MLB Rumors: A Few Cliff Lee Consolation Prizes
Now that Cliff Lee has signed a huge contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, other teams that were in the sweepstakes for Lee are suddenly left scrambling for another pitcher to fill their need.
That pitcher could come through a trade or free agency.
Zack Greinke is being shopped by the Royals, and if a team is willing to give up some top prospects, they could use his arm next year.
Still on the free agent market are plenty of pitchers, some better than others. Some carry risks but high rewards, while others will give you fairly predictable production.
For the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, and others who missed out on Lee, these are some of your options.
Zack Greinke
1 of 8
While Zack Greinke isn't a free agent, the Royals are reportedly very interested in dealing him for either two high-quality pitching prospects, or a pitcher and an outfielder.
Many teams are reported to be in the running for the Royals' ace.
There is no doubt that he would help whichever team he goes to, but the asking price seems to be quite high.
Greinke is probably the best pitcher rumored to be available now that Cliff Lee has been snatched up by the Phillies.
Matt Garza
2 of 8
Matt Garza, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, is another player rumored to be available for acquisition via trade.
The Rays would like to get back a handful of mid-tier or upper-tier prospects in return.
Washington is widely viewed as the leading candidate in the Garza sweepstakes right now, but now that Lee is off the market, that could quickly change.
Last year Garza won 15 games with a 3.91 ERA, better than Greinke in both categories.
He's won 42 games in his short career and has a 3.97 ERA over those five years.
James Shields
3 of 8
James Shields is another Tampa Bay Rays pitcher who is reportedly available.
The Rays however, would prefer to trade away Matt Garza because they would be able to get more in return for him.
Shields struggled immensely last year, winning 13 games with a 5.18 ERA. In fact, he seems to be on an overall decline.
Since his 2008 season (14 wins, 3.56 ERA) he has gotten worse and worse.
It could be time for a change in scenery.
.png?w=256)
Carl Pavano
4 of 8
Carl Pavano enjoyed a very successful year last season and is now going to be paid a lot in free agency because of it.
For the Minnesota Twins, the winner of the best mustache in baseball contest won 17 games with a 3.75 ERA.
He also threw seven complete games, the most in the AL.
Pavano is now 34 years old, so signing him would present some risks, but he should be worth the money.
The career resurgence appeared to be fairly legitimate last year, despite 2009's 5.10 ERA.
Andy Pettitte
5 of 8
Andy Pettitte, the longtime Yankees pitcher, is still a free agent, but there have been no indications that he'll end up anywhere but New York.
There is also still a chance that he'll retire, a sentiment which Pettitte himself endorsed recently.
The 38-year-old enjoyed a great year in 2010 though, so he still does merit some attention in this list.
Pettitte went 11-3 last season with a 3.26 ERA, the lowest number since he's been back in New York after his brief time spent in Houston.
Rich Harden
6 of 8
Rich Harden would be a very high-risk, high-reward pitcher to sign for any team.
He's known for being injured many times throughout the year. Harden only pitched 92 innings last year and has yet to break the 200-innings pitched mark at any point in his career. However, when he plays, he usually plays quite well.
Last season was a disaster. In those 92 innings he made 18 starts, going 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA.
Whoever signs Harden will hope for a return to his 2008 form when he won 15 games with a 2.07 ERA.
Brad Penny
7 of 8
Brad Penny is fresh off a magical nine-game stretch in St. Louis, but the question remains whether it was legitimate or not.
His success could be attributed to the flukiness of small sample sizes, a career resurgence, or Dave Duncan's ability to turn around pitchers' careers.
Regardless, whoever signs Penny will hope to get production like that nine-game stretch last year where he won three games with a 3.23 ERA.
I tend to think it's more Penny's doing because of his last six games in 2009. Pitching for San Francisco then, he made six starts, going 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA.
Brandon Webb
8 of 8
Nobody really knows what to make of Brandon Webb. He has the potential to become the comeback player of the year or to be an absolute bust.
Webb hasn't pitched since the first game of the 2009 season thanks to injuries, but he was dominant before that.
The sinkerballer pitched his last full year in 2008, when he won 22 games with a 3.30 ERA and was one of the best pitchers in the game.
His ERAs in the years before that, going backwards chronologically, were: 3.01, 3.10, 3.54, 3.59 and 2.84.
This guy can pitch, but can he stay healthy and return to form?
If I were a general manager, I'd want him on my team.
.png?w=480)
