I probably like Myers more than Garland, but what you said here is contradictory. If they didn't waste the $5MM on Feliz, they could have gone after Garland on a $10MM 1-yr deal instead of Myers. Not that he'd necessarily take a one year deal (though he did last year), but it would have given you that potential option. That's a perfect example of why not to waste money early in the offseason on a marginal upgrade at best.
The last 4 years, Myers' WHIP and ERA are (overall) better than Garland. In addition, Myers has around 700 innings less on his arm than Garland. In can be argued that since Garland spent the majority of the last 4 years in the AL, that his stats would be a bit elevated compared to an NLer, but overall, is he worth that much more than Myers?
I agree with you - I think Myers is a better choice than Garland. My only point is that it doesn't make sense to simultaneously argue that you (not you in particular) wish we'd have signed a more expensive guy and that signing another guy to an unnecessary deal doesn't limit the team's ability to sign players.
Houston's compensation for Valverde(no he hasnt signed anywhere yet) via MLBTR: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/01/houstons-compensation-for-losing-valverde.html
Why would it be a good idea to pay $10M a year for a pitcher with a lifetime 4.42 ERA when you could pay $5M for a pitcher with a lifetime 4.40 ERA?
As I said, I prefer Myers. However, the other poster preferred Garland. He wasn't an option, in part, because we had committed $5MM to a clone of a 3B we already had, and another $5MM to a reliever that's likely to eventually end up a middle reliever for the team. It was simply an example of how little signings that seem harmless actually do limit the team's movements. Or, if you prefer to look at it another way, the team could possibly have had both Garland AND Myers, had they not overpaid for both Feliz and Lyon.
Orlando Hudson is still on the market. I think Kaz is done so he would be a great replacement. He is a legit bat.
If Only. Lets go Crazy Jon Garland+Orlando Hudson and call it an offseason. Those two moves would make a somewhat legitimate team. Oswalt/Rodriguez/Meyers/Garland/Moehler 1.Bourn 2.Hudson 3.Pence 4.Berkman 5.Lee 6.Feliz 7.Manzella 8.Castro /pray 9.Oswalt But those signings are near 100 percent improbable
Drafts picks here we come!!! http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/01/tigers-reach-agreement-with-jose-valverde.html
Our Farm System after this next draft should be in considerably better shape than it was 1-2 years ago.
