I don't think panic about losing your best pitcher in over a decade is over-reaction, especially seeing as this demand is coming after some really questionable spending has been made. Had this demand come in November, he'd be locked up by now. But with the stupid contracts given to Lilly, Marquis, DeRosa, etc with almost no thought about locking up Z long term I think this is a perfect time to panic. It really is. If you look at the budget crunch that looms in 2009 it's hard not to attach some major urgency to keeping Z. This is a team that has to do whatever is necessary to win now. At last! A valid point. (valid, but not germane) Given the current budget 2009 could be a rough year to plug holes. With big commitments and a thin farm system assuming the budget doesn't increase significantly again, Hendry may have crippled the future. A Z extention to big bucks could be the final nail in the 2009 coffin (again assuming no SIGNIFICANT increase in budget) That doesn't mean Hendry will let Z walk after this year. No way no how. He'll extend him, and we better start praying now for 2009.