Now that Spring Training is underway, few notable free agents not named Roy Oswalt remain. Some players (min. 50 PAs in 2011) and pitchers (min. 20 IP in 2011) are available, but they’re generally nearing the ends of their careers or recovering from serious injuries. There are currently just eight remaining free agents who will play the 2012 season at or under the age of 33.
Kyle Davies, 28, checks in as the youngest free agent available, but he hasn’t drawn any reported interest after posting a 6.75 ERA in 13 starts for the 2011 Royals. The markets for 31-year-olds Sergio Mitre and Felipe Lopez have been equally quiet.
Jon Garland, 32, had a physical scheduled with the Indians this week, but he didn’t take it, so his minor league contract fell through. Another 32-year-old, Chris Young, pitched just 24 innings last year, though he did draw some interest from the Mets over the winter. Brandon Webb, also 32, hasn't appeared in the Major Leagues since Opening Day, 2009
The two remaining 33-year-olds seem to be line for minor league deals, if they do sign. Xavier Nady didn't offer the Diamondbacks much in terms of power, on-base skills or defensive value last year and Michael Wuertz walked 26 in 33 2/3 innings for the Athletics.
Health permitting, all of these free agents are young enough to turn their careers around, so a comeback story or two might be in store. That said, it’s no surprise that teams are generally focused on their own players at this point in the year.
Who would’ve thought a young ace like Davies would still be available?
“Ace”…heh. Good one.
2005 called and they want their scouting report back.
Webb’s health must still be an issue. That’s not really a surprise, but when you consider the pitcher he was, it’s weird to see that he’s still available.
Same with Garland to a lesser extent. Obviously he was injured last season, but he threw 190+ innings every year from 2002 to 2010. Not a spectacular pitcher, obviously, but he’s been solid.
I wonder if there’s something in Wuertz’s medicals that is scaring teams off. He was bad in 2011 and resolutely meh in 2010, but he was terrific in 2009, and that’s not so long ago, really. Major league rosters are lousy with relievers who were good, stunk it up for a year or two, then put it together again. Hard to see the harm in a minor league deal for him.
Unless he is maybe holding out for a mlb deal over a minor league one?
Agree though.. he was a really good setup guy for several years and puzzling why he has not yet signed on with a team.
Young and Garland are definitely worth a flyer on most teams. Oswalt’s just being ultra picky, I can’t blame him though, he’s a premier pitcher.
If I were the Tigers GM I’d take a chance on Webb, Davies, or Garland.. Better than leaving it up to an unproven rookie.
Don’t know much about Davies, but Garland’s pretty much always just been an innings-eater. If you’re a team like the Tigers, I don’t think you’re looking for someone just to throw 6 mediocre innings every 5 days. The guy’s pretty much the definition of mediocre. On the positive side of that, while he’s really only had 2 seasons below a 4 ERA (one his career year with the ChiSox and one in PetCo Park), he’s never had an ERA over 5 either, so he’s consistently mediocre at least.
I’d totally take a chance on Webb though. This might be PlayStation GMing at it’s best, but that guy’s sinker was amazing and if somehow he can get back to 75% of what he was, he’d still be a pretty good #3/#4 starter.
So sad about Brandon Webb, he was so good and now he is nothing….same as Peavy. He was like a plus plus pitcher now he is just above average
Above average? Nothing about Peavy’s 2011 was above average, and Webb hasn’t thrown a pitch in almost three years.
Kyle Davies would benefit from a trip to Japan. Not being insulting, 100% serious.
Maybe…still young enough that a stint over there could help. Of course going over there and getting rocked (as I suspect he would) pretty much ends his career too.
Sergio Meatball with no gig yet????
Don’t worry, the Yankees will offer him a job soon enough.
When NY got Nady from the Pirates, I thought it was a robbery of a deal and then he just went 100% downhill.. The 2nd TJ surgery think it was happened, and now he is just a shell of the superb player he was with the Bucs.
Wonder if there is any chance of him coming back to be anything at all at the age of 33 now?
Isn’t Kazmir a free agent?
He didn’t pitch 20 innings in 2011.
Nor did Brandon Webb. I guess that means there are only 7 qualifying free agents
Sox sign Brandon Webb to low risk/high reward minor league deal. Do it please! Last I heard Webb said he was throwing pretty well.