Astros Could Pursue Zito

For months (seems like years) both New York teams have been claiming ownership of Barry Zito.  We know that he kind of likes the city and won’t re-sign with Oakland.  Both the Mets and Yankees sorely need a dependable #2 like Zito.

But Ken Rosenthal reminded us recently that the Astros will have a ton of free cash after 2006 for a player like Zito.  Jeff Bagwell and Andy Pettitte make a combined $34.5MM this year, and there’s little chance Roger Clemens is still around.  That will leave a lot of money and a huge void in the starting rotation behind Roy Oswalt.  Zito’s estimated worth according to Baseball Prospectus for 2007-2010? Just $22MM.  Not that the Yankees care. 

If Houston doesn’t snag Zito, I see them signing or trading for Jose Contreras, Jason Schmidt, Kerry Wood, Kelvim Escobar, Adam Eaton, Mark Mulder, or Doug Davis instead.  Wood, of course, is from Irving, Texas – but does that really matter?  A topic for another time: with the impending free agency of Davis and Carlos Lee, should the Brewers go for broke in 2006?