HBT: O's poking around Vargas, but it's not wise

Like a kid checking out a dead frog with a sharp stick, I presume.

ESPN.com?s Jayson Stark reported Thursday that the Orioles are now shying away from Matt Garza and are ?poking around on? Seattle?s Jason Vargas as they attempt to upgrade their starting pitching.

Hopefully, this is nothing more than due diligence. Vargas has been a pretty solid starting pitching for Seattle, but he wouldn?t work in Camden Yards or the AL East. Vargas has a 5.09 ERA outside of Safeco this year and has allowed a whopping 17 homers in 69 innings on the road. Overall, he?s allowed 23 homers, which leads the majors by three. Just his road total alone would rank tied for fifth in all of baseball.

Also, look at his career record against American League East teams:

Boston: 1-2, 3.51 ERA
New York: 0-3, 6.55 ERA
Tampa Bay: 1-3, 3.82 ERA
Toronto: 0-3, 6.49 ERA

Overall, he?s 2-11 with a 5.01 ERA against AL East teams other than Baltimore. Just counting the road outings, he?s ?1-6 with a 7.08 ERA.

Vargas may not be entirely a Safeco creation ? he did have a decent enough 3.79 ERA in 13 road starts last year ? but it?s doubtful he?d be more than a fringe fifth starter for an AL East team. Put him in Camden Yards and Orioles fans may start longing for Jake Arrieta again soon enough.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/orioles-poking-around-on-jason-vargas/related/

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