By ,
Published September 25, 2015
If all the pieces fall into place properly, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito may ride off into the sunset together.
Hudson, who confirmed earlier this week that this season will be his last, is currently slated to start on Saturday, Sept. 26., likely the penultimate outing of his career, against the Oakland A's, the team with which the right-hander began his career at age 23 in 1999.
Hudson's career coming full-circle in Oakland is an apropos culmination to his 17 years in MLB.
"That would be kind of cool to pitch there," he said. "Hopefully things keep working out and I keep going out there giving us a chance to win. It would be nice to finish up there."
While that alone would be a fitting salute to Hudson and his solid career, there could be another added element to Hudson's scheduled start in Oakland that would create an immaculate nostalgic moment that would serve as the perfect ending to his career.
Barry Zito, who was part of the Big Three in Oakland alongside Mark Mulder who began their careers with the A's in the early 2000s, is currently in the A's organization and pitched the entire season in Triple-A.
While Zito hasn't made a major-league start since 2013 with the Giants, the A's are out of playoff contention, which would give them the flexibility to call up the 37-year-old veteran lefty for what would likely be his last major-league start to face his former partner in crime in the place where it all began for the both of them.
Not often do the stars align for such fairy-tale endings, which has Hudson hoping it comes to fruition.
"It would be some kind of storybook ending for both of our careers, for sure," Hudson said.
Both Hudson and Zito experienced their best years, statistically speaking, with the A's.
In six years in Oakland, Hudson compiled a 92-39 record with a 3.30 ERA and eight shutouts, notably winning 20 games in his first full season in the majors in 2000.
Zito quickly asserted himself as one of the best lefties in the majors with the A's, winning the Cy Young Award in his second full season in 2003, and stacking up a 102-63 record with a 3.55 ERA in seven seasons.
Together with Mulder, the duo helped lead the A's to four consecutive postseason berths from 2000-03.
Now the franchise they once helped resurrect could repay them with the ultimate tribute.
"If that was something that could happen, it would be awesome," Hudson said.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/could-former-as-teammates-hudson-zito-face-off-to-end-careers