Dec. 26: The Zito and Johnson scenario
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- December
- 26
If the Yankees are successful in dumping Randy Johnson (give GM Brian Cashman kudos if he does) and they make a run at Barry Zito, they will get him. The Yankees have the resources not only to make an offer, but take the hit if it doesn’t work out.
The Yankees, however, have given no indication they want Zito.
With Texas trading for Brandon McCarthy and Jeff Suppan off the board, the Mets have appeared as front runners for Zito. However, for a team in dire need of pitching, they don’t seem that aggressive. If they are waiting for the market to drop and Zito to come to them, that’s a gamble.
The Mets say they are serious about Zito, but they’ve dragged their feet. The last thing they needed was to get in a bidding war for him with the Yankees.
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on Tuesday, December 26th, 2006 at 4:45 pm by LoHudBlogs.com Admin.
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As a Mets fan…this stinks. I'm so sick of this junk. Just give up a couple of players and get Haren/Harden/Blanton. Zito will not be near the top of my favorite Met list. I really thought he wanted to be a Met. Now, you're right, it is all about money to the "hippie" dude. Very frustrating.
From what I'm hearing, the Zito market is now coming to the Mets. The Rangers are reportedly out of it; the Giants aren't likely to offer more than four years; and the Mariners simply don't have the money for a competitive bid.
The Yankee speculation, I think, is a stock move from the Boras Playbook: Create the illusion that some other team is interested when the actual field has been limited to one.
Boras' real decision here is whether to sign the pitcher to a long-term deal that might not be to his liking (e.g., maybe only five years rather than the six he's been seeking) or take a one- or two-year deal and try the market again in the near future (a la JD Drew).
To BDID …
I agree. Zito and his agent are playing this for all its worth. If Zito wanted the Mets, this would have been done a while ago.
To BennyAyala …
You are right. Boras wants nothing more than to pit the Mets and Yankees against each other.
to me this all seems like writers and analysts who are bored by the lull in the offseason and seem to be almost just making stuff up. The little i have read on this has been writers speculating that its to "possibly" go after zito.
Is it possible the yankees go after zito? sure i guess,but it seems more likely they go after clemens than zito.
Hi John = I heard that Johnson was more amenable to a trade now that his brother has died and he needs to be nearer to his family.
Did you hear this?
To Dan …
Agreed. Clemens is who they want. The thinking would be to get him for this season, than go after Zambrano next winter.