[MVB]

Originally Posted by MLB.com

New Rangers manager Ron Washington has been hearing from many old friends since being hired on Sunday.


Among those who called was free-agent pitcher Barry Zito.

Washington and Zito were together with the Oakland Athletics. Zito told Washington on Tuesday that the Rangers would be among the teams he would consider signing with this offseason.
"The Texas Rangers weren't on his list before, now we are on his list," Washington said Wednesday afternoon.

Read the entire article here.

This is very interesting, since just a couple months ago Zito said he wanted to come to New York. The Yanks and Mets really have to come after Zito aggresively during the upcoming months if they hope to land him.

Maybe this was a hidden reason for the Ranger's signing on Washington?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Zito is an easy going surfer who would be better off outside the Big Apple...though Texas is not a pitcher freindly stadium...his ERA will go up by at least half a point.

[ThePundit]

Here's my guess. He'll go to whoever offers a penny more than the last offer. That's what 98% of free agents end up doing. They take the most money and then about 3 years in when they realize they're playing for a crummy team, they want a trade. A-Rod with Texas, Tejada on Baltimore, etc...

[EmpireWF]

I doubt Zito comes to New York. I don't think either of the teams will spend their efforts on him for some reason.

He could be just the guy Texas needs in their rotation. However, one pitcher doesn't tip the scale their way.

[Lefty Noob]

Two schools of thought here. Zito could really like Washington and be serious about wanting to play for him in Texas. Or he could just be using the Rangers as a barganing chip to try and drive his price up even more. Either seems equally likely at this point.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Two schools of thought here. Zito could really like Washington and be serious about wanting to play for him in Texas. Or he could just be using the Rangers as a barganing chip to try and drive his price up even more. Either seems equally likely at this point.

GREAT second point there. Boras is infamous for creating auctions for his players that never exist. A team could not have the slightest interest in the player, read the paper and they're ready to sign a contract. Say what you want but he's probably the best agent in the game.

Of course, I'm not an owner though.

[MJHMarc]

Yee-Haw!

I don't see Barry Zito in Texas, but it's worth a try.