Update 1/26 3:00 pm
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the obvious via Twitter,
Mets’ next target, after losing Sheets, looks to be Smoltz. They have not been aggressive on Garland, according to a source.
Adam Rubin also reported that the Mets were engaged in aggressive dialogue this morning even before the Sheets signing went down.
Update 1/25 3:30 pm:
According to Adam Rubin (Welcome back Adam!) of the Daily News, the Mets are also actively engaged in dialogue with veteran starter/reliever John Smoltz.
The sense I get is that the Mets are very likely to add one more starting pitcher. They’ve been in active dialogue with John Smoltz about a starting role, although it’s hard to handicap whether it’s Smoltz, Ben Sheets or Jon Garland they ultimately sign.
Original Post 3:16 PM
In a new post to his blog at SI.com, Jon Heyman has an extensive update on some new developments regarding free agent starter, Ben Sheets.
The A’s, Rangers and Mets are among teams considering free agent pitcher Ben Sheets, who raised his value with what was described by several scouts as an excellent showcase last week in Monroe, La.
Last week, some journalists speculated that Texas might be in the lead, but that may no longer be the case as the recent sale of the team may have complicated that situation for now.
The Mets’ interest in Sheets came suddenly after Joel Pineiro, whom they had targeted, rejected their offer and signed with the Los Angeles Angels.
They should sign Sheets and take a chance. The A’s will end up trading Sheets for prospects at the deadline- they are not looking for him long term.
We need to win now and show the fan base that the Mets are serious about contending and we need a solid # 2.
Tracy, do u realize,
WHILE SHEETS CERTAINLY HAS AMAZING STUFF ESP FOR A 2 PITCH PITCHER HIS CAREER HAS BEEN MARRED BY INJURY FROM START TO PRESENT WHILE 5 OF HIS 8 SEASONS IN MLB WERE INJURY ISSUES. HIS BEST WINNING YR WAS THE 13Ws HE AMASSED IN ’08. HIS CARRER RECORD IS 86-83 OVER 221 GS. HE’S BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELBOW,SHOULDER & BACK INJURIES WITH ONLY ELBOW BEING ADDRESSED SURGICALLY, WHETHER IT’S MECHANICS OR GENETICS SHEETS IS NOT A PRUDENT GAMBLE BY ANY MEANS FOR A TEAM NEEDING A 30 GAME STARTER & 200IP PITCHER(3 TIMES IN 8 YRS ALL EARLY ’02,’03,’04 DEBUT WAS ’01).
Certainly his is the SEXY name; but I’d rather count on Pedro again at least he was effective to a degree last yr.lmao!
Taking a gamble on Sheets, RISKY BUSINESS!
Taking a gamble on Smoltz, MASSOCHISTIC!
Having a Wang gamble pay dividends, ABSOF**KINGLUTLY PRICELESS!
I agree, Wang seems like the better gamble to me, plus hes use to playing in NY and hes a sinker ball pitcher.
and an infield wih Castillo and Murphy would really help him if he does pitch this year!
and an infield wih Castillo and Murphy would really help Wang if he does pitch this year!
Tracey, you’re preaching to the choir. i hope Omar hears all of us.
Do you think he reads Metsmerizedonline?
Are you all surprised? The Wilpons and Co. are going to wait till the last minute, make a BS offer, and lose out…AGAIN. They’re quite happy with the schizophrenic, injured and ridiculously overhyped staff we have now.
2010: 3rd place at best.
GO METS!
The worse thing they could do is sign Smoltz, (but it will get done because it’s also the cheapest) did they not see him pitch last year. Why not wait and try to get Maddux too this way the 3 that always killed us will continue to kill us. You have to take a shot on Sheets if you lose out to the A’s or Mariners what a disgrace
I cannot for the life of me understand why the Mets would consider John Smoltz for anything other than a middle relief role at this point in his career. The man is 42 and fading fast. We need to get younger, not older. And this rumor that they may bring Tatis back to platoon at first with Murphy. Gee Omar, way to beat the bushes for that “upgrade” your always talking about believing in. If we can’t find someone better than Tatis for similar money than we have no scouting department. We already settled for less with Alex Cora. Enough is enough with these mediocrities!
Why not sign Smoltz. The Mets with the exception of Bay, have been rooting around the MLB scrap heap all winter. He’ll fit right in with all the other stellar pitchers they have signed this winter. Hey Jeffy and Omar, why not give Smoltz’s good buddy Glavine a call. Seems he’ll fit right in with your plan…. whatever that is.
Smoltz…it’s gonna prove totally assinine.
Starting to get high off of my low expectations. I cannot be disappointed in ’10. Hooray!
Maybe they can convince Maddux to un-retire, too.
WTF is going on with this team, there is now clear cut path to anything. Can tehy make some moves to better the club instead of siiting on their hands and not signing anyone.
So many what if’s for this team in the off season and it is going to be the same during the season.
If the team struggles during the first couple of months, fire Minaya and everyone in the front office, they do not know what they are doing!!!!!!!
Forget about Sheets the A’s over paid for him and so what if he passed his physical he’ll probably get hurt no matter what. Forget Smoltz to he’s garbage. They should just go out there and sign Garland,Wang and /or Bedard. If that doesn’t work make a deal with the Reds to get Arroyo or Harang and then sign Hudson.
Glad Sheets is not with us. I know A’s will make him available, if he lasts plus other pitchers will be available to Mets this summer for 2-3 month rentals w/o big contract.
Why not wait at least until spring training is under way to judge progress of Ollie, Maine, Pelf, and Niese. Why are Mets fans always in a rush to sign a pitcher just to sign one when you know that cheap arms will be available this summer by then which we will know status of current pitchers.
Great stats 62fan that just makes my point that in his career Smoltz has not done noting last few years. How many innings has he pitched last 3 years? How many wins does he have? He is just a old pitcher with a great past trying to hang on and make money from a team dumb enough to sign him thinking they are getting the Smoltz from the 90′s, if so Boston, Atlanta and St. Louis would have kept him. He is not reliable and I hope Mets don’t offer him a lot of money just for his name. If he is in BP then maybe but with Niese coming back I think Mets have the arms w/o spending money on old washed up pitchers. Please Omar, NO on Smoltz.
I love the Mets. They are a fourth place team this year and they have no leadership or direction from the front office. Their “Plan” is to get younger and more athletic but they’ve shown no evidence of following it.
Please don’t sign Smoltz. It was bad enough to have Glavine here. I guess I could live with a former Brave being on the team, but does it have to be a washed-up 40+ year old with a 4+ era?
Mets management is 10 years too late…
I heard curt schilling was trying to get back in shape.
The Mets signed Perez for 12 million a year and would not even talk to Sheets after seeing him work out for 10 million. Did the Mets even talk to him and give him an offer are is this like Marquis situation and the guy was never even seriously contacted?
I did not renew my Sunday plan because all I see is the Mets letting the other teams make an offers and we only signed Bay(I am happy about that) and some minor leaguers.
The Mets need to look at themselves and see a big city team and try to sign “big name players”
The Wilpons promised “more pitching” and it seems like they are happy with what they have. No guaranteed pitchers behind Santana.
With a season like 2009, one would think that the Mets would be aggressive this off season. I guess not.
Carol
But they did get “more pitching”. Two guys who haven’t pitched in what, a year, and the Japanese guy.
Watch: the Mets will sign Smoltz in a ludicrous attempt to mollify the fans. As much as i admire Smoltz and think he’d add value in the bullpen, he is no longer a guy that can notch 25 – 30 starts /year.
I agree that smoltz can add a lot to the pen but I see john neise is my sleeper pick to make the rotation. I believe he wants it this could be his time. He has a lot to prove and if he’s healthy he can be like barry zito (when he was good lol) I also see dan murphy proving he could hold his own because his second half last season was something u can’t over look.
Andy, I think we can all, hopfully, agree that in all of Omar Minaya’s tenure as NYM GM, this year has been his most lackluster of offseasons. Amazing since it’s reported to be soooo important. No one seems too intereasted as to why, he’d suddenly revert to his former Expos style when he was controlled by ownership disinterested in team competitivness. I certainly hope we aren’t witnessing Jeff’s deliberate attempt at sabotaging the team in order to get public outcry for Omar’s head so loud his father can’t stand it. If, as I fear, that is the case, my fervent hope is for our entire rotation to pitch up to their talent/ability & not their history. If u look at our projected rotation: Santana,Pelfrey,Perez,Maine,Niese/Nieve aren’t they each capable of mid-high 90s + adequate secondaries? They are all relatively young, they are only lacking in consistantly doing it at the MLB level. I truly hope that if these Smoltz rumors are true, he’s given an opportunity to compete with Escobar to see who sets up & who starts. Smoltz will be 1 yr removed from surgery, perhaps a good thing, better hope because if he’s anything like last yr he’ll be disastrous both on the field & as perceived by the press. As I see it, we’ve only ONE HOPE, total overall HEALTH. Forget the details of who’s manning what position, that’s for fans of a team destined to compete. We are fans of a team hoping to compete. While the team has it’s new slogan, “WE BELIEVE IN COMEBACKS” we fans should adopt; WE HAVE MET OUR ENEMY, & HIS NAME IS JEFFREY WILPON” and make his Daddy put him aside, stripping all team related power! No matter how u perasonally feel, ask youirselves this, over the past 20 years has there ever been a better offseason or season to be a Met Fan than 2005/2006? When Omar ruled Supreme? After 2007, Jeff vowed “HEADS SHOULD ROLL” He nailed Willie’s over Omar’s objections. Think for yourselves. who’s been the primary target of Tierney,Shein,Carlin,Beningo, Harper, Madden,Rubin and what else do they all have in common? they all cash SNY appearance checks signed by Jeff Wilpon! Voila!
Do I have an axe to grind re. Jeff? DAMNED STRAIGHT! He has been the sole constant since 2002!!! He, not Fred has been the most active owner re. Team & Stadium design. He hides behind the scenes pulling all the strings!
Carol, your post hasn’t hit here yet; but hit my mail so I’m hoping this follows directly. Sheets was a BAD INVESTMENT at any price. if you believe Perez’ 12M a bad investment than 2 wrongs are 2 wrongs and never right. Sheets in 8 yrs has had 5 marred by injury, his career record of 86-83 with a winningest season of 13 Ws is 2 less than Perez’
I believe the sole purpose behind ‘A’s deal was not to pay him 10M; but to only invest half that until 7/31 then deal him & his contract for prospects to build on. That’s the Oakland success formula! Slight of hand.
I’ve always thought the concept of “MONEYBALL” was self serving all those qualities of spped, base stealing, Power that Beane did not posess as a player are suddenly qualities without much value. Wonder why? It was as if Ed Lynch suddenly wrote that high strikeout totals & 20W seasons weren’t very important. Suspicous?
Why would the mets even condier Smoltz when you consider the quality organizations that have given up on him recently? Why would they even dream they can do better with him? This is fool’s gold that they are looking at.
On the other hand, if they want to line him up to be the pitching coach, that’s fine!
This is a joke. He could not pitch in Boston last year. He was a punching bag. If the mets sign him they will further embarass themselves.
JDON, I UNDERSTAND WHAT U R SAying; but :I’m certain there are plenty of baseball people advising the team who also read newspapers & stat sheets just like u & me. So, I was trying to figure out what a team loathe to spend this offseason might accomplish sighning this old hack?
here’s the only 2 possibilities i could discern 1) a year removed from last sugery may make last yrs’s stats irrelavant. 2) Smoltz, when younger, during his first playoff series Vs Pitt(’91?) needed help focusing on his job. he underwent treatment by a hypnotist who’d planted a post-hypnotic suggestion that enabled him to disregard his surroundings &A pitch well. Since, I believe he’s learned to dicard that crutch & succeed totally on his own. I immediately thought of “Pelfrey!