Circling Freddy Garcia

Freddy Garcia says he feels like he has a new shoulder, which has almost half the teams in Major League Baseball interested in acquiring his services for the rest of this season.  (And we already knew Detroit was one of them.)  Garcia's agent says his client plans to work out for team scouts in approximately three weeks. 

According to the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi, Garcia isn't completely finished rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder, but is around "80%."  What does that mean?  Garcia is throwing just fastballs and change-ups right now, but should begin tossing curveballs in the next week or so.

Morosi points out that the timing on Garcia's intended availability is interesting, considering that it will fall around the July 31 trade deadline.  Other teams that may be hoping to score some prospects for a desired starting pitcher might not find many takers if Garcia shows he's healthy. 

If Garcia's agent is to be believed, "more than a dozen teams" are circling around with definite curiosity.  But even if it is an exaggeration, it's probably not much of one, given the constant demand for starting pitching and the closeness of several division races.

Garcia has a career record of 117-76 and 4.07 ERA, striking out an average of 6.6 batters per nine innings.  In postseason play, he holds a 6-2 record and 3.11 ERA.  Two years ago, he won 17 games (throwing 216 1/3 innings) for the White Sox.