According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have had discussions with Scott Boras concerning his client Barry Zito.

Even though Zito lives in San Francisco, I don't view the Giants as a possible destination for Zito since they won't be able to fork over as much money and because they will probably be a terrible team for the next season or two.

MLB.com reports that the deal is worth $33 million and contains a $12 million
option for 2010.
 
Rangers GM Jon Daniels added that the Padilla deal would in no way
hinder the Rangers' pursuit of Barry Zito.

John Delco @ his blog gives us a recap of what Omar talked about with the Media earlier tonight.

Just finished session with Mets GM Omar Minaya, who said he’ll meet with agent Scott Boras this week regarding FA lefty Barry Zito. Reportedly, Zito has offer of $102 milliion over six years. Minaya said Mets have the ability to add payroll, but haven’t determined their parameters.

The meeting with Boras will be informational. “Scott will have a lot of statistics saying how great his player is,” Minaya said. An offer, if it comes, will come after the reports are digested. Minaya said the trade market for pitching is cool right now, with those teams that have pitchers to deal waiting to see how the market shakes out.

Again, Minaya said pitching is a priority, and if a starter isn’t added he would be content going into spring training with what he has. I think he’s playing his cards close to the vest and tempering his interest in Zito. No sense showing urgency that would drive up the price.

Among other things, Minaya also said:

* He’s reviewing a list of relievers also, and said the market is pricey.
* Negotiations on manager Willie Randolph’s contract extension are on-going.
* There’s no overwhelming need to add position players.
* He’s still considering reliever Guillermo Mota.

The Great Metstradamus takes a moment from rocking back and forth in the shower while still dressed in the crash position to tell us how he's sick of agents running the show when it comes to talking to free agents.

On Gotham Baseball's Rumor Mill, they quote a west coast baseball official who believes the Pods pose the biggest threat to the Mets acquisition of Barry Zito.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the White Sox are close to trading P Jon Garland and the Rangers are the most likely trade partner. Any trade with Texas would have to include P John Danks.

Texas has shown interest in Sox OF Brian Anderson to replace OF Gary Matthews Jr. so the trade could expand beyong Garland and prospects.

Why are the Sox trading Garland? He was the only realiable pitcher they had last year. He would have been the one pitcher on the staff I wouldn't have traded. Now they are stuck with 4 pitchers on the downside of their careers and a question mark in Brandon McCarthey. Bad, bad move.

Also, if this trade happens, I would assume that eliminates the Rangers from the Barry Zito sweepstakes.

The Yankees and Mets appear to be doing the dance that teams tend to do in order to show they're not exactly in love with Scott Boras' latest shiny new toy. While the Mets privately would be very happy to add Barry Zito to their rotation citing how he would perform his best with the benefit of a pitchers park, a reunion with Rick Peterson, and a National League lineup to face every 5 days.

The Yankees seem a little more hesitant given his history against them and the Red Sox. Zito has a 3-9 record and 5.20 ERA against the Yanks and hasn't been much more effective against the Sox with a 4.78 ERA.

The Mets have more leverage than they have in past years. Players want to come to play for the Amazins now, and they hear the stories coming out of the clubhouse how the Mets are a loose, but professional group of ballplayers who sincerely appreciate playing for each other.

The following is a quote out of NorthJersey.com from a Met official that shows the change in atmosphere in Queens these days…

Beyond all the aesthetics, the bottom line comes down to money. What are the Mets and Yanks willing to give up to add a pitcher who is the best arm left on the market? Who will blink first, the Mets, the Yanks, or Boras? Then again, another team could come swooping in with a bigger offer, and considering the insanity that already pervades this off season, its more likely than not that the two local teams will have competition at nearly every avenue they survey. This could be one deal neither can afford to lose.

According to the Palm Beach Post, a National League GM said that the Marlins are telling teams that P Dontrelle Willis is not avaliable.

So much for that trade. For what its worth, the fish also said 1B Carlos Delgado wasn't avaliable last winter, but you all know where he is now.

The LA Times reports the Los Angeles Angels have made an offer to OF-2B Alfonso Soriano and it is believed to be a 6-year deal worth $80 million.

MLB.com reports the Rangers made a $27 million bid on P Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Thats $27 million that could be used to lure P Barry Zito to Arlington.

The Oakland A's have eliminated Nippom Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman from their managerial search. Bench coach Bob Geren, Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk and ESPN analyst Orel Hershiser are the final 3 canidates.

Seeing how the Foot has been getting a lot of traffic and commentators lately, I figured I might try to stir up the community and see who people would wish to see in a Met uniform (and not as well), a la forum-style — because, hey… we're all “Hot Foot Fans of the Day,” right?

In a recent conversation with Anthony (Ambassador Foot to y'all — rag on me all you want, but I still find it easier to say it than “you all” all profoundly), we compiled a list and came to the conclusion to four players we'd both want to see as a Met.  Before I get started, remember: a) all of the increased revenue that has picked up this past season due to attendance and merchandising (I'm even seeing a bunch of Mets propaganda in Atlanta, and I never used to come across that), b) we have a new television network coming soon, and c) oh, that ridonkulously beautific stadium that's supposedly going to be open on Opening Day of 2009.  Let's get retarde — err, wait… started (sorry, that stupid, unedited Black Eyed Peas song came up after visiting a friend's lame MySpace).

The List/Rundown/Rome Is Burning:

Starting Pitcher - Daisuke Matsuzaka

The so-called gyro pitcher, or who I like to call “Suzi,” short for “Matsuzi,” if that even makes sense (but now I'm just thinking of calling the dude “Sushi.”  All of this would probably change, of course, if he were to be a Skank or any less equivalent.   Anyways…).  Only 26, he already has 108 wins under his belt in the NPB.  He has ridiculous movement on his fastball, but even moreso with his “whatever-you-want-to-label-it” breaker.  Either way, it's mentioned that he doesn't throw the Gyroball and that the ball spins in an unorthodox fashion due to release “mistakes.”  Hah!  He will be sitting out the MLB/NPB All-Star Game this November (obviously).  The guy can pitch and not just at an overseas-level, and he would easily contend with Chien-Ming Wang (or, for the Chinese savy: 王建民) in the Clash of the Asians.  I really can't see any dropout from the transition to the MLB's talent and a bigger ball, but then again… scouting overseas talent ain't my cup of tea.  No way Omar lets this slip… I think he'd be able to perform in New York, seeing as if he's been in the Japanese limelight his entire baseball career (he apparently was a God in high school).  Also, after watching the YouTube video in Anthony's earlier article where he strikes out 14 batters, I've noticed two things: 1) live bands at baseball games would be cool as hell, and 2) he rocks LIVESTRONG, which makes him “baaawlin'!”* in my books.

*See New York Giants defense for more info.

Highlights of Matsuzaka from the WBC Championship against Cuba:


Pitching for the Seibu Lions (04/14/06):


Rotation of Matsuzaka's “Gyroball:”

Starting Pitcher - Barry Zito

He tied the A's in team wins (16) in a young-but-effective (or just plain good) rotation with Joe Blanton, tying for eigth in the American League and also becoming a 10-game winner for his sixth consecutive season, dating back to 2000.  His 3.83 ERA was ranked 10th in the AL.  His most memorable moment last season is when he outdueled Johan Santana in Game 1 of the ALDS, in a game/series where everyone counted Oakland out.  He's been one of my favorite pitchers since he emerged in 1999 and have been infatuated with the rumors of him becoming a Met (as much as I love these parenthetical remarks) for the past two or three years.  Him moving to the NL will no doubt lower his ERA, and if anyone thinks he's beginning to wash up, consider this: his 16 wins this year have been the most since the year he won the Cy Young in 2002 and could have easily been a 20-game winner. The ace will be turning 29 years old after the 2007 season starts and already has 102 career wins.  His best month of the season was in May, when he went 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 6 starts.  In that one loss of the month, he lost to the Yankees albeit allowing only 1 ER, and did the same for the two no-decisions.  He also went 4-1 in both June and August, with 3.95 and 3.40 ERAs, respectively.  Yeah, he's known to have a bad game here or there, but my mind is set on wanting some baked Zito once every five dinners (or lunch, I suppose).

Second Baseman/IF/OF - Julio Lugo

The man can play multiple positions, as seen when playing for with the Dodgers.  He started 29 games at second, 16 and third base, eight at shortstop, two in right field and once in left when coming over to the National League from the Devil Rays.  He hit a .278 batting average for the season, with 69 runs scored, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, 24 stolen bases in 33 attempts and had a .341 OBP, .001 higher than his career average.  Before being traded to Los Angeles, he was hitting .308 with 53 runs scored, 12 homers, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases with Tampa Bay.  Since the move, his numbers have declined to a .219 batting average, 16 runs scored, no home runs, 10 RBIs and only 6 stolen bases, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt due to the fact that he was injured, playing on a team that had a surplus of infielders and switched to an entirely new league of pitching.  Although he's not the best of fielders due to the errors he sometimes commits, there's no doubt he's got a glove.  I like to think he's a good fielder who takes chances and sometimes lets the play get the best of him.  Either way, no matter who plugs up second, it's going to be hard to follow up Jose Valentin's stellar defense in '06.  I'd be well more than satisfied with him hitting in the bottom half of the lineup.  He'll be 31 years old later this month.

Left Fielder/Second Baseman - Alfonso Soriano

The so-called “bad teammate” I've been hearing about.  The vibe I get from some fellow Soriano-hater bloggers/commentators is that he is portrayed as the T.O. equivalent in baseball which I honestly don't get.  Maybe someone can help me out with this one.  I just can't see one player ruining the dynamic and chemistry both Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph have created in the clubhouse, so to think that Soriano would break up the somewhat “band of brothers”  mentality that lies in Captain Red Ass and the Intrepid Mets completely baffles me.  He's part of the prolific 40/40 club in which only Jose “Bash & Dash” Conseco, Barry “Cream & Clear” Bonds and Alex “Gay & Gayer” Rodriguez are a part of.  His numbers for the season?  They were either slightly better or right on track of his career averages: .277 batting average, 119 runs scored, 46 home runs, 95 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.  Yeah, his strikeouts were at a career-high with 160, but he also came slightly close to doubling his walks count to 67 (his career high prior to that was 38 in 2003 with the Yankees).  He also led the Majors last year with 22 outfield assists, six more than second place RF Brad Hawpe, nine more than our boy Carlos Beltran who led center fielders with 13, and twelve more than Jason Bay, who was second in left field assists with 10.  He had 11 errors last year, which is around Adam Dunn country (eww…), though this was his first year starting in the outfield.  I don't see how the Mets can't make a huge bid on him.  He'll be 31 years old in January.

Heilman discussed the possibility of being included in a trade for Barry Zito to Dave Lennon in Newsday…

Heilman, as we've heard time and again, still wants to start…

From Gotham Baseball…

At least it hasn't yet, according to one baseball source that GBM spoke with on Wednesday.

“(Minaya)
is keeping all of his options open,” he said. “(But) I still think he
wants Zito (more) than anyone else he's looked at.

Back
at the Winter Meetings, an industry source had informed GBM that a list
of players — some already on the Mets' roster, some not – had been
given to Minaya from Oakland, either before or during the event, with
instructions that “if you get those players we'll talk.