When I first heard the rumors that the Giants might acquire Barry Zito, I dismissed the buzz as wishful thinking. True, Jason Schmidt's departure (oh, why couldn't it have been Armando Benitez instead?) left the team in dire need of a solid starting pitcher, but I couldn't picture San Francisco paying big bucks to acquire one.
The news that Brian Sabean had signed Zito to a seven-year, 126-million-dollar contract came as a shock. Had they really signed the top free agent on the market? And had they really thrown that much money at him for that many years?
Seven years is a long time, especially in baseball, and the length of the deal is one of the many reasons why some believe the signing doesn't make any sense considering Zito is 28 and already declining (so they say).
Then again, considering the other Giants acquisitions - Rich Aurilia (35), Ryan Klesko (35), Bengie Molina (32), and Dave Roberts (34) - and the team's average age of 29, Zito is actually an injection of youth (a minor one, admittedly, but every little bit helps).
On their 40-man roster, 10 players are now over 34 and 2 of those are nearly 40 (Tim Worrell and Omar Visquel). If the upward trend continues, the team will have to change sponsors and rename the stadium Sunset Park & Gardens at Retirement Cove.
A quick aside: With the exception of Rich Aurilia, a guy I was sad to see leave three years ago, all of the team's offseason moves have been less than impressive. It doesn't seem like the team is serious about rebuilding or contending this year. Otherwise, management would have focused on obtaining fresh talent instead of old veterans.
At any rate, I was in denial of the Zito deal and refused to believe the news until I saw him donning the black cap and holding up his new jersey with the No. 75 sewn on the back.
I like Zito. He's a good pitcher who projects a nice guy vibe with a goofy edge. His off-the-field hobbies (guitar, surfing, and photography) are well-documented and make him seem down-to-earth and relatable. It's easy to feel a connection with him. He actually seems like a marquee player fans can rally around without reservations or apologies, a refreshing change from recent years.
Speaking of which, the Giants have yet to sign a contract with Barry Bonds for the upcoming season. His name is conspicuously missing from the team's active roster. Personally, I wouldn't shed a tear if it remained missing. How nice would it be if San Francisco could divest itself of Bonds once and for all? Washing their hands of him now would give the cleaning crew enough time to decontaminate the clubhouse before the new season begins.
The way I see it, the Giants didn't spend $126 million to acquire a new pitcher. They spent $126 million to acquire a new face to represent the team and got a pitcher as a bonus. The team badly needed to overhaul its image and restore the reputation the other Barry had damaged. To me, it makes perfect sense to let old No. 25 go. Why hold on to the taint of steroids? Why pay $20 million to keep the stigma and suspicion hovering over the team?
The likelihood of the Giants dismissing Bonds is remote, so we'll likely see him patrolling left field this season. It's a shame, too, because I'd much rather see Ryan Klesko playing that position regularly and have Rich Aurilia playing first base permanently.
At least in the short term, Barry Zito is a good addition to the Giants. He brings a fine pitching arm and a positive image with him - two things the team truly needs. I'll be rooting for him and I hope to make it to the park at least once this year to see him take the mound.
