Jeff Locke to sign with Marlins

Jeff Locke has agreed to a one-year deal with the Marlins, reportedly for about $3 million. A few thoughts:

• It’s weird to see the Ice Truck Killer return to the scene of his crimes.
• It’s equally weird that the Marlins are reportedly willing to spend something like $90 million on a closer but they’re skimping on starting pitching to this degree.
• $3 million seems to be about the going rate for a starter capable of pitching 150 or so very bad innings. The Pirates, you’ll remember, paid Ryan Vogelsong $2 million plus incentives last year. Of all the starting pitchers this offseason who have received guaranteed big-league deals, Locke has been by far the cheapest — the next-cheapest, Jesse Chavez, got nearly twice as much.
• As Steve Adams at MLBTR points out, Locke is the second former Pirates pitcher to agree to terms with the Marlins this offseason, joining Edinson Volquez. Former Pirates pitching guru Jim Benedict is with Miami, of course, so perhaps both pitchers will benefit from his presence.