Z is due $18 million in 2012 and has a $19.25 million vesting option for 2013.

Carlos Zambrano allowed two runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings in Los Caribes de Anzoategui's 5-4 loss to Magallanes in the Venezuelan winter league Sunday.

He also served up a solo homer to Cubs teammate Bryan LaHair. It was Big Z's first of nine starts for Caribes. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is in favor of Zambrano appearing in winter ball. Epstein and Zambrano will have a conversation at some point this week. Although it has been assumed that Big Z will be traded, Epstein could opt to keep him if Zambrano's market is barren.

The Cubs will have a scout in attendance to monitor Carlos Zambrano's outings with Los Caribes de Anzoategui of the Venezuelan winter league.

Big Z is expected to make nine starts for Los Caribes de Anzoategui before resting up prior to spring training. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is in favor of Zambrano appearing in winter ball. "I actually think it's a good thing, under the circumstances," Epstein said. "He probably needs the innings, and it could be good for his state of mind to get out there and perform." Although it still seems likely that Big Z is traded, perhaps the new Cubs' regime will decide they're better off keeping him. Epstein and Zambrano will have a conversation next week.

Carlos Zambrano has joined Caribes de Anzoategui, a winter ball team in Puerta La Cruz, Venezuela.

Big Z is expected to make his debut in November. The volatile right-hander hasn't pitched since being placed on the restricted list following a start on August 12. It's believed that the Ricketts family would prefer to see him traded, but the new Cubs' regime could have a different feeling on the situation. Big Z is owed $18 million in 2012, so the Cubs would need to cover a significant portion of his remaining contract in order to find a trade partner.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that there "isn't a lot of favor" within the Marlins organization for making a trade for Carlos Zambrano.

New Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen is friends with Big Z and has already talked to him about possibly playing in Miami, but it sounds like a deal isn't likely. Olney writes that there is opposition "because Zambrano's stuff has regressed, rather than because of his personality history." Big Z is due $18 million in 2012 and has a $19.25 million vesting option for 2013, and the Cubs might wind up just cutting him loose if they can't find a trade partner.