Phillies: Which free agent starting pitcher best fits the rebuild?

Despite being closer to 40 than 30 Jason Vargas posted the best season of his career while leading the American League with 18 wins and earning his first All-Star appearance.

Turning 35-years-old this offseason Vargas certainly isn’t someone the team projects to be around for a playoff run. His upside comes down to experience over 12 seasons with the Marlins, Mets, Mariners, Royals, and Angels.

With 150 innings pitched just six times in his career and 200 innings only twice he’s comparable to veterans the team has brought in such as Charlie Morton and Clay Buchholz.

Vargas lands in the same category of back-end boom or bust starters yet to be signed: Jeremy Hellickson, Jaime Garcia, Chris Tillman, Andrew Cashner, Ubaldo Jimenez, John Lackey, Anibal Sanchez, and Matt Garza.

Next: Top 10 Phillies Pitchers of the Last 10 Years

I find it doubtful any of those players would sign a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, but that’s the most I’d offer them right now.