Top Free Agent Starting Pitchers By ERA+

Earlier this morning we looked at the top free agent hitters from this past offseason in terms of OPS+, and now it's time to look at the free agent pitchers using ERA+. Given the nature of their role, relievers are not included…

• Dustin Moseley, Padres – 1.63 ERA (217 ERA+) – It's not just Petco Park, Moseley has a 3.75 ERA in two starts at home and a 0.68 ERA in four starts on the road.
• Jorge de la Rosa, Rockies – 2.92 ERA (153 ERA+) – Several teams were interested in the southpaw, who re-upped in Colorado and continues to pitch well.
• Bartolo Colon, Yankees – 3.00 ERA (134 ERA+) – What's more surprising: that Colon has been this effective, or that he's still pumping 94 mph gas?
• Kevin Correia, Pirates – 2.91 ERA (134 ERA+) – Pittsburgh's Opening Day hurler has allowed two earned runs or less in five of his seven starts.
• Brandon McCarthy, Athletics – 3.05 ERA (137 ERA+) – He also has the fifth best K/BB ratio (4.50) in the American League.
• Bruce Chen, Royals – 3.59 ERA (109 ERA+) – Chen has finally found some staying power with his tenth big league club.
• Cliff Lee, Phillies – 3.69 ERA (105 ERA+) – The winter's big prize whiffed 16 Braves last night, already his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season.
• Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers – 3.69 ERA (100 ERA+) – Kuroda was a free agent but he never hit the open market; he agreed to re-sign with the Dodgers during the exclusive negotiating period.

It drops off quite a bit after that, Aaron Harang of the Padres is next on the list with an 81 ERA+ (4.37 ERA). Chris Young of the Mets has a 202 ERA+ (1.88 ERA), but he doesn't have enough innings to qualify for the league ERA title because he's spent some time on the disabled list.