"After an up-and-down winter season in the Venezuelan baseball league, Carlos Zambrano will leave his team in the middle of the playoffs on the wishes of Miami Marlins management.

Zambrano returned to his home country to play for Los Caribes de Anzoatigui after the Chicago Cubs placed him on the restricted list for walking out on the team during an Aug. 12 game.

Theo Epstein, Cubs' president of baseball operations, told Zambrano in November that he could earn his way back onto the roster by throwing well in Venezuela. "El Toro" made five starts for Los Caribes, finishing 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He last pitched Dec. 27, giving up one run over 4?1/3 innings."