Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports gives us something to think about on a slow news day on this lazy Sunday. He lists the top 20 free agent pitchers after John Lackey.
It’s kind of an unspectacular list of choices the Mets may soon face if they fail to land Lackey. I’m not so sure that I would have Pettitte number one, but I guess it just shows how slim the pickings really are after Lackey.
1. Andy Pettitte: We’re not sure yet whether Pettitte is going to pitch in 2010, which tells you a little about the nature of this list. He’s 37, but that didn’t seem to matter while he was winning the clincher in three postseason series this year. If he has another season left, he will pitch for the Yankees.
2. Rich Harden: In the words of one scout, Harden is “fragile but nasty.” Pretty accurate, I’d say. Harden has never been durable enough to throw 200 innings in a season. But he has shown he can dominate lineups in both leagues when healthy, which is more than most people on this list can say. He didn’t pitch after Sept. 16 this year. That won’t help his sales pitch.
3. Ben Sheets: He didn’t pitch anywhere this year. He hasn’t had a 200-inning season since 2004. But his agent, Casey Close, said Friday that Sheets is “progressing well from his flexor-tendon surgery in February and should be 100 percent by spring training.” Close added: “There is no doubting his talent when healthy.” That’s accurate. Sheets had a 3.09 ERA with the Brewers in 2008.
4. Randy Wolf: He probably belongs in the National League, where he has spent his entire career until this point. His credentials on the senior circuit are well-established, with a 23-19 record, 3.74 ERA, and more than 400 innings over the past two seasons. He was a veteran leader for the Dodgers’ rotation for much of the year, which enhances his value.
5. Jason Marquis: Marquis won 15 games this year, which is good. Only three of them came in August or September, which isn’t. Still, he has averaged more than 13 wins per year since 2004. That counts for something. One scout observed Friday that Marquis’ stuff was better in 2009 than during the season before. As with Wolf, Marquis has been in the National League for his entire career, and it would be wise to stay.
6. Jarrod Washburn: Washburn said earlier this week that his surgically-repaired left knee “feels great now, almost like I didn’t even have a surgery.” If that remains the case in 2010, Washburn could be the reliable No. 2 or No. 3 starter he was for the Mariners before a midseason trade to Detroit. As of mid-August, he still had a 2.95 ERA.
7. Joel Pineiro: Is he the guy who went 7-7 with a 5.15 ERA in 2008? Or 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA in 2009? Can he duplicate his career year if he signs with a team that doesn’t employ Dave Duncan? One scout said it well: “I just can’t get his late Seattle days and Boston days out of my mind.” For now, at least, fellow National Leaguers Wolf and Marquis are more proven.
8. Jon Garland: In retrospect, it’s surprising the Dodgers didn’t use Garland in the National League playoffs. He pitched well for them after arriving in a trade with Arizona, compiling a 2.72 ERA in six starts. Garland has averaged 205 1/3 innings over the past eight seasons; in an uncertain market, that counts for something. He has also had success in the American League.
9. Brad Penny: Oh, Penny would have loved to pitch the Giants past the Dodgers, a team from which he departed acrimoniously, in the National League West. But he’ll have to settle for a richer contract than he was due to receive after a disappointing final start for the Red Sox on Aug. 21. Penny wasn’t a good fit for the American League East but has value elsewhere.
10. Carl Pavano: Some teams will have little or no interest in Pavano, based on the negative reputation he developed with the Yankees. But he made a nice statement with his performance and accountability as a Twin in August and September. And there is precedent for capable starters to find success after turbulent stays in New York; see: Kenny Rogers and Randy Johnson.
The Next 10: 11. Kelvim Escobar, 12. Doug Davis, 13. Erik Bedard, 14. Brett Myers, 15. Pedro Martinez, 16. Mark Mulder, 17. Vicente Padilla, 18. Randy Johnson, 19. Hisanori Takahashi, 20. Braden Looper.
There is some speculation, that John Lackey may wait until the end of December to decide who he will sign with in an attempt to increase his leverage and value. It could mean that many of the pitchers on this list will sign their deals before Lackey. If the Mets play the waiting game, they could be shut out on some of their secondary options.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
Really? Braden Looper? You would want him back again?
I have no interest in Looper, that’s Morosi’s list not mine. But being you brought it up, who would you replace him with on this list?
Oh sorry, I didn’t really read anything else, I tohught it was just a list of people you would liek to have, sorry about that.
I just read this article 2x, where did it say anyone wants Looper?
number 20..
I saw his name, but didn’t see anywhere in the article that the Mets were interested, it was just simply a list of FA’s.
My goodness…you just copied the whole article. That’s stealing.
Hope they sue your ass.
I copied the list and credited him. I didnt include his article commentary. Stealing? With a name like common sense you sure sound like a dumbass.
Dude, you’re douchebag.
Common ur probably a Phillie fan, only a Phillie fan would say something that stupid
Sorry Hojo that was supposed to be for Mr. Common Sense not you.
Hey, lets be civil. We got a mission here; to get our team headed back up.
Most of the top ten, we’ve talked about. Pettitte ain’t pitching for nobody but the Yanks ‘if’ he pitches at all.
Harden, Sheets, Wolf, Marquis, Piniero have all been mentioned by us…as has Bedard, in the 2nd 10. Washburn is an interesting addition to the mix, as is Garland.
A bunch of these guys, including Harden, Sheets, Bedard, Washburn, Mulder, ( i think), Pavano, and Pedro all have health issues, to one degree or another, and that would have to be thoroughly explored. We need guys that can both win and give us 200 innings (30 starts).
But this is a great list. Thanks, Hojo.
I agree with you Bob. There’s no way Pettitte signs anywhere else but the Yankees. I hope we get Lackey, but if we dont, I am very intrigued by Rich Harden and Ben Sheets. I think Wolf, Pinero and Marquis all had solid years in their walk years and that scares me.
DEVIN, YOU LIKE ? LIKE HARDEN & SHEETS? CHECK OUT OUR EXISTING ROTATION BEHIND JOHAN. ISN’T THAT PLENTY OF ? FOR ANY TEAM? A CONTENDER DOESN’T TAKE THAT RISK UNLESS ALL THE BETTER OPTIONS ARE GONE. OOT OF THE ENTIRE TOP 10, THE SUREST BET IS MARQUIS, NOT SEXY; BUT SAFE PERFORMER WITH IMPRESSIVE ABILITY TO BE ON TEAMS IN THE POST SEASON. AND HE’S A LOCAL! HE ACTUALLY WANTS TO BE A MET! FRANCOUER CALLS HIM A WARRIOR, HE TUTORED UNDER BOTH MAZZONE & DUNCAN. LET’S NOT DO ANYTHING RASH OR STUPID SHOULD WE GET LACKEY MARQUIS IS AN EXCELLENT #3 OPTION AND MORE ASSURED THAN ANYONE IN OUR ROTATION NOT NAMED SANTANA! DEVIN, YOU WANT INTRIGUE? READ SOME SHERLOCK HOLNMES MYSTERIES.
We should sign Wolf and Marquis both who can pitch with a decent ERA and both are willing to come to NY- WOlf last year and Marquis this year. They have proven themselves and can be at least a #3 starter. This is an improvement on Maine, Pelfrey and Perez. I know that Lackey is the number one pitcher wanted, but the Mets sholdn’t wait for Lackey to be available. Remember what happened last year with Wolf or Lowe and we ended up with Perez? The Met executives need to learn from their mistakes. It seems that Citifield is becoming “Metsmerized” ( great name!)because top management finally learned about their initial mistakes regarding Citifield,maybe they can learn also about being active and not waiting until the end to get Lackey at a lower price. Some other team will sign Lackey before the Mets!
Carol
I think that of the two we should go with Jason Marquis. He chnaged his approach and became more of a groundball pitcher, plus I like that he is a local product from NYC. If we were to sign him immediately, than we can wait out Lackey and sign him too. That would give us a nice rotation of Santana, Lackey, Marquis, Maine and Pelfrey.
Good point, Devin about Wolf, Piniero, and Marquis having good years in their walk years. Wolf and Marquis, i think, have been consistent over a couple of years. Piniero i suspect, big time.
Man, i agree on Sheets and Harden; both have had health issues, so we have to be careful, but really top pitchers when they are playing. And Bedard is another ER type, but a darn good hurler, if healthy.
BOB, OF ALL THE NAMES LISTED 1-20 WOLF’S SCARES ME THE MOST! HERE’S WHY…HOW IS IT A SEMI-PRODUCTIVE LH SP NOT REPRESENTED BY SCOTT BORAS CAN NOT FIND A LERGITIMATE LONG RANGE HOME THROUGH HIS PRIME YRS AGE 32-35? SINCE 2006, AGE 32, WHEN PHILADELPHIA DEALT HIM TO LAD, WOLF HAS BEEN ON THE ROSTERS OF SD,HOU, BACK TO LAD & NOW LA LETTING HIM WALK AWAY WITHOUT A DECENT OFFER? PADRES, ASTROS & DODGERS ARE FRANCHISES WITH RESPECTABLE REPUTATIONS AS PITCHING EVALUATORS, SO FOR A DURABLE LH SP WITH DECENT STATS NOT DEMANDING UBER CONTRACT AND NONE ARE INTERESTED IN TYING HIM DOWN LONG TERM? IS THAT A BOMB I HEAR TICKING? TRUST ME THERE’S CERTAINLY SOMETHING, EVEN LA ONLY SIGNED UP FOR SECOND GO-ROUND OUT OF DESPERATION! WHAT’S WITH THIS GUY? IT CERTAINLY MUST BE UNSAVORY
In my opinion, the Mets cannot afford to wait until the end of the year for Lackey. The need to get at least one of these guys and then keep on trying for Lackey as well. The top choices would be Wolf, Marquis, and Pineiro. They must get one of these at least and continue trying for Lackey as well.
MASK, PLEASE FORGET WOLF AS I DETAILED IN RESPONSE ABOVE! UNLESS U KNOW A RATIONAL REASON.
62, Your fears about Wolf are all hypothetical with nothing hinted as substance. It is best to approach Wolf by looking at his record and jusdging what he can do for the team. Everything else is just a witch hunt with no true basis. Don’t give up a bargain on the basis of an unsubstantiated fear.
MASK, OFTEN IT’S BEEN SAID, “BUYER BEWARE” SOME BARGAINS TRULY ARE A MATTER OF GETTING WHAT U PAY FOR. I’D BE MORE INCLINED TO BE LESS SUSPICOUS IF OUR TEAM DIDN’T HAVE A HISTORY OF ROTATIONAL ISSUES MARRING ALL OF IT’S MOST RECENT CAMPAIGNS. FEW REMEMBER HOW REMARKABLE IT WAS GETTING TO GAME 7 IN ‘06 SINCE 40% OF OUR ROTATION WAS D/L’d IN PEDRO & DUQUE WITH NEITHER CONTRIBUTING ANYTHING THROUGH THE POST. ‘07 SAW PEDRO DISAPPOINT ONCE MORE, ‘08, SANTANA PROVED HUMAN, MAINE SUFFERED FIRST CAREER INJURY SETBACK, ‘09 NOTHING MORE TO SAY…THAN 12 SP USED TOO FREQUENTLY. FOR THIS LIST TO INCLUDE SUCH QUESTIONABLE HEALTH ISSUES AS IN PETTITE, HARDEN SHEETS AS #s 1-3. A SUSPECT WOLF IS, IN MY OPINION AS DANGEROUS A RISK. FOR MY MONEY THERE SHOULD ONLY BE 2 TARGETED ACQUISITIONS: LACKEY FOR #2 SLOT & MARQUIS FOR #3 ALLOWING A WILLINGNESS TO PKG EITHER PELF OR MAINE FOR A NEEDED POWER BAT, PERHAPS NOT YET CONSIDERED. LOOKING AT THE ASEMBLED LACKLUSTER GROUPING OF F/A & SLIM FINANCIAL DARING OUT THERE THOSE 2 SHOULD HAVE DECENT INTEREST
62, I find your criticism of Wolf to have no substance and more paranoia than logic.
Hi, Mets62…you raise a great point. i don’t know. But Madden said Wolf is likely to go back to LAD. i’d go after Marquis and Sheets…lock them up. i wonder why we seem hesitant to go after Harden…health?
BOB, I’VE SLOWLY; BUT MOST ASSUREDLY HAVE LEARNED TO DISREGARD MOST OF THE NEGATIVE CONJECTURE OUT OF NYPRESSCORPS SINCE IT SEEMS THEIR MAIN PURPOSE IS TO ADD FIRE TO THE IRE OF NYM FAITHFUL. IN FACT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT MADDEN PREDICTED THE BRAVES FOR THE NL EAST IN ‘07. HIS LATEST BS CONJECTURE OF 20M TO SPEND IS JUST THAT, IN MY OPINION. I USED TO BELIEVE THAT MOST DOWNPLAYED THE NYM AS A WAY TO BUILD NYY; BUT RECENTLY I BELIEVE IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH NYM NOT COOPERATING BY LEAKING INSIDER S**T & MAKING THEM LOOK ASLEEP WHEN THEY’RE ACTUALLY CAUGHT SUPRISED BY NYM MOVES. MUCH LIKE THE WILLIE FIRING WAS SO BELEAGURED AS A 3-4 AM DEAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER A WEST COAST NIGHT GAME. THEY GOT THEIR LITTLE PR**KS CAUGHT IN THE ZIPPER. THE NYM NYPRESS ISSUES GO WAY BACK TO DICK YOUNG’S ADVOCATING THE SEAVER
BANISHMENT TO CINCY.
METS62FAN please turn the caps off….. thanks!
JOE, U MUST BE FAIRLY NEW HERE, MOST KNOW MY USE OF CAPSLOCK IS A DISABILITY ACCOMODATION, SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
62, Why not type all in lower case instead of upper case? I believe it would be the same form of accommodation, but would make your posts a lot more readable. The upper case makes your posts almost unreadable in my opinion.
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