Oakland pitcher Barry Zito is headed across the bay to the San
Francisco Giants, where he has agreed a seven-year, US$126 million
deal, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Thursday.
It would be the biggest deal in baseball history for a
pitcher.
According to the Chronicle, Zito will be formally introduced by
the Giants on Friday.
Zito would be the fourth player this offseason to sign for at
least US$100 million, joining Alfonso Soriano, Vernon Wells and
Carlos Lee.
Soriano inked an eight-year, US$136 million deal with the
Chicago Cubs, Wells signed a seven-year, US$136 million deal with
Toronto and Lee signed with Houston for US$100 million over six
years.
The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday that Zito rejected the
Texas Rangers' offer of a six-year contract worth more than US$80
million in guaranteed money.
The New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim and Seattle also reportedly had expressed interest in the
lefthander.
In his prime at 28 years old, Zito spent his first seven seasons
with the Oakland Athletics, winning the Cy Young Award in 2002,
when he went 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA.
Landing Zito would be a major move for the Giants, who were in
desperate need of an ace after Jason Schmidt signed a three-year,
US$47 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A three-time All-Star, Zito has been a workhorse throughout his
career, pitching more than 200 innings in each of the last six
seasons. He went 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts last
season.
Zito owns a career record 102-63 with a 3.55 ERA in 222 starts.
He has made seven career postseason starts, going 4-3 with a 3.25
ERA.
(China Daily December 30, 2006)