22
2011
Would Mark Buehrle Be A Good Option For The Mets?
An article by Former Writers
Update: According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, if the White Sox cut payroll as expected, it’s likely that either John Danks or Mark Buehrle will not return in 2012.
Looking at the free agent market for starting pitchers can be quite depressing. As of this writing it’s not known whether C.C. Sabathia will be a free agent. The next best free agent pitcher after C.C. assuming he opts-out is C.J. Wilson of the Texas Rangers and it’s widely believed Wilson will command a hefty price. Wilson is a good pitcher, but I don’t think he’s worth the money he’s going to command on the open market. I also think his big mouth and his troubles in high pressure situations make him a pitcher the Mets need to avoid. I also think that Nolan Ryan who reportedly loves Wilson will spend the money to keep him.
So with that in mind I looked at the free agent pool and one pitcher I like that will be available is Mark Buehrle. Now the Mets need a true ace but we’re not getting that this off season so we have to look elsewhere and Buehrle would be a nice pickup. Looking at Buehrle’s numbers they don’t set the world particularly on fire but they still do impress. Buehrle since 2000 has averaged 223 innings pitched per year. Since 2001 Buehrle has averaged 15 wins per season. Buehrle has pitched a no hitter and a perfect game in his career not to mention winning two gold gloves later in his career. Most importantly Buehrle does not have much of an injury history and I believe in the National League he can win 15-18 games.
Adding Buehrle also adds a much needed veteran arm for this rotation. We all know Santana expects only the best from himself and coming back from an injury that cost him the entire 2011 season he will be putting more pressure than usual on himself to perform like the Santana of old. I think having a veteran who is a proven winner throughout his career in the rotation can only help lessen some of the pressure that will be placed on Johan by himself. This can only help strengthen the rotation.
Buehrle will be a smart option for this team. He has big market experience as he has pitched in Chicago his entire career. Buehrle doesn’t have the greatest post season numbers but does have a World Series ring. I believe a 3 year deal would be wise to offer Buehrle. Perhaps you throw in a team option for a 4th year, though I think that is a bad idea, I rather give him some incentives to make him more money throughout the 3 years. A rotation of Santana, Niese, Buehrle, Dickey and Pelfrey and/or Gee is not the prettiest and obviously can’t compete with the Phillies, but it’s much better than what the Mets put out this past season.
About the Author: Former Writers
39 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 43 | 30 | .589 | - |
| Nationals | 35 | 36 | .493 | 7.0 |
| Phillies | 35 | 38 | .479 | 8.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 41 | .397 | 13.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 49 | .310 | 20.0 |
Last updated: 06/20/2013
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can you please provide information on whether he is a type A free agent?? we don’t wanna lose any draft picks..
if he’s not, he can be a good addition to the rotation, but it all depends how much he wants and will sandy commit to any player at more than 8 million per year..
I read something about Chicago looking to offer him a 2 year deal.
he’ll get offers up to 3 years, he’s durable, a work horse, and not a bad pitcher.. i guess we’ll have to wait and see what sandy plan is right?? no other choice
MLB Trade Rumors has him listed as a type B, but the Elias official rankings aren’t out yet.
Besides, as has been stated, the Mets first round pick is protected.
The whole question of whether or not he’s a type A or B free agent is the difference between whether you want him or not. That information should be provided if your making a case for signing him. Without knowing that nothing else matters.
Buerhle is the only starter I would consider but if you do sign him you got to give away Pelfrey or your going to have one less kid in the system to place on the 40 man roster. That means you risk losing a Puello, Marte, Lagares, Armando Rodroguez via rule 5, give away the chance that Pelfrey right’s himself and we can deal him at the deadline for something worthwhile and that Buerhle’s 3/36 works out really well.
It wouldn’t be the worst move, I always thought Buerhle was a pretty savvy pitcher. Smart like Greg Maddox but if you want him you better sign Reyes first. I heard him say it’s going to be a place where he has a chance to win a ring and his family wants to live there. So sign Reyes, sell NYC and you have a chance but if he’s a type A 3 years ‘aint worth it and there is never a guarantee that any years will be worth it so proceed with caution.
Alex, the Mets wouldn’t lost a draft pick for signing any Type A because of where they fall in the draft.
nice try: If a team signs a Type A free agent, they have to surrender a draft pick to that player’s former team. If the signing team placed in the bottom half of MLB teams, their first round draft pick is protected and they surrender a second round pick instead.
But for the sake of information, I believe the last published report had him as a Type B free agent
Right now he’s projected to be a Type B but the Elias rankings have yet to be released.
I understand not wanting to lose a 1st Round Pick but a supplemental pick in the 2nd round is no a problem for me.
Having a protected first round pick is always the excuse for burning a 2nd rounder but in reality is the REASON we always have so many “protected” picks.
That was the argument in 2010 with Bay. “2nd rounders aren’t sure things”
HELLO!!!! Are free agents sure things?
Votto, Lester, McCann, Either, Baker, Gallardo, Pence, Pedoria, Suzuki, Headley, Escobar, Anderson, Masterson, Zimmerman and Stanton were drafted in the 2nd round between 2002-2007 and the 2nd round in those years has so far returned a 44% success rate in terms of just making it to the Majors, with 2007 still having a few more chances and maybe 2005 and 2006 as well.
Those 2nd rounders are also potential trade bait a year after the draft so their not hurting you while their developing, their actually expanding your options. For right now and for later. Signing a Mark Buerhle does mean that your options are constricted, both in terms of what you can do with the payroll for however many years you sign him for as well as what you could possibly trade HIM for.
Not saying that Buerhle doesn’t merit consideration, he does but all the costs and factors have to weighed in especially the cost to the future for a team that has given away 10 first and 2nd round picks over the last 14 years and failed to take back four others when it had the chance to do so. The chance that Buehrle could under perform his deal or spend time on the DL has to be factored in as well.
Second rounders are not sure things but either are free agents.
Hero. Claps.
Anything would be a nice addition to this roster if it kicked Pelfrey to the curb. And Buehrle brings such durability to the table.
I wonder it would be easier and less costly to go after Floyd or Danks via trade?
I actually expect they will be going after someone via trade. And probably adding a FA more from the risk/reward pool to add competition and depth.
so those guys, maybe sheilds, or probably 10 other guys we aren’t thinking of could end up being brought in that way.
Greg, I do not think we are signing a pitcher like Buehrle for a couple of more years. I think we would trade for a pitcher before we sign a pitcher for a long contract of more than 3 years. I think 1 or 2 year contracts are what Alderson is going for at this time unless pitcher is worth the time and contract.
Trading Pelfrey for a 1 year contract pitcher might be the way he goes. I’ve stated before maybe Pelfrey for C. Zambrano for one year with Cubs picking up most of his money might be something worthwhile. We might get lucky and have Zambrano focus for next year.
We don’t need another back-of-the-rotation guy.
Back of the NY Mets rotation or the back of a MLB rotation. He’d be better then the back of the rotation we have now, even front of rotation sans Santana if healthy.
Personally I think letting pelf go and then signing Buehrle and Erik Berdard would get us a decent rotation. Santana, Buehrle, Dickey, Berdard, and Niese is a decent rotation. If Berdard goes down then we have Gee. Maybe for Berdard a 1 year deal with incentives and then a 2nd year based on games played. Not resigning pelf saves 8 million and I really like that rotation.
Their is no way Pelfrey gets 8 million. he made 4 this year you think he’s going to ask an arbitrator to double his salary? He’ll settle in at 4.5-5.5 M and will be hard to replace for that money even as badly as he’s pitched. 200 IP is a bullpen saver and the chance that he could get off to a good start, which he’s done before and net something at the deadline should not just be dismissed out of hand. Just last off season people were talking about Pelfrey having a very good 1st half and if he only could have done something in the 2nd half. Well maybe he does get off this year with 15 good starts, a year of team control and we can trade him for two good solid prospects a year or two away, say a catcher and a pitcher in AA. That possibility should not just be considered impossible. Three times now Pelf has pitched real good for a half season at a time. You know Borass is sending him to a pitching guru and a shrink this off season in preperation for his upcoming free agent walks years. Don’t completely discount the chance that Pelfrey could be both pretty good and get us something good for 2014-2020 just because he was the worst he’s ever been last year. Not saying he’s guaranteed or anything but then again who is?
Remember T Agee who his agent is(Boras). He will try and double his salary by one way or another.
That is an interesting rotation though. Santana, Buerhle, Dickey, Bedard and Niese. A lot of veteran savvy in it, two of whom are very durable. Four lefty’s and a knuckleballer, it would be different but I think it would work. Maybe flip flop Gee and Bedard occasionally to give him extra rest and keep Gee sharp. Doesn’t have much of a chance to happen but a worthwhile suggestion, unless Buerhle cost us our 2nd round pick. In that case he’s not worth it in the long run and after neglecting the long run for so long, it has to take priority over 2012 and 2013. If 12 losing seasons and only 9 winning ones with the largest payroll in the entire league over the last 21 years doesn’t tell you that nothing will.
We can’t have a rotation filles with 4 lefties. On top of that 3 are past their prime.
Only problem is that the only way the Mets could get him would be to offer him more than any other team. And they aren’t going to do that.
He’s long said that he wants to pitch in Chicago or St. Louis. He is a midwest guy.
Sounds like he is a similar situation to Garland (not talent wise), in that he really wants to finish out his career where he wants to be, so to woo him away you would have to really go over the top on him.
so if market value (for St. louis or Chi) is say 2/18, what would the Mets have to offer? 3/36 + an option? Just guessing of course at numbers, but the concept is there.
Still, he would be a nice guy to have in the rotation.
That’s the problem Any. Anyone we want we have to overpay for, and that’s even going back to when we were expecting to compete. We went the extra year with Castillo because Houston was in. **** Houston. You want to go there go ahead. That has to be the attitude because there are so many free agents that bust. If it was just a case of leaving a large tip for a job well done (an extra 20% – 40%) that would be fine but it’s not. Frequently it’s a case of of regretting a 4 year deal by mid May of the first season and living with it for another 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 years and giving up the chance to draft a guy who goes in the 2nd round like a Mike Stanton, Jordan Zimmerman, Brian McCann, Joey Votto ect, ect, ect. A guy who’s team has a good chance of having him play for them for 6-10 years for a total cost of 10 M – 20 M and give you their best years, not their declining one’s.
well, not every player has to be overpaid to come to the Mets. Probably plenty of guys (or in some cases, their wives!) that actually want to play in NY (and they can’t all go to the Yankees).
I agree about Castillo and Houston though. Classic case of needing to determine fair deal, and if the player rejects it, move on. This was not albert pujols we aare talking about!
I don’t think we have to worry about St Louis. They have a stacked rotation plus I think they’re going to break the bank with Albert.
I was thinking 3/32-38 would get a deal done with some cash incentives. Think of a rotation in 2013 with Santana, Harvey, Buehrle, Familia and Niese. Pretty sick rotation.
Meh…I’m not a big fan of Buehrle. I really don’t like giving expensive contracts to old control pitchers and anything close to the previous failure that was “3/36″ still kind of scares me.
I’d rather look elsewhere for somebody younger or somebody who’s more of a #1. Sometimes you’ve got to wait for holes to open up…it’s like being a running back. Depending on the situation, sometimes it’s best for the running back to speed up and hit the hole hard before it closes, but other times, it’s good for the back to slow up for a second, let the o-line clear a big hole and rush through it.
The Mets are at the point where they should slow up and wait for the o-line to clear the big hole.
Buerhle is a lot like Glavine at this point in his career.
How did that work out for the Mets?
the first few years were actually pretty good (I think, without checking!). mets could use that again right now (a sloid reliable guy inthe rotation). they just try to stretch it too far with him. And since I attended his last start as a Met, it was at least 1 game too far for sure!
Oh, and he gave us Ike as a going away present, so he wasn’t totally worthless at the end.
I actually love the idea of Buehrle on the Mets. In fact I believe I wrote something about him on here 2 years ago. He’s a gamer, and there’s a reason White Sox fans gave him a standing ovation after his final start.
I disagree with dart up here on two points
A) If you tell me the 2012 Mets can have 2004-2007 Tom Glavine on their team, I’ll take it any day. He pitched 1 terrible game/moment in his Mets career but that’s like blaming Buckner for the Red Sox series loss to me.
B) The only comparison to Glavine for Buehrle is that he is a lefty. Glavine leaned towards being a flyball pitcher but was much more balanced in that regard than Buehrle as Buehrle is a flyball pitcher
If you’re telling me I have a choice of CJ Wilson or Buehrle I’m taking Buehrle because I feel
A) We have a lot of young pitchers so I’d prefer shorter term deal + the ever so popular “teach the young kids” assumption.
B) I think Buehrle can get you 10-14 wins as a Met, and I think that is exactly what Wilson will do except Wilson will be paid more than everybody on the staff combined.
Sorry, but if the difference between Wilson and Buehrle is less than $2 million annualy, I would rather have Wilson. Buehrle’s arm has so much wear and tear I wouldn’t go near it. Meanwhile Wilson has only been a starter for two years and is fresher, younger, consistently good, still peaking, and would keep the Mets competitive until the kids are ready to contribute.
meh.
I’d rather have the big mouth (Wilson) than the big hypocrite (Buehrle) on my team. Like Joe said, too much wear and tear on Buehrle at this point and let’s not forget the fact that Wilson is a year removed from having the 2nd lowest BA against AL teams. Who had the lowest? King Felix.
Free agency is for teams that are a piece or two away from contending.
This team is not a piece or two away from contending – I wouldn’t bother.
I don’t get why you have be a piece or two from contending in order to sign a FA. If you think signing Mark Buehrle makes you a better team now, and for however long you sign him for, why wouldn’t you do it?
You should always be looking to improve your team, no matter how close or far away you are from contending.
Free agency is also a way for teams to try and get to being a piece or two away from contending.
I do kind of like Danks though. Much better than Buehrle.
Are we sure we want to pull the plug on Pelfrey? He had a bad year last year, no doubt, but he’s still a hard throwing 27 year old pitcher who won 15 games for us in 2010. Maybe he simply couldn’t handle the pressure of being the no. 1 starter. Plus, if you look at his career, he alternates winning seasons with losing ones, if he stays true to form, he should have a winning season next year (that’s a stretch, i admit, he was 2-1 in year 1)…
I know the guy sucked last year, but he’s 4 games under .500 for his career, not sure he’s as bad as everyone’s making him out to be. With Santana coming back next year, should take some pressure off him.
Just saying, at the end of the day, maybe the best option is to bring him back…
I think he is what he is, around a.500 pitcher. Even if he stays with us, I would resign him when he becomes a free agent. We made the mistake with O. Perez, we should not do it again.