Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade made it clear on Wednesday that the return of Carlos Zambrano for 2012 was doubtful.

Team sources have insisted the Cubs will do their best to trade Zambrano and the $17.885 contract they owe him for 2012.

There are some major trappings in trading Zambrano, who walked out on his team and cleaned out his locker after a bad outing in Atlanta on Aug. 12. First and foremost, Zambrano has a complete no-trade clause.

Former general manager Jim Hendry put Zambrano on the disqualified list without pay for 30 days.

The Cubs pitcher was returned to the active roster on Sept. 11, however his agent and MLB agreed he would not rejoin the team. The players association grieved Zambrano's disqualification, and that grievance is pending and is being negotiated with MLB.

"He is a good pitcher, and you know we miss that," Quade said. "But the situation dictated how we handled it. After what took place, it needed to be addressed, and it was."

Quade was asked if he felt Zambrano will be pitching for the team in 2012.

"I'm not calling the shots," he said. "That's out of my hands and the least of my worries right now."

Quade was asked if Zambrano would fit back with the team

"I don't know that," he said. "That's a tough question for me to answer. Will he fit in? I'd like his arm back, but it would be tough for him to come back. If he did, so be it. That's out of my hands. I'm not calling the shot. [Chairman Tom Ricketts] was on record as to what he said."

On Aug. 19, Ricketts said: "It's a really unfortunate situation. … Suffice it to say I 100 percent support Jim and our decision … and I feel really strongly that behavior was unacceptable."