Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Texas Leaps to Forefront in Barry Zito Sweepstakes
Free agent SP Barry Zito loves New York, but with the Mets on the record as preferring to trade prospects rather than shell out for free agents, don't be surprised if Zito winds up in Texas. Rangers owner Tom Hicks has his check book in his gun belt, and he's not afraid to use it. Would it be out of the question for Zito to offer Mets GM Omar Minaya a sweetheart discount just for the chance to play in a spacious National League park like Shea Stadium instead of hitter-happy Arlington, Texas? If so, Zito would likely leave $20 million or more on the table just to accept the Mets reported $50 million to $75 million, five-year offer. It's hard to picture walking away from do much dough.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.