If you ever needed a textbook example of why a pitcher?s won-lost record is a poor measure of his efficiency, you?ve got one now.
The injury to starter Kris Benson, which we?ll discuss later, pushed the O?s to negotiate a one-year deal with free agent right-hander Steve Trachsel worth about $3.5 million, pending results of a physical. Trachsel went 15-8 with the New York Mets last year and, at 36, has pitched all or part of 14 seasons inthe big leagues. Lifetime, he?s 134-143 with a 4.28 ERA.
This would be just his second AL season; he went 8-15 with the Devil Rays and Blue Jays in 2000. He has completed only 19 games in his career, but that?s not a real criterion these days. He has topped 160 innings of work 11 different times, and that?s the number that attracts the most attention.
Still, a 15-game winner only gets $3.5 million? Ted Lilly won 15 games last year and has a higher career ERA, but he got a multiyear deal from the Cubs worth eight figures annually. Kansas City gave Gil Meche $55 million over five years. He won 15 games in 2003, and he also has a higher career ERA than Trachsel. Both Lilly and Meche are a few years younger than Trachsel, but both are a long ways from 100 wins.
That Trachsel was still on the market the week pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training also raises a few eyebrows. What, does he have some flaw we?re not aware of?
The truth is, the one thing a pitcher has absolutely no control over is how many runs his team will score for him over the course of a game. A “quality start” is defined as any game in which the starter gives up three or fewer runs in six innings, which broken down further means that any pitcher with an ERA of 4.50 is a “quality” big league starter.
It wasn?t always that way. A 4.50 ERA for a starter in the ?60s and ?70s usually meant your career would be short, unless you were happy in Triple-A ball.
The announcement of Benson?s injury this week comes at a strange time. As a veteran traded during a multi-year contract, he had the right to demand a trade after last season or be declared a free agent if he wasn?t traded. His numbers here in 2006 (11-12, 4.82 ERA) weren?t spectacular, but on the open market this winter, he certainly would?ve picked up a lot of extra dough. Of course, he would have had to take a physical elsewhere, and I can?t completely dismiss the thought that he knew he was hurt long before now.
As for Trachsel, he gives the Orioles another veteran presence on a staff that needs it. Six months from now, perhaps we?ll look back and say this was their key offseason acquisition. Perhaps not, but it?s only a one-year deal. The bigger question may be whether Benson has any future with the Orioles ? or with anyone, pending the outcome of his surgery.
Phil Wood has covered baseball in the area for more than 30 years. You can reach him at [email protected].
