When the Cincinnati Reds signed Scott Feldman back in February, it seemed a predictable, ho-hum move for a team looking for some stability on their pitching staff. For a shade over $2 million bucks, he'd be cast as the veteran lump-taker in a rotation full of hard throwing youngsters, the salt and pepper stubble surrounded by first iteration chin beards.
He was never signed to anchor the pitching staff, to be Opening Day Starter™ Scott Feldman. If anything, he was merely picked up to fill the void left by the trade of Dan Straily to the Miami Marlins, which happened just before Feldman was signed.