Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
It seems like forever ago when Barry Zito was one of the best pitchers in all of Major League Baseball. Actually it has only been a handful of seasons but for certain his lasting impression on the San Francisco Giants will not be a good one. He serves as a great example that no matter how good a pitcher is, he should not be given a ridiculously long contract. Too much can happen between the ages of 30 and 35 to give a pitcher that long at a very high rate of pay.
Many suggest that Zito’s career could be over. While that is a possibility, it certainly isn’t true as of yet. He is still plenty young enough to land somewhere and find a way to work a few more seasons out of that arm. One thing that is a certainty is that he will not be making that much money again and he will not get a contract longer than probably one season.
Anyone that gives Zito a contract that is longer than one year isn’t using their head because the fact is he could be done. It happens. He was a great pitcher and now he isn’t. One year contracts are very underrated in baseball however. One season stocked with a ton of incentives for innings pitched, ERA limit and win total would be ideal for Zito. It would give him the incentive he needs to make something happen again.
Without a doubt he will be down the roster list for someone until he proves himself. He may even be a non-roster invitee for someone in Spring Training. Anything like that could prove to be a career resurrecting move for Zito. As long as he doesn’t get greedy about how much he is going to make, he’ll land somewhere for a few more years. It just won’t be San Francisco.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
Related:
San Francisco Giants Shouldn’t Even Consider Bringing Barry Zito Back
Barry Zito’s Legacy Poised to End on a Whimper with San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants Will Respectably Keep Barry Zito on 40-Man Roster
