31
2012
Soria-NO! Soria-YES!
An article by 
Hey, Mr. Alderson! Need to retool your bullpen? I’ve got your relievers right here!
Twitter has been abuzz this afternoon with the news that former Yankees closer Rafael Soriano and Royals closer Joakim Soria are available for the taking, with Soriano opting out of his contract and Soria having his option declined by the Royals.
As far as my own thoughts on the topic go, I can sum it up in two words. (Or is it four?) And those words are: Soria-NO! Soria-YES!
Rafael Soriano is coming off a fantastic season with the Yankees, saving 42 games after taking over for the injured Mariano Rivera. His 2.26 ERA was also stellar, as were his 69 strikeouts in 67⅔ innings. But Soriano will be 33 in December and made $11 million last year. Those are big no-nos in the Sandy Alderson School of Business.
Meanwhile, Joakim Soria is coming off a disappointing season in 2011, a season that ended with Tommy John surgery. In 2012, Soria didn’t throw a pitch, but made $6 million in the final year of a four-year deal he signed prior to the 2009 season. Prior to his surgery, Soria finished 2011 with 28 saves and a 4.03 ERA, allowing nearly one hit per inning. Despite his unspectacular ERA, the 27-year-old’s numbers in other categories were fairly similar to what they had been in previous seasons.
From 2007 to 2010, Soria was one of the most dominant closers in baseball who toiled in obscurity as a member of the Royals. In those four seasons, Soria saved 132 games for a Kansas City team that finished a combined 96 games below .500. Soria also was the proud owner of a 2.01 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and averaged nearly ten strikeouts per nine innings (281 Ks in 255 IP). That wasn’t over one season. That was over FOUR YEARS!
Although his 4.03 ERA and 1.28 WHIP were departures from his 2007-2010 numbers, he kept his walks low (17 BB in 60⅓ innings) and still struck out approximately one batter per inning. And let me remind you again that Soria is only 27 years old!
Considering that Soriano had a great year filling in for the man considered to be the greatest closer of all time, it would probably not be a stretch to say he will command a raise from his $11 million salary in 2012. Meanwhile, Soria is coming off Tommy John surgery and the worst season of his career, although it was still better than the one Frank Francisco gave the Mets in 2012. After making $6 million for the Royals in the final year of his contract, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that he will make a similar amount in 2013.
Frank Francisco is due to make $6 million in 2013. Joakim Soria is younger and has a better track record than Francisco. Plus, he achieved his success pitching for a team that has won fewer games than the Mets over the past four seasons. And of course, he won’t turn 28 until next May, whereas Francisco, like Soriano, is already 33.
The Mets are committed to signing David Wright to a long-term deal. But their other big need they need to address is their bullpen. Statistically speaking, the Mets had the worst bullpen in the majors in 2012. That needs to change in 2013. And Joakim Soria, who is already throwing and should be ready for spring training, could be the first piece in what should be a very different bullpen in 2013.
It’s time to stop adding relievers who are already in their 30s (Francisco, Byrdak, Rauch) and start getting younger in the bullpen. Joakim Soria would be a step in the right direction for this team. Let’s see if Sandy Alderson will get it right this time when it comes to putting together a solid bullpen.
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
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Soria would come to NY and under Warthen’s tutelage, would see his ERA blossom to over 6.
Either that, or his arm will fall off.
Not even gonna tempt myself with the thought of Soria as a Met.
I always loved Soria but never thought the Mets could get him. Now that he’s coming off Tommy John which is nothing but a speedbump these days, especially if you’re only 27, this would be the perfect opportunity for Sandy to strike. He will cost a little more than most of the injury rehabs he’s accustomed to signing, but could pay of big for the Mets. I’d even love to see them give him a deal for two or more years so he dont walk off on us after he comes back and dominates. Nice post and love the idea.
I bet the Yankees will be all over him since Rafael Soriano opted out. Alderson will have no shot going toe to toe with Cashman or any other GM who wants him, but I hope he at least tries. So far it seems the only players we sign are the ones who are still lingering out there in January or that nobody else has interest in. Joakim Soria won’t fit the Alderson model.
I would love for Sandy to take a shot with Joakim Soria but only at a bargain, prove yourself again contract after TJ surgery for like 2.5MM with a vestible option of 6MM for 2014 which kicks in if he finishes a certain amount of games in 2013, a similar vestible option that Omar gave to K-Rod. The Mets closer situation for next season and moving forward is clearly- ???.However, I doubt Sandy spends any meaningful amount on the bullpen this offseason with the limited funds he has to spend on new players this offseason and after having gotten burned on his over 12MM splurge on the bullpen last season- Francisco, Rauch and Ramirez. I think the Mets bullpen next season is going to be no choice back again Francisco at closer and the young guns- Parnell bumped up to the 8th inning set-up role and Familia and Edgin most likely having support relief roles along with a couple of J.P. Ricciardi dirt cheap signings off of the scrap heap- another LOOGY with some ML experience to pair with Edgin and another RH reliever with some ML exp. to compete for back of the bullpen roles in ST with Carson and ? with Hefner most likely the long man and spot starter in the pen. Also, remember, Francisco’s contract was slightly backloaded- he made 5.5MM last season and is due 6.5 MM next season. And there is no way Sandy can afford another 6MM for Soria or anybody else on top of that for the closer spot next season.
The last season Soria pitched (2011), he earned $4 million. He made $6 million last year without throwing a single pitch. Although his agent might ask for more than $6 million, I don’t any team would offer him that much.
What Sandy Alderson needs to do is sign Soria to take him off the market, then trade Francisco to a team in need of a closer or set-up man. (Kansas City kinda needs a closer now.) Soria has far more of an upside than Francisco.
What team in their right mind would take Francisco at $6 million after the season he just had. Mets would have to eat some of the contract.
Can anyone tell me why the mets would be anything but a last resort for any free-agent that has more than 1 suitor ?
If SA can sign Soria to a reasonable contract, then it appears that would be a sensible move.
I am more comfortable in developing our bullpen from within, using guys like Edgin, Carson, Familia & Mejia and allow them to learn on the job. The front office should resist the temptation of moving too aggressively in any particular direction this year, as we simply do not have the funds to acquire players that will supplement the existing roster, particularly as a long-term solution.
But Soria sounds as if he could be a gem. The front office would be wise to give his acquisition greater scrutiny.
How about signing Matt Lindstrom?
Lindstrom might not be that much cheaper than Soria, as he made $3.6 million between Baltimore and Arizona in 2012. But Soria’s four-year stretch from 2007 to 2010 was better than anything Lindstrom has done in any season. Plus, Lindstrom will be 33 by Opening Day, just like Rafael Soriano and Frank Francisco, an age Soria won’t be until 2018. Pass on Lindstrom as long as Soria is available.
Maybe, but Soria had Tommy John surgery and it’s likely that he won’t be ready to throw in the bigs until May or June……
The report I linked out to in the next-to-last paragraph of the piece said he’s already throwing and is expected to be ready for spring training, so that’s what I’m going by. Of course, if there’s a setback, then my opinion on him would change.
I saw a report, dated October 2, that said that, but one today said June a possibility: http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=819995-royals-joakim-soria-may-not-be-ready-until-june
Hmmm. I also saw that on mlb.com in this article:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121031&content_id=40133076&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
But since the Royals’ GM (Dayton Moore) is the one saying it, it’s possible he wants other teams to be reluctant to sign him so he can sign Soria at a discounted price. Considering he has been throwing since August, I’m surprised it would take him eight months to be on a major league mound. It’s possible that Moore might be speaking the truth, but I’m willing to take a chance on him.
Soria is a great idea, but I’m afraid several other teams will be after him as well. Its not as if they aren’t also aware of how good he was and how young he still is.
The Mets can’t continue to only pick up guys no one else wants. At some point, they have to try to sign a player on another team’s radar. If it doesn’t start with Soria, then when is it ever going to start?
This is a great low-ish risk, crazy high reward. Even at 3.5-4 million + incentives. And I’d hold onto Francisco. Flip either at the deadline if the team is floundering, but the upside to both is nice.
You make it sound as if flipping Francisco is as easy as A-B-C. Have you seen his numbers? Who would want him unless we eat all the salary? Unless we’re getting another horrible contract in return.