San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Barry Zito is reportedly heading back
across the bay.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics and the
veteran left-hander have agreed on a minor league contract with an invite to
spring training. The deal would pay $1 million if he makes the team.
Zito spent his first seven seasons with Oakland and pitched seven seasons for
San Francisco, but did not play in 2014.
The Athletics selected Zito with the ninth overall pick of the 1999 draft and
he joined the major league club in 2000. Zito won the AL Cy Young in 2002 when
he 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA.
During his seven-year stint in Oakland, Zito was 102-63 with a 3.55 ERA in 222
starts. He then joined the Giants before the 2007 season as a free agent and
struggled for most of his seven seasons in San Francisco.
Zito lost more games than he won in six of those seasons and finished with a
record of 63-80 in 208 games, all but 11 as a starter. His best year with the
Giants was 2012 when he posted a 15-8 mark and a 4.15 ERA, but followed with a
dismal 5-11 record in 2013.
Overall, Zito owns a record of 165-143 with a 4.02 ERA in 430 games, 419 as a
starter. He was an All-Star three times, all with Oakland, and was part of San
Francisco’s 2012 World Series championship team.
