Report: Astros, SP Scott Feldman agree to three-year, $30-million deal
Another free agent is reportedly off the board, and it's starting pitcher Scott Feldman:
Source: Feldman agrees with #Astros, three years, $30 million, pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2013
I know what you're thinking, and, yes, the free market is a wonderful, amazing, and bewildering thing.
It was reported on Thursday that Feldman was looking for three years and $30 million, and that's precisely what he got, and from an Astros team that definitely needs the help. Houston had baseball's worst ERA in 2013, at 4.79. Their starters had a 4.72 ERA, which ranked 28th in the league.
Feldman, who'll turn 31 in February, split the 2013 season between the Cubs and Orioles, and had a 3.86 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 181 2/3 innings and 30 starts. he struck out 132 and walked 56.
Feldman's been inconsistent over the past five years. He broke out in 2009 with the Rangers, posting an 87 ERA-. He struggled in 2010, when he had a 123 ERA-, and only threw 32 big-league innings in 2011, and had a 91 ERA-. He struggled again in 2012, with a 118 ERA-, and had a 97 ERA- this past season. He has a career 105 ERA- and 101 FIP-.
In the end, Feldman's an Astro, and $30-million richer. What a world.