Garland Quietly Available…
November 21, 2008, 5:34 amIf the Yankees can sign CC Sabathia, would you go after Jon Garland? Again, Burnett and Lowe have their own innate problems, whether they’re health or age-related. At first, I was dismissive of Garland, especially with guys like Lowe and Burnett available. However, knowing that they’re looking for 5-year deals and contracts that pay upwards of $16 million a year, maybe it’s time to give Garland a look? He had a poor year and was dreadful away from LA, but at least you know what to expect, as he stays around the plate and throws a solid sinker (his problem is he doesn’t throw much else or at least the other pitches he throws aren’t all that great). Granted, our defense isn’t good and that could hurt him, however he’s a workhorse and usually pitches around 200 innings a year, which is a definite help. On top of that, he’s only 29 and could serve as a decent back-end pitcher for a few years.
So, CC, Sheets and maybe Garland (cross your fingers and hope for the best)? The latter two would be a lot cheaper considering the current market and maybe that would allow the Yankees to chase Mark Teixeira (which would help the defense out on the right side). I just don’t see signing Lowe or Burnett as necessary moves right now, not with other viable starters available next year (Brett Myers, for example). Also, speaking of Teixeira, he’s hoping to wrap-up his contract situation by Christmas. I must say, he’s a pretty ambiguous bet. The Sox, Nationals, Yankees, hell, everyone’s in on that guy.
In addition, I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I’ve been working on the inevitable thesis project and it’s going, albeit slowly.
I’d avoid Garland. He’s eminently hittable, walks too many and posts a K rate lower than Wang’s. he’ll be cheap for a reason.
Let him go to the NL.
Agreed. Garland is nothing special and cheap just means it will only take 3 or 4 years to sign him instead of 5 years to get Burnett. I would rather gamble on someone with plus stuff and a seeming ability to step it up against better competition than sign a guy who is no better than what you would get from a full season of Dan Giese.
They will retain Pettitte, it will just take sometime to talk his crazy dual-agents down from $16M to something more reasonable. He has no other options. Houston is not giving him $16M when they wouldn’t go above $12M two years ago. He doesn’t want to play anywhere else, and obviously doesn’t want to retire when he would be the opening day starter starter in the new Stadium (I know CC would be the #1 if they signed him, but I think they would try to set the rotation to have Pettitte pitch the first home game in the new stadium if he is on the team)
You guys are probably right. I mean, why not just give Aceves the spot.