Zito watch

[BSN07]

Giants Willing To Spend $100 Mil For Zito?

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Giants are the frontrunners for Barry Zito and are willing to give him a $100MM contract. The Yankees, Mets, and Rangers aren't expected to be in that ballpark and don't want to give him six years. Seattle, however, could get crazy and make such a bid. That would cap a terrible offseason for Bill Bavasi in grand fashion.

 

The Yankees talked to the Giants about Randy Johnson, but Brian Sabean was not interested. Word is that Johnson is not old enough for San Francisco.

 

One more note from the column - Sherman mentions Tomo Ohka as a lesser option for Texas. Whether that's purely speculation is unclear.

 

 

Isn't zito too young for them? Shouldn't they be trying to trade for RJ and give him a 4 yr contract? If San Fran is really offering that much, I would have to believe thats where hes headed. NYM where the front runners but if this holds true there gonna have to put another yr on ther offer and get somewhat close to 100M.

[jacksonianmarch]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061228&content_id=1768001&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp

 

Barry Zito is expected to join the san francisco giants.

[ORS]

Zito to Giants for 7 yrs / $126M

[Cocos Disciples]

Holy s***. 7 years. $18 mil per.

 

No comment.

[Cityofchampions33]

whatever, as long as it's not to the Yankees, I'm fine with it.

[He Hate Me]

wow...

 

I saw an article a week ago about how long term deals for pitchers have never worked out. Mike Hampton and Kevin Brown were a couple of examples. Anyone have anything to add or counter this argument?

[BudLight]

Brian Sabean has lost his f***ing mind!!!! Who's next Barry Manilow. Sabean seems to be driven to highly overpay guys named Barry this off-season. Good luck Brian, half your team is old enough to be Zito's father.

[CrespoBlows]

wow...

 

I saw an article a week ago about how long term deals for pitchers have never worked out. Mike Hampton and Kevin Brown were a couple of examples. Anyone have anything to add or counter this argument?

 

Pedro signed a seven year deal with the Red Sox, and was pretty successful.

 

Besides, Hampton went to Coors field, where his main weapon, his curveball, wouldn't snap. Kevin Brown was pretty successful with the Dodgers before he got traded to the Yankees.

 

Zito should be OK. He's switching to the NL, and he's in a large ballpark. If his curveball remains effective, so will he.

[RedSoxRooter]

Yeah, Pedro went (if my math is correct) 117-37 over seven seasons with the Sox.

[adam123]

zito is just another lil above 500 pitcher who will crap out in 2 years hes never good in a big game

[jacksonianmarch]

zito is just another lil above 500 pitcher who will crap out in 2 years hes never good in a big game

 

yeah, 40 games is a lil over .500. Do the math.

[YanksHater213]

wow zito made BANK

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Haha. I guess Johnson will probably stay put now. Zito cost 25 million more than Mats's net cost.

[BudLight]

Haha. I guess Johnson will probably stay put now. Zito cost 25 million more than Mats's net cost.

 

 

I don't know that the Johnson trade was contingent on signing Zito. I believe that was all speculation on the part of some scribes.

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

yeah' date=' 40 games is a lil over .500. Do the math.[/quote']

 

Exactly. 102-63, 3.55 is a little better than Ted Lilly and Gil Meche.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I don't know that the Johnson trade was contingent on signing Zito. I believe that was all speculation on the part of some scribes.

 

 

Well I heard if the Yankees traded Johnson they would push hard after Zito. Now that Zito is gone, I doubt Johnson will go.

[ksushi]

I think the Zito deal is a good one. Remember, Zito could be depended on to be nothing but solid in AL. In the NL, Zito will own. This is an awesome career move for Zito and the Giants are getting a very good pitcher for 7 years. It will work out barring injury.

[Cityofchampions33]

I cringe thinking of the astronomical contract Carlos Zambrano will get next off-season.

[riverside sluggers]

I think the Zito deal is a good one. Remember' date=' Zito could be depended on to be nothing but solid in AL. In the NL, Zito will own. This is an awesome career move for Zito and the Giants are getting a very good pitcher for 7 years. It will work out barring injury.[/quote']

 

Very much agree

 

--Move to the NL, weaker offenses aplenty and he has the #9 hitter being the pitcher

--He stays in a pitcher's park, very good for the flyball pitcher that he is

 

I expect him to garner a cy young with San Fran soon enough

[CrespoBlows]

zito is just another lil above 500 pitcher who will crap out in 2 years hes never good in a big game

 

His ERA is 3.25 in postseason games.

[Fried Neckbones]

zito is just another lil above 500 pitcher who will crap out in 2 years hes never good in a big game

 

Did you not watch the playoffs this year? Did Zito not out-duel Santana in the opening game of the ALDS? Good God man.

[RedSoxRooter]

I'm just glad the RJ/Zito scenario didn't go down in NY. I would have then had to admit that Cashman is a good GM. But now I don't.

[redsoxrules]

His ERA is 3.25 in postseason games.

 

also 1.15 WHIP with opponants just batting 209, so yeah he's been good in the playoffs

[TheKilo]

I also agree that RJ stays put because of this deal, unless they can get a SP in a trade.

 

Thing is, they'd be better off just keeping RJ because I doubt he'd fetch any significant SP.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think the RJ deal and the Zito deal are independent of each other. If RJ Arizona is willing to pass over Owings, Nippert and Medders, you better believe RJ is packing his bags.

[Cityofchampions33]

I don't know, the entire situation looks bad with Zito out of the picture, and basically the FA market gone in terms of pitching. I mean yeah, prospects are nice, and yes Randy is old, but there isn't really a gaping hole anywhere on the Yankee roster, and you already have young pitching that should be ready by mid-season. So without freeing up money for Zito by getting rid of Johnson, tehre's really no need for a trade, unelss your looking at Linerbink. But even then, the rotation looks a lot betetr with RJ in it if you ask me.

[ksushi]

If RJ can net the Yankees significant prospects and a major league ready reliever he is leaving NY no matter who is throwing the ball for them next year in his stead. I don't think that will happen though. He had a terrible year last year and the guy is like 74. I don't think anything hinged on Zito, I think it all hinges on what RJ can fetch in return, which I think won't be a whole lot.

[TheKilo]

I think the prospect of trading RJ was made easier knowing Steinbrenner could make a run at Zito, a proven MLB arm.

 

I do think if RJ can net two or three young, quality arms, he will be gone. The question is, why would Arizona make that kind of deal? Why trade for a guy with a balky back that could go out on him at any second, and who sported an ERA of 5 last year?

 

Arizona may bring him back to put fans in the stands, but at this point they should be trying to develop their deep farm system, and only trade their prospects for young talent.

[BSN07]

Enough about NYY, what about the NYM? I think they where banking on being able to bring Zito in to there rotation. I was reading an article yesterday before all the San Fran news broke that said, NYM thought they where the front runners and would only have to wait until next week and Zito would be on his way. With Zito not coming to NY, the Mets rotation is probably close to the worst in there division with the Nats. With little to nothing left ont he FA market, the Mets are going to be forced over a barrell as they will probably be forced to trade for a pitcher now, because right now there rotation is horrible. NYM still have a good lineup but they are going to pay for not offering Zito a better deal. there pitching staff is horrific at this point, they took a big step back towards the pack this offseason instead of extending themselves from it.

[BudLight]

Here's a link to the latest on the RJ dealings. Appears the Zito signing has nothing to do with moving RJ.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/484122p-407473c.html