Jul 01, 2010 5:03 PM EST

Cubs manager Lou Piniella says pitcher Carlos Zambrano will need time in the minors upon his return to the team.

Zambrano is currently undergoing a treatment program following a tirade in the dugout last week.

"I don't think we've gotten that far, but I would think that he'll need to go and pitch a little bit somewhere," Piniella said Thursday. "It's going to be probably three weeks or so ... that's a long time just not to do anything. I would think he would need a little work somewhere, yeah. But that subject hasn't been brought up yet."

Via ESPN