Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito is planning to throw for some teams on Tuesday in hopes of returning to the MLB.
Former Giants pitcher Barry Zito did not play in 2014 after a terrible 2013 campaign wherein he posted an ERA of 5.74 and gave opposing batters a .314 average off of him. He’s not going to let that stop him from trying to get back into the game though. Zito’s agent, Scott Boras, told Jim Bowden of ESPN that Zito is going to throw for a select group of teams on Tuesday.
More from MLB
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle
- MLB Rumors: Insider names Braves’ most likely player to be traded
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal
It doesn’t take much for a player to get a minor league deal and invite to camp, but it’s hard to imagine Zito going much further than that, despite his agent’s talk in December that he’s worked on his mechanics since his disastrous 2013 season.
"He’s (Zito) been working hard on his mechanics. He doesn’t cup the ball anymore. His drive to home plate is a little bit different than it was. He has some new mechanical evolutions he’s been working on to really advance what he thinks will be effective. (via Hard Ball Talk)"
Zito is 36 and was an average back of the rotation starter for the Giants in 2012, but has largely been below average since he signed with San Francisco back in 2007. Word first started leaking out in November that Zito was looking for a comeback. He moved to Houston in September and began working out and working on his mechanics. He reportedly called his agent in August to announce his intentions.
Boras says the idea that Zito was a disappointment to the Giants because of his uninspiring numbers is simplistic and not entirely accurate. Instead, he said he’s heard owners in the league say that Zito helped the team to two World Series wins by filling in at the number one role while the Giants groomed eventual top starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.
Nevertheless, Zito signed a seven year contract in late 2006 with the Giants worth $126 million and posted a 4.62 ERA in that time with a record of 63-80. He worked himself out of the rotation by the end of 2013 and then the Giants replaced him with Tim Hudson in 2014. Zito never attempted to get back into the league at that point, taking time off to become a father among other things.
Most likely Zito won’t be going back to the Giants any time soon, however. The Giants already have their own struggling, inconsistent pitcher conundrum with Tim Lincecum.
H/TÂ Hard Ball Talk
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle