Last week, the Mets made their first dabble into the free agent pool when they signed veteran backstop, Henry Blanco, to a one year deal worth roughly $1.45 million.
However, as Newsday’s Ken Davidoff reports (Hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors for link), there were some red flags that popped up during Blanco’s physical, in regards to the condition of his shoulder, which made the team leery of guaranteeing him as much money as they did.
As a result, the team worked with Blanco’s agent to re-work the deal to the point where now the catcher is only guaranteed $750K.
Interestingly, enough as Davidoff points out, Blanco can actually earn more money ($1.525 million) if he earns all of his incentives. Luckily for the Mets, some of the incentives are pretty much unattainable as some of them would require Blanco to win the NL MVP award.
I don’t know what to make of this move. Sure, it’s refreshing to see the team take a proactive approach when it comes to signing off on players medical records.
However, maybe the team should have voided the deal all together, especially when you consider age and an otherwise unimpressive career line.
To be fair to the team this is a fairly inexpensive deal and if pitching coach Dan Warthen’s claims are true, maybe a veteran game caller, like Blanco will help improve the pitching staff’s performance.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
Right now, I really don’t care too much about what they do with Henry Blanco’s contract, lol.
Agreed. Who cares.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
MUCH ADO ABOUT VERY,VERY LITTLE. WITH COSTE SLATED TO EARN APPROX 500K THIS COULD TURN INTO VERY LITTLE PAID FOR SIGNIFICANT TEAM DEPTH INCREASE TO A SHALLOW MAJOR LEAGUE QUALITY POOL. I’M STILL HOPING ALL THOSE TIRES THAT GOT KICKED & PROBED RECENTLY STILL PAYOFF & THEY GO “ALL-IN ON LACKEY & UPGRADE LF VIA TRADE OR NONTENDERED. IT CERTAINLY ISN’T APRIL YET & TOO OFTEN WE WERE SCOOPED BY EITHER ATL OR PHL GOING WITH LATE DEALS AFTER OUR EARLY ONES. ATL STILL NEEDS BATS, PHILLY HAS EMPTY PEN AS OF THIS MOMENT. WITH LAA NOW COMPETING FOR HALLADAY & WITH KAZMIR F/ANCY LOOMING NEXT YR, I’M HOPING THER’S ENOUGH TO ACQUIRE OUR BIGGEST NEED, #2SP WITH BEST AVAILABLE AS LACKEY.
What is disconcerting to me is that after what happened last year, that they would even offer a contract to someone with an injury concern especially to someone who is 38 years old. And even worse is that he is a catcher with a bum shoulder.
One of the things, perhaps the only thing, that Henry Blanco does well is throw. Does this make anys ense?
I have a thought. What if the Mets signed Blanco to less money on purpose, being less than Blanco would have asked for from the Padres. With this latest news about “his health”, they got the money down to $750K, which is a number agreeable to the Padres.
It has been reported that the Padres really wanted Blanco to back up their fair-haired catcher (mlbtraderumors.com). There could be a trade that would give the Mets back significant players (Gonzalez and Eckstien, maybe) in addition to ridding themselves of Blanco. I’m not saying straight up, but as part of a package. Thoughts?