Why not Zito??

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hudson's much better.

I'm curious why you think Hudson is that much better than Zito.

 

Career numbers:

 

Hudson: WHIP 1.24, ERA 3.33, 6.37 K/9, 0.7 HR/9, 2.27 K/BB, .688 W%, 30 years old, righty, 34+ starts in three of last five years

 

Zito: WHIP 1.22, ERA 3.50, 7.03 K/9, 0.9 HR/9, 2.05 K/BB, .611 W%

27 years old, lefty, 5 straight years of 34+ starts

 

Outside of the winning percentage, the numbers are very similar and Zito is younger, a lefty, and has no history of recent health problems.

 

Plus, the price market for pitching has inflated from even last year...Zito won't be cheap.

 

Zito's career numbers are a bit misleading. To be quick, look at their ERA+ numbers:

 

Zito:

 

00: 174

01: 125

02: 169

03: 129

04: 105

05: 116

 

Hudson

 

99: 149

00: 114

01: 129

02: 156

03: 158

04: 133

05: 125

 

As you can see, Zito's career numbers are skewed from his earlier success, while Hudson has been more consistent.

[ThePenguin11]

Rotoworld's take:

 

Barry Zito - S - Athletics

 

David Kaplan on WGN radio said he believes the Cubs are discussing a Barry Zito deal with the Athletics.

Matt Murton or Felix Pie would be nice, but the A's probably aren't going to deal Zito without getting some immediate help and the Cubs don't have a lot to offer. We're skeptical that the A's would trade Zito for one of the outfielders and either Jerome Williams or Rich Hill. Dec. 30 - 12:22 am et

[A New Era]

I'm curious as to what the cost will be to acquire Zito. I can't say I'm overly familiar with the Athletics' farm system and their needs as a team...so yeah.

 

I like the idea of acquiring him at a fair price, though. He'd make an excellent addition to this rotation.

 

Check out what ATL paid last year for Hudson and you should get a good idea...

So...Hill, Patterson and Wuertz in place of Meyer, Charles Thomas and Cruz?

 

Where do I sign?

 

Yours and Hendry's would be the only signature on THAT paper.

 

I'll sign.

 

Ehem, since we have to be EXACT. Yours and Hendry's would be the only signature on that paper if you were allowed in the secret room with hendry and the A's GM and nobody else was in that room except you 3. And the room where you 3 were in was the actual place the "paper" in question is located, the "paper" that would actually be signed.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I like Zito. Get him.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Beane is good. He fleeced Jockety in the Mulder trade. :lol: Note to Hendry: Proceed with caution.

[dorjecub]

Rotoworld's take:

 

Barry Zito - S - Athletics

 

David Kaplan on WGN radio said he believes the Cubs are discussing a Barry Zito deal with the Athletics.

Matt Murton or Felix Pie would be nice, but the A's probably aren't going to deal Zito without getting some immediate help and the Cubs don't have a lot to offer. We're skeptical that the A's would trade Zito for one of the outfielders and either Jerome Williams or Rich Hill. Dec. 30 - 12:22 am et

 

What are the A's glaring needs? I would think they would want young pitching back in return for Zito so I think Williams or Hill would be included. Other than that do they have any holes anywhere?

[ThePenguin11]

Beane is all about stockpiling young talent. Hill, Pie and Williams would be my best guess. I'd give him two if we could get Zito extended for 2+ years.

[rawaction]

Beane is all about stockpiling young talent. Hill, Pie and Williams would be my best guess. I'd give him two if we could get Zito extended for 2+ years.

 

I don't think Hendry is trading Pie, and I think Oakland would want Murton for the immediate help, plus he's a Beane type of player. I don't think you would see Hill AND Williams go. But definitely 1 or the other with a prospect close to the majors involved.

[Derwood]

According to Gammons this morning on Mike and Mike, every GM he has asked has reported that Zito is unavailable, and that the only people making him available are the media.

 

/FWIW

[CP_414]

Beane is good. He fleeced Jockety in the Mulder trade. :lol: Note to Hendry: Proceed with caution.

 

Beane is one of the best. Out of curiosity, what did we give him for Barrett? I know it isn't the same as Zito, but I can't remember who we traded.

[JeffH]

Beane is good. He fleeced Jockety in the Mulder trade. :lol: Note to Hendry: Proceed with caution.

 

Beane is one of the best. Out of curiosity, what did we give him for Barrett? I know it isn't the same as Zito, but I can't remember who we traded.

 

Damian Miller.

[E.J.]

According to Gammons this morning on Mike and Mike, every GM he has asked has reported that Zito is unavailable, and that the only people making him available are the media.

 

/FWIW

 

Which means he's absolutely available. :D

[CarolinaCubFan]

I like Zito, but I'd spin him. Our pitching isn't weak, it just needs to stay healthy. If the pitching staff can't stay healthy, Zito would be nice, but I don't feel our current offense can compete if the current pitchers can't stay healthy.

 

Zito for Abreu or Zito for Manny.

 

I'd go with one more move, don't know how, but Soriano is growing on me.

 

Shooting the moon a little here

 

Pierre .350 OBP / 10 HR / +speed

Cedeno .350 OBP / 15 HR / +speed

Abreu .400 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

Lee .380 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Aram .380 OBP / 40 HR /

Soriano .320 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Barrett .350 OBP / 20 HR /

Jones .320 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

[erik316wttn]

I like Zito, but I'd spin him. Our pitching isn't weak, it just needs to stay healthy. If the pitching staff can't stay healthy, Zito would be nice, but I don't feel our current offense can compete if the current pitchers can't stay healthy.

 

Zito for Abreu or Zito for Manny.

 

I'd go with one more move, don't know how, but Soriano is growing on me.

 

Shooting the moon a little here

 

Pierre .350 OBP / 10 HR / +speed

Cedeno .350 OBP / 15 HR / +speed

Abreu .400 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

Lee .380 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Aram .380 OBP / 40 HR /

Soriano .320 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Barrett .350 OBP / 20 HR /

Jones .320 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

 

I'd keep him, and if we had a glaring need for a bat come June or so, then we could trade him or Williams or Rusch or something.

 

Keep him at first.

[Bergy92]

I like Zito, but I'd spin him. Our pitching isn't weak, it just needs to stay healthy. If the pitching staff can't stay healthy, Zito would be nice, but I don't feel our current offense can compete if the current pitchers can't stay healthy.

 

Zito for Abreu or Zito for Manny.

 

I'd go with one more move, don't know how, but Soriano is growing on me.

 

Shooting the moon a little here

 

Pierre .350 OBP / 10 HR / +speed

Cedeno .350 OBP / 15 HR / +speed

Abreu .400 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

Lee .380 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Aram .380 OBP / 40 HR /

Soriano .320 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Barrett .350 OBP / 20 HR /

Jones .320 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

 

even if we could "shoot the moon", how do you figure Soriano in the mix?

[Magnetic Curses]

I like Zito, but I'd spin him. Our pitching isn't weak, it just needs to stay healthy. If the pitching staff can't stay healthy, Zito would be nice, but I don't feel our current offense can compete if the current pitchers can't stay healthy.

 

Zito for Abreu or Zito for Manny.

 

I'd go with one more move, don't know how, but Soriano is growing on me.

 

Shooting the moon a little here

 

Pierre .350 OBP / 10 HR / +speed

Cedeno .350 OBP / 15 HR / +speed

Abreu .400 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

Lee .380 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Aram .380 OBP / 40 HR /

Soriano .320 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Barrett .350 OBP / 20 HR /

Jones .320 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

 

even if we could "shoot the moon", how do you figure Soriano in the mix?

 

pierre couldn't hit 10 hrs on the moon.

[RockTheIvy]

I like Zito, but I'd spin him. Our pitching isn't weak, it just needs to stay healthy. If the pitching staff can't stay healthy, Zito would be nice, but I don't feel our current offense can compete if the current pitchers can't stay healthy.

 

Zito for Abreu or Zito for Manny.

 

I'd go with one more move, don't know how, but Soriano is growing on me.

 

Shooting the moon a little here

 

Pierre .350 OBP / 10 HR / +speed

Cedeno .350 OBP / 15 HR / +speed

Abreu .400 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

Lee .380 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Aram .380 OBP / 40 HR /

Soriano .320 OBP / 40 HR / +speed

Barrett .350 OBP / 20 HR /

Jones .320 OBP / 25 HR / +speed

 

even if we could "shoot the moon", how do you figure Soriano in the mix?

 

pierre couldn't hit 10 hrs on the moon.

 

Yeah that's a great offense. But it's also close to career years across the board.

[YearofDaCubs]

According to Gammons this morning on Mike and Mike, every GM he has asked has reported that Zito is unavailable, and that the only people making him available are the media.

 

/FWIW

I believe it. Beane got rid of Hudson and Mulder before even thinking of trading Zito. They probably want him as the face of this org. Who knows.

[rawaction]

According to Gammons this morning on Mike and Mike, every GM he has asked has reported that Zito is unavailable, and that the only people making him available are the media.

 

/FWIW

I believe it. Beane got rid of Hudson and Mulder before even thinking of trading Zito. They probably want him as the face of this org. Who knows.

 

Could be. But they aren't gonna have him in 07, either way. They watched Damon, Giambi, and Tejada walk in consecutive seasons, then the next time they got a chance, they traded Mulder and Hudson. I think they will trade Zito, but only if they get a good package in return. I think they'd "settle" for 2 high draft picks, trusting their scouting rather than trading for crap.

[YearofDaCubs]

According to Gammons this morning on Mike and Mike, every GM he has asked has reported that Zito is unavailable, and that the only people making him available are the media.

 

/FWIW

I believe it. Beane got rid of Hudson and Mulder before even thinking of trading Zito. They probably want him as the face of this org. Who knows.

 

Could be. But they aren't gonna have him in 07, either way. They watched Damon, Giambi, and Tejada walk in consecutive seasons, then the next time they got a chance, they traded Mulder and Hudson. I think they will trade Zito, but only if they get a good package in return. I think they'd "settle" for 2 high draft picks, trusting their scouting rather than trading for crap.

Good point.

[BigbadB]

pierre couldn't hit 10 hrs on the moon.

 

How can you say that? He's hit 9 in his major league career of 3411 at bats. If he gets 3500 at bats in 2006, surely he has the chance to hit 10 HR's. :D

[Magnetic Curses]

pierre couldn't hit 10 hrs on the moon.

 

How can you say that? He's hit 9 in his major league career of 3411 at bats. If he gets 3500 at bats in 2006, surely he has the chance to hit 10 HR's. :D

 

:-k i'm just wondering how he got those 9 in the first place.

[BigbadB]

pierre couldn't hit 10 hrs on the moon.

 

How can you say that? He's hit 9 in his major league career of 3411 at bats. If he gets 3500 at bats in 2006, surely he has the chance to hit 10 HR's. :D

 

:-k i'm just wondering how he got those 9 in the first place.

 

I wonder how many of them are inside-the-park "blasts".

[SeldomSeen]

pierre couldn't hit 10 hrs on the moon.

 

How can you say that? He's hit 9 in his major league career of 3411 at bats. If he gets 3500 at bats in 2006, surely he has the chance to hit 10 HR's. :D

 

:-k i'm just wondering how he got those 9 in the first place.

He hit 8 of them from second base. The other was inside the park. :D

[anemic offense]

I like Zito. Get him.

 

I don't. I get the feeling he's one of the those pitchers who once he get figured out, isn't that hard to hit. Then factor in his probable price tag (with his service time and Cy Young) and what we'd give up to get him and I don't think it'd be worth it.

 

My opionion may change however, if the Cubs are getting him to spin to another team. Abreu is one of the obvious choices, but that all hinges on what we'd have to give up to get both players and the lenght of time he'd be on this team. Currently, I'm unaware of his contract status in both years and dollars he's owed. That may make things more difficult.