Hey Barry, on a scale of 1-10, how terrible is your contract?

Today we are going to make like the rest of the National League and beat up on The Human Pinata, Barry Zito. After six stomach-churning starts which prompted Jason Stark's "What's the Worst Contract of All Time" chat over at ESPN, the Giants have moved Zito and his $126 million dollar contract to the bullpen in an effort to…well, I’m not sure what they want to accomplish exactly, but one way or another he’s going to be pitching in mop-up duty for a while.

While Zito has been an easy target of late (both in the blogosphere and at the dish), it’s not exactly fair to throw all of the blame in his direction. It certainly does take two to tango and Zito’s dance partner and Giant’s GM Brian Sabean deserves a nice steaming pile of poop via FedEx courtesy of Giant fans everywhere. Zito’s numbers have taken a slide ever since his Cy Young 2003 season (VORP from 2005-2007: 41.1, 49.9, 24.7) a regression apparent to everyone (scouts, other GMs, fans, broadcasters, and even my dead grandpa) except apparently the Giants' brain trust. Why Sabean offered nearly $70 million more than the Mets were willing to for Zito’s rights is between him and his priest. As a Dodger fan, Sabean’s abject mismanagement of the post-Bonds era should bring a smug smile to my face but seeing as how LA has plunked down nearly $80 million for a pair of center fielders with a combined OBP of about .300, I’m going sit quietly inside of my glass house. For you long-suffering Giants fans out there, please remove the brown paper bags from over your heads and bask in this five-man rotation that could be had for the price of one Barry Zito (ground rules--all contracts must be for a minimum of 4 years and extend through at least the 2009 season):

1: James Shields--4 year deal through 2011, $2.8M per season
2: Cliff Lee--4 year deal through 2009, $3.75M per season
3: Fausto Carmona--4 year deal through 2011, $3.75 per
4: Adam Wainwright--4 year deal through 2011, 3.75 per
5: Jeff Francis--4 years through 2010, 3.3 per

That gagging sound you hear in the background is city of San Francisco collectively throwing up on their iMacs.