Michael Barrett’s dugout and clubhouse fight with Ace Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano would be his last. It was heavily rumored that either Zambrano or Barrett would be moved soon, and today it was reported that Barrett had been traded to the San Diego Padres for catcher Rob Bowen. Barrett has nine home runs and 56 rbi’s at this point in the season. Bowen has a .268 average with two home runs and 11 rbi’s.

Unfortunately Barrett and Zambrano could not put aside their differences for the better of the team. Barrett’s offense will be missed in the Cubs batting order. Rob Bowen is a nice role player, but he’s not an everyday catcher. Perhaps the Cubs will platoon Bowen and their regular backup catcher Henry Blanco. This trade could go a couple of ways, either the team will benefit from the loss of the Zambrano-Barrett rivalry, or Rob Bowen will prove to be unable to fill the shoes that Barrett left behind.

Last year Barrett got into a confrontation with Chicago White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski and punched him in the head. So Barrett may be a hothead, but Lou Piniella will need a strong bat like Barrett’s in the lineup to pull the Cubs out of their funk. Only time will tell which side benefits the most from this trade.