How The NL Playoff Starters Were Acquired

[daddies3angels]

Earlier this afternoon, we examined how the American League playoff teams assembled their postseason rotations. Now, let's hop over to the National League. Once again, in the event of series sweeps, postponements, or managerial changes of heart, this list could undergo some changes, but these are currently the probable starters for the NLDS.

Brewers

Yovani Gallardo: Selected in the 2004 draft (2nd round).
Zack Greinke: Acquired from the Royals in December 2010.
Shaun Marcum: Acquired from the Blue Jays in December 2010.
Randy Wolf: Signed for three years, $29.75MM in December 2009.

Last winter, the Brewers went all-in when they traded for Marcum and Greinke in the span of two weeks. So far, the decision has paid off, as the two former AL starters are lined up to start Games 2 and 3 of the Division Series against the Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks

Ian Kennedy: Acquired from the Yankees in December 2009.
Daniel Hudson: Acquired from the White Sox in July 2010.
Josh Collmenter: Selected in the 2007 draft (15th round).
Joe Saunders: Acquired from the Angels in July 2010.

The D'Backs were practically in fire sale mode when they moved Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson last summer. Now, just one season later, two pitchers they acquired in those deals could start for the Snakes in the postseason. Interestingly, Arizona is the only NL playoff team whose rotation doesn't include a starter acquired from the Blue Jays.

Phillies

Roy Halladay: Acquired from the Blue Jays and extended for three years, $60MM in December 2009.
Cliff Lee: Signed for five years, $120MM in December 2010.
Cole Hamels: Selected in the 2002 draft (1st round, 17th overall).
Roy Oswalt: Acquired from Astros in July 2010.

The Phillies have made a handful of blockbuster moves over the last two years to ensure they have the starting pitching edge over the rest of the league heading into this postseason. But Hamels and fifth man Vance Worley (3.01 ERA in 131 2/3 IP) prove the Phils are skilled at developing their own starters too.

Cardinals

Kyle Lohse: Originally signed in March 2008. Extended for four years, $41MM in September 2008.
Chris Carpenter: Originally signed in December 2003. Extended for five years, $63MM in December 2006.
Jaime Garcia: Selected in the 2005 draft (22nd round).
Edwin Jackson: Acquired from the Blue Jays in July 2011.

When they traded Colby Rasmus for Jackson, Corey Patterson, and a pair of relievers this July, GM John Mozeliak and the Cardinals were widely panned, but it's hard to argue the move didn't help the team win the Wild Card race. Still, without Adam Wainwright, and unable to optimally line up their rotation, the Cards head into the NLDS as significant underdogs against the Phils' big four.

Reason i thought this interesting cause most you guys so big into building with in, where this shows that every team only had 1 SP come from there own system.

[daddies3angels]

Rays

Matt Moore: Selected in the 2007 draft (8th round).
James Shields: Selected in the 2000 draft (16th round).
David Price: Selected in the 2007 draft (1st round, 1st overall).
Jeremy Hellickson: Selected in the 2005 draft (4th round).

Not only are the Rays the only AL playoff team with four homegrown pitchers expected to start - no other club has more than two. Of the four Rays starters, only Price was a first round selection, a testament to the team's ability to make the most of its mid-round picks.

Rangers

C.J. Wilson: Selected in the 2001 draft (6th round).
Derek Holland: Selected in the 2006 draft (25th round).
Colby Lewis: Signed for two years, $5MM in January 2010.
Matt Harrison: Acquired from the Braves in July 2007.

The Rangers may have assembled the most unlikely rotation of the four AL contenders. As recently as 2009, Wilson was a setup man and Lewis was pitching in Japan. Meanwhile, Holland was a 25th-round pick and Harrison was often the forgotten man in the Mark Teixeira trade that also sent Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Texas.

Yankees

C.C. Sabathia: Signed for seven years, $161MM in December 2008.
Ivan Nova: Signed as amateur free agent in 2004.
Freddy Garcia: Signed a minor league deal in January 2011.
A.J. Burnett: Signed for five years, $82.5MM in December 2008.

After last night's postponement, it appears the Yankees will have to scrap their plan for a three-man ALDS rotation, meaning that one December 2008 signing (Sabathia) may log significant innings in Game 3 only, while their other '08 signing (Burnett) could be pressed into a Game 4 start.

Tigers

Justin Verlander: Selected in the 2004 draft (1st round, 2nd overall).
Doug Fister: Acquired from the Mariners in July 2011.
Max Scherzer: Acquired from the Diamondbacks in December 2009.
Rick Porcello: Selected in the 2007 draft (1st overall, 27nd overall).

Now AL is a little different..TBR all there SP were drafted. TEX 2 of them (Wilson kind of odd though with being RP to SP), NYY of course signed all there guys, while DET has 2 drafted. So i would say that 60% of SP in the playoffs are guys that were traded for or signed as FA

[CODE_BLUE56]

that doesnt mean signing pitchers in terms of free agency isnt riskier monetary wise then building from with in

not to mention alot of the guys that werent drafted in the NL were acquired...meaning trades

trades are always risky..but its different because you arent throwing a bunch of money at a player in an open supply and demand market

i think that its good to have a FOUNDATION pitching wise and overall with the farm system(or prospects through trading)..but no, the whole doesnt have to be drafted

not really sure how this totally disproves building a foundation or from within isnt important or anything

[Uman85]

Common theme with every team is that they all have at least 1 SP in their rotation that they drafted and brought through the minors.

[daddies3angels]

Originally Posted by Uman85

Common theme with every team is that they all have at least 1 SP in their rotation that they drafted and brought through the minors.

Agreed and do Cubs have 1? Not really. I think we all hoping Cashner can become that SP maybe....

[Uman85]

Originally Posted by daddies3angels

Agreed and do Cubs have 1? Not really. I think we all hoping Cashner can become that SP maybe....

I believe he could. He just needs to avoid the injury bug, which he hasn't been too great at thus far. Outside of Cashner, it might be a few years before another stud SP comes through the farm system, but you never know. There could be a diamond in the rough yet to be discovered.

[daddies3angels]

Originally Posted by Uman85

I believe he could. He just needs to avoid the injury bug, which he hasn't been too great at thus far. Outside of Cashner, it might be a few years before another stud SP comes through the farm system, but you never know. There could be a diamond in the rough yet to be discovered.

McNutt, again had injury bug this year. Maybe Cubs doing something wrong. Seems to happen alot with Cubs pitching

[Uman85]

Originally Posted by daddies3angels

McNutt, again had injury bug this year. Maybe Cubs doing something wrong. Seems to happen alot with Cubs pitching

Could be strength and conditioning or....steroids. Lol

But in all seriousness, whatever the problem is, hopefully the new GM will get things straightened out and running smoothly around the organization. No reason for this franchise not to field a consistent contender and win some championships. This is Chicago.