ESPN.com: MLB – Mariners round out rotation with free-agent Baldwin
Yes!
I know, you don’t want to hear about my good luck, but I have James Baldwin at $3 this year, and I’m tickled because there isn’t any place better for him to go than the American League (where I can keep him) and Seattle (which supressed run production last year more than any other AL park except Baltimore).
Now, I’m not saying Baldwin is sure to be a huge success in 2002. He’s always been the most erratic of pitchers, mostly because his big overhand curve isn’t an easy pitch to throw for strikes–especially when the strikezone is the size of a flyswatter.
Last year he again was inconsistent, but he showed no ill-effects from the arthroscopy that repaired a frayed labrum late in 2000. Perhaps most importantly for those of you who don’t have him as a cheap keep, he was just 3-6 with the Dodgers, though his ERA improved by 4/10ths of a run after moving to the NL. Meaning he might be overlooked.
Is he worth a shot at $3 this year? You bet. Would I spend $8 on him if I didn’t already have him? Probably, but I wouldn’t go much higher. And if he gets off to a hot start, the way he did in 2000, I’m going to offer him around. The ballpark will help him, and the team will too, but I don’t trust his ability to throw strikes for a whole season.