Zito will be back in S.F. rotation: Giants manager Bruce Bochy has already made a decision about who his fifth starter will be going into season, now that Jonathan Sanchez has been dealt to the Royals. Bochy told KNBR on Tuesday, "I'm not gonna hide from it: Barry Zito is our fifth starter next year." Zito missed much of the 2011 season with foot and ankle injuries, and when he returned from the disabled list in September, he pitched out of the bullpen. The lefty finished the year with a 3-4 record and a 5.87 ERA. (Updated 11/08/2011)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/12/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Zito had experienced a mild resurgence in 2009 and 2010, but he regressed badly this year, though much of his difficulty could be tied to injuries. Should Zito hang onto his fifth starter's role and stay healthy, he could be worth a late draft pick in deeper mixed leagues. (Updated 11/08/2011).
02/03/2012 21:08 Giants ace Lincecum says he signed shorter deal to keep options open
For the first time since signing a new contract that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2013 season, Tim Lincecum revealed his reasoning behind a shorter deal. He cautioned fans not to worry about his possible pending free agency -- both sides are keeping discussions open on a longer contract.
With the trade of Jonathan Sanchez to the Royals, Barry Zito appears to have regained the rotation spot he lost during the 2011 season. Zito exited the rotation in April with a sprained foot, and after a brief midseason return, he went back on the DL for another six weeks. When Zito finally came back for good in September, he was used out of the bullpen, as manager Bruce Bochy opted to stick with rookie Eric Surkamp. Fortunately for Zito, Surkamp struggled in his first big league stint, so the team plans on bringing Zito back as their fifth starter out of spring training. Perhaps due to his foot injury, Zito's already questionable command took a turn for the worse last season. He should be healthy to start the 2012 campaign, but it remains to be seen if he will improve enough to hold onto a starting role. Even with a rebound, Zito is merely an NL-only option, and given his recent struggles, he should be a late-round target in those formats. (Updated 1/3/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start