In what I consider a shocker, Barry Zito has agreed to a deal with the San Fransisco Giants. What's not the shocking part is the money, Barry will get a reported 126 million over 7 years with an option for an 8th year giving the total deal a possible 137 million value. It's the largest for any pitcher in the history of baseball, surpassing the previous mark set by Mike Hampton and the Colorado Rockies for 121 million over 8 years. The seven year guarenteed deal is tied for the sixth largest in the history of baseball, tying Vernon Wells mark set just a short while ago, yet still pailing in comparision to what the Cubs guarenteed the 31 year old Alfonso Soriano, 136 million over 8 years.
So what does the signing of Zito have to do with the Cubs? It deals with the Cubs in that Carlos Zambrano, our only stud to turn out thus far of our "three-headed pitching monster" of 2003, is a free agent at the end of the 2007 season and he's looking to be paid. Statistically speaking he is very comparable to Barry, and he's three years younger.
Carlos has already commented this offseason that he's not willing to take a hometown discount like his friend Aramis Ramirez did. Which is rightfully so, the Cubs have went hogwild this offseason in their spending, dishing out 40 million/4 years and 21 million/3 years to average pitchers in Lilly and Marquis while giving Soriano the fifth richest contract in MLB history.
When Carlos was coming up through the system, he was touted for his arsenal, but quickly excelled for his bulldog attitude and ability to keep the ball on the ground and in the park. But Zambrano was NOT pegged as a starter, instead most scouts and analysts had him as a setup/closer type role due to various factors such as the depth of Cubs pitching prospects, his demeanor, and his high walk rate.
Original Story:
http://www.cubshub.com/article.php?story....
So what does the signing of Zito have to do with the Cubs? It deals with the Cubs in that Carlos Zambrano, our only stud to turn out thus far of our "three-headed pitching monster" of 2003, is a free agent at the end of the 2007 season and he's looking to be paid. Statistically speaking he is very comparable to Barry, and he's three years younger.
Carlos has already commented this offseason that he's not willing to take a hometown discount like his friend Aramis Ramirez did. Which is rightfully so, the Cubs have went hogwild this offseason in their spending, dishing out 40 million/4 years and 21 million/3 years to average pitchers in Lilly and Marquis while giving Soriano the fifth richest contract in MLB history.
When Carlos was coming up through the system, he was touted for his arsenal, but quickly excelled for his bulldog attitude and ability to keep the ball on the ground and in the park. But Zambrano was NOT pegged as a starter, instead most scouts and analysts had him as a setup/closer type role due to various factors such as the depth of Cubs pitching prospects, his demeanor, and his high walk rate.
Original Story:
http://www.cubshub.com/article.php?story....
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