Mariners Now Interested in Zito?

RotatorCuff · December 5th, 2006, 09:07 PM

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6241678

Fresh from Ken Rosenthal.

The Mariners' interest in free-agent left-hander Barry Zito could stem from a growing realization that they can not sign free-agent right-hander Jason Schmidt, who is high on the Dodgers' wish list.

The chase to sign left-hander Barry Zito continues with the Rangers, Mets and Mariners figuring in the mix. (George Nikitin / Associated Press)

Schmidt, 33, is from the Pacific Northwest, but he also has ties to Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and new trainer Stan Conte, both of whom he worked with previously with the Giants.

Goose · December 5th, 2006, 09:18 PM

I highly doubt the Mariners are willing to go the 6 years it's going to take to land Zito.

I think it's a ploy to drive up the price for the Rangers.

edddgar · December 5th, 2006, 09:58 PM

We could use Zito, and just to let you know I was calling him overrated after his Cy Young winning year, not just because he's an above average pitcher, but he absolutely kills us. If he's not with us, I'm only happy if he's in the NL. If it comes down to a bidding war with us and the Rangers, we need to win that war.

Goose · December 5th, 2006, 10:44 PM

No way in hell I want him for the money he's asking. And definitely not for the years he's asking.

edddgar · December 6th, 2006, 12:36 AM

Kind of half to predict what happens in the future offseasons. If baseball free agency continues to explode in the next few years. But, I agree, that is far too rich of a price for Zito. 6 years for $94-102 million will probably never be cheap. But really, it seems like a reasonable price compared to the Carlos Lee contract. Hell, if GMJ can get $10 mil per, whos to say Zito isn't worth $17 mil per? I'm kind of torn on the subject.

RTT · December 6th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Just get him out of the AL West already and EVERYBODY wins.

edddgar · December 6th, 2006, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTT

Just get him out of the AL West already and EVERYBODY wins.

I think I'm more interested in not having to face him than having him on the roster. It'd be even better to get him out of the AL and into the NL.

RTT · December 6th, 2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edddgar

I think I'm more interested in not having to face him than having him on the roster. It'd be even better to get him out of the AL and into the NL.

So am I.

I'm an Angels fan so we're fine on pitching. Spending $$$ on offense and putting Zito into the NL would make me a lot happier than signing Zito and spending no more $$$ on offense.

FED · December 6th, 2006, 12:53 AM

Why does there always have to be at least one GMJ! 17 mil. per is a stretch for any SP, let alone Zito. He is probably the best one on the market right now though... Still, Schmidt should be our #1 priority. At least he is somewhat realistic. I'm sure all the Schmidt talk has made everyone sick by now though, huh...

edddgar · December 6th, 2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FED

Why does there always have to be at least one GMJ! 17 mil. per is a stretch for any SP, let alone Zito. He is probably the best one on the market right now though... Still, Schmidt should be our #1 priority. At least he is somewhat realistic. I'm sure all the Schmidt talk has made everyone sick by now though, huh...

Here's what the article says:

Quote:

The Mariners' interest in free-agent left-hander Barry Zito could stem from a growing realization that they can not sign Schmidt, who is high on the Dodgers' wish list.

lastexit · December 7th, 2006, 10:27 AM

Zito is absolutely worth pursuing and 5 years should not stop anybody. This guy hasn't missed a start. He's got great physical habits and doesn't overthrow. The main reason to avoid a long-term deal is the risk of injury and with Zito that risk is about as low as it gets.

Zito has pitched his entire career in the AL West. He knows the league, knows the teams the Mariners are playing against. His main weakness the past 2 years has been the long-ball, making Texas a poor choice of destination for him and making Seattle a very good choice of destination. He has pitched well in Texas, likely key to the Rangers interest, but it also makes him a good target for Seattle who will play in Texas several times each season.

With a reasonable offense behind him Zito will emerge as a Cy Young candidate next season. He will sign with a team that can hit. Oakland's offense has been LOUSY in ways that are hard to describe unless you watch the A's. They lead the league in leaving RISP EVERY YEAR. The kind of pressure that starting pitchers feel as a result does not do good things for their morale. Zito is sick of that and wants to have 4 runs on the board when he goes out there.

Would anyone say Randy Johnson's contract in Arizona was a bad idea? How about Pedro in New York? Zito will give you 200+ innings and 15 wins minimum each one of those 6 years. I'd bet he wins 20 three times in those six years. Sign the man.

As has been said, if he's serious about signing with Texas then the M's need to break out their checkbook because that would be bad, bad news.

FED · December 7th, 2006, 07:58 PM

Thanks edddgar... I was too demoralized because of the M's and Schmidt that I didn't even bother to read the article.
But when responding to the last comment, I have to to say that I agree that we should be pursuing Zito for 5 years.... not the likely 6... The main reason for me to be leary of a long term deal with Zito is that I believe he is just playing for the paycheck. I remember an interview with Zito a bit after his cy young(on the howard stern show actually). Howard questioned Zito about his future, and his possibility to get $100 mil. etc. I know it was a few years ago, but Zito seemed perfectly happy with just getting the payday, and not performing imho. The more that I think about it, I don't really want Zito at all now... Of course at the right price, he'd be a great addition. I just don't like the thought of 6 years.

Barnstormer7 · December 7th, 2006, 10:54 PM

With the current state of baseball paying guys like Lilly, Padilla and Meche 11-12 million a year, you have to start wondering if 15 or 16 million a year is really that unreasonable.

The bigger question to ask, is does Zito have any interest in signing a lengthy deal with a last place team?

Timberwolf · December 8th, 2006, 06:42 PM

With prices what they are, giving Zito what he originally asked for looks like a smart move. In one fell swoop the Mariners would transform a disastrous off season into a success. I'd be worried that the price has gone up.

Just add Zito to what we have now, and I'd feel pretty good about facing the rest of the AL West.

Goose · December 8th, 2006, 09:55 PM

In adding Zito, Bavasi would also be saddling us with another bad contract.

We need to just punt 2007. Don't sign people to long term contracts just because it might help us next year. That's no longer important. What is important is putting our next GM in the best possible position for next offseason.

December 5th, 2006, 09:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
RotatorCuff Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 257	Mariners Now Interested in Zito? http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6241678 Fresh from Ken Rosenthal. The Mariners' interest in free-agent left-hander Barry Zito could stem from a growing realization that they can not sign free-agent right-hander Jason Schmidt, who is high on the Dodgers' wish list. The chase to sign left-hander Barry Zito continues with the Rangers, Mets and Mariners figuring in the mix. (George Nikitin / Associated Press) Schmidt, 33, is from the Pacific Northwest, but he also has ties to Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and new trainer Stan Conte, both of whom he worked with previously with the Giants.

December 5th, 2006, 09:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Goose Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aberdeen,Wa Posts: 1,190	I highly doubt the Mariners are willing to go the 6 years it's going to take to land Zito. I think it's a ploy to drive up the price for the Rangers. __________________ http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/843...idensigfd9.png

December 5th, 2006, 10:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Goose Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aberdeen,Wa Posts: 1,190	No way in hell I want him for the money he's asking. And definitely not for the years he's asking. __________________ http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/843...idensigfd9.png

December 6th, 2006, 12:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
RTT Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 148	Just get him out of the AL West already and EVERYBODY wins. __________________ http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...titled-1-3.gif

December 8th, 2006, 09:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
Goose Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aberdeen,Wa Posts: 1,190	In adding Zito, Bavasi would also be saddling us with another bad contract. We need to just punt 2007. Don't sign people to long term contracts just because it might help us next year. That's no longer important. What is important is putting our next GM in the best possible position for next offseason. __________________ http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/843...idensigfd9.png

December 5th, 2006, 09:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
edddgar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 51	We could use Zito, and just to let you know I was calling him overrated after his Cy Young winning year, not just because he's an above average pitcher, but he absolutely kills us. If he's not with us, I'm only happy if he's in the NL. If it comes down to a bidding war with us and the Rangers, we need to win that war.

December 6th, 2006, 12:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
edddgar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 51	Kind of half to predict what happens in the future offseasons. If baseball free agency continues to explode in the next few years. But, I agree, that is far too rich of a price for Zito. 6 years for $94-102 million will probably never be cheap. But really, it seems like a reasonable price compared to the Carlos Lee contract. Hell, if GMJ can get $10 mil per, whos to say Zito isn't worth $17 mil per? I'm kind of torn on the subject.

December 6th, 2006, 12:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
FED Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 11	Why does there always have to be at least one GMJ! 17 mil. per is a stretch for any SP, let alone Zito. He is probably the best one on the market right now though... Still, Schmidt should be our #1 priority. At least he is somewhat realistic. I'm sure all the Schmidt talk has made everyone sick by now though, huh...

December 7th, 2006, 10:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
lastexit Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SF Posts: 88	Zito is absolutely worth pursuing and 5 years should not stop anybody. This guy hasn't missed a start. He's got great physical habits and doesn't overthrow. The main reason to avoid a long-term deal is the risk of injury and with Zito that risk is about as low as it gets. Zito has pitched his entire career in the AL West. He knows the league, knows the teams the Mariners are playing against. His main weakness the past 2 years has been the long-ball, making Texas a poor choice of destination for him and making Seattle a very good choice of destination. He has pitched well in Texas, likely key to the Rangers interest, but it also makes him a good target for Seattle who will play in Texas several times each season. With a reasonable offense behind him Zito will emerge as a Cy Young candidate next season. He will sign with a team that can hit. Oakland's offense has been LOUSY in ways that are hard to describe unless you watch the A's. They lead the league in leaving RISP EVERY YEAR. The kind of pressure that starting pitchers feel as a result does not do good things for their morale. Zito is sick of that and wants to have 4 runs on the board when he goes out there. Would anyone say Randy Johnson's contract in Arizona was a bad idea? How about Pedro in New York? Zito will give you 200+ innings and 15 wins minimum each one of those 6 years. I'd bet he wins 20 three times in those six years. Sign the man. As has been said, if he's serious about signing with Texas then the M's need to break out their checkbook because that would be bad, bad news.

December 7th, 2006, 07:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
FED Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 11	Thanks edddgar... I was too demoralized because of the M's and Schmidt that I didn't even bother to read the article. But when responding to the last comment, I have to to say that I agree that we should be pursuing Zito for 5 years.... not the likely 6... The main reason for me to be leary of a long term deal with Zito is that I believe he is just playing for the paycheck. I remember an interview with Zito a bit after his cy young(on the howard stern show actually). Howard questioned Zito about his future, and his possibility to get $100 mil. etc. I know it was a few years ago, but Zito seemed perfectly happy with just getting the payday, and not performing imho. The more that I think about it, I don't really want Zito at all now... Of course at the right price, he'd be a great addition. I just don't like the thought of 6 years.

December 7th, 2006, 10:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
Barnstormer7 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 29	With the current state of baseball paying guys like Lilly, Padilla and Meche 11-12 million a year, you have to start wondering if 15 or 16 million a year is really that unreasonable. The bigger question to ask, is does Zito have any interest in signing a lengthy deal with a last place team?

December 8th, 2006, 06:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Timberwolf Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,855	With prices what they are, giving Zito what he originally asked for looks like a smart move. In one fell swoop the Mariners would transform a disastrous off season into a success. I'd be worried that the price has gone up. Just add Zito to what we have now, and I'd feel pretty good about facing the rest of the AL West.