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12/15/2003 Archived Entry: "MLB News: Free-Agent Roundup"
MLB News by Eric Gartman
The last few days have seen a flurry of activity, as free agents continue to switch teams. Andy Pettitte spurned a 3-year $38 million offer from the Yanks to return home to Houston. Pettitte gives the Astros a much-needed starter to go with budding ace Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller. The ‘Stros fell short in the NL Central last year by only a few games, so the Pettitte deal seems like a big move. But the offense is getting old, especially Jeff Kent, Jeff Bagwell, and Craig Biggio. There are also question marks in the bullpen with Billy Wagner now gone. And what can we expect from Pettitte. He is a solid pitcher, who thrown lots of innings, but he’s probably not as good as his 149-78 career record suggests. His ERA will also probably suffer in Minute Maid Park.
But most of the movement in the majors has been in the AL East. After signing Curt Schilling, the Red Sox picked up reliever Keith Foulke, shoring up their weak bullpen. Not to be outdone, the Yanks picked up Tom Gordon, Javier Vazquez, and Gary Sheffield. The bombers are now talking with Kevin Brown, and it looks like he will come to New York. Brown surprised a lot of people last year by finishing second in the NL in ERA, after an injury-marred 2002 campaign. But Brown has been one of the best pitchers in the game since 1996, and does not seem to be done yet. His career stats, in fact, fare well against Tom Glavine’s: 3051 innings pitched with a 3.16 ERA for Brown, vs. 3528 innings and a 3.43 ERA for Glavine. Better run support has left Glavine with a much better career record, but they are really about the same in terms of quality. Furthermore, Glavine holds two Cy Young awards to Brown’s zero, but Brown should have won in both 1996 and ’98. It would be a good deal for the Yanks, and it would finally get Brown the attention he deserves.
Now, a third team is joining the binge. The lowly Baltimore Orioles, after six consecutive fourth-place finishes, now have money to spend, with Albert Belle, Scott Erickson, Tony Batista, and Pat Hentgen off their payroll. The O’s were expected to be the big movers this offseason, and they started by signing Miguel Tejada to a six-year deal worth $12 million annually. Most baseball people were surprised at how cheap he game: Less than half of what A-Rod makes, and $7 million a year less than Jeter. Furthermore, he will only be 28 years old next year, and thus still in his prime when the deal is over. It seems like there aren’t many teams buying this year, and the Orioles were thus able to set the price. Nor are the O’s done yet, looking at Vladimir Guerrero and catchers Ivan Rodriguez and Javy Lopez. There needs to be some new excitement at Camden Yards: Attendance has gone flat since Cal Ripken retired.
