Top-tier starting pitchers

Temperature: Chilly … but about to warm up

Once Cease got paid on Thanksgiving Eve, the market for the best starting pitchers looked like it would be bountiful for all to follow. In the three weeks since, none from the higher-end group — Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suarez, Michael King and Zac Gallen — has signed. That could change soon, sources said.

Much of the same applies to the front-line pitchers as it does the hitters. The Baltimore Orioles have eyed a top starter since free agency opened. The Mets gladly will spend on one if the years are short. The Houston Astros are in the mix, the Yankees are dabbling, the Los Angeles Angels remain part of the conversation, the Cubs still could use an arm and the San Diego Padres are involved as ever.

And lest we forget: The Diamondbacks came out of nowhere last year to pluck Corbin Burnes for $210 million on Dec. 30. Mystery teams can be real.

13 comments

  2. I wonder if teams are universally not pleased with the prices in the recent pitching market and are all waiting for asks to come down? It does feel like the market could use some correction, but I don’t see it actually happening.

    Would love to bring King back at a deal no more than 20/yr and no more than 3 years.

  3. “and the San Diego Padres are involved as ever.” Is such a nothing burger, I’ll believe it when I see it.

  4. I imagine AJ is waiting for the last one to not sign who can’t get a deal so he can offer a Pivetta type deal lol.

  5. I’d love King back, but would be happy with Imai or Suarez… devastated without any. Imagine a Venezuelan battery with Suarez and Fermin?

  6. Getting Suarez would be kind of funny. Preller should just tell his agent “we’ve already got a locker over here with Suarez on it, so…”

  7. If you look at giants and dbacks depth charts they need a top to mid tier SP as much as us. Even if we don’t get one listed, us driving up the price and making noise is beneficial. With that said I hope we get king or suarez. I could see some of the other pitchers waiting out the Imai posting end date.

  11. This is what I want to hear! Let’s go!!!!

    Imai + King. Offseason turnaround and we become huge buyers out of nowhere 😉

  12. It’s very early for a Preller “stuns the league” type of trade. I don’t know if the team’s hunt for new owners will affect the ability to do deals. It might deter free agent signings but hopefully not trades. Then again, I have zero confidence in the lesser Seidler brothers.

  13. Skeptical they can sign any of these guys, but AJ is willing to get super creative, guarantee more years, and give out as many opt outs as a player could want.

    I don’t think there’s a better place to take a pillow contract as a pitcher.

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