Which FA Pitcher will sign the Biggest deal this winter?

[Goober]

I know it's July, but with no true ace in this years FA class, but still plenty of teams desperate for pitching, I thought it would be fun to speculate who will have the most regret in a few years.

The options:

Matt Garza-Mid rotation and starter, and injury prone. But still, if he can remain healthy and perform well for a contender through the stretch run he could raise his asking price significantly.

Roy Halladay-Future HOFer, but is the book shut on his career?

Josh Johnson-Frequently injured, and all around lousy this year. Still pretty young, and the stuff is there when healthy.

Tim Lincecum-Most upside of anyone on the list, but he has said he prefers to sign short term deals in the past.

Ervin Santana-He is having the best year of anyone on the list, giving up on him was a mistake for DiPoto.

 

[Woy]

I'm gonna say Garza, because people think he's a #1 or #2 guy like we talked about in the chatbox last night. I could see him signing a deal similar to Anibal Sanchez's.

 

[Slateman]

Josh Johnson. Only 28 and has number 1/2 type stuff.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Garza.

Santana is having a good year, but sometimes a good year is just that - a good year. I don't think people will be fooled.

Johnson is dust. He's never bouncing back to what he was.

Nobody is going to trust Halladay with a monster deal.

Lincecum is a darkhorse, because he's shows flashes, but he's largely been below average for two years. Personally I think he's best suited the way he was used in the playoffs, as a reliever, but the long man role is much different in the regular season (mop up guy, spot starter) than it is during the playoffs when it's all hands on deck. Anyway, if he finishes strong I could see him getting a better deal than Garza.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Josh Johnson. Only 28 and has number 1/2 type stuff.

:lol: You clearly havent watched Josh Johnson pitch the last 3 seasons.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Garza. He's having the best season of his career, and already many people overrated him as a #1/#2 starter, so he stands to get the best deal. I just hope the Orioles aren't the ones giving it to him.

Halladay has a large injury concern, and was average last season when he did pitch. Johnson's awful, Lincecum is average and all three are likely going to sign one or two year deals to prove they are healthy and worth a big contract.

Santana is the outlier though. I don't think he gets paid what Garza gets, but the potential for a Gil Meche type deal is very real.

 

[Glenbino]

Santana is awesome at mixing these decent years in between ones where he gives up 2000 HRs

 

[Goober]

Garza. He's having the best season of his career, and already many people overrated him as a #1/#2 starter, so he stands to get the best deal. I just hope the Orioles aren't the ones giving it to him.

Halladay has a large injury concern, and was average last season when he did pitch. Johnson's awful, Lincecum is average and all three are likely going to sign one or two year deals to prove they are healthy and worth a big contract.

Santana is the outlier though. I don't think he gets paid what Garza gets, but the potential for a Gil Meche type deal is very real.

Low blow. Gil Meche had a 4.65 career ERA with a 6.3 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 when he signed the big deal with KC. Santana's career numbers right now are 4.24 ERA, 7.1 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. Pretty stark difference. Plus Santana has 4 seasons under his belt with a sub 4 ERA. Meche up to that point had 1 (his second year in the league, only 15 appearances).