The patchwork rotation that the New York Yankees put together last year somehow was actually more than passable, but there’s no way the team was going to roll the dice again this season.

Francis wasn’t completely awful last season – he did manage to stay healthy and show modest improvement – yet he had to settle for a minor league deal from Cincy. It’s a bit surprising he couldn’t get a major league deal because it seems as if various rumours had him connected to so many different teams.

After all, pitching in hitting-friendly Chase Field he managed to chalk up a career-best 3.69 ERA and get back to double-digit wins for the first time since 2009.

Unfortunately, he struggled in the second half (hitting under .270 with just four homers in 150 at-bats), and the back once again became an issue, forcing Helton to shut it down early in September.

He averaged 25 homers a season for the Orioles between 2008 and 2010 before a shoulder injury last season required surgery that prematurely ended his campaign.

A second round pick by the Halos in 2005, PJ has never made it past High-A, and missed most of the past two seasons because of a shoulder injury. He’s always been about speed, but simply has never made enough contact to take advantage of his wheels.

The Cardinals were supposedly interested, but that’s been downplayed recently. Some think the Yankees may still go after him, but they are worried about his wonky back, and so far haven’t really made any overtures in his direction. Of course, Boston could definitely use Oswalt, and the fact that he could be had with a one-year deal makes acquiring him a lot more palatable.