Matt Garza's name has begun to pick up a bit more this week, with the Diamondbacks and Twins both having been linked to the right-hander. Here's the latest on Garza…
- Per MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, D-Backs GM Kevin Towers attempted to throw cold water on the idea that his club is the frontrunner for Garza. "I don't think so, no," Towers said. "I wouldn't say that we're that close on anything right now at this point in time on the free-agent front."
Earlier Updates:
- There's a growing feeling among executives that Garza will sign soon, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who tweets that the D-Backs and Angels are viewed as the favorites.
- According to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (Twitter link), however, the Angels aren't expecting to sign anyone today, so it doesn't appear Garza is close to signing with them.
- If Garza agrees to a deal by week's end, it doesn't look like it'll happen at the Winter Meetings. Garza's agent has left Orlando, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, who tweets that the Twins "know the price" for the righty.
- Heyman also mentions the Twins and adds the Angels to the mix of teams interested in Garza (via Twitter), noting that there's still nothing close.
- ESPN's Jerry Crasnick also hears that the Angels are in the mix for Garza, noting that despite a sizable asking price, the lack of draft pick compensation attached to Garza is a plus for the Halos and other interested parties (Twitter links).
- Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets that the Diamondbacks are definitely talking to Garza, but they still have a lot of work to do.
- ESPN's Jayson Stark hears that Matt Garza's camp is telling interested parties that he could sign within the next 24 to 48 hours (Twitter link). There's been a lot of Diamondbacks buzz, Stark adds.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
I’m surprised the Rangers have not been mentioned regarding Garza. They paid a hefty ransom to acquire him last season, and the pitching staff still seems thin heading into 2014.
Darvish-Holland-Harrison-Perez plus Ogando/Tepesch/Colby Lewis is pretty solid.
Colby and Harrison are question marks due to health. I like Ogando better in a relief role. Hopefully Tepesch is solid. Just seemed like the F.O. was pretty high on Garza before, and he would keep the rotation (and bullpen) deep if someone goes down to injury.
Did you see the way Garza pitched in Arlington? Didn’t exactly overwhelm anybody. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Angels jump in Amanda sign Garza–Arte is probably getting antsy to spend some big money and make a splash.
That’s “and sign Garza”. Autocorrect strikes again, like the mystery team.
Phew. Good. I was gonna be concerned for Amanda.
I laughed out loud
I’m just curious this is Amanda is that your phone is auto-correcting to her. She sounds special…
Hope the Jays sign him.
I am so sick of the offseason so far… just sign someone! Garza has had some health issues and does not have draft pick assigned to him so he might be a tougher sign.
I think the Jays actually have a better shot at Santana or Ubaldo since they have 2 protected 1st round picks.
I would be fine with either 3 since the rotation was so bad.
hes nothing speciall. yawn
´´ Matt Garza’s name has begun to pick up a bit more in the past 24 hours, with the Diamondbacks and Twins `´
good news for yankees fans!
How so? You’re happy with a rotation consisting of Sabathia, Kuroda, Nova, and question marks?
no, b/c if that’s the Yankees competition for him they should be able to outbid them..
cc,hiroki,nova,maybe tanaka and phelps/pineda
I see Arte Moreno swooping in again and the Angels getting him.
This statement used to bring me alot of joy. Now I get scared.
Rounding out the rotation with Garza, Skaggs and Santiago after Weaver and Wilson is a lot more promising than rounding it out with Vargas, Blanton and Hanson.
Vargas was a great pickup had he not had the blood clot. I was so sick of Jorden Walden that I wasn’t even mad about Hanson. But dear god in heaven did I lose my mind when Blanton was signed.
I’ll give you Vargas, but I still don’t like him as a 3, which is what he was. Regardless, he’s gone now. The Angels needed at least three pitchers this off-season, in my opinion. They’ve got two in Santago and Skaggs. Getting Garza would be solid.
skaggs will not be in the rotation if they get garza it will be richards
Perhaps. If they get Garza, I’m sure Richards will have a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation, but I’m not sure he’d get it. If Skaggs pitches well out of Spring Training, then the Angels would have to give him the spot. He has a much higher ceiling.
No. Richards is in the rotation right now anyways. He proved him self last year.
We’ll have to agree to disagree on Richards. He had a 4.18 ERA as a starter, pitched to an ERA+ of 91 on the season and if you take out his July numbers – which included 6 relief appearances 1 start – he would have had a 4.56 ERA on the season. I don’t see how that would constitute proving himself.
He had a 3.59 ERA post All-Star break in 15 appearances, 13 of which are as a starter.
Letting Vargas go was horrible!
Why? They have about $20MM to work with. And they aren’t in horrible shape. Go get him for $64MM/4yrs.
He’ll get plenty more than $64/4. Reports had him asking the Cubs for $90/5. Given the number of teams looking for a Number 2/3 starter, I’d say he gets somewhere close to that.
What reports? $90/5 is outrageous!
The reports that came out every time the Cubs were working on an extension with Garza. Just a quick glance at Baseball Reference tells me that Garza’s closest comparison among active pitchers is Anibal Sanchez, and he got 5 years $88 million a year ago. Given that Garza is healthy and has no draft pick compensation attached to him, I’d say he approaches that figure. Just a guess, though…
I’d ask for more money to pitch in Chicago too. Love the stadium as a fan and as a hitter, but pitchers must hate it. Garza is from the Anaheim area, may get a discount.. but i don’t think he’s a discount sort of guy.
Why would pitchers hate it more than any other ballpark? This isn’t 1960, and Wrigley isn’t considered a small park anymore. Sure, the wind blows out at Wrigley from time-to-time, but it blows in just as much.
Considering that the report updated to say the DBacks are the favorites to land Garza, let’s compare the two parks. Chase Field has outranked Wrigley in Park Factor four of the past six years with last year being the only year in that stretch that Chase Field even ranked outside the top-10. Meanwhile, Wrigley ranked outside the top-10 in two of Garza’s three seasons in Chicago, including 23rd in 2011 and 13th in 2012.
Garza is from the Fresno area, last time I checked.
80 million for Sanchez with his 2018 – 5 million buyout or 16 million club option if they pick it up….
Garza has always seemed overrated to me.
Same here, to me he seems like a Low #2 or High #3 who’ll give you sub to low 4.00 ERA with flashes of dominance here and there.
Don’t disagree really although he had a really good 2011 & a fine 2013 overall. Independent of the eventual contract, he might be my favorite actual pitcher with a tad of upside among the FA crop.
He’s in line to get about 5 years at 15MM per. I don’t know if I’d want to give that much money to a guy who may fit in as a 3rd starter in the Yankees rotation. But since he’s not tied to a draft pick, he may seem a little more intriguing to other teams.
15MM for a 3rd starter isn’t really an overpay given how much pitchers are raking in, IMO.
As an Angels fan I’m more worried about the years. Even with Wells off the books after this year we have to start thinking about extending Trout at some point.
I guess that makes sense, Phil Hughes got 8MM per for 3 years. I’m assuming that Trout has 4 more years left under team control after his cup of coffee in 2011 and the to succeeding seasons. I’d say once the Hambone is off the books at the end of his deal, I think the Angels will look to lock up Trout for around the same AAV but more years.
As a phillies fan I would like Trout to come to philly. Which is very possible that he does. He’s a due hard phillies fan who grew up in Millville NJ. Already been interviewed down here saying his dream is to play for Phillies. So the Angels won’t have to worry bout locking up Trout unless they do for arb years
Die hard not due hard. Auto correct
Didn’t posey say he wanted to play for the Braves being a Georgia boy? and look at his extension..
Barely hit 30, career ERA under 4.00, peripherals and velocity haven’t declined, good K/9 and BB/9, FIP numbers stable… he’s a good pitcher.
I’d probably go four years with a fifth year option based on health/IP. If guys like Feldman are getting 3/30 I’m sure Garza will get at least 5/75.
Well seeing as Morton just got extended 3yrs/21MM then i can see your numbers coming to pass.
But to me, he’s still overrated.
I’ve never heard anyone really rave about Garza, he’s a good not great pitcher. I think the biggest plus he gives is his consistency in performance, although he did have some injury issues recently.
But anyways, to each their own.
The only team i can think of raving about him is the Cubs and that’s understandable since they traded for him.
You should take a look at his career splits by ballpark and sort them by games started, or innings pitched. I knew he’s good, but even I was astounded at how good his numbers are in AL East ballparks. Take those numbers to a pitcher friendly park like Angels Stadium, and they could possibly translate into dominance that could match that of Jered Weaver’s over the last 4 years.
That would be an amazing Big 3.
It all has to do with what he did in Tampa. He pitched to a 3.86 ERA in three seasons there, put up an 8.5 WAR in baseball’s toughest division and seemingly took his game to another level during the 2008 ALCS. Most insiders thought he could become an Ace once he left that division, and even though it hasn’t happened, a lot of people still see him as a top of the rotation starter who could potentially dominate a postseason series because of his “history.” Sure, he’s a solid pitcher – but when it comes to the perception of him being an upper-echelon talent, it’s not the case. Some people just have a tough time seeing past perceptions.
I see a close resemblance to John Lackey circa 2005-2009. But thats on the surface. Garza has pitched in hitters parks his career, although Wrigley does fluctuate. Lackey was in his prime in one of the more pitcher friendly ballparks. So one could argue that Garza pitching half his games at a park like the Big A could bring out a better performance than Lackey in his prime, and would bring out Garza’s ace potential that he’s never quite reached. Still a very good starting pitcher to have, especially for around Anibal Sanchez/CJ Wilson money and no draft pick compensation. I think we still have yet to see what Garza is really capable of.
Of course ballparks are factors in a pitcher’s successes and failures, but the really good pitchers find ways to be dominant in hitter friendly ballparks as well.
I bet the Angels are in on him hard. Dipoto is trying to make moves quickly and he is said to be “aggressively pursuing” SPs. Garza, from Northern CA, would bring some life and fire to our aging team, too.
With it being so early, wouldn’t surprise me if his asking price is in the 70+ million range. I think that’s too rich for the Twins.
I’d love him at 4/60, but that feels way too low at this point and the fact that there’s no pick attached makes me definitely believe 70+ million. I’d be surprised otherwise. I think that’s an overpay. I guess we shall see.
Figure 5-6 years at $15 million-$18 million is what he’ll end up getting.
Unless they can get him at a reasonable price then I’d be OK with the Halos passing on Garza. The guy is a FA and based on what other FA SP have gotten I doubt Garza is going to settle for less. Don’t think he’s worth it.
If Edwin Jackson got 4/52, you can almost guarantee that the starting point for Garza will be right around 4yr/60M
Sadly in this market, with out a QO, I think his starting point will be around 5/75.
Garza is a great pitcher who had some injuries that hurt his overall momentum. He’ll get back on track and be a quality arm to throw out there every 5th day. Any team will get a nice solid starter by signing Matt Garza.
Finally, someone who has actually watched him pitch. Matt has a career under 4 ERA. I’m a Red Sox fan and I’d take Garza over Peavy, Doubront Dempster any day of the week!!
So it’s going to be the infamous “mystery team” then.
Are you starting rumors? This is the wroooong site for that! =)
Hahaha
I bet you its that Japanese team that’s about to lose Tanaka. Garza’s the perfect replacement.
Wish the Tanaka situation would clear up. If he wont be posted I would like Angels to after Garza, if he will be posted they need to save their money for a bidding war on Tanaka. Either way LAA needs one more quality SP who is not linked to a draft pick compensation.
if Garza figures at around 4-5year @ 15M per season, I wonder what Tanaka projects at? Has anyone suggested a contract duration/value?
I saw 6/100 somewhere but I don’t think anyone has a realistic prediction at this point. It is nearly impossible to say since its a new posting system and a very expensive FA market this year.
I could see him getting $100M depending on the teams involved, and I’m sure many will be with the new posting system. I don’t know if I’d want the Angels to give him that deal though. The last thing we need is another risky, expensive, long-term contract. But in our situation I guess you’d have to if Garza goes somewhere else.
maybe the Tigers could be a mystery team to sign him?
to replace Fister?
That would make the Fister trade even worse, Garza will cost more than Fister and he is not a better pitcher. Tigers traded Fister to save money not to spend more on an equal or worse SP.
I”d like the LAA to pick up Garza. He’d be a good albeit expensive insurance pick in case one of the two left handers they recently obtained aren’t ready this year.
There we go, I was worried that Arte wasn’t going to do another big contract with somebody this winter. Garza: 10 years/$240 mil to the Angels.
I hope you’re joking. No one commits 10 years to a pitcher.
Kershaw may get it from the Dodgers.
Angels become players since they are also looking to unload Aybar or Kendrick.
Pretty sure both of them are staying now that Trumbo has been traded.
Why? Was Trumbo going to play 2B/SS if he stayed & they were traded?
No Grant Green would have taken over for Kendrick and I wasn’t sure what the plan was for Aybar but he was only going for one of STL young pitchers.
Luis Jimenez has played SS before.
But do you get my point? Trading Trumbo doesn’t mean they can’t trade Kendrick/Aybar. They’re looking to shed weight on the diamond in lieu of bring in better SPs than guys like Blanton. If they really are pursuing Tanaka/Garza, Kendrick/Aybar are in play to be traded.
But what would you trade them for?
Pitching, but predominantly for salary relief, i would imagine.
exactly
Low cost club controlled pitching with high upside….
His “camp” saying he could sign in the next 24-48 hours translates to this. “We don’t have 1 good offer out there, and with Hughes and Kazmir getting what they got we want a ton more so pony up teams!”
Have to agree. He’s blowing smoke and hoping teams will panic and up their offers. I also think he’s worried that Tanaka will shift the focus away from his situation and he wants to sign before hand.
I would like the rotation for the Angels if they can add him. Be a good #3 between Wilson and Santiago(hopfully Skaggs by the end of the season) to have a nice R/L/R/L/R rotation
Picking up Garza would be the ultimate admittal by the Twins that the Bill Smith era was a catastrophic failure. But still think it makes sense.
I think firing him was the ultimate admission. They just don’t fire people.
He wasn’t fired he was reassigned within the organization aka demotion.
As long as the Angels don’t have to commit too many years to him, I think he’d definitely be someone they should bid on. He’d round out their rotation nicely. I think Weaver-Wilson-Garza-Santiago-Skaggs sounds pretty good to me. You’ve got depth in Richards and a couple others I’m sure. Your 1-3 there can all provide 200+ IP with good peripherals and some swing-and-miss stuff. Then your 4-5 are two younger lefties with the capability to improve (especially Skaggs) and move forward, but if you are only expecting 4-5 production from them, then that’s what you should expect.
Garret Richards will be in the rotation. Skaggs would be the depth until he can replace Santiago.
3 lefties in one rotation? I am not sure that’s the best idea.
Talk to the white sox’s, thary had 3 mist of the year and at one point 4 Lh sp
WOW, that’s so true. I have always thought that two LHPs is limit for major league rotations. That technically makes sense given number of RH hitters in the league.
Angels need to sign him. Kinda surprised the Rangers are not bigger players for Garza based on how much they gave up to get him.
Garza is perfect for either the Angels or Rangers, and if the Rangers (or any team) are concerned about his performance with them, it was one terrible outing in Tampa that ballooned his ERA a bit down the stretch. Big bargain for whoever signs him.
I doubt he’ll be a “bargain”
I’m hearing 4/60. That and no draft pick compensation is a bargain in the current market.
I agree. But I think he’ll want more than 4/60.
it wasn’t just one start. out of 13, only in 5 he gave up less than 4 ER. in one of them he went 4 innings and one he gave up 4 runs but only one was earned. he could be injured.
Let’s hurry up and get this deal done Dipoto. Even if Tanaka is “posted” he’ll command too much money and if we keep waiting someone will swoop in on Garza quick status.
I thought the Dbacks were looking for an Ace…Garza is not that
How many “Aces” are on the market anyway?
Price is the only number 1 right now looking to be traded…..none on the FA market….
If you are looking at the trade Market not the FA market, PHI said Lee and Hammels are available. They are legit aces too.
Yep your right, I forgot that Philly said they were on the market….
Rangers need to be in on Tanaka if the posting ceiling is now $20 mil! I like Garza, he wasn’t good in Arlington but Cliff Lee wasn’t either until the Postseason. It is very hard to switch teams midseason as a starter and have immediate success. It isn’t impossible, but it is usually decent or non factor. FA rotation help is usually overpriced, and over his career I like Garza, but someone is going to overpay here. I bet it is the Halos!
Twins need him and i don’t care if they overpay. Better than Arroyo whose already 37 years old and demanding insane numbers and years for a contract.
I really wish that AA comes out of nowhere and signs garza
Everyone knows that this means:
Nothing.
Most likely neither of these teams will sign him.
It would be rather ironic if it was the Trumbo trade that allowed the Angels to get far enough under the luxury tax to actually sign Garza over the Diamondbacks. insult to injury there.
The one thing that concerns me about Garza is his FB velocity and K/9 have been dropping since 2011. This could all be due to his 2012 injury as it often taken some time to regain FB velocity but it could also be indicative of a far worse decline. Still I’d rather the Angels take a risk on Garza than Santana or Jimenez.
Are the Dbacks trying to back up all the things they said to the Dodgers.
as an angels fan, we were also the favorites for adrian beltre, carl crawford, and zack greinke..