I've tried to stay away from the insanity of the Zito chase, but much like the Don in the Godfather, they just keep on pulling me in. 

    So, let's look at what has happened so far.  Texas made a run for Zito with rumors of 100 million dollar contracts and over 6 years coming from somewhere.  Apparently that wasn't true, keep this in mind.  Come this weekend, the Rangers will fall out as they put a deadline on their offer, which Zito and Boras will likely ignore.

   Next, the Mariners were suppose to get into the bidding war, but that came and went faster than you can blink.  Lets face it, Seatle didn't have any intention to get into this race for 5 years, let alone 6 years.

   Now, the latest news for a Mets opponent would be the Giants and Yankees.  First, lets look at the Yankees.  There are some reports that the Yankees are trading Johnson to go after Zito.  However, something here doesn't add up.  The Yankees just signed their Japanesse pitcher with Johnson still there, which means they have 6 starting pitchers with Johnson.  Now, lets THINK about this here.  If the Yankees were so gun ho to go after Zito, why would they have resigned Mussina or negotiate to sign the Japanesse pitcher?  It's not a matter of money, but roster space.  No team is going to have more than 6 pitchers who are no doubt starting pitchers.  This isn't like signing a few long reliever/5th starter type pitchers.  These are top of the rotation type pitchers.  Given that, you have to consider the move to TRY to move Johnson as a way to get rid of one, old and injury prone starting pitcher.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

   Now, on to the Giants, who is supposedly making an offer that would be the highest the Giants have EVER offered a pitcher.   The owner of the Giants isn't exactly a free spender, and he was even stalling on giving Barry Bonds big money, and he is/was that team's "bread winner".  People came for Bonds, and that's a fact no matter how you feel about him.  Anyway, although the Giants may have interest in him and have room for him, the offer from "sources" is so out of the norm that I can't just buy it.  Remember, reporters are stating this offer from sources.  Are these the same sources that swore the Rangers were making a similar offer, which we now know is false? 

    Finally, we have the Mets who have meet with Zito and Boras, and have given the parameters of what they'll basically offer.  The range is somewhere around 5 years and 80 to 95 million dollars.  The Mets offer the big city, a winning team, a young team, a pitchers park, and of course, playing in the National League.  No other team has all these benifets that the Mets have, and that includes the Giants.  Sure, the Giants are in a pitchers park and in the National League, but they don't have a winning team nor a young team.  And Zito wants to win several championships, not just one, so which team is likely to do this?  That's right, the Mets.

      Here is what I feel is really going on.  The Mets are the only solid team left for Zito once this weekend is over and the Rangers are out.  As a result, the Mets have all the levage here.  So Boras, knowing that the market is about to collaspe, is sending out these reports about the Giants and Yankees, to keep the market afloat.  However, when you look at the Giants and Yankees, the reports don't match up with the reality of the market.  In the end, these negotiations will end much like the process with Beltran went.  I think by the 2nd week of January, Zito will be in NYC with a press conference and a New York Mets jersey waiting for him.  Meanwhile, Boras will not see a 100 million dollar contract nor a gaurenteed 6 years.  That's what is going on here, so I would suggest my fellow Mets fans to sit tight and wait a few weeks.