Jon Garland to the Diamondbacks, at a deep discount
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Half-price sale? Jon Garland has agreed to a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks, with a guaranteed salary ‘believed to be in the $6-million-to-$8-million range,’ the Arizona Republic reported this morning.
Garland made $12 million while with the Angels last season. The Angels offered him salary arbitration -- with it would have come a one-year contract, most likely at a slight raise -- but he declined.
The market has fallen steeply since then, as Randy Wolf also could tell you. The Astros offered Wolf three years and $28.5 million, then withdrew the offer. Wolf now is in talks with the Dodgers, but he’s looking at a deal similar to the one Garland got in Arizona.
The Garland deal also affects the Angels. Because he declined arbitration and signed elsewhere, the Angels get a top draft pick as compensation. The Angels can replenish their depleted farm system in June, with what will be their largest draft haul in 23 years.
The draft order cannot been finalized until all the free agents sign, but thanks to compensation picks for Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez and Garland, the Angels should have five of the first 45 picks.
-- Bill Shaikin