Jan
14

Yanks have eye on Freddy Garcia

By

While Paul Byrd might not have much to do with the Yankees 2009 plans, Freddy Garcia might. Via MLB Trade Rumors we learn that the veteran righty could sign within the next few days. Not only that, but Jon Heyman says that the Yankees are one of four teams interested. The others include the Mets, the White Sox, and the Rangers. Garcia tossed 15 shaky innings for the Tigers at the end of 2008 after missing most of the past two seasons with shoulder issues.

That’s the red flag right there. A 34-year-old pitcher who missed significant time with a shoulder issue? I’m not so sure I’d take a gamble on that. If it’s a minor league deal with an opt-out if he doesn’t make the big league club, then that’s do-able. But if some team is willing to offer Garcia a major league deal, I have to hope the Yanks back off. There’s no reason to commit money to a guy with this much risk.

Garcia’s career, up until 2007, was filled with 200-inning-plus seasons. He was known as a horse, and that was a major reason the White Sox traded for him in June of 2004. His strikeout rates aren’t great, and he doesn’t have the low walk totals you’d like to see from such a pitcher. Plus, he gives up more than his share of home runs. From the way his stat lines look, a big part of his monster 2001 season was his ability to keep the ball in the park — just 16 homers in 238.2 innings. After surrendering 30 and 31 homers over the next two seasons, Garcia allowed just eight in 2004 before the trade. After the trade, in 103 innings, he gave up 14 homers.

So while he has name value going for him, that’s about all he’s got. He even had to leave winter ball with shoulder soreness. That might just be the cumulative effect of not having pitched much over the past two years. Yet it’s still cause for concern. If the Yankees can get him on a minor league deal, I won’t complain. But if they’re placing him on the 40-man roster, I think there’s reason to take issue with it.

Categories : Hot Stove League

126 Comments»

  1. If the Yankees want to jump on the injury bandwagon, they might as well sign Sheets…

    That said, Pettitte remains the best option. Hopefully the Yankees find a way to make it viable.

    • Jake H says:

      I agree. Shoulders are too hard to come back from.

      • TurnTwo says:

        but isnt the big question on Sheets’s medicals his shoulder?

        and didnt Pettitte complain of shoulder issues last season?

        • Yeah, but Pettitte doesn’t have potential rotator cuff damage.

          If his MRIs were anything like Sheets’, the Yankees wouldn’t have offered him $10 million, unless they were trying to hide the fact, and I can’t believe they’d do that.

          Then again, I am an idealist…

          • Jay CT says:

            BRING IN BEN SHEETS DAMN IT!!!

            There has been nothing for certain that he has a shoulder issue. I have said this over and over again; he would know his medicals would be gone over with a fine tooth comb. He has not had shoulder issues in the past. The injury at the end of last season was a forearm strain (granted, thats the precursor to TJ surgery). If you aren’t bringing in Andy Pettitte, why invest anything in any other risky pitcher when someone that has the upside and ability of Sheets is sitting there! Freddy Garcia? Seriously? For the extra 8 million, why pass on the guy who threw 196 innings last season, started the All Star game, and carries a CAREER 4-1 walk ratio. That is RIDICULUS, and thats his CAREER average, not a single season. 5th starter? Yeah, I would take his 150 innings

            • You are assuming that Sheets declined arbitration because he wasn’t injured badly and thus knew he could recoup the value of arb on the market; thus, his decision to decline arb and hit the market means he’s not seriously injured. That’s not a horrible assumption, but it’s not necessarily an ironclad assumption

              Sheets could theoretically have declined because either he didn’t think his serious injury would get out or because he didn’t think his serious injury would hamper his market enough for him to not end up making more on the market than he would from accepting arb.

              Remember, A.J. Burnett is a walking infirmary, and two separate teams offered him 80M. Sheets could have looked at the arb offer and still decided to gamble on the potential free agent payday, serious shoulder injury notwithstanding.

              He may have simply misjudged the market. Lord knows other guys did.

              • Jay CT- Ben Sheets Biggest Fan says:

                Thats fair, but Burnett had documented injuries. What I am saying is, the speculation is that he has a shoulder injury. Why when he went down, was it diagnosed as a forearm, then he tried to pitch through it, and they shut him down as he couldn’t do it. Not once was a shoulder said. Why offer arbitration if the Brewers know he has a serious shoulder injury? Wouldn’t that be a waste of 15 million (possibly if accepted) if they knew he would miss a season, and they were trying to still win now? I just think people forget he threw 196 innings last season

    • TurnTwo says:

      i’ll cut and paste from the last post, since it really fits here:

      Garcia can prob be had for less guaranteed money than Sheets.

      Since he actually finished the year healthy (allegedly) with the Tigers last season, while Sheets went down late with his shoulder or forearm injury and was shut down, you could prob argue that Garcia is the better bet to give you more innings in 2009.

  2. Mike Pop says:

    Eh, I guess he’s better than a Ponsnerian pitcher.

  3. Bill says:

    They need some back up options for 5th Starter and maybe 4th Starter if Joba is not healthy.

    Garcia a start but I like them to go after Ollie Perez.

    If they dont get Perez they should bid for him just to get the price up on the mets.

    How come nobody is talking about the Mets Payroll. Just think if they pay 12 Million and 25 for Manny there payroll would be on par with the yankees.

  4. steve (different one) says:

    Sheets also costs a draft pick, which is admittedly a small concern since it’s a 4th round pick, but it is a cost.

    i agree with Joseph: minor league deal? yes. major league deal? no.

    i would sign almost ANYONE to a minor league deal.

    that is one thing i will NEVER understand, when people get all pissy about players signed to minor league deals. who cares?

    you bring them to ST, you see if they have anything. if they don’t, you cut them.

  5. Frank says:

    If they are both determined to be healthy enough to pitch, hands down it’s Sheets. He’s well worth the risk. If he can chuck the rock, his stuff is flat out nasty.

  6. drew says:

    Sheets and garcia are completly different, I’d sign Garcia for what will obviously be a one year deal for a cheap tag. Sheets will cost too much money, I’d still rather the Cuban defector.

  7. Mike Pop says:

    I got a better idea for a risky signing. Jason Isringhausen, you know pens are so up and down. If you can bring him in for cheap, why not? He’s got a good arm when healthy. Could provide more depth.

  8. DP says:

    If this report is right and the Mets and Rangers are interested, they are more likely to give him more money and/or more of a guarantee than we are/should. They need starting pitching more, so the chances of us landing Garcia on a minor league deal aren’t all that great. That being said, pass.

  9. Jay CT- Ben Sheets Biggest Fan says:

    Off subject, but doesn’t the whole super bowl trip that the “Marquie (spelling?)” on Mike and the Mad Dog lose a little something when Dog isn’t doing it? It seems the anti personal Mike Francesa just doesn’t do it, although taking a private jet to and from would be sweet.

    I do believe Dog is doing it on Mad Dogg Unleashed as well

  10. Dan M says:

    Can Rich Hill be cured of Mackey Sasser disease? Im sure sweet lou would be glad to see him go

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