Best Xmas present ever: Zito signs with SF!

[Rickypt]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6312316

Giants and lefty Zito reach contract agreement
Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com
Posted: 10 minutes ago

The Giants have identified their centerpiece of the post-Barry Bonds Era, only it's not a hitter.

The team has reached preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Barry Zito, FOXSports.com has learned. The deal is for seven years and more than $120 million, according to a major-league source.
The deal, agreed to late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 that could increase the value to $144 million, according to The Associated Press.

Zito must pass a physical for the contract to be finalized.

Zito, 28, spurned lesser offers from the Rangers and Mets to remain in the Bay Area, where he spent his first six seasons with the A's.

While the Giants again will be one of the oldest teams in the majors, the long-term addition of Zito will give them a strong young rotation for the future.

Left-hander Noah Lowry, 26, is under the team's control through 2010 and right-hander Matt Cain, 22, through '11.

The Giants also have right-hander Matt Morris, 32, signed through 2008 with a club option for '09.

While the Rangers were considered the early front-runners for Zito, many in the industry believed he would end up with the Mets.

By signing with the Giants, Zito will gain the advantage of working in a pitcher-friendly park in the competitive — but frequently mediocre — National League West.

The Giants have undergone numerous changes this off-season, hiring Bruce Bochy to replace Felipe Alou as their manager and bringing in a new wave of veteran free agents, including outfielder Dave Roberts, infielder Rich Aurilia, first baseman Ryan Klesko and catcher Bengie Molina.

They've also re-signed Bonds, second baseman Ray Durham, third baseman Pedro Feliz and left-handed reliever Steve Kline.

Ken Rosenthal is FOXSports.com's senior baseball writer.