Barry Zito To be Traded by July 31st Deadline?

by user Christof

The Oakland Athletics will trade starting pitcher Barry Zito by the July 31, 2006, MLB trading deadline. Why? Because Mr. Zito will not resign with the A's. This became obvious today when CNNSI.com began reporting that Zito hired agent Scott Boras. Mr. Boras is known to get the maximal offer for all of his clients.

With that said, where will Mr. Zito end up. Zito will more than likely ne traded to a National League club, possibly the New York Mets or St. Louis Cardinals.

As the trading in baseball heats up this month, stay with ArmchairGM.com for the latest news and rumors.

Date

Sat 07/08/06, 4:15 pm EST

Twins15Varsity Captain

1239 days ago

Score 1

This doesn't necessarily mean he'll be traded. It's been pretty obvious for a while that Zito wouldn't be back with Oakland. However, in the thick of a pennant race, the As might have to keep Zito for a playoff run and then get the draft picks from him... if anything I think Zito getting Boras might make him more untradeable.

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ChristofMVP

1239 days ago

Score 1

It is only 1 draft pick that they will get. A late first rounder likely. Zito in a trade can bring back much more, including ammo for this year's playoff race.

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Twins15Varsity Captain

1239 days ago

Score 1

But that's just the thing, I don't know that the As could get anything that would be of big help this year... more likely they'd get prospects, and depending on Beane's focus, that may not be enough. IMO.

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1239 days ago

Score 0

I don't think Zito will be traded. I think Beane will be asking too much. A few more months of Zito, giving the As a chance and letting their young pitchers learn more from him is more valuable than what they'll get for him. For what Beane will want, Zito will be too pricey of a rental.

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DNLLegend

1239 days ago

Score 3

I'm echoing Twins15's take -- if anything, this suggests Zito *won't* be traded.

a) He'll be much tougher to re-sign b) He's not going to accept arb, so the A's are a lock to get the two #1s (a first rounder and a supplemental)

Result: He's in Oakland through the World Series.

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ChristofMVP

1239 days ago

Score 0

Oakland, as is, will not be playing in the World Series. That is why I think Beane will make a move. Players and prospects will be more in return, both short term and long term, than just keeping Zito on the club.

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AndersedJV Squad

1239 days ago

Score 1

Yeah, the headline is a bit deceiving. The A's are in first place and they want to trade their best (healthy) pitcher? It's so counterintuitive (but practical I guess) that it might work if Beane is crazy enough to try it. Who knows? This is the guy who got Jay Payton to morph into Gary Sheffield in the second half last year.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1239 days ago

Score 2

Yeeeeah....he's Gary Sheffield if Gary Sheffield couldn't hit. A .302 OBP? Beane traded a nobody (Bradford) and got pretty much the same in return.

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BigPPupMajor Leaguer

1239 days ago

Score 1

Im not sure even Beane is that crazy to make a move that drastic with a team what has this success rate. If he does, then I completly throw out my money ball book because I just dont get it.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1239 days ago

Score -3

We should stay with ArmchairGM because it's composed by a bunch of nobody fans making shit up? It's a great site and all, but it's the last place in the world to go for actual rumors.

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ASwaffAll-American

1238 days ago

Score 0

To be fair, he made it speculation and not statement by putting the question mark on the title. And even if he did make it declarative, how is that different from what anyone else does? How is that any different from the pages and pages of trade rumors that ESPN has on their website all year long?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1237 days ago

Score 0

But with all of the clearcut evidence presented in the many details, you can rest assured someone will bitch about an article like this then write a crappier one of it themselves later!

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1237 days ago

Score 0

sammich - to be fair, he didn't even make anything up!

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ChristofMVP

1216 days ago

Score 0

Ok, I was wrong about Zito being traded at the deadline. The Mets fans out there may be in mourning about the lack of a trade come the post season.

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ChristofMVP

1065 days ago

Score 0

With Zito going via free agency to the Giants, anyone else think the A's would have been better off trading Zito then keeping him for the playoffs and getting a draft pick instead?

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