Top News:
ESPN:
Sources: Zito's Giants deal worth about $18M per year — Barry Zito is staying in the Bay Area with the San Francisco Giants. — 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.
Discussion:
The Big Lead, Dodger Hill, Roto Authority Fantasy …, El Lefty Malo, Blogging Baseball, Baseball Crank, Gaslamp Ball, SBG, The World's …, Pride of the Yankees, MiracleMets.net, Giants Cove, GROTA, Evening Perambulations, Yankees 2000, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, MLB Trade Rumors, Lookout Landing, The Parrot, Zisk Online, With Leather, It's Outta Here!, Mike's Mets, YanksBlog.com and Batter's Box Interactive …
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Source: Zito to Giants — 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 deal worth approximately $80 million. But apparently it wasn't enough to lure him to Texas.
San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants finally make a big splash, sign Zito to largest pitcher contract ever — (12-28) 13:50 PST — A four-dollar toll? That's nothing. — The Giants have reached deep into their wallets and agreed to pay $126 million to bring longtime A's ace Barry Zito across the Bay Bridge …
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Zito agrees to huge deal with Giants — SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants' rotation has just got better. — Left-handed pitcher Barry Zito has agreed to a seven-year, $126 million contract, according to The Associated Press and other sources. — Zito, 28, who has starred for the Oakland A's …
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
With Zito off market, Mets move on — Mets GM says it's a 'long shot' team will acquire an ace — NEW YORK — No team ever has won or lost a pennant or even a game in December. Of that Omar Minaya is certain. So the Mets general manager, while disappointed Barry Zito …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Giants and lefty Zito reach contract agreement — 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.
Sports Illustrated:
Zito to sign with Giants — Free agent agrees to seven-year, $126 million deal — Barry Zito has agreed in principle to a deal to jump across the Bay and join the San Francisco Giants after starring for six years with the rival Oakland A's, SI.com has learned.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Giants, Zito reach whopping $126M deal, biggest yet for pitcher — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — NEW YORK — Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants reached a preliminary agreement on the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history, a $126 million, seven-year deal.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
FRISCO COULD BE ZITO FRONT-RUNNER — The Giants, despite reports, have no interest in Randy Johnson. However, they are very, very interested in a left-hander who could impact a New York team's plans. — The Yankees did contact San Francisco about Johnson.
Transaction Oracle:
Giants - Reportedly have Signed Zito — San Francisco Giants - Have reportedly come to terms with P Barry Zito on a 7-year, $126 million contract. — When I see the "7-year, $126 million contract" I think that I'm looking at some NFL contract in which a team gives this amount to their QB …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Grant / McCovey Chronicles:
So much for the slow news days.... Seven years. Insane. While a list of comparable pitchers from Baseballs Reference and Prospectus isn't perfect, you have to be worried that there aren't too many pitchers on the lists who were still effective at 35. Or 34. Or, you know, 33, 32, and 31.
Discussion:
6-4-2
BruteSentiment / McCovey Chronicles:Source: Zito to Giants. 8 Years???
Discussion:
The View From The Bleachers
Richard / SportsJustice:
As spring training approaches, the Astros are still busy. — Just 49 days until pitchers and catchers report to Kissimmee... • This is an interesting part of the off-season because the big-ticket acquisitions are pretty much done. Now teams begin stocking their roster with low-profile additions.
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Murcer battles brain tumor — Yankee legend Bobby Murcer is scheduled to undergo surgery today in Houston for the removal of a brain tumor. — Murcer, 60, a Yankee institution as a player and broadcaster for 40 years, had been experiencing headaches and a loss of energy in recent days and …
RELATED:
Jack Magruder / East Valley Tribune:
Yankees want 3 pitchers in swap for Johnson — The New York Yankees are seeking a package of three young pitchers from the Diamondbacks for Randy Johnson, including at least one reliever, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. — The Yankees have expressed interest …
RELATED:
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
DIPS, LIPS, and Hips — Thank Jay Jaffe for this column. Or, alternately, send your hate mail his way—either way, all that follows is due to him. — See, Jay e-mailed me about a week ago asking for some DIPS 3.0 numbers. I had actually calculated everything at the end of the season, but had forgotten about it.
