Holy (EXPLETIVE)....Zito's Contract Demands

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Boras wants a seven year deal for Zito. Also, check out the price tag.

 

Link.

 

The Mets do believe Zito is the remaining pitcher who 1) fits the profile they're looking for, and 2) is gettable. While they might not be willing to meet agent Scott Boras' asking price of about $105 million for seven years, they're expected to make a serious offer for five or perhaps even six years for the free-agent left-hander.

 

Pass.

[Derwood]

This is the first report of actual numbers/years I've heard connected to Zito.

 

per Rotoworld:

 

The Mets are intending to make a strong play for Barry Zito, SI.com's Jon Heyman reports.

Agent Scott Boras is believed to be asking for a seven-year, $105 million contract for Zito. Heyman says the Mets are willing to go five years or maybe six. The Rangers, Angels, Dodgers, Padres and Cubs could also be among the high bidders for Zito. Heyman doesn't seem to believe the Yankees will seriously pursue him.

[Derwood]

Boras wants a seven year deal for Zito. Also, check out the price tag.

 

Link.

 

The Mets do believe Zito is the remaining pitcher who 1) fits the profile they're looking for, and 2) is gettable. While they might not be willing to meet agent Scott Boras' asking price of about $105 million for seven years, they're expected to make a serious offer for five or perhaps even six years for the free-agent left-hander.

 

Pass.

 

we may need a merge here. I just posted almost exactly the same thing in another new thread, mine from rotworld. Can we get a mod please!

[WrigleyinEngland]

Mr Zito stay as far away from Wrigley as you can. Go to the Mets they like overpriced and Overated talent.

[CubinNY]

Zito won't be signed until January or February.

[UMFan83]

Sad thing is, that is what you have to pay if you want a top of the rotation starter...even if he is overrated

[WrigleyinEngland]

I'd rather bet on Prior and Woods arms lasting all year than zito peforming like a #1 starter this year. To me at that money he should gurantee me 15+ wins and an ERA below 4 niether will happen wherever he ends up.

[erik316wttn]

I have a feeling that will come down quite a bit.

[frostwyrm]

Boras wants a seven year deal for Zito. Also, check out the price tag.

 

Link.

 

The Mets do believe Zito is the remaining pitcher who 1) fits the profile they're looking for, and 2) is gettable. While they might not be willing to meet agent Scott Boras' asking price of about $105 million for seven years, they're expected to make a serious offer for five or perhaps even six years for the free-agent left-hander.

 

Pass.

 

If Zito actually gets 7/105 I shudder to think what Carlos Zambrano will get.

[erik316wttn]

Boras wants a seven year deal for Zito. Also, check out the price tag.

 

Link.

 

The Mets do believe Zito is the remaining pitcher who 1) fits the profile they're looking for, and 2) is gettable. While they might not be willing to meet agent Scott Boras' asking price of about $105 million for seven years, they're expected to make a serious offer for five or perhaps even six years for the free-agent left-hander.

 

Pass.

 

If Zito actually gets 7/105 I shudder to think what Carlos Zambrano will get.

 

Which is why he should be signed to an extention immediately. He has one more good year and he may price himself out of range.

 

He won't be cheap, but he'll be cheaper if you do it now as opposed to next offseason. Can you imagine the money people would throw at him if he'd hit the open market?

[Guest]

I have a feeling that will come down quite a bit.

 

why? He's a top starter, he's 28. While I wouldn't sign him to that contract, it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone did.

[Derwood]

Mets are also rumored to be inquiring with the White Sox about Vazquez (and his $15.5 million next year). Sure, just spend whatever

[jmajew]

Mets are also rumored to be inquiring with the White Sox about Vazquez (and his $15.5 million next year). Sure, just spend whatever

 

I would think Vazquez would be their Plan B.

[Iceblink]

I'm having Mike Hampton flashbacks.

[Southpaw191679666239]

He won't be cheap, but he'll be cheaper if you do it now as opposed to next offseason. Can you imagine the money people would throw at him if he'd hit the open market?

 

10/$200M :P

[abuck1220]

if starting pitching really is this expensive/hard to get, i am doubly happy that hendry traded three starters for pierre.

[Derwood]

if starting pitching really is this expensive/hard to get, i am doubly happy that hendry traded three starters for pierre.

 

sure, they were cheap and young, but their 1.41, 1.56 and 1.58 WHIPS last year weren't anything you'd actively try to acquire. In other words, having seen what they did last year, you wouldn't try trading for them, and they would all be behind Marmol/Marshall/Guzman/Hill/Ryu in the Cub pitching logma.

[cubweiser03]

Take the 25% Boras haircut and you got 11-12M. Im surprised he didnt say Mussina type $18M. Hell the yankees gave a 2 year $32M extension for an old Randy Johnson. Look at him now.

[abuck1220]

if starting pitching really is this expensive/hard to get, i am doubly happy that hendry traded three starters for pierre.

 

sure, they were cheap and young, but their 1.41, 1.56 and 1.58 WHIPS last year weren't anything you'd actively try to acquire. In other words, having seen what they did last year, you wouldn't try trading for them, and they would all be behind Marmol/Marshall/Guzman/Hill/Ryu in the Cub pitching logma.

 

i understand that. but seeing how expensive acquiring top notch starting pitching is through FA, i would rather take my chances on some young guys panning out than trading them all for some crappy LEGITIMATE lead off hitter.

 

by the way, i've noticed that LEGITIMATE has been replaced by BONA FIDE by some writers this offseason. that will be an interesting development to track.

[Guest]

a very good point abuck and really the secret behind the A's and Twins being able to stay competitive. starting pitchers are grossly overpaid and anyone who can develop and keep healthy young pitchers has a huge leg up on the league.

[Laura]

I have a feeling that will come down quite a bit.

 

why? He's a top starter, he's 28. While I wouldn't sign him to that contract, it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone did.

 

I think he'll get truckloads of money, but if he gets seven years, I'll be surprised. Even in the current market.

[cubweiser03]

I have a feeling that will come down quite a bit.

 

why? He's a top starter, he's 28. While I wouldn't sign him to that contract, it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone did.

 

I think he'll get truckloads of money, but if he gets seven years, I'll be surprised. Even in the current market.

 

Also isnt there something with insurance purposes with contracts over 5 years for pitchers?

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I have a feeling that will come down quite a bit.

 

why? He's a top starter, he's 28. While I wouldn't sign him to that contract, it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone did.

 

I think he'll get truckloads of money, but if he gets seven years, I'll be surprised. Even in the current market.

 

Also isnt there something with insurance purposes with contracts over 5 years for pitchers?

 

It's worse, you can only insure a player for 3 years.

[Outshined_One]

if starting pitching really is this expensive/hard to get, i am doubly happy that hendry traded three starters for pierre.

 

sure, they were cheap and young, but their 1.41, 1.56 and 1.58 WHIPS last year weren't anything you'd actively try to acquire. In other words, having seen what they did last year, you wouldn't try trading for them, and they would all be behind Marmol/Marshall/Guzman/Hill/Ryu in the Cub pitching logma.

 

Part of the reason why I personally am annoyed and upset about the Pierre trade was that those three guys could have been put to better use than what likely will be a one year rental of a CF whose only plus tool is his speed. Teams might have been willing to pay more than that for those three guys. Heck, all are still young and developing; I wouldn't expect all of them to continue to have WHIPs that high (especially Nolasco).

 

Plus, given all of the injuries to that cadre of pitching, maybe it wouldn't have been a bad idea to have Mitre, Pinto, and Nolasco thrown in there.

[goonys evil twin]

I have a feeling that will come down quite a bit.

 

why? He's a top starter, he's 28. While I wouldn't sign him to that contract, it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone did.

 

I think he'll get truckloads of money, but if he gets seven years, I'll be surprised. Even in the current market.

 

Remember around the turn of the century, 7 years was not that big of a deal for most teams. The dot.com bubble burst, and the economy was hurt by 9/11, and money didn't flow as easily. That's why 7 year deals stopped. But the economy has rebounded, and MLB teams are flush with cash and feeling good about the future. Toronto gave 5 year deals to an oft-injured slightly above average starter, and to a closer. The Mets gave a 7 year deal to Beltran, and a 4 year deal to a pitcher on his last legs. They essentially said "we don't care what he does in his last two years, this is about winning now." It only takes one team with that attitude to make it happen. 7 year deals will once again become the norm, just as they were when Bagwell, Hampton, Chipper, and the others signed theres. If a somewhat brittle Jim Thome could get 6 years in the middle of the downturn in contracts, then a consistently healthy and productive 28 year old Zito could probably get 7.