With all the talk of the Mets plans for 2010 and beyond, few if any have mentioned the bullpen. As one of the lone bright spots for the team this season, the bullpen is going to need some attention next season.
Currently, the Mets have two ex-All-Star setup men on their roster in Billy Wagner and J.J. Putz. Although, both have options for next season it is highly unlikely either will be brought back without at least signing a new deal that will pay them less money. Even so, I still don’t see this happening.
In Wagner’s case, he wants the role of closer, which he has held with numerous teams for the better part of the past decade. This is something that the Mets simply cannot offer him due to that position being occupied by the younger Francisco Rodriguez.
As in Wagner’s situation, J.J. Putz would also prefer to close, however agreed to setup K-Rod upon being traded to New York from Seattle. Putz is also six years younger than Wagner and in theory has a few more productive years ahead of him.
However, despite this there is no way even the Mets could justify handing out nearly nine million dollars to a pitcher, who posted an ugly 5.22 ERA. I understand Putz was hurt, but at the same time when it looks as if management may only be able to allot $20 million dollars for salary next year that amount of money becomes a significant issue.
Taking Wagner and Putz out of the equation, the Mets will have a bullpen consisting of Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green and Francisco Rodriguez. I neglected to include Bobby Parnell, who could either start or relieve next year.
This all is obviously subject to change as it is still to early to tell whether or not this tandem will be back in a Mets uniform.
It wouldn’t be unimaginable for the Mets not to tender a contract to Green, who has been less than stellar this season with a 5.13 ERA and three blown saves.
Assuming the Mets do not retain him for next year that would leave them with three quality arms for the bullpen. Clearly, that is not enough to warrant a solid bullpen. Whether it be via a trade or a free agent signing, the Mets are going to have to get a reliever that can get lefties out.
For the past two years, the Mets have supposedly been searching for a lefty specialist to take some of the workload off Pedro Feliciano. However, after some 152 relief appearances over the past two seasons Feliciano has still yet to receive reliable assistance in the bullpen.
Looking exclusively at the upcoming free agent class there aren’t that many intriguing names out there. Sure there’s Joe Beimel, but if Omar didn’t pick him up last off-season when he had the chance to last year I don’t see it happening this season when he will have even less funds to spend.
As for filling the other impending voids in the pen the Mets had a young reliever who had the ability to get both righties and lefties out in Darren O’Day, but they put him on waivers to enable Nelson Figueroa to make a spot start back in April. Another great roster move by Mr. Minaya.
Since joining the Rangers O’Day has been stellar, posting a 1.84 ERA and accumulating 16 holds.
All in all, the Mets will have a lot of voids to fill this coming off-season, however it is important that they do not neglect the one aspect of the team that lead to a very disappointing season in 2008.
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I knew we would regret losing darren O’Day. What a disastrous move that turned out to be. I don’t like Sean Green at all and hope the Mets don’t bring him back. He reminds me too much of Heilman (the bad one) and he lacks confidence and never shows any emotion on the mound. We have some guys in the minors that can step up.
I Also thought letting O’Day go so easily was ridiculous. He needed to be kept, instead he’s gone with nothing in return. Minaya certainly has developed quite a resume’ of awful decisions. Now we are headed back to a shortage in the bullpen.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
DITTO ON O’DAY; BUT WITH ANOTHER LOW SPENDING OFFSEASON AHEAD FOR MLB, I’M WONDERING IF WE SHOULDN’T TRY TO CONVERT PUTZ’ OPTION YR INTO 3 YTS @ 2.5+INCENTIVES TO EXCEED THE PRESENT 8M VALUE. ASSUMING HIS RETURN IS AS EFFECTIVE AS WE ANTICIPATED HIS YEAR TO BE. ON WAGNER, IF WE CAN’T DEAL HIM FOR A PROSPECT AT LEAST MORE VALUABLE THATN PROJECTED FOR A SANDWICH PICK, I’D CERTAINLY HOLD ONTO HIM, DECLINE HIS OPTION & OFFER ARBITRATION HE’S SURE TO DECLINE BEING ONLY 40 SAVES FROM PASSING FRANCO FOR TOP LH CLOSER IN HISTORY. WHY ELSE WOULD HE HAVE WORKED SO HARD?
THERE’S NO GUARANTEE PUTZ WILL GET SUBSTANTIALLY MORE AS A F/A CLOSER, FUENTES IS AVG. LESS THAN 10M PER FROM LAA ON LAST YR’S DEAL.