Target: J.P. Howell, LHP
Type of move: Free agency
2012 stats: 50 1/3 innings pitched, 3.04 ERA, 42 strikeouts, 22 walks
Howell had a nice season with Tampa Bay last year after spending 2011 rebounding from a lost 2010 season due to injury. Prior to that, he put up consecutive seasons of sub-3.00 ERA, including a stellar 2008 when he posted a 2.22 ERA in 89 1/3 innings. At 29, he still has plenty of time left in his arm and could be a candidate to get back to his heyday of shutdown stuff in 2013. In the current reliever market, you're probably looking at giving him a 3-year deal or possibly two with an option for somewhere in the neighborhood of $2-2.5 million per season.
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