Zito Becomes Richest Pitcher Ever

The prize pitcher of the 2006 free agent class found the highest bidder, but it wasn't who many expected. With the deep pocket Yankees, Rangers, and Mets in the mix, it did not seem likely Barry Zito would remain on the Pacific Coast. However, with a 7 year deal worth $126 million the Bay Area will retain one of its stars, just in a new uniform. Zito joins the San Francisco Giants to fill the void left by Jason Schmidt. The seven year deal is the richest package ever given to a pitcher and seventh all time. It also includes an eighth year option which would boost the package to $144 million. Now that the ace of the free agent class is off the market, it'll be interesting to examine how the remaining crop plays out.

With Zito gone, there's only one guy still considered a front line starter and his status is very questionable. If Clemens does decide to come back, the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees seem to be the only likely destinations. This spells trouble for teams such as the Mets who are in the market for a top tier guy. Fresh off his impressive outings in the 2006 playoffs, there could be a competitive market for Jeff Weaver. He's widely regarded to be the best free agent pitcher not named Clemens. A wild card could be fellow Cardinal Mark Mulder. He proved to be just as effective as Barry Zito and Tim Hudson while part of the "Big Three", but has disappointed during his stay in St. Louis. A change of scenery, plus some luck curing up some nagging health issues, could make Mulder a steal.