Veteran Free Agent Help - Starting Pitching

I was reading Chuck Finder's Q&A today and he made mention that the Pirates should sign a veteran starter to teach the young kids how to carry themselves and pitch. That got me thinking. Why stop there? Why just a starting pitcher? In the right situation, a veteran player can help young guys develop.

Look at the bullpen, for example. Since adding Octavio Dotel, Brendan Donnelly, D.J. Carrasco and, to some extent, Javier Lopez to complement Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek, the Pirates have a very strong bullpen and 4 veteran relievers to show the pen how to go about their business. Hanrahan and Meek have had very succesful seasons and some credit should be given to the older guys.

So if the Pirates should decide to add a few guys for "veteran leadership" they should probably focus on Starting Pitching, Shortstop, and perhaps catcher. The bullpen may see some turnover at the deadline and will certainly see a few new faces next year. Over the next few days I'll profile a particular position and the free agents available that the Pirates might be able to target.

Starting Pitching

The Pirates have some fairly young starters and no real veteran leadership to turn to. Ross Ohlendorf and Charlie Morton could be Pirates during this youth movement and could probably use a crafty veteran to turn to when they need help.

Kevin Millwood - RHP - Baltimore Orioles - 2011 Age: 36

After 101.2 IP Millwood has a 5.22 ERA, 81K, 31BB, and a 1.515 WHIP. For the most part, those numbers do not look so appealing. However, Millwood has had a tough June. Through April and May he had given up 32 earned runs, 77 hits, and 17 walks over 74 innings. In June alone he gave up 27 earned runs, 46 hits, and 14 walks in 27.2 innings. That's a 8.93 ERA for the month of June after a combined 3.89 in April and May!

Millwood has pitched in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Texas, and Baltimore over the course of 14 seasons. He has been a pretty reliable starter, pitching less than 30 games just 3 times since his rookie season. Although Millwood had one of his most successful seasons in Cleveland, he has been more successful in the NL sporting a 3.89 ERA vs his 4.32 ERA in the AL. Looking at just the NL Central, he sports a sub 4.00 ERA against the Cubs, Astros, and Cardinals. Combining all teams but the Pirates, Millwood is 28-15 4.09 ERA vs the NL Central.

If his season continues to go the way it has, I wonder if he will want to come to a team like the Pirates after playing for a similar team in Baltimore. He is making $12 million this year and would probably command something similar, being a Boras client and all. It's somewhat unlikely the Pirates will turn to Millwood given his price tag, but perhaps they should take a chance. He would be my #1 choice.

Jamie Moyer - RHP - Philadelphia Phillies - 2011 Age: 116

There really isn't much to say about Moyer, besides the fact that he will be 48 and not 116. He has been in the game for a long time and every time you think he's done, he comes back. He won't go away! He debuted in 1986 for crying out loud. Yes, the Pirates should look towards offering him a contract. Will Moyer accept? Extremely doubtful. Why waste a year here after finally winning a World Series in 2008? I just can't see it happening and only make mention of him because Finder did. No chance!

Jorge de la Rosa - LHP - Colorado Rockies - 2011 Age: 30

De la Rosa has a career ERA of 5.13, averages about 20 HR a season, and has a 4.7 BB/9. All these signs point to a big fat no. However, de la Rosa's numbers appear to be trending upward. His K:BB and GO/AO ratios have been going up while his ERA and WHIP have all been going down since 2007. Home runs are still a problem for him, but when you play in Colorado, that seems to happen.

He tore a tendon in his finger in late April, but appears to have recovered and should return to action soon. De la Rosa is making $5.6 million this year and is definately due for a raise, especially if he continues his upward trend. De la Rosa isn't a house hold name, so the Pirates will not have to break the bank, but I'd expect close to $8-$10 million, depending on how the rest of his year goes. De la Rosa may not be a crafty veteran like a Millwood or Moyer, but he definately has some value if neither of those two would come to Pittsburgh.

Javier Vazquez - RHP - New York Yankees - 2011 Age: 34

Vazquez is having the worst year of his career since his rookie campaign. A 5.16 ERA and the lowest K:BB ratio of his career are not helping. But he still holds value. Vazquez may not be the man he was...uh, just last year, but he's been around the league and, barring any language barrier, can definately show this staff what it takes to be a winner. He has a 4.02 ERA vs the NL, which is almost an entire run better than his AL ERA. Perhaps the Pirates can squeeze that one good year out of him, get what they need out of him, and let him ride off.

Vazquez has allowed 3 runs or less in 8 of his last 10 starts, so perhaps he is on the upswing after 5 bad starts to begin the season. It will be a good idea to see if this success continues for the rest of the season as he has look much improved.

Over the past 5 years, Vazquez has received at least $11 million a season. I think in order for him to come to the Pirates, he would have to want similar, if not more, money. New York has a shot at the World Series this year and Vazquez has yet to win one. If he wins one, I wonder if he would welcome a contract to a team like the Pirates. If not, well... I wouldn't count on it.