MLB Free Agency: Which Team Is the Best Fit for Derek Holland?

San Diego Padres

There aren’t many places more friendly to pitchers than Petco Park, making it a prime location for Derek Holland to try to revitalize his career. The Padres needed help in a lot of areas this year, but starting pitching was definitely one of them. The Friars rotation managed a 4.61 ERA as a unit, good for just 21st in baseball.

The Padres’ starting staff for 2017 also contains a series of question marks after lead man Tyson Ross. The club unloaded Andrew Cashner and Drew Pomeranz through trades in the middle of the season, meaning there’s ample opportunity for someone like Holland to come in and claim a rotation spot with little to no resistance.

Signing Holland could also jive with the Padres’ rebuilding aspirations. Although his value will likely be inflated by the weak market, he still won’t be as expensive as some of the other starters available, making him a relatively low risk / moderate reward proposition. If San Diego can get him on an agreeable contract and he pitches well in the first half next year, they could also try flipping him before the trade deadline.

And while Padres general manager A.J. Preller might not be the most popular guy around the league right now, he does have familiarity with Holland from his time in the Rangers front office. That connection could give San Diego an inside edge.

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