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Barry Zito Was Not a Good Free-Agent Signing

Grant_tiny by Grant on

In honor of the AL Cy Young Award winner – Cliff Lee – I thought I’d create a little graph:

 

Oh, that tantalizing question mark. You can see that the trend – a trend that’s completely impervious to sample-size challenges or any other brand of cynicism – demonstrates that there will almost certainly be two LHSWWCCJOSBWTCYs next season. Could Barry Zito be one of them? Only time will tell.

This is the first offseason that Zito’s ridiculous contract is really, really killing me. Every question about premium free agents has the same answer:

Q: Say, should the Giants sign (large pitcher/good hitter)?

A: That would have been a great idea…if it didn’t mean that the Giants would then have to commit about 50% of their payroll to (large pitcher/good hitter) and Barry Zito, which would leave very little for the other 23 players on the team.

The Giants already have their premium free agent. It’s Barry Zito. They’ve chosen. That choice is Barry Zito. Heck, let’s all revisit the initial reaction to the signing. If you take out a magnifying glass and really dig through the text, you might be able to spot one of the 2,203 wrong predictions I made in the main post.

So now I’m in a Zito depression. I don’t really think that any pitcher, CC Sabathia included, is worth long-term, $125M+ deal...but, dang, it would be exciting to have Sabathia at the top of this rotation. Paying a first baseman $125M to stick around into his mid-30s is probably a bad idea…but, dang, it would be exciting to have Mark Teixeira for a few years.

Zito has $91.5M and five years left on his contract. This doesn’t include the bonus clauses, of course – he wins $.5M for his first Cy Young under this contract, $.75M for his second, and a cool $1M for every one thereafter.

Comment starter: How much of this damnable contract would the Giants need to eat in order to get Zito the hell out of here? Would it be worth it? The 2007 Zito, while disappointing, wasn’t exactly worthless. He would have been worth a three-year deal or so.

Open Zito Depression Thread.

Poll
Will Barry Zito be a Giant for the entire duration of his contract?
Yes
346 votes
No
334 votes

680 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 108 comments | Digg!

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Comments

Display:

Great, time to find my Paxil.

#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Nov 13, 2008 11:59 AM PST   0 recs

Midway through the year, Cliff Lee had a few bad starts in a row, so I figured he was done – and I dropped him from my fantasy team.

SAD.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Nov 13, 2008 11:59 AM PST   0 recs

Ooooh, ouch.

#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Nov 13, 2008 11:59 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

I still won the league, so I probably shouldn’t moan too much.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Nov 13, 2008 12:03 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

And my starting pitchers, post-Lee, were pretty mighty:

Jake Peavy
Roy Halladay
Francisco Liriano
Matt Cain
Dan Haren

THERE IS NOTHING MORE INTERESTING THAN HEARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S FANTASY BASEBALL TEAMS!!!!

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Nov 13, 2008 12:08 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Oh yeah?

Well I had Lincecum and Cole Hamels all season. And picked up Ricky Nolasco part-way through. I picked up Pablo on a whim, mostly to be a loyal Giant fan, and he was a big help.

Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.

by Lyle on Nov 13, 2008 12:27 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I was sorely tempted to grab Pablo, but I had Mauer at C and Pujols at 1B, so I really had nowhere to put him.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Nov 13, 2008 12:37 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I had Lincecum, CC, Cain, and Carlos Zambrano all year. That was fun.

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Nov 13, 2008 12:55 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Please tell me you had no hitting….

Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.

by Lyle on Nov 13, 2008 1:38 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I overpayed for lincecum in the beginning of the season

Turned out I totally won that deal

I see the future, and it is Pablo

by CB30 on Nov 13, 2008 2:05 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Hamels, Sheets, Lackey, Chris Young, Cain, Haren was my best pitching squad.

One team I had was in a 10-team league. That team was ridiculous. I won’t go into details so I’ll just say that Lackey was my 6th best, Matt Garza was my 8th best pitcher. AT BEST.

by lincypoo i wuv u on Nov 13, 2008 2:35 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

since Im arrogant and I like to stroke my fantasy ego

I will indulge myself after all
Lincecum, Harden, Nolasco, Halladay, Duscherer, Lackey, Kazmir, Garza, Volquez, Harang, Mussina.
EEEEEE funnnn =D

by lincypoo i wuv u on Nov 13, 2008 2:38 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

does ryan howard, brian roberts, aramis, and turning nate mclouth off waivers into a-rod via trades count?

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Nov 14, 2008 9:36 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

100%

The Giants won’t be able to avoid paying the whole deal.

by Lars The Wanderer on Nov 13, 2008 11:59 AM PST   0 recs

It’s possible they could do a Hampton-to-Atlanta style deal where they eat the great bulk of the contract and don’t get much in return, but that’s about it.

Maybe we should start planting evidence that Zito is a child molester so they can somehow void the contract?

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Nov 13, 2008 12:02 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

He needs to get a truck to wash

Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Nov 13, 2008 12:14 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Or a moped!

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 12:25 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Or just give him an ownership interest in the Giants to sit down.

My adopted son Matt Downs. Lost in the wilderness of mediocrity.

by nvsfg on Nov 13, 2008 12:53 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I voted ‘No’ because this is optimism week, right?

#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Nov 13, 2008 12:00 PM PST   0 recs

the whole offseason is optimism week! I guess you could call the regular season, eternal pessimistic weekend.

by lincypoo i wuv u on Nov 13, 2008 2:40 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

There isn’t actually a comma it that sentence, its just an illusion.

by lincypoo i wuv u on Nov 13, 2008 2:40 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

It might be worse

Have read SF still owes Zito $101.5. Oh, AND he has a complete NTC. Ouch.

How much is a 4th starter worth? $5M? $7M? With five years still remaining on this deal would assume SF would have to eat $60-65M. Doesn’t sound great but would save the team $6M – 8M a season

by wilriv21 on Nov 13, 2008 12:12 PM PST   0 recs

This brings up a good point. It’s not so bad if you think we’d be paying a #4 starter $7M anyway. We’re really only “wasting” about $11M a season.

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 12:45 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Thanks, that makes me feel better.

*Jerry Seinfeld wide eye making fun of people face *

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Nov 13, 2008 1:12 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

NO

There is going to be a point where the Giants will release him…a la Russ Ortiz with the DBacks. Sabean might not be GM by then

Do you Wazzel?

by NeifiChicken on Nov 13, 2008 12:14 PM PST   0 recs

Stop

that thought is too beautiful to mention

by bondslegend on Nov 13, 2008 1:21 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

+1

He’ll be DFA’d by 2012 at the latest.

by Change Up on Nov 13, 2008 3:51 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

According to the Mayans, the world will end in 2012. Coincidence?

Check out The Examined Life. Or don't. Whatever.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Nov 13, 2008 11:01 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Just watched the preview to that movie

looks pretty effin awesome if I do say so myself…

Of course, there is the part about the world being covered in water i spose.

by bondslegend on Nov 14, 2008 1:32 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Grant depresses me, boo Grant. I want my Cy Young for Timmy high back!

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. Rogers Hornsby

by igotnothing on Nov 13, 2008 12:17 PM PST   0 recs

you are forgetting the key “loves himself” chart in which Zito destroys the competition.

by fwoty oz on Nov 13, 2008 12:27 PM PST   0 recs

or the coveted “calls in to argue with radio hosts” equation. I’ll bet Lee never did that.

by fwoty oz on Nov 13, 2008 12:28 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

This thread cheered me up

I was thinking there’s six years remaining on the deal. Being reminded that there’s only five years left was great news.

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 12:27 PM PST   0 recs

I think there's a player option at the end

So it’ll probably end up being six more years

My current Interwebs obsession is pretty awesome. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.

by groug on Nov 13, 2008 12:34 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

There's a hidden clause

Which dooms all of us to watch starts by Barry Zito in a Giants uniform for eternity.

No, my Crazy Crab bobblehead is not for sale.

by Kitspool on Nov 13, 2008 12:36 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I don't think it was player..

I hope to god it wasn’t player. *looks *

Per Cot’s:

2014: $18 million club option. $7 million buyout. Option vests with 200 IP in 2013 or 400 IP in 2012-13 or 600 IP 2011-13.

Wow…2013 feels a long way in the future…..

But anyway, there is hope! If his 2014 option vests, Zito may opt out and the buyout only becomes $3.5 million! I see that as a positive.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Nov 13, 2008 1:15 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

It’s a pretty safe bet that whoever’s managing the team will be fired if he lets Zito pitch enough to meet those vesting targets.

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 1:24 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

neutered...

It’s a pretty safe bet that whoever’s managing the team will be fired executed if he lets Zito pitch enough to meet those vesting targets.

They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long

by bgunn on Nov 13, 2008 3:11 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Baseball economic crisis

Grant, maybe if some of you Sf’ers have some pull with Nancy Pelosi, could you see about getting the Giants included in the government bailout? I’m pretty sure our bad debt (Zito) is hindering our competitive advantage in the marketplace. And surely Brian Sabean is just as undeserving as the heads of GM, Ford, Chrysler, AIG, et al.

Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.

by Lyle on Nov 13, 2008 12:29 PM PST   0 recs

Barry Zito =Credit Default Swap

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Nov 13, 2008 1:43 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Maybe we should have picked a better day to pick on Zito:
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2008/11/13/660652/rip-barry-zito-s-mom

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 12:30 PM PST   0 recs

I was going to make a tasteless ‘Fred Lewis driving’ joke here, but I let it go.

#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Nov 13, 2008 12:33 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

It’s almost like you are developing a heart. New emotion chip?

by chilibean_3 on Nov 13, 2008 12:34 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

What — is — love?

#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Nov 13, 2008 12:35 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Baby don’t hurt me… don’t hurt me… no more.

by deuce deuce on Nov 13, 2008 12:36 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Whoa..whoa..whoa…whoa

Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???

by oldrips on Nov 14, 2008 9:19 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Damn. Bad timing.

by Grant on Nov 14, 2008 1:54 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Even a crappy pitcher like Zito would probably be worth three years, $36 million on the market. So looking at it that way, the Giants would have to eat two full seasons worth of the contract and about $6-$8 million of the other three seasons, thus coming up with a total swallowing of about $54-$65 million of the contract. I just can’t see that happening. Maybe when he has only three years left on the contract, but I don’t think it’s possible with five.

by deuce deuce on Nov 13, 2008 12:30 PM PST   0 recs

think outside the box

giants should restructure Zito’s contract to 30 yrs at 3-4 million per year…

ZIto at 18Mil = CRAZY
Zito at 4 Mil = GREAT #4 P

by cazzuno on Nov 13, 2008 12:34 PM PST   1 recs

sounds like my student loan payment schedule

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Nov 13, 2008 12:57 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Most expensive LOOGY in history

but he was actually effective against lefties this season. They hit only .213/.316/.287 against him. So, if we keep him, that’s probably where he’ll end up.

Bonds stands alone.

Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal

by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 13, 2008 12:55 PM PST   0 recs

That was fluky, though. Over his career, he’s been more effective against righties than lefties.

by Evan on Nov 13, 2008 1:15 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Over his career

He’s also been a good pitcher.

Things change.

McC's Outstanding Newcomer '08.

by FairweatherFan on Nov 13, 2008 9:08 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

$126 million

…lefthanded specialist out of the ’pen!

Ralph Barbieri, heal thyself.

by ThrillisGone22 on Nov 13, 2008 4:24 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I am curious to see how next year turns out

He had a pretty decent last half of the season. I know that’s pretty characteristic of him, but it looks like he figured out the problems that plagued him in the beginning of last year. If he has another year or half a year of utter crappiness, then I think we start talking about shipping him somewhere and eating the contract. One more year to redeem himself. Even if he can put up a line of 6 IP, 3 ER, that’s handled quite easily as a fan. And I still think he can accomplish at least that. Yes, I am an eternal optimist.

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Nov 13, 2008 1:06 PM PST   0 recs

How sad is it that a 4.59 ERA for the highest paid pitcher in history now counts as “pretty decent”?

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Nov 13, 2008 1:09 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

It was pretty decent compared to his first half 5.50+ ERA!

#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Nov 13, 2008 1:12 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

He was also better in the 2nd half of 2007. Perhaps, the team should use him in the ‘pen as a loogy the first half, then move him to the rotation in the 2nd half is someone’s hurt of ineffective.

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 1:30 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Why isn’t he pitching winter ball for the Indios de Mayaguez?

by wilriv21 on Nov 13, 2008 1:39 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

He’s at Brian Wilson Boot Camp.

The new tats alone should add 4-6 mph to the old fastball.

They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long

by bgunn on Nov 13, 2008 3:16 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Zito could add MPH by changing his motion although it would likely adversely affect his control.

by Change Up on Nov 13, 2008 3:53 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

bah

of course the changeup would say that!

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Nov 13, 2008 3:57 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Anagram of "Will Barry Zito be a Giant for the entire duration of his contract?"

ARROGANT, INEFFICIENT BROWN ROT COHABITS THROATILY. ADULTERIZE!

Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Nov 13, 2008 1:24 PM PST   0 recs

Jeezus man...

Wait! You’re missing an e!

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Nov 13, 2008 1:45 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Experience is beating hope by 6 votes

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Nov 13, 2008 1:39 PM PST   0 recs

7 votes now

YES WE CAN BUT PROBABLY SHOULDN’T

My current Interwebs obsession is pretty awesome. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.

by groug on Nov 13, 2008 1:44 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Change-up we can believe in!

Yes we did!

by Goofus on Nov 13, 2008 2:56 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I can't beleive it's this close..

He’s pitching his entire career here.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Nov 13, 2008 1:45 PM PST   0 recs

zito to the dodgers

Zito is owed $91M+ for the next 5 years. He’s also from SoCal, so he might approve this trade.

Giants get Juan Pierre, who is owed $28.5M for 2009-11 plus Jason Schmidt, who is owed $12M for 2009 plus about $8M in signing bonuses.

We get two of agent ned’s three biggest blunders, he only gets one of ours. he gets a starting pitcher with a perfect history of health to replace a pitcher who hasn’t given them anything and has only known success with the giants. we get noodle arm, who we can DFA for all i care.

why would the dodgers do it? they have gotten nothing for their $36M invested in Schmidt, whereas they get dependability AND good looks in zito (trust me, i live in socal and these asscats care about these things). Instead of sinking $20M into a void in schmidt they get their starting pitcher and get rid of their logjam in the outfield.

why would we do it? we free up $43M+ and get a slight boost with the fairweathers in bringing back a name they all know.

this wackiness is all about going for tex/cc. if we are making a run and zito’s contract is the hangup then hopefully there is thinking along these lines.

Dodgers fans eat their young.

by redhornet78 on Nov 13, 2008 2:57 PM PST   0 recs

Good

they never will be interested in Lincecum

by wilriv21 on