What about Freddy?

by Shippee33 on Jan 21, 2009 8:13 PM PST Comment 13 comments

Over the past few weeks, there has been much debate on AN about the areas that the Athletics need to improve on the most to contend for the AL West crown in 2009, and I think that the overall consensus on has been that the weakest link in Oakland's chain of potential is its starting pitching. With a rotation that consists of 4 question marks and one set of fingers crossed as our ace, and with Billy Beane shooting down the idea of bringing in an established starter it might be time for the A’s to work some of their high risk/high reward mojo to bolster its rotation. A name I have seen thrown around AN on more than one occasion is Mark Mulder, which could be a strong signing if Beane can get him on a minor league contract, and his velocity returns and can at least top that of Barry Zito. But a name that has not come up as often in conversation on AN, and one that might have real potential is Freddy Garcia. Now Freddy Garcia is definitely a risk as he is coming back from a serious shoulder injury; but in his 2 starts in Detroit’s minor league system last year he pitched 5 innings, gave up no runs, and struck out 5. Garcia ended the season striking out 12 batters through 15 innings pitched, while giving up 11 hits and 6 walks. In his Tigers debut on September 17, Garcia, with a limited pitch count, threw 5 scoreless innings to get the win, with his slider was looking as nasty as ever. Garcia has been a solid number 3 starter where ever he has been, pitching for Seattle during their hot run in the early 00’s, and the White Sox during their Championship 2005 season. If the A’s can sign Freddy to an incentive heavy one year deal, he could be a strong veteran presence in a largely untested rotation (Duke included.)
Again this would definitely be a high risk/high reward signing, but with the options available to the Athletics this off season, he may be key to solidifying a strong rotation, to complement a starting lineup that may have a chance to win the AL West.

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I Like It

As well as the Mulder talk. Same only throws hard, hopefully still, and has been a consistent winner and competitor. He could be a big part of our rotation this year if he could stay healthy and maintained a 92 mph fastball with that nasty slider.

But try as me and you might, everyone still wants Ben Sheets. The High Priced/High Risk/High Reward.

I’ll stick with what I’m saying on Mulder and Garcia. That way we can do something at the deadline if it is going to take another trade to get us over the top.

Steve Sage

by SSathletics on Jan 21, 2009 8:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

yes...

…great idea.

down with sheets

yes to mulder AND freddy

by swerv on Jan 21, 2009 8:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Problem is

Yanks, Mets Vying For Freddy Garcia
By Drew Silva [January 21 at 8:20pm CST]
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal was told by a major league source that the Mets and Yankees are the leading contenders for free agent right-hander Freddy Garcia.

Garcia has, according to the source, “pretty much narrowed it down” to the New York teams. The 33-year-old is 118-77 lifetime with a 4.07 ERA, but has pitched just 73 innings over the past two seasons. He is thought to be looking for a major league contract.

= NOT GOOD CHANCES OF HIM SIGNING WITH US.

by ryanmoser on Jan 21, 2009 8:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see Mr Duque

Mulder signed if he looks “ok or above” at his throwing debut — whenever that is

My vote: Sounds crazy - El Duque – O. Hernandez, The guy is old, but still has filthy stuff. He should be somewhat cheap and if he doesn’t work out in the rotation he could be huge in the bulpen.

by ryanmoser on Jan 21, 2009 8:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Orlando Could Work As Well.

I would still rather be going for Garcia or Mulder (Like you said) instead.

I can see the Mets signing Garcia, but not the Yankees. They already have a rotation that consists of C.C., Burnett, Wang, Hughes (If Healthy) and whoever else they have in the other spot.

By the way, Is Moose still in the Yankees rotation? I can’t remember if he retired or not.

Steve Sage

by SSathletics on Jan 21, 2009 9:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

retired

mussina

by ryanmoser on Jan 21, 2009 9:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Freddy was throwing 87 MPH fastballs last season.

If he’s not done, he’s probably pretty close.

by acblue on Jan 21, 2009 9:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

He could still do a lot at 87 MPH

He has a first-rate changeup and pretty wicked breaking pitch. Not sure if his arm can take snapping off a wicked curve/slider any more, though.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jan 21, 2009 9:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Shoulder

Was bumming out. I did say if he was healthy I believe, which if he is then he is fully capable of getting up in the 90 mph range.

Steve Sage

by SSathletics on Jan 21, 2009 11:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Billy is sitting on what he has and not adding any pitching because

there isn’t anyone out there apart from Sheets who is much better than what we have. Not saying what we have is setting the world on fire but I think Those that are out there are huge injury risks and or once good pitchers who have little chance of getting back to what they were. Most of them IMO are not worth the risk.

by Trainman on Jan 21, 2009 10:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The thing that worries me about Freddy Garcia is that the shoulder issue

may not be going away… ever, actually, when the shoulder is subjected to any kind of repetitive stress from pitching on a regular basis.

Here’s the last I remember reading about the issue, that I went and found:

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/garcia_update_shoulder_tightne.html

On the bright side, they can’t seem to find any structural damage. But on the down side, it seems a pattern is emerging where he can pitch effectively (Tigers at the end of the season, then in Winter ball) for a few starts and then his shoulder goes out again. If I were an MLB team looking at him right now, I’d be very wary of signing him and counting on anything much- he might be feeling good and throwing fine right now, but what happens when he gets into the actual stress of pitching in games every 5th day again?

by still bills kingdom on Jan 22, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs