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.

[ryan8472]

Great signing for you guys. Too bad the hottest pitcher in baseball couldn't come to the Bronx though.

Oh well, at least this raises the trade value for Randy Johnson. Word is Arizona and San Diego want him.

Now I'm just praying that The Rocket comes back for an encore in NYC.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by ryan8472

Now I'm just praying that The Rocket comes back for an encore in NYC.

That would be great.

[ryan8472]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

That would be great.

Hey, the only time they made it to the WS lately is with Clemens, Pettitte and Mussina at the top of their rotation. Since two of the three are already there, with Chien Ming Wang as the new ace and the Japanese pitcher Igawa, the addition of Roger would be HUGE.

[Rickypt]

The Yankees are coming to SF for interleague next year. Can't wait to go to all three games.

[ryan8472]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

The Yankees are coming to SF for interleague next year. Can't wait to go to all three games.

Those will be good games.

If I recall, last time they met up, Bonds hit a monster homerun off Ted Lilly. Rivera struck him out though.

[amber]

Sweeeet. I would rather he stayed in Oakland, but at least he's still "in town".

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by amber

Sweeeet. I would rather he stayed in Oakland, but at least he's still "in town".

You like to go to games? We should go to one of the SF vs. Oakland games in June.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by ryan8472

Great signing for you guys. Too bad the hottest pitcher in baseball couldn't come to the Bronx though.

Oh well, at least this raises the trade value for Randy Johnson. Word is Arizona and San Diego want him.

Now I'm just praying that The Rocket comes back for an encore in NYC.

Ever heard of a guy anmed Ed WHitson that pitched for teh Yankees back in the 80's? He absolutely could not handle the whole New York thing and was traded to the Padres. I think this might have been a similar situation.

[Rickypt]

I did read that one of the reasons Zito might have chosen not to go to Mets/Yankees is because NY sportswriters and fans are so hard on players and if he signed a mega-contract and didn't perform well then he would get skewered. He's a fragile soul, apparently. We are quite forgiving and rather mellow in the Bay Area.

Giants fans are ecstatic this week!

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I did read that one of the reasons Zito might have chosen not to go to Mets/Yankees is because NY sportswriters and fans are so hard on players and if he signed a mega-contract and didn't perform well then he would get skewered. He's a fragile soul, apparently. We are quite forgiving and rather mellow in the Bay Area.

Giants fans are ecstatic this week!

Man I'm happy for ya. Good signing! I found it rather interesting though I saw this piece comparing the signing of Zito with Matsusaka, the ace the Red Sox got from Japan, and he's younger than Zito, and his contract, minus the fee they ahd to pay the Japan team to negoriate with him is only half of Zito's. I'm just as excited my Sox got this guy!

[ryan8472]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I did read that one of the reasons Zito might have chosen not to go to Mets/Yankees is because NY sportswriters and fans are so hard on players and if he signed a mega-contract and didn't perform well then he would get skewered. He's a fragile soul, apparently. We are quite forgiving and rather mellow in the Bay Area.

Giants fans are ecstatic this week!

I think Barry would have been fine in NY. He wanted to play on a team that's goal is to win (Yankees). He also had a great working relationship with Rick Peterson, the pitching coach for the Mets. It all came down to the money, really. He turned down offers from Texas, the Mets, etc, for that. You could argue that he stayed in San Fran because it's his home, it's a pitcher's park in the NL, etc, but it's all about $$$.

Besides, if he REALLY wanted to play for a contender, he would've gone to a New York team.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by ryan8472

I think Barry would have been fine in NY. He wanted to play on a team that's goal is to win (Yankees). He also had a great working relationship with Rick Peterson, the pitching coach for the Mets. It all came down to the money, really. He turned down offers from Texas, the Mets, etc, for that. You could argue that he stayed in San Fran because it's his home, it's a pitcher's park in the NL, etc, but it's all about $$$.

Besides, if he REALLY wanted to play for a contender, he would've gone to a New York team.

Did the Mets ever make him an offer?

And let's let me believe what I want to believe....

Zito chose the Giants because we are contenders and he loves San Franciscans and New York is filled with meanies.

[DavidMn]

Heres the thing to with Matsusaka. Our arch enemies the Yankees, whod they sign? Old Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson's probably going back to the desert. It's going to be a good year in Boston I think.

[ryan8472]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Did the Mets ever make him an offer?

And let's let me believe what I want to believe....

Zito chose the Giants because we are contenders and he loves San Franciscans and New York is filled with meanies.

Zito and Boras met with Omar Minaya and the Mets brass earlier this month, and it's presumed they made a big offer.

And lets reach the post season before we proclaim our teams "contenders."