In acquiring Jon Garland from the White Sox for shortstop Orlando Cabrera, the Angels get a durable control artist for the back end of their rotation, one who'll benefit from their big ballpark. Garland has always had a reputation as a groundball pitcher, though he has never been one and certainly isn't now. He lacks a real outpitch, working with average stuff (fastball 89-93 mph, slider 84-85, plus a curve and a change he rarely uses) and good command. Garland moves to a more suitable park for a pitcher of his ilk in Angel Stadium; he'll also get two or three road starts a year at pitchers' parks in Seattle and Oakland.
Should the Angels find an upgrade at third base to push
Chone Figgins into a super-sub role, allowing them to send either
Garret Anderson or
Vlad Guerrero to designated hitter and improving their outfield defense, Garland will benefit even more.
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Keith Law
