Rangers Set Deadline for Zito

The Rangers have contacted Scott Boras and have set a deadline to whether or not Barry Zito can accept their offer. Rangers owner Tom Hicks wrote in: "If we don't have agreement with his agent by this weekend, we will pursue other alternatives." By other alternatives, he means Jeff Weaver, Tomo Ohka, Mark Mulder, Joel Pineiro, and even Russ Ortiz. Zito, who went 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA, is also drawing interest from the Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Mariners.