Scott Kazmir Heads to Oakland

The A’s to ink lefty Scott Kazmir to two-year deal.

Scott Kazmir (Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

According to this Jim Bowden tweet, Scott Kazmir will be joining the starting rotation of the Oakland A’s…

Kazmir disappointed during his time as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. That might be the understatement of 2013, but after bouncing around in an attempt to revive his baseball career, Cleveland would be the landing spot. And bounce back he did.

This past season, Kazmir corrected his control issues in posting a SO/BB ratio of 3.45, best of his career. In his two-plus seasons in LA, that ratio was 1.31. Not only was the improvement due to a severe reduction in his walk rate, but it was also an increase in his strikeout rate. Rediscovering his velocity didn’t hurt either.

Kazmir also recorded a FIP of 3.51 and xFIP of 3.36. According to Fangraphs, both marks are considered in the range between above average to great (FIP, xFIP).

For 2013, Kazmir was 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.323 WHIP.

The signing of Kazmir likely ends the relationship between the A’s and pitcher Bartolo Colon.