Barry Zito: The Ace Of The Marketing Department

When former San Francisco Giants' managing general partner Peter Magowan convinced general manager Brian Sabean to sign free agent Barry Zito to a record-setting contract prior to the 2007 season, the team's majority owner expected the 2002 American League Cy Young award winner to anchor the Giants' rotation for the better part of the next decade. 

But not long after Zito inked his name on the seven-year, $126 million hitch-the largest ever given to a pitcher-it became abundantly clear that he wouldn't be able to supplant Jason Schmidt as the number-one starter for the Orange and Black. 

The then 29 year-old Zito collected $10 million in 2007, while posting a mediocre 11-13 record, 4.53 ERA, and 1.35 WHIP. Even as the AT&T Park faithful trie...

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