Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer.
Not to overstate this, but the San Francisco Giants’ decision to sign Barry Zito is one of the worst decisions in the history of mankind. Seriously, it was an epically disastrous decision. We are talking hiring O.J. Simpson as your marriage counselor bad. But Zito swindled the Giants for so much money it would make Bernie Madoff jealous, and Zito will continue to make out like a bandit for years to come. Barry Zito clearly has the worst contract in baseball.
Prior to the 2007 season, the San Francisco Giants signed the former Oakland Athletics ace to a whopping seven year contract worth approximately $126M. In the wake of huge spending sprees in baseball recently that may not sound like much, but at the time this was a record breaking deal. It was the most lucrative contract given to a pitcher in baseball history. Today the only pitchers with larger contracts are C.C. Sabathia ($161M) and Johan Santana ($137.5M). Currently Zito ranks 13th out of all players in baseball in terms of value of their overall contract.
Some might think me hypocritical for questioning the Giants decision to drop that type of cash on a player, but my problem is not with money. Rather, my issue is with what the Giants were getting for there money. Zito was probably the best free agent on the market that offseason, but the Giants were still seriously overpaying. In 2006, the year before he signed with San Francisco, Zito pitched for 16 wins and 10 losses with a stat line of 3.83 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts. While that seems respectable enough, eighteen other pitchers had at least 16 wins that seasons, and nine of those pitchers had a better ERA. So, what exactly did the Giants see in him that the rest of us were missing?
Maybe they liked the fact that he had thrown at least 214 innings in every season since his rookie year. Maybe they were enthralled with his 2002 season where he won an astonishing 23 games. Maybe it was his 205 strikeouts in 2001. But whatever potential for greatness Zito’s career numbers seemed to indicate to the Giants, they were not acquiring that pitcher.
What the Giants ended up with was an overpaid, glorified innings eater. In three years playing for San Francisco Zito has only posted losing seasons. He has yet to exceed 11 wins in any one season. He has failed to reach 200 innings in any season for the Giants, and his ERA has ballooned to more over four (4.53 in 2007, 5.15 in 2008, and 4.03 in 2009). It was even rumored that the Giants have considered sending Zito to the minors. Who could blame them? He is no longer a feared pitching ace, as much as a pitiful creature. To put it bluntly, Zito is a bum. I know it sounds harsh but sometimes the truth hurts.
Now, here’s the rub. It is not Barry Zito’s fault. All Zito did was accept an offer which will allow him to provide for his family for generations to come. He did not force anyone to give him that much money and a full no trade clause. So who is to blame, you ask? Brian Sabean. The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of the general manager who signed Zito. It was Sabean’s responsibility to ensure that Zito would produce, which he has not. It was Sabean’s responsibility to build an escape clause for the Giants should things head South, which he did not. Because of Sabean, Barry Zito has the worst contract in baseball.
My competition for today’s debate, Sports Geek and Loyal Homer, are going to argue that Alfonso Soriano and Vernon Wells have worse contracts. I will admit that both players also have bad contracts (Soriano eight years $136M and Wells seven years $126M), but Zito’s deal is far worse. Soriano and Wells are position players and their contracts are paying them to play in 162 games each season. Zito, a pitcher, is being paid to go out and perform once about every five days. That means the Giants are paying $126 for around 30 starts each season. When those 30 starts yield just ten or 11 wins that is a recipe for the biggest contract bust in baseball. The Cubs and Blue Jays are getting more bang for their buck than the Giants.
Barry Zito was brought to the City by the Bay to be a franchise player, the face of the organization. As it turns out he became a face the organization would probably want to put a paper bag over. Zito has the worst contract in baseball and it looks like the Giants are going to have ride this disaster out.
How can you possibly think that Soriano’s contract takes a back seat to Zito. Your idea that Zito pitches every five days — and therefore has a great impact on the team — is way off. Soriano plays nearly every day. His misadventures have a far greater impact on the team as a result. Also, his contract is for EIGHT years, not 7. He’ll be creating problems in Chicago – on the field and the payroll – for an additional year long after Zito signs his next contract. SORIANO WINS!
Sports Geek,
My argument was based more on the economic value of the contract not the player’s impact. Because Zito only plays once every 5 days the Giants are paying him way more per game than the Cubs are paying Soriano. Zito’s contact overcompensates the pitcher for his playing time thus it is a worse contract.
You cannot focus on the potential level of play because player ability changes. Soriano may slump or he may have a resurgent season. Zito posted a fantastic outing just days ago but it doesn’t change the fact the Giants are wasting money on him.
Plus the length of contract is a two sided coin. Having a longer contract can be a blessing or a curse. The Yankees got nothing out of Carl Pavano for years and then he has a productive year as soon as he parts ways with the Bombers. While I’m glad the let the bum go, had his contract had just one more year it would have been more valuable. The same could happen for the Cubs and Soriano, and know the Cubs luck the year they cut him lose is the year he blows up.
I still take issue with this argument. Soriano’s contract is worth more over a long period of time, and his consistent lousy play harms the team in a greater way than Zito. Seems like a pretty good way to determine value, to me.
You’re right that some players slump, and others fall off. Zito, however, suffered injuries and had to rebuild his delivery. It has taken more time than anyone anticipated. But, who can argue with the results? The second half of the 2009 season Zito was one of the best pitchers in the Majors. He posted a second half 2.83 with improved control and even improved his BB:SO ratio by almost one. This season he has a 2.25 ERA and two wins in two starts. Sounds like the Giants are getting what they’re paying for.
Contrast that with Soriano over the same period of time and the differences in value become even more stark. He hit .261 with just two stolen bases. Not exactly what the Cubs believed they were buying. He is off to a terrible start again this season batting .214 without so much as a base steal attempt yet.
Another big difference is attitude and approach. Zito redoubled his efforts to get back to where he was in his glory days in Oakland. He worked hard to rebuild his motion all while battling injuries. Soriano – for the last two-plus seasons – believes he is in a slump he is going to break out of. He has the utmost level of confidence, without earning the right to it. That is a value contribution, too, that Zito wins going away.
Sports Geek,
It sounds to me that the Cubs expectations were way to high. The Cubs should not have chased Soriano’s 2006 statistics. He will not be a 40/40 guy again. The numbers he put up in Washington were just an advertisement to get him out of D.C. with as much cash as possible to boot.
It seems that the Sports Geek is acting more like Loyal Homer in this one letting his Cubbie love cloud his objectivity.
Zito’s mechanics may be improved, but he is by no means a feared pitcher. He got knocked around in the AL and jumped ship to the NL, where he actually got worse. With the exception of a few great seasons, his numbers are that of a quality #2 or #3 pitcher. He never deserved the record breaking deal he got.
I’d take my chances with Soriano over Zito anyday.
If the Cubs’ had high expectations it is 100% due to Soriano setting them there, with both the organization and the fans. The fact that he hasn’t delivered at all still means he has the worst contract. He isn’t even good enough to start for the Cubs right now. He was benched in favor of a rookie named Tyler Colvin.
You take Soriano, you Yankee-lover. I’ll take REALLY talent over him any day. And Zito qualifies.