There is still a decent number of free agent starting pitchers still available on the free agent market, as there are strings attached with a good number of them.

There may be some good paydays ahead for some of the pitchers I am going to name, but there is a decent amount of “buyer beware” scenarios to be found. Aroldis Chapman may have the biggest upside of all the pitchers still available. He throws 100mph but is only 21 and is an unproven pitcher, who is coming to the states under the “can’t miss Cuban athlete” premise. Joel Pineiro is a solid #2 or 3 pitcher in a rotation, but will be looking for a $10 plus per year deal. Looking at the $7.5 million deal that Brad Penny signed, it is not out of the question he can get it. Ben Sheets could be a real find, but he is coming back from a long absence and the injury bug comes with him. The same case applies to left Erik Bedard. Pedro Martinez may actually be a good catch after what we saw from him last season in Philadelphia. Jarrod Washburn was a stud for part of last season with the Mariners, but his season took a turn for the worse when he was traded to the Tigers and pitched poorly in key spots, hurting his value this winter.

John Smoltz and Jose Contreras are names that will be available, but both pitchers are better off sticking to bullpen action. Vicente Padilla did well in LA, after he was released, but which pitcher you get after you sign him will be another question. Doug Davis and Jon Garland are decent options, but both pitchers tend to have four plus ERAs. Brett Myers and Chien-Ming Wang are pitchers that are trying to return from injuries and are names that could be a real find or a real disaster.

We certainly see most of the names mentioned above finding a new home by opening day, but as you read, many come up wth a high-risk “as-is” warranty.