Scouting Report, RHP Jake Westbrook

The 32-year old righty is a 10 year veteran (he missed all of the 2009 season with elbow and hip surgery), who made his debut in 2000 with the New York Yankees. He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Rockies in the 1996 draft and was traded to the Expos in 1997, then to the Yankees in 1999 for H Irabu. Finally he arrived in the Indians organization in June of 2000 in a trade for D Justice, and he has been in Cleveland since then. He started 22 games in 2003, and made the All-star team in 2004 (14-9 with 3.38 ERA). For his career, he's 67-67, with a 4.33 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, or in other words, "a league average pitcher". Westbrook signed a 3 year-31 million dollar contract after his 2007 season, but before this year he had only made 5 starts for the first 20 million of the deal. He has never faced the Mets in his career.

Westbrook has a clean delivery and throws from a 3/4s arm slot. He works quickly and features a 'heavy & boring' 90-mph sinker that dives into right-handed hitters which he will throw it to both sides of the plate. He also throws an 85 mph cutter, a quick-biting slider (80 mph) and a circle-change (79 mph) that runs away from lefties.  His slider and his change-up are his two best pitches this year. He's throwing his 2-seamer 50% of the time.

This year Westbrook is trying to impress his trade partners, as he's 4-3 in 13 starts, with a 4.62 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, but he is still the same pitcher he's always been. He's a ground-ball pitcher (55% this year, 59% for his career), but he doesn't strike out many hitters, as he's < 5 K/9 both this year and during his career, while walking 3.35/9 this year (career 2.8).  He has alternated good and bad starts the past four starts, and his last start was good (7 1/3 vs the Nationals, 7 hits, 2 ER, 2 W, 5 Ks). He's allowed 4+ runs in 6 of his 13 starts.

Someone will trade for Westbrook and expect an "11 million dollar pitcher", but in reality, he's a league average pitcher that some team will trade a couple decent prospects for during the stretch run. He has durability issues (only 3 years of 200+ innings during his 10-year career) and he doesn't miss many bats. I hope the Mets aren't the team that trade a couple prospects for him (if you are following the blog closely, I don't want the Mets to trade for Millwood, Guthrie or Westbrook).