Carlos Zambrano left Saturday’s game with stiffness in his back. (Chris Trotman, Getty Images)

Miami Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano left Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays after 2 1/3 innings, according to MLB.com.

Zambrano started off the game well enough, getting through the first inning pitching only seven times. In the second, things began to fall apart. The Rays scored five runs on four hits, and Zambrano appeared to be less and less in control of his pitches.

Manager Ozzie Guillen pulled Zambrano from the game after the Rays’ Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer to make the score 7-0. The Marlins reported that Zambrano has “lower back stiffness.”

The Miami Marlins have officially acquired former All-Star starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano in return for Chris Volstad, according to MLB.com.

Zambrano was placed on the MLB restricted list last August after reportedly walking out on the Cubs mid-season. The club has been looking to shed Zambrano since the incident, however his attitude and his contract have proven difficult for the Cubs to move. It is believed the 30-year-old will mesh well with Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen.

In 24 starts last year for Chicago, Zambrano posted a career worst 4.82 ERA to go with a 9-7 record. The three-time All-Star posted an 11-6 record with a 3.33 ERA just one season ago.

Zambrano’s best season came in 2004 when at the age of 23 he posted a 16-8 record and a 2.75 ERA for Chicago.

Volstad, 25, posted a 5-13 record with a 4.89 ERA in 29 starts for the Marlins last year.

The Marlins have already made a huge splash this offseason, adding Hanley Ramirez and Mark Buehrle in free agency. Now, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, they appear close to another blockbuster move.

Sources: #Marlins close to acquiring Carlos Zambrano from #Cubs. #MLB

—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 04, 2012

Zambrano, 30, has pitched his entire 11-year major league career with the Cubs to date. He had a bad year in 2011, putting up a career-worst 4.82 ERA. He battled minor injuries and also clashed with the Cubs’ organization off the field, even threatening at one point to retire. The team shut him down for the season on Sept. 2.

If they want to move Zambrano and his $91.5 million contract, the Cubs must first get the hefty hurler to waive his no-trade clause. He would likely do so, Rosenthal reports, to play for Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, a fellow Venezuelan.