Zito to Giants

Surprise - the San Francisco Giants have signed Barry Zito to a deal that will pay him an average of $18 million a year for seven years.

This could certainly put a kink in the proposed trade of Randy Johnson to the Diamondbacks (unless Roger Clemens signs soon). It also puts a bit of post Christmas coal into the stockings of the Mets and Rangers.

The Rangers are left with a pretty thin back of the rotation (Robinson Tejada and Edinson Volquez) while the Mets are in even worse shape with Oliver Perez and Dave Williams penciled in as the 4 and 5 starters. The Mets at least will have Pedro Martinez coming back midseason and just maybe Aaron Heilman will get a shot to start (about time!). Both teams should seriously start considering the possible wisdom of a four-man rotation.

It will be interesting to see the dominoes that fall following the signing by Zito with the Giants.