[EDITOR'S NOTE: The deal is official now. 7 years, $126 million smackeroos. I'd like to point out that I've already found out what Bonds and Zito's first exchange was like.
"Grrrrr."
"I'm really glad that I don't have to pitch to you any more."
"Barry annoyed. Leave Barry alone."
"Seriously, man, I think we could possibly be the two greatest Barrys ever to gather in one place. That's so freaking zen, dude."
"Barry trying to watch Dancing with the Stars. Barry could have a future doing the robot in the finale. Barry wants you to shut up."
"Wait, I just thought that maybe Barry Manilow and Marion Barry might've had some kind of cosmic connection, if you know what I mean? "
"Barry says there's just one Barry."
"Wow, I just thought of another connection, I pitch left-handed and you hit left-handed. This is so wild! Hey, you like John Mayer?"
"Barry getting angry at funny haired, too-in-touch-with-his-feminine-side surfer dude. Barry's boy Greg knows some new prison torture techniques. Barry thinks you should shut up."
"Fathers, be good to your daughters, Daughters will love like you do, Girls become lovers who turn into mothers, So mothers, be good to your daughters too."
Cut to Giants trainer:
"Barry Zito will be put on the 60-day DL with a concussion due to him accidentally stumbling and falling head first into his acoustic guitar. Oddly enough, the guitar was split clean over his head when we found him. He must've had quite a hard fall."
Should be interesting times across the Bay. - Blez]
MLB.com is stating that Barry Zito is reportedly going to be signing with the San Francisco Giants.
While I can't stand the Giants mostly because of Barry Bonds, I think it would be a smart move for Zito. The NL West is a weak division and Zito could have a shot at the playoffs. I also think he would've gotten torn to shreds in New York had he signed there. I've said this many times, but his "I just didn't attack the hitters enough" schtick would be fodder for the jackal columnists and news radio hosts all over the city that never sleeps. Of course, I think he would've had a very good chance of winning a World Series with the Mets and not so much with the Giants. San Francisco has one more season of going for it with aging stars (if they can do it this year) and then they will likely be in full-blown rebuilding mode.
And then Zito becomes Miguel Tejada. A competitive guy on a bad, bad team.
Now I'm not going to count this deal as done before I see it reported in multiple places, but MLB is usually pretty accurate in its reporting.
I'm really glad he's going to the NL if that's the case. The A's will likely have to face him at least once a year in interleague, but it isn't like he's going to be on the Rangers or Mariners. It would've really hurt to see that happen.
It also makes sense for Zito as he gets to remain somewhere that he's extremely comfortable, his parents don't have to take long plane rides to see him pitch, he gets the money he wants and the two most famous Barrys in baseball get to hug it out, bitch. Oh and Zito gets to move from the A's who are perceived as small market to the large market Giants.