Giants GM Brian Sabean told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that he does not intend to trade Barry Zito this offseason. The Giants owe the left-hander $64.5MM over the course of the next three years – a lot of money for someone who hasn’t pitched like a $20MM player. Zito struggled down the stretch and is not on the Giants’ World Series roster, but Sabean says he likes having him on the team.
"We like Barry's contribution as far as the innings he pitches and the starts he makes," Sabean said.
Zito, who is in the fourth year of his seven-year $126MM deal, logged just under 200 innings this season. He posted a 4.25 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 overall, but pitched to a 6.14 ERA in August and September. Zito makes his starts, but it's not as if teams are lining up to acquire the former Cy Young Award winner. The Giants couldn't trade him without taking on $40MM or more.
Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and last night's hero, Madison Bumgarner, occupy four spots in San Francisco's rotation. Sabean said lefty reliever Dan Runzler may get the chance to start, according to Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse (on Twitter).
He better get ready to pitch a game seven — I wouldn’t want to go with Sanchez on the mound.
Can you imagine, lol?
Yeah, I kinda figure if this reaches game 7 then smart money is on Sanchez losing his cool and Rangers winning. But realistically if it doesn’t end tonight then odds are Cain will end it.
No need. Cain will end it in game six I think.
Not before Colby wins in game 7.
That makes sense.??..?????? lol.
Not anymore it doesn’t.
I suddenly have a good feeling that Lincecum will win it in game 5
feel free to supplant “don’t intent to” with “can’t” here.
Funny I was just about to say that.
I guess Sabean really can’t say “I’m not good at making big FA deals.”
Sabean didn’t sign Zito. Peter Magowan, the former managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants did.
Do you have a source that states the deal was staged solely by Magowan?
It is my understanding that Magowan convinced Sabean to sign Zito; therefore, both are to blame.
Was it Magowan to blame for Rowand, too? Or the fact that the Giants have $55M tied up in 4 players (Rowand, Wilson, Zito and Cain) for 2012…
Guess that why he’s FORMER managing general partner of the san francisco giants.
They WON’T because they CAN’T. Sort of an odd post. I guess for that matter the Yanks WON’T trade Arod either.
A.J. Burnett for Barry Zito.
I think Giants would do that — not sure about the Yankees. Zito would get destroyed in AL East.
Couldn’t be worse than Burnett.
HHHHHHHHeeeeee…..Hehhhhhhhhhhhh…..Heeeeehhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeellllllllllnnnnnnnooooooooooo!
No thanks. Not unless you promise to throw in Aaron Rowand as well.
Rowand AND Zito for AJ Burnett? The Giants would rejoice.
As a Yankee fan I could care less. I’ll take a bat and bag of major league balls for Burnett but could you guys eat his salary lol.
As a Yankee fan I could care less. I’ll take a bat and bag of major league balls for Burnett but could you guys eat his salary lol.
That would be contradicting your name.
He should try to. Eat a lot of money and trade him for someone like big Z.
Nah, Z is cheaper and better, no point in making that deal for only a little salary relief. No point for the Cubs I mean.
A trade conversation between Saeban and another GM regarding Zito would sort of sound like the talent coordinator of a circus interviewing the Kielbasa Queen. “How much did you say you can swallow”?
If the Giants found a GM that’s dumb enough to take that massive contract, Sabean would be even dumber NOT to move Zito, even if the return was a used rasin bag.
Yea Omar is out of a GM job, and Hendry doesn’t have an open purse.
In other news, the Cubs don’t intend to trade Soriano.
Wow and nobody intends to want him.
Give Zito credit for working and improving himself the last few years but he’s never going to be what he was. He’s viewed as a failure but it’s not his fault, it’s the contract. If he were making $6 million a year he might be a good value and teams wouldn’t mind having him. It’s all about perception. From the Giants perspective it’s a big miss on a lot of money. From Zito’s perspective, he’s got to deal with the negativity but otherwise, what does he care?
I dont see Runzler being a starter unless he gets better secondary pitches even though his fastball is electric. Plus we got Zack Wheeler in the mix for a starter in the next two seasons or sooner as soon as he cleans up his changeup. I’m really glad that the farm system is the way it is because it gets more and more awesome every year. The Giants are primed for more than one championship this decade because of some more youngsters like Brandon Belt, Charlie Cluberson, Zack Wheeler, Gary Brown, and Thomas Neal coming up pretty soon.
what Sabean really meant was
“i would kill to get rid of him, but no team will take this horrible contract off my hands that i was stupid enough to give to him.”
while he says he doesn’t intend to trade him, i bet no teams intend to trade for him either.
This is just a joke, but if Zito were to die an unnatural death, Saeban would be my first suspect. In life the spouse is usually the 1st one you rule out. In baseball, it’s the GM if the player was signed to a bad deal like Zito’s.
hahahaha, well obviously the spouse would be the first one to be ruled out, her husband’s making 20 mil a year!
hahahaha, well obviously the spouse would be the first one to be ruled out, her husband’s making 20 mil a year!
I’m wondering why the hell you would try to turn Runzler into a starter. If you can get him back to 2009 form, then he is a valuable piece of a good bullpen. Also, you already have five starters signed for 2011 and beyond. Unless they are looking to keep him down in Fresno to start next season…
I don’t think there are many comparably bad contracts out there, Alfonso Soriano maybe? He is owed $72 million over the next 4 seasons. He is overpaid, but he is a lot more productive than Zito.
As a Jays fan who would love to see Vernon Wells (and his contract bloat) traded away for just about anyone or anything, I don’t think I would trade him for Zito…
The Giants are going to be stuck with Zito, I don’t think a 4.25 ERA is too bad for a 5th starter. Yes, his contract sucks, but I don’t mind seeing him beat other teams’ 5th starters on a regular basis since he was going against #2 starters for most of the season and doing well for a while until the All-Star break…
Vernon Wells for Zito.. We need a new loogy now that tallets leaving!
I agree, bring Dana Eveland back…
Joke.
I just got back from burger king and dana eveland is the assistant manager.. gunna be tough to grab him now.
He’s having it his way.
Vernon Wells for Zito.. We need a new loogy now that tallets leaving!
The contracts match up well, but I think Vernon Wells might be too “valuable” to trade away, if that makes any sense. Nobody is going to take that contract, but he had a bounceback year and was still a valuable player. Zito is worthless
Zito’s about a league-average pitcher. That’s hardly worthless.
Yeah…at $18 mil a year for the next 5 seasons he pretty much is.
I agree he’s way overpaid (3 more seasons plus a buyout, btw, not 5). But that’s not what j6takish was arguing.
Wells is grossly overpaid, but a lot teams would love to have him (provided they didn’t have to pay him). If he truly did make a comeback (big what if) and if the Blue Jays move him to LF where he belongs (he was -7.0 Runs in CF this year), that contract would be way more bearable. Who would want Zito, even with most of his salary paid?
These are big what if’s, but it takes more than just similar dollar amounts to justify a “bad contract swap”
exactly.. i think the worst part about vernon is his contract.when he has been healthy, he’s been one of the best offensive CF in the game… however his time in center are numbered and a shift to right with a speedy center fielder coming in is exactly what the team needs..j6takish… i say right only because with snider occupying the other outfield spot, he’s probably more suited to be a left fielder.
I think if the Giants agreed to pay most of Zito’s salary (say, all but 3 million a year), almost every team in the league would ask about him. League average pitchers don’t grow on trees. Now, I’m not saying Zito for Wells would necessarily be fair; I’m just saying Zito as a pitcher (forgetting his contract for a minute) isn’t worthless.
I agree he’s way overpaid (3 more seasons plus a buyout, btw, not 5). But that’s not what j6takish was arguing.
The contracts match up well, but I think Vernon Wells might be too “valuable” to trade away, if that makes any sense. Nobody is going to take that contract, but he had a bounceback year and was still a valuable player. Zito is worthless
Nothing like paying a pitcher $20 Million because ” they like having him around on the team”
Wish I got paid a lot just because my company just liked to have me around
Nothing like paying a pitcher $20 Million because ” they like having him around on the team”
Wish I got paid a lot just because my company just liked to have me around
Congrats to the SF Giants on a great season!!!! The little engine that could did what the giant locomotive didn’t. Congrats to the Rangers for a great season. I’ll extend to you and the fans warm wishes despite your owner trying to ppop on Yankee fans w/ his comment. Keep your head up C.Lee. You’re still a great one and hopefully you’ll make “us” happy this winter. Timmy, you the man. I know those trees will be burning long this week. Don’t forget to stock up on the Orange Gatorade and gallons of Cranberry juice first. Cashman, contact your travel agent, destination Little Rock. To my fellow fans…LET THE HOT STOVE SEASON BEGIN!!!!!
Congrats Giant fans! A great season, it’s always so much sweeter with a team like you guys have, the core is homegrown and so many unsung heroes! Congrats and lets get the offseason started.
Did Lincey say “I hope there’s a lot of beer flowing and (inaudible) in the air”? Did anyone hear what he said?
mary jane?
It sounded like it was a weed reference but I didn’t hear it. Not sure if they bleeped it out via the 7 second delay or not. Funny.
Well with that hippie hair cut of his i doubt anyone is surprised
Well with that hippie hair cut of his i doubt anyone is surprised
mary jane?
So was there ever a more overpaid player than zito who got a world series ring?
So was there ever a more overpaid player than zito who got a world series ring?
He wasnt even on the playoff roster.. they didnt even value him enough to put him in the pen.. these comments are an absolute joke
He wasnt even on the playoff roster.. they didnt even value him enough to put him in the pen.. these comments are an absolute joke
congrats bengie molina no matter what you got your self a ring…gotta love how he made it to the WS on a new team his old team makes it and no matter what he gets a ring…good career for a solid good guy….he gets to retire with two rings now..
do you honestly think he cares about getting a ring though? he lost in the world series, i get its a nice consolation. . but i’m sure the guy is more upset about losing
oh i dont doubt it would have been nicer to win it straight up. But I dont doubt that he will feel some pride knowing the team he was one won it and it was a team that he helped get there with his play earlier this season…