Notable Rehabilitation Pitchers

There are few notable rehabilitation projects this off-season. It’s is interesting to see what kind of deals they can get and where they land. The most interesting part for me is how they perform in 2010 and which team ends up with getting the highest reward for their relatively cheap signings.

The list includes Rich Harden, Justin Duchscherer, Kelvim Escobar, Ben Sheets and Chien-Ming Wang. Anyone else?

Three pitchers on the list already got their deals that are all major league deals. According to reports, Ben Sheets is seeking for 12MM deal while there are 15 teams are interested in signing Wang.

As the list below shows, I guess Ben sheets will get a deal close to what Rich Harden gets while Wang will get a similar deal as Kelvim Escobar or Justin Duchscherer. Agree? Disagree?

Who will perform the best in 2010 is everyone’s guess. As a Taiwanese, I hope is Wang. However, I think Ben Sheets will pitch the best among them because it seems Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer get injured a lot while Wang and Escobar come off shoulder injuries. Agree? Disagree?

Rangers Rich Harden (born 1981, 11, 30)

Injury & Achievement
1) Has a checkered health history (he's never pitched 190 innings in a season)
2) He's got No. 1 stuff and averaging 9.4 per nine innings throughout his career.

Base Deal
$6.5MM

Incentives
1) 3.5MM based on innings pitched
2) 11MM mutual option for 2011
3) 1MM buyout for 2011 mutual option

A's Justin Duchscherer (born 1977, 11, 19)

Injury & Achievement
1) Proved dominant as both a starter and reliever, posting a 2.82 ERA in 214 appearances for the A's.
2) Spent most of the season on the disabled list with an injured right hip in 2007
3) Missed the 2009 season due to shoulder and back injuries and a bout with clinical depression

Base Deal
$2MM

Incentives
1) 3.5MM based on games started and innings pitched

Mets Kelvim Escobar (born 1976, 4, 11)

Injury & Achievement
1) Between 2004 and 2007, Escobar posted a 3.60 ERA and a 2.63 K-BB ratio with Angels
2) He missed the entire 2008 season with shoulder problems
3) Labrum surgery in July 2008 limited him to just five innings of major league work in 2009

Base Deal
$1.25MM

Incentives
1) 125K for making the Mets' Opening Day roster
2) 2MM based on games pitched
3) 1MM based on games finished

Ben Sheets (born 1978, 7, 18)

Injury & Achievement
1) Missing all of 2009 with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow
2) Posted a 3.09 ERA in 2008 ?

Chien-Ming Wang (born 1980, 3, 31)

Injury & Achievement
1) 2 times 19 games winner with 55-26 record in five years with the Yankees
2) Start 2008 season with 8-2 record before injuring his right foot when running the base
3) Coming off right shoulder surgery and might not be able to pitch until midseason