November 30, 2006
Get Out the Check Book
With Barry Zito showing interest in the Texas Rangers because of Ron Washington, I wonder if the Rangers will review their past:
Millwood was 16-12 after being the team's key free-agent addition last winter. Boras got the right-hander a $60 million, five-year deal.
Boras, the agent for Matsuzaka, also negotiated the $252 million, 10-year deal Alex Rodriguez got from the Rangers in December 2000, and Texas' $65 million, five-year contract for Chan Ho Park the next year.
Actually, the Millwood deal was pretty good, and they were getting the best player in baseball in A-Rod. The Park, deal, however, is one they'd like to forget.
I crack up when I read about a player showing interest because of a coach. Maybe it's true once or twice but how much is that 'interest' worth if the team only offers a low contract?
East coast writers have him interested in the Mets because of Rick Peterson. If Pittsburgh had a lot of money to spend writers would point out that coach Jeff Cox was once in the Oakland system even though it was before Zito was born.
Zito in Texas would be a disaster. Guys who don't throw strikes should not pitch in hitter's havens. Whereas Shea, which is built for power pitchers, is a much better fit.
Of course, he will want a deal that lasts into the Mets' tenure in CitiField, the characteristics of which remain unknown.
It's funny how deals that looked bad last season are looking like bargains this year. Burnett's deal was ripped more than Millwood's but what team wouldn't offer the same deals to those guys this offseason.