Only one team can win the Cliff Lee sweepstakes this offseason, and it will probably be the New York Yankees. But after Lee, the drop-off in free agent starting pitching is astronomical.
There’s Brandon Webb, a former Cy Young winner who has struggled to get back on the mound and pitch with high velocity.
There’s Javier Vazquez, a veteran strikeout artist who flamed out for the Yankees after the ill-fated Melky Cabrera deal.
There’s Justin Duchscherer, a former All-Star reliever who’s switched to starting pitching but has yet to find success.
After that there’s a long list of reclamation projects (Erik Bedard, Dontrelle Willis, Ben Sheets) and former stars well past their prime (Kevin Millwood, Jamie Moyer, Freddy Garcia). Pickings are certainly slim.
As a result, teams will likely look towards the trade market to fulfill their pitching needs. Here are the top 10 pitchers who could potentially be had.