Giant John I certainly see your point with Jon Garland
He makes $7.25 M this year all though the Giant would only have to pick up a fraction of that but the 2010 mutual option is messy where the Giants would have to buy out his contract for $2.5M unless they want to pay him $10M for next year.
Jon Garland would not have a big impact for us but he would if he made it to the Dodgers.
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/...ayer_id=279782
His ERA is 4.33 and WHIP is 1.41 the one stat which would be disturbing is opponent batting average .281
He still would make a decent #5 starter on our team. I don't know how much the Giants are willing to add in regards to salary. I do know the Dodgers are desperate for starting pitchers and even though its pricey the Giants can get rid of Garland after the 2009 season. Right now even a mediocre player like Garland would be a difference maker for a team like the Dodgers. Besides all Garland has do for the Dodgers is throw 6 quality innings and they have a bullpen which could take care of the last three. All though it is starting to look like the bullpen arms down there are starting to get tired.
Again I wouldn't trade any players to get either one of these pitchers but if the Giants can take on salary it would be worth putting a waiver claim on either one of them just so the Dodgers don't help at their weakest contraint.