The Diamondbacks and free agent right-hander Jon Garland have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with an option for 2010, according to major league sources.
It appears the contract is similar to one of the proposals the sides discussed two weeks ago, in which the deal would include an option that could be exercised by either the player or team. The value of the buyout would change depending on which side declines the option.
The specifics of the deal are not known, but Garland's guaranteed money is believed to be in the $6 million to $8 million range.
The deal is pending a physical.
That Garland is available at a price that’s manageable for the Diamondbacks is likely a result of the sluggish economy a down year in 2008 for Garland. Last season with the Los Angeles Angels -- his first year away from the Chicago White Sox -- he posted a 4.90 ERA and saw an increase in base runners allowed and a decrease in his strikeout rate.
Given that, his decision to decline arbitration from the Angels was viewed as a surprise in the industry. In arbitration, he only would have received a one-year contract, but it would have been worth more than the $12 million he made in 2008.
Still, Garland is viewed as a dependable innings-eater. He has thrown at least 191 innings in each of the past seven seasons, ranking eighth in games started and 12th in innings pitched since 2002. He has spent his entire career in the American League, posting a 4.47 ERA in nine seasons.
Garland is a Type B free agent, meaning it will not cost the Diamondbacks a pick to sign him.
Though their repertoires are different, think of Garland as something of a right-handed Doug Davis. He isn’t overpowering and gives up his share of base runners, but he always has taken the ball and provided innings -- a valuable service, particularly at the back of a rotation.
Slotting in behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, Garland’s presence will help lessen the club’s reliance on young right-hander Max Scherzer, whose workload the Diamondbacks will try to limit.
The innings he is expected to provide also should help in keeping fresh a bullpen that isn’t as deep following the free-agent departures of Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz.
Garland, who is 6-foot-6, is a sinkerball pitcher, but his career ground ball/fly ball ratio (1.29) skews only slightly toward keeping the ball on the ground. Last season, he had a ratio of 1.79.
