Starting Pitching

PHIL:

The more I think about it:  the guy to go for is Harang.  You're going to pay the same price for signed injury-risk Harden, down-year Blanton or year-and-a-half Bedard w/ his sore this-or-that and 90-100 pitch limit.  Burnett can do great and opt out of his contract at the end of the year, or get-injured-or-do-lousy and stay for 2.5 years.  I'd rather have Harang than Sabathia, because

PHIL:

The more I think about it:  the guy to go for is Harang.  You're going to pay the same price for signed injury-risk Harden, down-year Blanton or year-and-a-half Bedard w/ his sore this-or-that and 90-100 pitch limit.  Burnett can do great and opt out of his contract at the end of the year, or get-injured-or-do-lousy and stay for 2.5 years.  I'd rather have Harang than Sabathia, because CC

Error = triple post!  LOL !!

PHIL:

C.C had 3 bad postseason starts, recently.

PHIL:

1-  You want a front-line starter to go w/ Hamels, w/o health or contract questions and w/ a shot a being w/ this group for the next few years--not a rental. 

2-  No matter who you get it will cost you BIG time. 

Harang is not overpaid, is locked up for 3.5 years, is experienced and a solid front-liner, and is worth overpaying for; because, no matter who you get, you WILL overpay for that commodity.  Below is his contract status:

He was having a great season until his last 8 starts, of which 3 were good.  It surprised me that he's struggled lately; but, unless there is some specific problem, he seems to be the least risky.

I'd give up our top 3 prospects.  I'd give .323-hitting AA C Marson, Carrasco, Bastardo, and 1 or 2 lesser prospects, if I could hold onto Kendrick, Vic, Werth, C. Durbin & Ruiz.  We'll need a solid defensive, game-calling dirt-eater w/ Coste playing 4 days a wk.  Remember, you need to be strong up the middle:  C, 2B, SS & CF.

Will LH knock me too?  99% shot at yes.

Well its too late for Rich Harden.  But I am not too disappointed.  In fact, I don't want ANYONE from the AL, except Dontrelle Willis.  He can pinch hit for Carlos Ruiz if his pitching is still off.  The good pitchers usually stink when they switch leagues.  OK--maybe not stink, but let's say mediocre.  Josh Beckett - Marlins to Red Sox; Johan Santana - Twins to Mets, Randy Johnson - Mariners to Diamondbacks (I seem to remember him rallying at the end of the season), hmm, who else?  Curt Schilling didn't fit well with the Orioles or Astros, before his days on the Phillies, if I recall.  Curiously, both he and Pedro Martinez did alright hopping to the Red Sox. 

My point is that "other league" bruts struggle their first year in the "new" league.  That's why I wasn't too disappointed about not getting C.C. Sabathia.

So is the Indians "Fire Sale" still in progress?  Anyone else there we might want?

I think ALL the above posts about Brett Myers and Tom Gordon being valueless are correct.