Dodgers Decline Jon Garland's 2010 Option

Interesting... any idea what teams might be in the mix for him?

I wouldn't exactly call him great... but he does eat innings and is sometimes effective.

This seals it. Tony Abreu bound to be an all-star.

This doesn't necessarily mean that Garland can't go back to the Dodgers. It makes GREAT sense for them to decline the option. Arizona pays him $2.5m and the Dodgers then might get him for $7 - $8m. There seems to be a general lack of pitching out there so maybe I'm wrong but we'll just have to see.

I would very much like to see him in the Nationals' rotation next year. Don't think the Nats would pay eight figures for him, but high seven is not out of the question, and for two or maybe three years.

I really doubt he gets 3yrs guaranteed. Maybe 2, but my guess is a one year deal. I dunno what the terms of the trade were, but if Arizona's $2.5MM of the buyout could've been saved for keeping Garland at a net of $7.5MM I think that would've been the right move for LA

This is exactly the type of guy the Nationals need to get. A legitimate veteran starter with little to no injury history and not a problem in the clubhouse. A good guy for younger guys like Lannan, Stammen, and Strasburg to learn from.

I think the Nats might have to pay a crappy team tax and break the $10M mark to get him, but it may be worth it.

That reminds me...when is Kuroda expected to recover from the whiplash he suffered in the LCS?

I still couldn't believe Garland wasn't on that roster.

Watch the Cardinals sign him for $4-$5 mil and let Duncan take a shot at him. He'll win 19 games with a 2.26 ERA.

Garland should probably get something similar to this year's deal but multi-year. No more than 2 + Option though.

jneely77 - The issue is that Garland already is pretty much a Dave Duncan kind of pitcher. Perhaps Duncan could convince him to actually throw his 4-seem fastball more often, because he might get a K or 2 with it. Garland actually can throw with reasonable velocity when he wants, and inserting a few high heaters to blow a guy away once in a while wouldn't be a bad idea.

vtadave - Abreu flashed a lot more power last year, and it can't all be attributed to playing in ABQ, because he didn't do the same thing in Vegas. Also, the whole "he can't stay healthy" thing really doesn't hold water. He was misdiagnosed by the Dodgers with that torn hip labrum and has otherwise had a healthy career. He is a fantastic defensive player as well.

I hope the Mets try and sign him..hes a descent pitcher who will throw 180+ innings

"hes a descent pitcher"

Does that mean he's on his way down, or he throws sinker-balls?

I agree with AaronPop. The Brewers need to get in on this. I also think they should try to pick up Harden if nothing comes through on trade.

"but the Pirates, Nationals, Brewers, any team like that should definatly kick the tires.

Posted by: M's fan 16 | November 05, 2009 at 01:04 PM"

You're not lumping the Brewers in with the likes of the Pirates and Nats, are you? The Brewers actually have a bonafide number one in Gallardo (More than one season of solid stuff), and a run producing lineup. They just need marginally better starting rotation options to compete next year in the NL Central, whereas the the other two teams you mentioned are in constant flux.

"I agree with AaronPop. The Brewers need to get in on this. I also think they should try to pick up Harden if nothing comes through on trade.

Posted by: Phillip_Cannon | November 05, 2009 at 01:08 PM"

A healthy Harden would be welcomed with open arms by me, but I think money would be the issue there. Now, if they had Suppan's contract off the books... *sigh*

"Abreu will be a stud,"

Based on what? Yes, he has good contact skills, but that's about it. Little power, doesn't draw enough walks, not a base stealer, and he can't stay healthy.

Posted by: vtadave | November 05, 2009 at 12:11 PM

---

based on a life of being a dodgers fan and watching guys get released and traded only to go on to have great careers.

No, I'm not, what I'm trying to say is any team that could use an innings eater or any team with a younger rotation that doesnt want to blow out those younger arms should take a look at Garland.

True true thinkblu - I'm with you in that respect. We saw two of them in the Phillies outfield this year.

I'm not too worried about Abreu becoming a "stud". More worried about Carlos Santana becoming a better player than Russell Martin by late 2010.

As I've stated before, I'm not losing any sleep over losing Abreu. He's a Lenny Harris-type player. We already have DeWitt and DeJesus to play 2B.

I'd like to see the Dodgers go for John Lackey, but I think they'll end up pursuing several back of the rotation guys, meaning Garland could still be resigned. (though I doubt it)

I'd love to see them resign Wolf and Padilla, then sign Berdard. That'd give us three pitchers with "ace" stuff in Kershaw, Billingsly, and Berdard. We're bound to catch lightning in a bottle with one of them, right? Padilla can be a long reliever until someone inevitably gets hurt.

Trade for Dan Uggla, re-stock the bench and the Dodgers are set.

There are going to a lot of solid number 3-5 pitchers in the FA this year.. this will be interesting.

Lackey is going to want 20 a year, and will probably get it on the east coast. The dodgers are too hand tied with their money as it is to bring in any new big name players.