If MLB Execs Are Reading This: Pitchers That Could Be The Next Cliff Lee

Now that Cliff Lee of the Indians has set the focus of MLB execs—finding another Cliff Lee—here's some free advice to you MLB Executives that might be reading this.  Get Mark Mulder, Bartolo Colon, Dontrelle Willis, Javier Vasquez, or even Barry Zito.  I think it makes sense to treat them as backend starters at the beginning of the season to see if they catch fire like Cliff Lee did behind CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona.  These guys tend to be "zoners" in that, they become consumed in their mind in approaching the opponent, so they seem to get distracted when people expect everything from them.  They can be brilliant.  You just can't *lean* on their brilliance.

Mulder, Willis, Vasquez, and Colon could be had for a song because of their performance and health struggles.  BUT, Cliff Lee was in the minors and no one wanted him for a reasonable price.  Thus, if you want the next Cliff Lee, you'll probably need to willingly gamble on someone with questions marks, but has been brilliant at times.  Like Cliff Lee was in 2005 when he finished fourth for the AL Cy Young.  Moreover, Zito and Colon have won the Cy Young so clearly they've performed highly; and Zito has stayed healthy.  Zito just seems to have an occasional dud season before bouncing back -- remember, Zito was a goat for a few seasons in Oakland before hitting free agency and collecting the mega contract from the Giants.

The Giants probably won't part with Zito for nothing, but would likely trade him for a reasonable offer.  Zito would probably fare well by a return to the American League with a team that can score runs. That is why I believe that the New York Yankees would be the best suitor for Zito.

Colon has struggled with injuries but I think he'd fare well in the American League because he won't have to bat.  If treated as a backend starter, given a solid bullpen, and restricted pitch-count, Colon would do well, which would make the Seattle Mariners or Detroit Tigers a good fit for Colon.

As for Mark Mulder, he took a lot of mileage early in his career, but I think if a team has a pitcher-friendly park and treats him as a fourth or fifth starter and is willing to utilize the bullpen to protect his pitch count, then that team could get a good amount of quality starts from Mulder.  That is why the San Diego Padres or a return to the Oakland Athletics would make the most sense.

Dontrelle Willis, meanwhile, is currently in the minor leagues, as Cliff Lee was.  His struggles in Detroit should not be pinned solely on him.  The Tigers had across-the-board problems, even with their aces, Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman.  It's hard to know exactly why most of the Detroit pitchers would struggle, but I can imagine that they would fare well if removed from that situation.  That is why Dontrelle Willis could be worth the risk.  For a reasonable price, the Tigers would surely trade him.  Willis would probably benefit from a return to the National League, and that is why the Atlanta Braves would be the best location for Willis.

Finally, Javier Vasquez struggled in Chicago but has been a solid back rotation starter for most of his career.  He's always had a high ERA but a team that can score runs and can afford his contract, could probably pry him away from the White Sox for the right offer.  The downside is, Vasquez is an expensive back rotation starter, but a team in need of a quick fix or that believes they can score runs would benefit from Vasquez, such as the Texas Rangers or the Philadelphia Phillies (who could use a replacement, if Jamie Moyer retires).

There's my two cents on the matter.  For those of you wondering, what qualifies me to even believe that MLB execs should listen to my advice, I have been trained as a scout by Lynn Lashbrook and Rob Neyer, but declined to pursue that career.  But I am an avid hobbyist, and enjoy analyzing teams.