The Braves, Cubs, Giants, Red Sox, Royals and Twins are six of the teams thought to have asked for Justin Masterson’s medicals or otherwise checked in on the right-hander, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter links). Though Masterson is coming off an injury-plagued season, he is drawing significant interest and could find a two-year deal on the open market. The Indians, Masterson’s former club, are also reportedly in the mix for the 29-year-old.
It’s no surprise that Masterson is generating this much free agent buzz, as the righty averaged 199 IP from 2010-13 and was one of the game’s best starters during the 2013 season. As MLBTR’s Zach Links noted in his Free Agent Profile of Masterson, a team could be in for a major bargain if the righty regains his old form. Whether he signs for one year or two, Masterson seems destined for a short-term deal as he’s banking on that return to form and the opportunity to set himself up for a more expensive multiyear deal next winter or after the 2016 season.
The six teams Crasnick lists present an interesting array of suitors, incorporating the two pennant winners, three teams looking to return to contention in 2015 and the rebuilding Twins, who can offer Masterson a pitcher-friendly ballpark to help rebuild his value. Team defense is also undoubtedly a big factor for Masterson, an extreme ground ball pitcher with a 56.6% career grounder rate.
Caveat emptor.
Dear Red Sox Management,
Stop being cheap and get some truly taleneted players.
– Red Sox Fans Everywhere
The Red Sox had the 4th highest 2014 payroll in MLB and they’re “cheap”?
Tough crowd.
Royals, if they don’t get Santana. The MLB’s best defense behind him, very pitcher friendly park, plus only needing to go 6 innings (before Herrera, Davis, Holland) will help his stats look great.
I think that’s actually a pretty good idea
Hey! That’s not fair. Normally when I say something here I get a ton of people telling me how wrong I am, or that my team sucks. I just see how the Royals have made Santana, Vargas, and Guthrie all look a lot better than what they actually are. If Masterson wants to increase his value, he can just ask Santana how that worked out for him.
It’s true! Kansas City should be at the top of the list for pitchers wanting to reestablish their value through a pillow contract.
I’m comfortable with the Royals signing anybody that historically was good/great but are coming off of a down year. Eiland is a wizard and could return Masterson to his true potential. Go Royals!
I hope the sox can get Masterson as well as a few higher quality arms
These teams will instantly regret this interest.
The thing I like most about Masterson: Following the Indians offering him a big extension last offseason and him not being able to come to terms, he was asked whether he had regrets, considering his bad 2014 season. He said no, because he would have been totally ripping off the Indians if he would have signed that deal. LOL, you don’t hear that often, if ever.
Admirable, to be sure. I’d just like to see him without that big grin
after he gets pounded, saying he thought he threw the ball pretty well.
Cardinals get Heyward. Cubs miss out on Martin. Now I hear the Cubs are interested in Masterson. This day just keeps getting better. Next up Carlos Zambrano new Cubs bench coach.
If the Cubs aren’t willing to outspend others, which they will need to as they haven’t been in contentions since 2008, they will have to start trading players
In all seriousness I am still very concerned with the Cubs and like what they are doing but this is a good day for the Cardinals. They have a lot of shortstops to trade.
I hope the Indians get him back. A lot of people probably will disagree but I think he’s gonna have a big year next season. I’m not completely sold on House yet because most of the time he could only go 5 innings, if that. They need someone who could go a bit deeper into games and if Mastersons healthy he can do that.
Masterson throws in very unorthodox manner, slinging the ball almost sidearm. He needs to do that to get break on his pitches. Unfortunately, that puts a lot of strain on the shoulder, something most MLB teams would prefer their pitchers don’t do if they’re counting on him to throw north of 160 innings in a year. There are further problems in that Masterson is very tall, so he has to have all his mechanics in sync else he easily loses control.
Last year there were rumblings that he had a bad knee…then that was denied.
At his best he was a #2-3 pitcher. Now his ceiling is going to be as a #3 starter – like Verlander and Jeremy Guthrie. He’ll have some sensational games, some average, and a lot that he just blows up in, so if the manger is on top of it he’ll get to his bullpen before the game gets way from his team. Again, that’s the ceiling.
If he goes to a pitcher friendly park (San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Kansas City off the top of my head), then he could be a solid #3 or #4 starter.
hopefully the cubs can get him at least. cheap 2 year deal?