In an era where pitching comes at a high price, a new trend is developing among some MLB clubs. Teams are buying damaged and worn goods, signing formerly successful pitchers at a discount price.

The San Diego Padres started things by signing Mark Prior to a one-year $1 million deal. The 27-year-old righty has shown no signs of returning to his 2003 form when he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA, but he has good stuff and is still young. In the baseball world, a million dollars is like change you find in the couch. Why not take a chance on Prior putting together a healthy season? 

The Cardinals followed suit and signed Matt Clement to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, hoping the 33-year-old right-hander can recapture the magic that made him a 200-plus strikeout guy and an All-Star in 2005. Well worth the gamble, considering the struggles the Cardinals’ makeshift rotation experienced last season. Even if Clement is mediocre or only pitches a month or two, it’s no worse than another season of Braden Looper and Mike Maroth.   

Not surprisingly, the always low-budget Kansas City Royals are getting involved, signing 39-year-old Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract. Nomo was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 1995 and has thrown a no-hitter in both leagues. The Royals have nothing to lose, and if Nomo can make the squad he can add another impressive accomplishment to his resume – surviving a year with the team formerly known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Past history indicates that injury riddled pitchers rarely return to form or overcome their arm problems, but at bargain-basement prices the risk is minimal and the potential reward is high. After all, there is no guarantee that paying millions for previously healthy pitchers will work out either. Carl Pavano, Jason Schmidt, Mike Hampton and Barry Zito are a few names that come to mind.

Whether they have a $100 million or $1 million contract, every pitcher is one slider away from a blown out elbow and Tommy John surgery. For small market teams, giving a former stud pitcher a small contract filled with incentives makes sense. It’s a gamble and the odds aren’t great, but the amount of money at stake is low. Remember, Erik Bedard, Justin Verlander, Jon Lieber and Jason Insringhausen are just a few guys that have returned from elbow surgery to have some level of success.