Padres Sign John Garland
January 26th, 2010 | Published in Daniel Gettinger, San Diego Padres, baseball, contracts, roster moves
by Daniel Gettinger
Pitcher Jon Garland and the Padres have agreed to what is essentially a one-year deal worth $5.3MM guaranteed. (Note: There is actually a mutual option for a second year at $6.75MM with a $600K buyout).
Garland has been consistently durable and has posted consistently average performances throughout his career. He is a low strikeout guy, who gets away with a lack of stuff by minimizing his walks and homeruns allowed. Since 2002 Garland has thrown no fewer than 191 innings in any season, while posting WARs between 2 and 4.
The projections that are out are pretty much in agreement on Garland. He is expected to produce a FIP around 4.5 in about 190 innings. That is solid, valuable performance, and worth approximately 2 wins ($7MM) above replacement.
Garland takes the place of the Padres previously unnamed fifth starter. Instead of running Stauffer, LeBlanc, or some other replacement type player currently in the Padres system, the Padres can throw Garland. If someone else in the system steps up, the team will probably be able to deal Garland to a different team.
Expected to perform at a $7MM level for only $5.3MM, Garland provides surplus value, at a position of need. Not a bad signing.
