12
2012
Should Mets Take A Flyer On Fuentes?
An article by Craig Lerner
The Oakland A’s released veteran reliever Brian Fuentes yesterday, after they designated him for assignment on July 3. The A’s were unable to work out a trade for him given his struggles and the approximate $2.5 million he is still owed for the remainder of this season.
The A’s are now on the hook for most of that salary and any team that signs the left-handed reliever is responsible only for the prorated portion of the major league minimum.
That makes him worthy of a look:
Fuentes did not perform well in 25 innings out of the Oakland bullpen this season. He has pitched to a 6.84 ERA, but was victimized by five home runs. In the last six seasons he had never given up more than six homers so he could simply be suffering from a rare case of gopheritis. Citi Field can certainly cure that.
Before this season Fuentes has been as solid as a rock in seven previous seasons as his 3.58 career ERA would attest. Few relievers have been as consistent as him and he’s averaged 66 appearances per season since 2005.
Fuentes is not perfect, but he would seem to be an upgrade over the likes of Miguel Batista, John Rauch and Ramon Ramirez, and the Mets can grab him for the rock bottom price of about $250K which certainly makes him even more attractive.
Rumors are floating around that the St. Louis Cardinals may be interested and I’m sure more teams will enter the fray, so it may be prudent for the Mets to act fast here if they want him.
One more side note on Fuentes is that he’s one of only six left-handers to rack up more than 200 saves in MLB history.
About the Author: Craig Lerner
I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.
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YES.
Now the question is where does he want to go because contending teams are always looking for a free LOOGY and we can’t offer him anymore than any other team.
That and we’d have to remove someone from the 40 man to fit him in, right?
Correct srt.
This to me isn’t going to happen. The Mets are hoping Edgin is that extra Loogy. Frankly, I don’t really like Fuentes.
I am not a big fan of grabbing players who sign big contracts and then do not come close to earning the paycheck.
Move Gee to the 60 Day DL, he’s gonna be out at least that long anyway. I disagree about getting guys who were supposed to perform and didn’t but paying peanuts to do it. It seriously cost peanuts to see what’s left.
Yes, Gee on 60 day DL opens up roster spot.
I’d take a chance on him. Here’s what I’d do: sign him to a minor league deal, assign him to AAA Buffalo, and give him a good amount of appearances from now until the 2nd week of August to refine his stuff. Helps that some of our young relievers are gonna be called up for their opportunity over the next week and a half. If he’s successful, promote him. If he stinks, cut him loose. No harm, no foul.
As we mentioned in the chatroom, there is no way he signs a minor league deal. He’s an experienced LOOGY with closing experience for 250K. He won’t last long.
You’re right, considering the fact that he’s lights out in the 2nd half.
Hitman: If another team is willing to put him right on their big league roster then your plan goes out the window.
And why wouldn’t a contending team take that chance? Hell even if you were a non-contending team, it’s early enough to sign him and hope he builds trade value in the next few weeks then spin him at the deadline.
because they have 2 lefty’s in Edgin and Byrdak?
They want to see what Edgin has, don’t you?
If you say go get Fuentes, you’re kicking Edgin to the curb. For a guy with a 6 ERA right now.
LOL, kicking him to the curb seems a little extreme.
Is having 3 lefties all that bad?
as long as they can also get RH batters out on a regular basis, it is actually a good thing.
Dude there is only two weeks before the deadline, No way he can build up enough interest in that short of time to make someone trade for him.
19 days, lol.
You would have to pitch him everyday and have him wind up with a freakish K:BB ratio and even then no one would buy into it with such a small sample size…
If they aren’t going to sign him now they sure as hell aren’t going to trade for him later and even if they did you wouldn’t get much thats all I’m getting at.
You are right, most likely the team wouldn’t get much but then they also wouldn’t have given much. About 25K.
Is it worth the roster juggling?
Kind of the same problem with Harvey.
They need to make a few trades most notably Quintanilla to get some flexability back.
Reading Rubin’s noon chat right now.
On answering this question:
Should we be seeing any moves before the deadline?
Adam Rubin (12:13 PM)
The one tangible thing I know is semi-far along is the potential acquisition of righty-hitting
catcher Ramon Hernandez from the Rockies, with potentially lefty reliever Matt Reynolds included. No guarantee it happens, but it’s serious enough that names have been exchanged, etc.I’ve been told point-blank by a Mets official not to expect another team’s closer to be acquired, so the Huston Street, Brett Myers, etc., chatter you hear is not something I’m expecting.
I don’t think they need another closer anyway. Just talent.
Probably not a popular opinion but I still think checking in on KRod is not a bad idea.
Technically K-Rod isnt a closer anymore…
And I wouldnt touch Fuentes the guy is getting shelled in that big pitchers stadium in Oakland and what is he 40 now…With that said I wouldnt be surprised if Sandy signed him, this would be a typical Sandy move
KRod…yes, I know. And I realize he’s not had a very good first half.
Just wondering if the price was right, how much better this BP would look with Krod/Byrdak/Parnell/FF for the late innings.
Oops sorry….this was in response to you, LeroyBrown.
If you are going to see the value Edgin can have for the team in the long-haul, then the purpose of having Fuentes seems to be null-and-void. To remove someone from the Mets roster takes a spot from someone who definitely will pitch for the Mets in some capacity (MLB/AAA/AA/A) to someone who after this year will still probably look for, and receive an MLB contract next year. At the risk of losing Carson, it seems like a risky idea.
I was going top say pick Fuentes up until I read your excellent points. If Edgin doesn’t seem ready for the bigs THEN take a flyer out on Fuentes if he’s still available
Yes, if his arm is healthy.
I think there is concern there,i think he has arm issues for sure.
Why do Met fans always want other teams failures. This guy sucks, what we have is better