Dodgers Sign Jon Garland



Garland returns to LA

 The Los Angeles Dodgers have brought back a familiar face: starting pitcher Jon Garland.  Los Angeles signed Jon to a 1-year deal worth $5M, and the deal includes an option for 2012 worth about $8M.  Garland had a terrific season for the rival Padres, throwing 200 innings of 3.47 ERA.  The sinker-baller loves Dodger Stadium, stating that it fits his pitching style well.

Ramblings

* ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that before third baseman Mike Lowell agreed on a 3-year/$37.5M deal with the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies offered Lowell a 4-year deal worth $50M. Looks like Lowell really did want to come back to Boston, as he made it clear he wanted 4-years and than turned down Philadelphia’s offer. He also lost a good $12.5M in the process.
* When asked about the 4-year $60M offer the Colorado Rockies reportedly made to soon-to-be National League MVP, Matt Holliday responded by making it clear that he would like a contract much longer than 4-years. He feels that he is worth a long term investment from the Colorado Rockies, and who’s going to argue against it?
* The St. Louis Cardinals have signed veteran catcher Jason LaRue, who spent 2007 with the Kansas City Royals, to a 1-year deal worth $850,000. LaRue really didn’t do too much in Kansas City.
* Free-Agent Torii Hunter is set to dine with the Texas Rangers owner and general manager tonight, possibly talking about a long-term deal in place to fill the Ranger’s CF vacancy. Most believe Texas is the front runner for Hunter.
* Don’t be surprised if new Angel Jon Garland does much better for the Halos, as their ballpark suits his pitching style very nicely. His 4.24 ERA in 2007 wasn’t too impressive, but I would be willing to put a wager on an ERA under 4 for next year. (MVN.com)

Angels Trade Cabrera For Garland

Big move for both the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Chicago White Sox today, as the teams swapped 33-year old short-stop Orlando Cabrera to Chicago in exchange for 28-year old SP Jon Garland. Being the Angel fan that I am, my first instinct about the move was simply wow. We just traded a 2007 Gold Glove winner who served as a team captain and kept the team together through hard times,hitting higher than .300 in the process. What's worse is that we acquire another starting pitcher, something that we are already extremely strong in. If we would of moved Cabrera for lets say Miguel Tejada, the deal would of been fine, but not for another pitcher.

But looking closer at the deal, it does make quite a bit of sense for the Angels. For one, they receive a pitcher who possesses amazing durability, pitching 200+ innings the last 4 seasons. Garland is also only 28 years old and will serve as a tremendous number 4 starter. Even though he is $3M more than Cabrera and was acquired for a package of Cabrera and even more cash, the Angels are still saving a good $6M from last year's payroll, ridding Bartolo Colon's horrific contract from their dues.

The best part of the deal is that it is a sign that in the very near future, the Angels are going to make another trade for either a short-stop or a third baseman known as Miguel Cabrera. If the Halos were to move lets say Conger/Kendrick/Santana/Saunders to Florida for Miguel Cabrera, they would be able to let him play the position he loves and would move last year's third-baseman Chone Figgins to short-stop, the position he played coming up with the club way back in 2002. New general-manager Tony Reagins is sure winning the hearts of Angel fans, proving that he can actually construct a deal, something Bill Stoneman had trouble with.

Rockies To Shop Fuentes For Starter

According to the Denver Post, a handful of GM's believe that the Colorado Rockies are going to indeed shop left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes for a starting pitcher. Post writer, Troy Renck, believes that the Chicago White Sox might dangle Jon Garland Colorado's way and shore up the White Soxs' pen with a duo of Fuentes and Jenks.

"The Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, among others, have had past interest in the left-hander" (Denver Post). If any of those teams were actually interested in Fuentes, it would have to be the Philadelphia Phillies as they need a reliever pretty desperately. But what starter would they move?