MLB.com source...Zito to Giants.

[ESPNFan]

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


The Rangers have been told that Barry Zito is signing elsewhere.
One source said that the Rangers expect Zito to sign with the San Francisco Giants. The Rangers offered Zito a six-year, $84 million contract. They also added a vesting option for $15 million for a seventh year with a $4 million buyout. The option would have kicked in if Zito pitched 200 innings in the sixth year of the contract. But apparently it wasn't enough to lure Zito to Texas.




I wonder if this impending deal has had anything to do with the sudden urgent need for the Yankee's to deal Randy Johnson.

[Mariano_Rivera]

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




I wonder if this impending deal has had anything to do with the sudden urgent need for the Yankee's to deal Randy Johnson.

Hmm, I`m happy to see him away from the Yankees but it probably will take the Giants out of the bidding for Randy. I`m sure he`ll do well in the NL West. Though if he doesn`t than it'll be fun to listen to Chris Russo go insane wvery time the Giants go on a 3 game win streak aonly to see them collapse pathetically in the end....

[ESPNFan]

I just heard on the Radio that Gammons is reporting that its Zito to the Giants for a 7 year deal. Wow! 7 years? The G-men were not fooling around.

Edit. Just up on ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2710389


Sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons that Zito will receive a seven-year contract from the Giants, with the deal averaging approximately $18 million per season. Zito will be formally introduced by the Giants this afternoon.

The deal, agreed to late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 that could increase the value to $144 million, an unidentified source told The Associated Press.

Gammons reports that Zito picked the Giants over the Rangers, Mets, Yankees and Mariners. In additon, sources told Gammons that the Yankees never made a formal offer.

[cubsfan1073]

Wow, that's a lot of money, but Zito is a good pitcher and could do great in the NL.

[AutographCollector]

I thought that the Mets were highly interested in him? So is it official? The Mets don't have a chance with Barry? :mad:

[Mattingly]

Like Clark Kent's boss would say, "Great Ceasar's Ghost!"

Interesting how this season is becoming the flip-side of most other seasons. In the past, the Yanks outspent everyone. Right now, the Yanks aren't even close to being the big spenders that others are.

I knew he would be overpriced. I just didn't realize they'd spend money on him in excess of what the Cubbies spent on Soriano.

I'm still looking towards what all these hugely-priced free agents will do come April 1st or thereabouts. With an option for 2014 worth another $18m, this could be a $144m deal.

I still wonder what Johan Santana would've gotten right now if he were an FA.

[KHenry14]

Evidently the Mets wouldn't come off of only a five year deal, so when the Giants went to seven, it was a no-brainer for Boras and Zito.

KH14<--picking himself up off the ground after fainting in disbelief that the Giants got him.!:gt

[hudsonharden]

The Giants better hope that Zito does better in the NL than Mulder and Hudson have.

[Jose Reyes]

On TV they said that Zito got the biggest contract for a pitcher ever, and he's not even a #1 starter!

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Well, we all expected it. This is a ridiculous contract, like all the others this offseason. The Giants had better hope that he stays healthy for the next seven years. I'm glad that the Jays weren't in on this.

I still wonder what Johan Santana would've gotten right now if he were an FA.
If he were the sole #1 starter (as Zito is), I would guess that he wouldn't get much more than Zito. This contract would probably close to the limit for the # of years a team would be willing to give for a pitcher. They money would be a little higher (~$20 million?) IMO.

[Mattingly]

Evidently the Mets wouldn't come off of only a five year deal, so when the Giants went to seven, it was a no-brainer for Boras and Zito.

KH14<--picking himself up off the ground after fainting in disbelief that the Giants got him.!:gt
Unfortunately, Fred Wilpon, the principal owner, still clips coupons, like he's been said to do the past 10 years. When Vlad was available, he'd only guaranteed 3 years of the deal, going as high as $76m/5 yrs, but all this was highly incentivized. You're going to offer incentives to Vlad? I'm still scratching my head why they didn't get him, as they already had a CFer in Mike Cameron, but spent much more (all guaranteed) on Carlos Beltran instead.

Anyway, everyone on the planet knew that Zito, being the top dog southpaw in the FA pool, wouldn't take 5 years, and especially for what his market value was. He'd need about $17m to make it happen.

Anyway, after you've dusted yourself off the floor, is that a good or bad feeling of getting Zito? Oh, and about the price for him ... could've been much cheaper.

Every team out there has turned into the Yanks of yore. How much longer before it's not just the Yanks and Red Sox paying the luxury tax?

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

He is the richest pitcher in baseball history.

Ha! Just you wait 'till JOHAN SANTANA goes to the FA :p

[farmsystem]

More power to Zito, Boras and the San Francisco Giants. I guess he can average a win for every million dollar. The Giants better hope he doesn't end up like Kevin Brown or Mike Hampton.

[Captain Cold Nose]

This is kind of self-fulfilling prophecy when Boras said pitchers usually get this kind of money while discussing the Matsuzaka (sp) negotiations. Because this guarantees we'll see $20 million a year, multiyear contracts for pitchers soon enough.