Jon Garland Could Spruce Up the New York Yankees’ Rotation
August 20, 2009 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
As of Thursday, there are 11 days left until the Aug. 31 deadline to claim a player off of waivers and make a possible trade.
According to FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi, Jon Garland cleared waivers on Thursday, which would allow teams to work out a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks to acquire the right-hander for the last month of 2009.
Garland is currently 6-11 with a 4.42 ERA in 25 starts with 154.2 innings pitched, 74 strikeouts, and 50 walks.
The record isn’t exactly attractive, but Garland has been very durable in his nine-year career.
His two best seasons were in 2005 and 2006, going 18-10 in ’05 and 18-7 in ’06 with the Chicago White Sox. Garland was a key member of the White Sox rotation that won the World Series in 2005 over the Houston Astros.
In 2008, Garland went 14-8 with a 4.90 ERA in 196.2 innings with the Los Angeles Angels, with 90 strikeouts and 59 walks. Garland is not a big strikeout pitcher, but he’s durable, he will eat up innings, and he knows how to get people out.
Garland is making $6.25 million in 2009. He has a mutual $10 million option for 2010, but Arizona could buy him out for $2.5 million.
He’s a cheaper option than Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang if a contender wants to eat the contract for the rest of 2009.
With the New York Yankees’ need for starting pitching for the remainder of 2009 so they don’t burn out their arms, will they be interested in Garland?
If the Yankees or any other team were to add him, they would be picking up approximately $4 million of his deal, which is considered to be a lot of money so late in the season.
However, Garland averages at least six innings per start and has had a 3.60 ERA since the All-Star break.
If the Yankees didn’t want to go with Sergio Mitre anymore, they could move Chad Gaudin back to the bullpen for good, and with the “Joba Rules” innings limit set on Joba Chamberlain, another starter couldn’t hurt the Yankees down the stretch—especially a start from Garland.
In case some of you are wondering about Garland’s big game experience, his playoff numbers from 2005 were very good in Chicago. He’s 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts, which were in the ALCS and World Series.
In the World Series against the Astros, Garland pitched seven innings, allowed seven hits, gave up two runs, and struck out four, but he did not get the decision.
If Brian Cashman wants to make a deal, he’s got a little over a week left to add another arm.
The options are very limited, but if they need to add another arm to ensure their chances of winning the AL East and making the 2009 playoffs, Jon Garland could only benefit a team like the Yankees.
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