This year’s free-agent class for starting pitching is one of the weakest in years, reflected by lefty Rich Hill being the market headliner before re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $48 million pact. Other starters who have since signed include Andrew Cashner with the Rangers, Derek Holland with the White Sox and Edinson Volquez with the Marlins. The best starter still available on the free-agent market is Jason Hammel (formerly of the Cubs), a good option at the back end of a rotation, but more of a good depth addition than a season-changing pickup.
However, the market for starting pitching is actually robust right now. That’s because the trade market is presently flooded with options. Want a top-of-the-rotation starter? Call the Rays on Chris Archer, the White Sox on Jose Quintana or even the Royals on Danny Duffy. Need a mid-rotation starter? Redial the Rays on Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi, or call the Reds on Dan Straily or the Brewers on Junior Guerra. Have payroll room to take on a bad contract? Call the Nationals on Gio Gonzalez or the Twins on Ervin Santana.
You get my point. Any team still looking for starting pitchers can choose from all kinds of options. Here is a breakdown of some of the best alternatives still out there for teams shopping for rotation help.
Free agents
1. Jason Hammel
2016: 15-10, 3.83 ERA/4.48 FIP, 1.1 WAR, 1.20 WHIP, 7.8 K/9
Hammel worked extremely hard last offseason in order to be stronger in the second half of the season, something that has plagued him most of his career. It worked to an extent, as he had a 3.46 ERA in the first half and 4.35 ERA in the second, but most of the inflated ERA in the second half all came in his four starts in September (with 21 runs allowed in 20 ⅔ IP). Hammel is a quality back-of-rotation starter who has pitched at least 165 innings in six different seasons.
2. Jered Weaver
2016: 12-12, 5.06 ERA/5.62 FIP, -0.7 WAR, 1.46 WHIP, 5.2 K/9
There are not a lot of right-handed starting pitchers in baseball history who can win games with an 83-86 mph fastball, but Weaver is one of them, thanks to his deception and secondary pitches. His decline the past two years is real and scary; he led the league with 37 home runs given up and a career high of 1.46 WHIP. However, a change of leagues and pitching in a big ball park might still work for him, and he's still able to pitch 180 innings.
3. C.J. Wilson
2016: Did not pitch; career 3.76 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 7.8 K/9 as a starter.
Wilson did not pitch last year after undergoing surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff in his left (throwing) shoulder. It’s unknown if he’ll be able to come back, but he’s certainly worth the flier for some teams; he has delivered quality starts in 60 percent of his turns. A non-guaranteed minor league contract would be the only way to go here, but it’s a flier with upside value given his track record as a competitor who knows how to pitch.
Trade market
1. Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays
2016: 9-19, 4.02 ERA/3.81 FIP, 1.8 WAR, 1.24 WHIP, 10.4 K/9
The Rays are not looking to trade Archer, but they will listen to offers. However, teams need not call unless they’re offering an everyday phenom who's a ready-now player such as Alex Bregman of the Astros, Trea Turner of the Nationals, Christian Yelich of the Marlins and Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers.
2. Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox
2016: 13-12, 3.20 ERA/3.56 FIP, 5.2 WAR, 1.16 WHIP, 7.8 K/9
The White Sox were spoiled with their strong returns in both the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trades, because they expect to get more for Quintana than they did Eaton -- which means the price for Quintana will be exorbitant. Teams that have enough to make this kind of trade include the Astros, Yankees and Pirates.
3. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
2016: 12-3, 3.51 ERA/3.83 FIP, 4.2 WAR, 1.14 WHIP, 9.4 K/9
Duffy will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Royals know based on his 2016 season that it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to re-sign him. Therefore, trading him now makes the most sense, with the Astros, Dodgers, Cardinals and Yankees looking like the most obvious fits.
4. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
2016: 9-10, 4.37 ERA/3.71 FIP, 1.4 WAR, 1.29 WHIP, 7.3 K/9
The Blue Jays don’t want to trade Stroman, but they have been listening. The Jays view Stroman as a solid No. 3 starter, but they realize some other teams view him as something better than that. Toronto will keep an open mind if someone wants to offer the team a return that’s equivalent to what a No. 1 or 2 starter would bring.
5. Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays
2016: 10-6, 3.29 ERA/4.31 FIP, 3.0 WAR, 1.19 WHIP, 8.0 K/9
The Rays know the best way to improve their offense right now is through trades, so they are listening to offers on all of their starters. The Rays might match up especially well with the Rangers in a trade for either Jurickson Profar or Joey Gallo.
6. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
2016: 9-3, 2.81 ERA/3.70 FIP, 4.0 WAR, 1.12 WHIP, 7.4 K/9
The Brewers acquired Guerra on a waiver claim, and now they have half of baseball calling for him, offering some really good packages in return. While the Brewers are inclined to keep Guerra, because of his low salary and controllability, some contending team might offer an overpay that GM David Stearns can’t turn down.
7. Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals
2016: 11-12, 4.45 ERA/4.59 FIP, 1.9 WAR, 1.44 WHIP, 7.0 K/9
The Royals have always loved Ventura’s talent and his potential ceiling, but they’re growing weary over the fact he never seems to grow up. A change of scenery would probably help Ventura, but it will be a challenge for Royals GM Dayton Moore to get back equal value.
8. Dan Straily, Cincinnati Reds
2016: 14-8, 3.76 ERA/4.88 FIP, 4.3 WAR, 1.19 WHIP, 7.6 K/9
After moving through the A’s, Cubs, Astros and Padres organizations in 21 months, Straily had his breakout campaign for the Reds last season after they claimed him on waivers at the start of the season. Reds GM Dick Williams would like to take advantage of that breakout and trade him while his stock is at its highest. The GM fielded several calls about Straily at the winter meetings earlier this month, but Williams hasn’t found a deal to his liking.
9. Drew Smyly, Tampa Bay Rays
2016: 7-12, 4.88 ERA/4.49 FIP, 0.0 WAR, 1.27 WHIP, 8.6 K/9
The Rays say Smyly is healthy and just had a down year, but several opposing clubs think there is still something wrong with his shoulder. If the Rays end up trading him, you can expect an in-depth physical and MRI before a deal is completed.
10. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
2016: 11-12, 3.32 ERA/3.80 FIP, 4.0 WAR, 1.18 WHIP, 9.8 K/9
The Red Sox’s trade of Clay Buchholz to the Phillies earlier this week probably saved Pomeranz from being dealt, at least for now. Boston gave up one of their top pitching prospects, Anderson Espinoza, to the Padres to get Pomeranz, so they’re hoping he can stay healthy and live up to the price they paid for him. That being said, if the right offer comes along, the Red Sox are open-minded.
11. Hector Santiago, Minnesota Twins
2016: 13-10, 4.70 ERA/5.31 FIP, 1.0 WAR, 1.36 WHIP, 7.1 K/9
Santiago is one of those starting pitchers who doesn’t have command of his fastball, which is a good thing because he gives uncomfortable at-bats to hitters and has good deception on his changeup. He had a down year in 2016, but teams are still lining up to try adding the left-hander to the back end of their rotations.
12. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
2016: 11-11, 4.57 ERA/3.76 FIP, 0.8 WAR, 1.34 WHIP, 8.7 K/9
Gonzalez looks like he’s finally healthy, but don’t expect his control or command to get better in light of his mechanical and past shoulder issues. His inflated contract, calling for $12 million in 2017, with a $12 million vesting option for 2018 if he throws 180 innings in 2017, is the main reason the Nationals would consider moving him.
13. Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
2016: 7-11, 3.38 ERA/3.81 FIP, 3.8 WAR, 1.21 WHIP, 7.4 K/9
The Twins are rebuilding under a new administration, and they will trade Santana if they can get the right return of prospects. However, it’s more likely he ends up getting moved in July if he can deliver a solid first half.
14. Collin McHugh, Houston Astros
2016: 13-10, 4.34 ERA/3.95 FIP, 1.2 WAR, 1.40 WHIP, 8.6 K/9
The Astros still like his curve ball and the innings he can provide. However, if they can trade for a Jose Quintana or Chris Archer to provide an upgrade within their rotation, they’ll certainly make McHugh available.
15. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
2016: 11-11, 3.68 ERA/4.67 FIP, 4.1 WAR, 1.22 WHIP, 8.5 K/9
Last winter, the Royals gave Kennedy a five-year, $70 million deal, but now they wish they hadn’t -- they could have put their money toward retaining players such as Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar or Lorenzo Cain. If anyone wants to take on the $16 million-a-year contract through 2020, they don’t need to offer the Royals much in the way of players.