Who Will Get Zito?

Three teams look like they are in the running for Zito. The New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs, and the Texas Ranger all would love to land the elite starting pitcher. The Texas Rangers look like the front-runner the bidding, but you never know if the New York Mets are toying with the Texas Rangers. According to sources the Mets only want to pay at tops 5 year at $70 million. The Cubs already say that this is out of their price range and the Rangers are claiming to have posted $100 million for six years. So how much money will it take to land Zito? Lets look at the signing of Jason Schimdt today by the Dodgers.

Barry Zito is 28 years old, five years younger than Schmidt, and certainly will command a salary superior to that of Schmidt's new $15.67 million a year average. Several executives think that Zito's agent, Scott Boras, is looking for a six-year deal worth $102 million, a $17 million average.

What it might come down to for Zito is if he would rather pitch in the always-unfriendly Ameriquest Field, where he actually has a spectacular 11-1 record with a 3.75 career ERA, or agree to a less rewarding deal to pitch in the National League at pitcher-friendly Shea Stadium with the Mets.

Rick Peterson, Mets pitching coach and Zito's former pitching coach with the A's, both remain very close. On the other side the Rangers have former A’s third base coach, Ron Washington, who Zito is also close to. It sounds like the Mets do not want to go more than five years with Zito, according to major-league sources. If the Mets gave him $16 million per season, a five-year contract worth $80 million, would Zito go with the Mets?

The fact is when the Texas Ranger’s owner, Tom Hicks, REALLY wants a player he often gets what he wants. It has been a reported that Hicks REALLY wants Zito, and we all know that very few can outbid Tom Hicks.

- Big-D Sports