Padres sign free-agent pitcher Jon Garland

Posted on January 26, 2010

Jon Garland of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on June 7, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed free-agent pitcher Jon Garland to a one-year contract according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock. Garland pitched for the Diamondbacks and Dodgers in 2009, compiling an 11-13 record with a 4.01 ERA in 33 starts with both teams. Ken Rosenthal reports that the contract is worth $5.3 million for 2010.

The 30-year-old Garland earned $7.25 million in 2009. He should enjoy pitching in PETCO Park in 2010, arguably the toughest National League park to hit in for guys with a bat in their hands. Garland has a career record of 117-102 with an ugly ERA of 4.42.

Garland burst upon the national scene for the White Sox in 2005 when he had a break out season, going 18-10 and making the All-Star tea for the only time in his career as he helped lead the Chicago to the World Series title. I had fun shooting Garland in 2005, both in the regular season and the World Series, but I will always remember his start in Oakland on July 2 of that year when he started a 6:05pm game in spectacular early evening light (see above and below).

Garland will complete a Padres starting rotation that includes Chris Young, Mat Latos, Kevin Correia and Clayton Richard. I look forward to having the chance to shoot Garland in his new blue and white Padres uniform during a game in Peoria, Arizona in March when I head down to cover the Cactus League. The Padres will be battling the Diamondbacks for the cellar in the NL West, but their mixture of nice young talent in their rotation (Latos) mixed in with guys like Garland could make the Pads a tough hang for opponents, especially on those cool nights at PETCO.