MLB Player News: [Rumor] Barry Zito (FA)

Posts: 4543 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 6:33 pm

Baseball Player News: Barry Zito (FA)
By: James Meyerriecks

News: Is the Zito saga about to come to an end? St. Louis Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa was shown on the local news in St. Louis holding a piece of paper that he claimed was an agreement that the star lefty was coming to St. Louis. The folded piece of paper said, "I agree to play for the St. Louis Cardinals." When LaRussa opened the document, he proudly showed Barry Zito's signature on the inside.

Views: I have no details apart from the belief that Zito is about to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals. LaRussa has never been known to play games with this kind of thing, and the assumption was always that Zito would like to go somewhere where he has a chance to win. It would be a bit surprising to see Walt Jocketty open up the checkbook as much as he would have to in order to get Zito, but the market in terms of what the Redbirds are looking for seems to have closed outside of Zito.

More details as we have them......

Posts: 6747 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 7:12 pm

I have not seen this anywhere on the web. Not even the Cardinals site. umm... Jim?

Posts: 1710 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 7:27 pm

Hence rumor. I've found nothing on any national level to substantiate this anywhere. I haven't heard anything regarding contract details. I also thought it was odd since Zito's agent, Scott Boras, has been busy brokering the deal that will make Daisuke Matsuzaka a member of the Boston Red Sox.

All I'm going on is local news, and they had LaRussa holding the piece of paper with Zito's signature. It's a rumor and nothing more at this point.

Posts: 6747 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 7:29 pm

Ya I really don't believe this. As of now.

Posts: 9906 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 8:35 pm

It's hard to believe the Cardinals would go after another highly-touted A's pitcher, even if he never has been on the DL...

but, if Bill DeWitt was honest when he said the Cards will have a payroll around 100-105 million, by my estimates they have about 15 to 18 MM left to spend for this year. Since this team doesn't look like it has any holes left but starting pitching (unless they want to find a platoon partner for Encarnacion or Duncan), Zito could fit.

Posts: 6725 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 8:50 pm

zito would be a great fit with the cards, but I don't see them spending that much money on him

plus I am still holding onto hopes that he will end up in NY with my beloved mets

Posts: 7344 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 8:55 pm

ricky11702 wrote:

zito would be a great fit with the cards, but I don't see them spending that much money on him

plus I am still holding onto hopes that he will end up in NY with my beloved mets

Zito is just a better version of Mark Mulder.

Posts: 1710 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 11:33 pm

Rumor overblown... Never trust second-hand information. Larussa was having some fun and joked about the whole deal now that I've actually seen the whole piece myself rather than hearing about it through three different people. Walt Jocketty denied that the club was even pursuing Zito right afterwards............

Posts: 6747 · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 11:57 pm

Told you so.

Posts: 239 · FIC Veteran Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: UCLA Posts: 239

yeah...that seemed completely out of left field. after we've been hearing mets, rangers, etc. for weeks. I'm holding out hope the angels will sign him, personally.

Posts: 6747 · Posted: Dec 14, 2006 10:10 am

That is one ugly man as your avatar. Who is it?

Posts: 7344 · Posted: Dec 14, 2006 10:11 am

Ollo wrote:

That is one ugly man as your avatar. Who is it?

Is that supposed to be green font?

I think it's Jake Plummer.

Posts: 6747 · Posted: Dec 14, 2006 10:16 am

DOH!!! wrote:

Ollo wrote:

That is one ugly man as your avatar. Who is it?

Is that supposed to be green font?

Nope that's sincerely is an ugly man.

Posts: 5239 · Posted: Dec 14, 2006 1:21 pm

baron162 wrote:

yeah...that seemed completely out of left field. after we've been hearing mets, rangers, etc. for weeks. I'm holding out hope the angels will sign him, personally.

I doubt Stoneman will do anything worthwhile this offseason. He's still celebrating the 2002 World Series and wishing Orlando Palmeiro was still around.