Zito heading back to Oakland

Feb 17, 2015 - 3:03 PM San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Barry Zito is reportedly heading back across the bay.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics and the veteran left-hander have agreed on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. The deal would pay $1 million if he makes the team.

Zito spent his first seven seasons with Oakland and pitched seven seasons for San Francisco, but did not play in 2014.

The Athletics selected Zito with the ninth overall pick of the 1999 draft and he joined the major league club in 2000. Zito won the AL Cy Young in 2002 when he 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA.

During his seven-year stint in Oakland, Zito was 102-63 with a 3.55 ERA in 222 starts. He then joined the Giants before the 2007 season as a free agent and struggled for most of his seven seasons in San Francisco.

Zito lost more games than he won in six of those seasons and finished with a record of 63-80 in 208 games, all but 11 as a starter. His best year with the Giants was 2012 when he posted a 15-8 mark and a 4.15 ERA, but followed with a dismal 5-11 record in 2013.

Overall, Zito owns a record of 165-143 with a 4.02 ERA in 430 games, 419 as a starter. He was an All-Star three times, all with Oakland, and was part of San Francisco's 2012 World Series championship team.