Many have speculated on Doug Fister being a candidate to take a one-year contract coming off a disappointing 2015 season, but ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that he’s seeking a two-year deal in the range of $22 million.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal mentioned this morning that some with the Orioles like Fister. It makes sense as a potential fit, as the club would have to surrender their first-round pick in order to sign Yovani Gallardo. Matt Wieters accepted the team’s qualifying offer in November and Chris Davis is coming back, so the team isn’t netting any extra draft picks for 2016. This could push them away from a pursuit of Gallardo to consider a pitcher like Fister, who isn’t attached to draft pick compensation and won’t cost nearly as much.
How Fister would fare in the American League East is a legitimate question. Showing diminished velocity, he had a 4.19 ERA and 63/24 K/BB ratio over 103 innings with the Nationals last season. He missed time with forearm tightness during the first half and was moved to the bullpen down the stretch.
