Kazmir to A's- 2 years, $22 million

[ThomasTomasz]

The Oakland Athletics fortified their rotation Monday, reaching a two-year, $22 million agreement with free-agent left-hander Scott Kazmir, sources told ESPN's Jim Bowden and Buster Olney on Monday.

Kazmir, who turns 30 in January, is 76-70 with a 4.16 ERA in parts of nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians.

The Associated Press reported Monday afternoon the contract would be pending a physical and wasn't finalized.

After pitching a total of 1 2/3 innings in the big leagues in a two-year span, Kazmir returned to post a 10-9 record with a 4.04 ERA in 29 starts with the Indians in 2013.

The A's were reportedly in pursuit of Tim Hudson in hopes of striking a deal with terms similar to Kazmir's. But Hudson signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Kazmir joins Jarrod Parker, A.J. Griffin, Dan Straily and Sonny Gray in Oakland's projected rotation and could give the A's sufficient depth to entertain trade offers for the frequently injured Brett Anderson.

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The A's are good at finding value, and Scott Kazmir offers intriguing upside, writes Keith Law. Blog

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Kazmir signing also brings an end to the A's attempt to re-sign right-hander Bartolo Colon.

Kazmir, a first-round draft pick by the New York Mets in 2002, made the American League All-Star team with Tampa Bay in 2006 and 2008.

His career quickly unraveled due to a combination of injuries and mechanical issues, and the Angels released him in June 2011.

But Kazmir worked his way back in a stint with the Sugar Land Skeeters in the independent Atlantic League, attracting the attention of Edwin Rodriguez, a minor league manager in the Cleveland system, last winter in Puerto Rico.

After winning a spot in the Cleveland rotation in spring training, Kazmir struck out 162 batters in 158 innings. He was particularly effective at home, going 7-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 starts at Progressive Field.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/1...ott-kazmir-2-year-22-million-deal-sources-say

Guess I should resign myself to crazy FA deals again

 

[Villain]

So he's going to win the Cy Young, right?

 

[Glenbino]

I used to be worried about the money we gave to CJ Wilson a couple years ago but he looks like a steal compared to some of the pitchers getting eight figure deals this offseason.

I am terrified of how much it is going to cost to round out the back end of our rotation.