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Thursday, December 24, 2009

A’s agree to contract with Justin Duchscherer

Nothing can stop the Duke of early signing…

Free-agent pitcher Justin Duchscherer has agreed in principle to a one-year, guaranteed major league contract with the Oakland Athletics, a baseball source told ESPN.com.

The deal could be worth about $5.5 million if Duchscherer attains his incentives, the source said.

Duchscherer, a two-time All-Star, has a career record of 31-24 with the Athletics. He missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing elbow surgery in spring training and then seeking treatment for clinical depression.

The agreement won’t be official until Duchscherer passes a physical exam, which isn’t expected to take place until after Christmas.

Duchscherer will add a veteran presence to an Oakland rotation that includes young arms Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Vin Mazzaro and Gio Gonzalez. In 2008, Duchscherer posted a 10-8 record with a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts with the Athletics.

Repoz Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:28 PM | 21 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Business, Oakland

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1. Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:44 PM (#3421878)

Woot!

I didn't want to see him go.

2. For the Turnstiles (andeux) Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:50 PM (#3421882)

Base salary of $2M. Duchscherer/Anderson/Braden is a pretty damn good top of the rotation (with the usual caveats about health).

3. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:58 PM (#3421888)

And for the A's, usual caveats about health mean that we fans can expect around 25 starts between the three.

4. PreservedFish Posted: December 24, 2009 at 09:18 PM (#3421899)

He was not particularly productive for my fantasy team last year.

5. Rich Rifkin Posted: December 24, 2009 at 09:28 PM (#3421903)

I could be wrong about this, but I think if Justin Duchscherer had been on Boston or the Yankees and pitched as well as he did from 2004-2008*, he would have been offered a much better contract this off-season, despite having missed all of last year and most of 2007.

Duchscherer is a very talented pitcher. I don't know if he will come back strong in 2010. But I'd rather take a shot on him than I would on most of the other Type B free-agent pitchers. I'd take Duchscherer over Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Vicente Padilla, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte or Odalis Perez.

* He was good in his role as a set-up man and in his role as a starter:

2004 - 139 ERA+; 96.1 IP
2005 - 198 ERA+; 85.2 IP; all-star
2006 - 152 ERA+; 55.2 IP
2008 - 163 ERA+; 145.2 IP; all-star

6. Craig in MN Posted: December 24, 2009 at 10:20 PM (#3421928)

But I'd rather take a shot on him than I would on most of the other Type B free-agent pitchers. I'd take Duchscherer over Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Vicente Padilla, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte or Odalis Perez.

For the most part, I agree. If he can pitch, Duchscherer will probably outperform most free agent pitchers. I was really hoping the Twins would take a run at him...a lot of teams should have jumped at the chance to sign him to that contract...though maybe he prefered to stay in Oakland.

7. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 24, 2009 at 10:36 PM (#3421936)

Now what do the Pirates do with all of that money they saved by non-tendering Matt Capps? It was supposed to have been budgeted for Duchscherer.

-- MWE

8. The Suede-Denim Secret Police Posted: December 24, 2009 at 11:03 PM (#3421945)

This makes a lot of sense for both sides. Duke gets a year in a pitcher's park with what should be a great defense behind him to set himself up for a lucrative multi-year deal if can stay healthy and effective. He also gets to play for an organization which he knows well and is obviously comfortable with in a low stress media/fan environment. Given that he's been dealing with depression, i'll bet the comfort/stress factors were not insignificant in his decision to sign.

The A's, meanwhile, get a potential ace at a bargin bin price while allowing some flexibility to stash one of Mazzaro/Gio/Cahill in AAA to start the year (both delaying service time and giving them time to work out the kinks). Worst case scenario, they're only out the $2 million guaranteed. Good deal.

9. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: December 24, 2009 at 11:55 PM (#3421953)

Yay!

Duke gets a year in a pitcher's park with what should be a great defense behind him to set himself up for a lucrative multi-year deal if can stay healthy and effective.

The defense was pretty bad last year. Fox and Pennington at 3B and SS don't inspire a whole lotta confidence. Ellis is hardly a lock to play the whole season, and then you're getting Patterson or Cardenas. Park yes, defense, no.

10. Rich Rifkin Posted: December 25, 2009 at 12:07 AM (#3421957)

to stash one of Mazzaro/Gio/Cahill in AAA to start the year ... delaying service time

Is that right? I thought that once a player gets started in the majors, as all of those guys already have, their service time clocks are running whether they are in AAA or in Oakland. Am I full of ~~power bran cereal~~ colon blow?

11. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: December 25, 2009 at 12:14 AM (#3421961)

Great news. The Duke returns!

12. Eugene Freedman

Posted: December 25, 2009 at 12:25 AM (#3421964)

I thought that once a player gets started in the majors, as all of those guys already have, their service time clocks are running whether they are in AAA or in Oakland.

Service time is based upon days on a 25 player major league roster or disabled list. There are a couple other fine print notes, but those are the key factors.

13. Al Kaline Trio Posted: December 25, 2009 at 12:52 AM (#3421970)

DUKE! This really helps improve the rotation on paper. The OF defense could be very strong with Hairston/Taylor in LF Davis/Crisp in CF and Sweeney in RF. From the few games I saw of Pennington he seemed very quick and with a good arm.

14. Al Kaline Trio Posted: December 25, 2009 at 12:53 AM (#3421971)

DOUBLE DUKE!

15. The Suede-Denim Secret Police Posted: December 25, 2009 at 01:07 AM (#3421976)

The defense was pretty brutal at times last year, but I think this year with Crisp/Davis/Sweeney in the OF (and presumably no Cust) and Barton and Ellis at first and second you've got a pretty solid defensive foundation. Third is a concern and Pennington can be erratic at SS (though with an cannon for an arm) but overall I see the defense as being much better than last year even if they don't upgrade at SS or 3B over the rest of the Winter.

16. Mike Webber Posted: December 25, 2009 at 02:49 AM (#3421997)

I think this

He missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing elbow surgery in spring training and then seeking treatment for clinical depression.

is negates this

I think if Justin Duchscherer had been on Boston or the Yankees and pitched as well as he did from 2004-2008*, he would have been offered a much better contract this off-season

Elbows you can look at, brains however?

17. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 25, 2009 at 04:30 AM (#3422012)

I can't believe his total package is that low. I wouldn't be surprised if other teams offered more but Duke stayed in Oakland because he's comfortable there. No sense going somewhere where maybe his clinical depression is not handled as well.

18. Rich Rifkin Posted: December 25, 2009 at 04:37 AM (#3422014)

No sense going somewhere where maybe his clinical depression is not handled as well.

Also, McAfee Coliseum has a lithium dispenser in the bullpen ... just in case.

19. Walt Davis Posted: December 25, 2009 at 05:06 AM (#3422023)

Service time is based upon days on a 25 player major league roster

Well, on the ML roster ... which expands to as many as 40 in Sept.

Does Gonzalez have an option left?

20. Tom (and his broom) Posted: December 25, 2009 at 05:26 AM (#3422027)

I can't believe his total package is that low. I wouldn't be surprised if other teams offered more but Duke stayed in Oakland because he's comfortable there.

I dunno, he is at an age where another injury probably ends his career. He has sparkly rate stats, but he is in his thirties and is neither a closer nor an established starter, there is a lot of risk in signing him to be more than a very good swingman.

21. jwb Posted: December 25, 2009 at 09:54 AM (#3422038)

Does Gonzalez have an option left?

Two. It just seems like he's been around longer.

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A’s agree to contract with Justin Duchscherer

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