Friday, November 26, 2010

Dodgers Pick Up Garland On Black Friday

While I was out shopping for doorbusters, it appears the Dodgers got one of their own, returning Jon Garland to the Dodgers for a bargain price of $5M:

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers further boosted an already formidable starting rotation on Friday by signing free-agent right-hander Jon Garland to a one-year contract with a vesting option for 2012.

Garland will be guaranteed $5 million for 2011 with an $8 million option in 2012 that becomes guaranteed if he reaches 190 innings in 2011. He has reached that number in all nine seasons since he became a full-time starter.

Garland rejoins the Dodgers after a year in San Diego and essentially becomes the fifth starter after youngsters Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley and the more-seasoned Ted Lilly and Hiroki Kuroda, each of whom re-signed earlier this offseason. [...]

Colletti has rebuilt the rotation before the tumult of the Winter Meetings starts in 10 days and can focus on acquiring a hitter and resolving the uncertainty at catcher. Monasterios can be shifted to the bullpen full-time, while Ely can compete for Jeff Weaver's swingman role.

"We're very pleased to have Jon join this group and give us five very strong starters going into Spring Training," Colletti said in a statement announcing the signing. "We saw what Jon was capable of down the stretch in 2009 and again last year within our division. Year after year, he takes the ball 30-plus times and gives his team a chance to win every time out."

The 31-year-old Garland has gone 131-114 with a 4.32 ERA during his 11-year career. He has averaged more than 32 starts and 200 innings per season in each of his nine full big league campaigns and has been on the disabled list just once in his career.

Not sure if the tryptophan is talking here or not, but even at this cut-rate price, I'm not sure why we haven't addressed the team's gaping holes on offense. In any event, welcome back, Jon.

Hat tip to Josh S. for the comment in the last thread. Now, I'm going back to watching the Alabama game and hoping it provides Stanford a path to the Rose Bowl (which is looking worse and worse each minute).

15 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Come on, South Carolina!

Eric Karros said...

Man the SEC is brutal. I'm not much of a college FB follower, but a glance at Auburn's schedule makes me wonder how Oregon is above them. And I'm a Pac-10 guy.

And as far as Boise St/TCU folks who feel they deserve to be above Auburn...c'mon guys, really?

I mean, really?

Steve Sax said...

Cal is getting blown out here.

A five-point first half can't be a good start.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I can't root for any team that has the initials, S C

Josh S. said...

Nothing says the holidays like cheap Garland.

Josh S. said...

Dang. Didn't notice that rbn made a similar joke in the last thread.

Paul said...

Garland is back!

He was a Dodger?

Oh yeah.

Fuck the BCS and their my conference is better jerk off talk
.

Kyle Baker said...

I need everyone's help in rooting for Hogs over LSU tomorrow. I'm a nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Pls send good thoughts the way of the Razorbacks.

Cc P Ditty

Kyle Baker said...

Like the Garland signing. Not a horrible 1-5 next year. Believe, believe....

Cc Our Lady of Perpetual Optimism

Nostradamus said...

Bat(s) and then bullpen, we'll be right back up in this bish.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A fine starting five we have indeed. Now we just need to trade Loney for a 3B and sign Carlos Pena.

Steve Sax said...

Or just sign Beltre and be done.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Frank wants to sign Beltre, but Scott Boras has a strict "cash only" policy with him right now.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The "him" I refer to is open to interpretation.

Pistol Pete Reiser said...

Reporting from the chilly Bay Area (on a vacation day, how's that for dedication?)

Gnats fans' WS smiles just took on a nervous, shifty-eyed impression. Which goes along nicely with their cloven hooves and tails... and batteries...

Bullpen. Bat (two?). Quietly, optimism wells up.

Now back to being a dad.