Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jon Garland throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. Garland took the loss in a 3-1 Pirates win. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
In his usual Sunday column of baseball notes for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo writes that a market is beginning to develop for free agent right-hander Jon Garland,with the Rangers emerging as the early front-runner.
Garland, 30, was 11-13 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.40 WHIP last season, including a 2.72 ERA in six starts with the Dodgers down the stretch. Though his career ERA sits at 4.42, Garland is one of the most reliable secondary starters around, logging at least 32 starts and 191 2/3 innings in each of the past eight seasons.
Staying in the National League would be beneficial for his career, but with the Nationals most likely out of the running after the Jason Marquis signing, he might not have much of a choice. Like Marquis, at least Garland has the reputation as a groundball pitcher, so he’d be a better addition than say, Jarrod Washburn, for the homer-happy Ballpark at Arlington. Appropriately enough, Jason Marquis’ two-year, $15 million deal with Washington is a pretty good benchmark for what Garland figures to find in free agency. Garland earned $7.25 million last season.
