Sunday, December 24, 2006By Mike Steffanos
In today's Daily News, John Harper speculates that yesterday's trade where the Rangers picked up Brandon McCarthy from the White Sox signals that Texas has become discouraged over their chances of signing Barry Zito.
Harper quotes Texas GM Jon Daniels on the Rangers growing feeling that Zito will not pitch for them next season:
At this point I'm not optimistic about that. I don't really want to get into specifics of our conversations, other than to say I'm not terribly encouraged by our chances.
While no one completely discounts the Rangers and their owner Tom Hicks, this could mean that Zito's price tag for whoever signs him might be at least palatable, if not quite reasonable. Of course, Harper alludes to "whispers" that Zito prefers to remain on the west coast, which would favor San Francisco and Seattle.
In any case, Harper sites a Mets source on the implications Texas falling out of the chase:
Hopefully this means the price is staying within reason. With Texas there was always the concern that they might blow everybody else out of the water (with an offer). If that's not the case, it has to improve our chances.
Either way, I'm sure that Scott Boras will find a way to keep enough teams in the chase -- or at least appearing to be in -- to keep the suspense going right into the new year. Oh, well ...
Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate the holiday.
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Comments (4)
Awwww, poor Rangers. Perhaps Tom Hicks got shaken back to cold, hard reality after reading the recent Zito quote in the San Francisco Chronicle:
"They're all good teams, and they're all good locations...but what I'm looking for is an owner who sees eye-to-eye with me in my goal to lead a team to multiple World Series championships."
Of the teams remaining besides Texas, which one is closest to this goal: the Giants, the Mariners, the Angels, or the Mets?
There's a reason radio insiders they call Hicks' broadcast group Cheap Channel. He needs to cut corners there so he can overpay players to come to sweaty Dallas.
It's down to this: will Zito trust his own heart and follow his own goals as stated above? Or will he give in to the $weet nothing$ that $cott Bora$ i$ whi$pering into hi$ ear$?
Posted by NostraDennis | December 24, 2006 6:12 PM
NostraDennis - I still say if it wasn't about the money he wouldn't have signed with Boras. The Mets better be in spitting distance of the top offer.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | December 25, 2006 10:53 AM
Merry Christmas to you, too, my friend. And a happy new year, too!
Posted by Dave | December 25, 2006 11:39 PM
Thanks, Dave. The same to you and your family.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | December 26, 2006 12:29 PM