It’s been a slow-rolling offseason for free agent right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who posted a solid 3.42 ERA (124 ERA+) across 33 starts last year for the Rangers.
Playing into the lack of interest is that his free agency is tied to draft pick compensation -- Gallardo declined a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer from Texas in early November. And he also registered some rather underwhelming peripherals last season, like a 1.42 WHIP and a 121/68 K/BB ratio in 184 1/3 innings.
But the 29-year-old has a nine-year track record of major league success and he is clearly the top starting pitcher remaining on the open market. The guy should be able to find a landing spot before January flips to February and players begin heading to spring training.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network says the Orioles and Astros are “among teams looking at” Gallardo. There was also a report last week suggesting the Blue Jays might have legitimate interest.
Gallardo, a second-round pick of the Brewers in 2004, owns a 3.66 ERA, 1.317 WHIP, and 8.2 K/9 in 1,473 2/3 career major league innings.