20
2012
Mets Considering Whether To Bring Back Chris Young
An article by Hojo's Mojo
According to a team insider, the Mets are still considering whether to bring back and re-sign free-agent RHP Chris Young, Andy Martino reports in the Daily News.
The trade that sent R.A. Dickey to Toronto and brought back catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, created a new hole in the starting rotation. The Mets will not replace their lost ace with a top pitcher, but are seeking a fifth starter, says Martino.
Young was 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA last year — but as he further recovered from his 2011 surgery, his performance improved. Young posted a 4.76 ERA in August, and a 2.73 in September, closing the season with a sense of optimism for his future.
Now, further removed from surgery, Young could have a full comeback season much like Chris Capuano did last season for the Dodgers.
General manager Sandy Alderson mentioned during a WFAN interview this week that the team could also pursue Francisco Liriano.
It appears that all the Mets really want is someone to be a stopgap until prized prospect Zack Wheeler is ready around mid season to join Matt Harvey and form the nucleus of the team’s future rotation.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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ARGH! Mr. 6 innings. Mr. Gopher Ball. No!!!!! If they’re going to bring back a mediocrity, then bring back someone new. The only good thing about Young is that he isn’t Hefner.
You mean “MR. 4Innings”…..He implodes after that….I rather the Mets target Tim Stauffer
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Chris Young – Nice guy, decent pitcher, good comeback…
Number of wins at Citi Field in 2012?
Zero
I think we can replace zero wins with a less expensive, younger arm, don’t you think?
Santana, Harvey, Niese, Gee, Mejia/Familia/Wheeler/Gorski
2013 is a great year to use the back end of the rotation to develop young arms, with a view toward solidifying the rotation for years to come. Wheeler and Gorski should be ready to make the leap.
I agree that 2013 is a year to try out guys.
The 4 locks are Santana, Niese, Harvey and Gee. # 5 can be Mejia, McHugh, Hefner. Dont think Gorski is ready yet. Perhaps you can call him up after the ASB.
No to Chris Young. If you can’t get Liriano or make a trade then let the younsters prove there metal.
Chris Young would offer leadership and do OK job on the mound, but as with Hairston as potential outfield return, both players are very flawed in one major area apiece – Young in his inability to eat innings and Hairston’s lack of arm.
Both though are stand up people so they’re good role models for the younger players, and provide continuity in their potential third Mets season, but ultimately they have to get it done on the field.
As for giving spot to the younger pitchers, I think we have to be really careful about not putting players in position to succeed. Mejia does not yet look ready to be major league starter, McHugh got crushed in 2012, and Hefner is good option for pen and spot starting, although he’s rather interesting in that there’s potential to improve and that he has the smarts to help make that happen.
That leaves Famila and I have no idea whether the Mets would even entertain starting him when he’s really needed in the pen.
I also think Mets have to do better than a #4 and 5 who are hittable. A back to back of Gee and Hefner is not good idea, neither is Gee with Mejia nor McHugh
I like Young but he just does not go deep enough into games. Granted he was coming off an injury and pitched admirably, maybe he can go deeper in games this year. I think Liriano and Marcum should really be considered on one year deals, Young was actually better than Liriano last year but Liriano to me has a shot at least to reach another level. Plus Young is always hurt, it will be taxing on the bullpen if he is signed. The young kids are not ready, personally I would rather Hefner get a shot at 5 spot than Young and bring in a minor league veteran.
I see both sides of this pretty well, I would not count on Santana to make all of his starts this year so it is conceivable that two holes in the rotation will be needed to be filled and that leaves us kinda thin if someone else goes down. However, I think Hefner should have a chance to compete for the slot. His walk rate was great last year and with 9 hr’s and a .323 BABIP he could bring his ERA down around 4.00. The other issue is maintaining a long man. Hefner seems capable of this role yet he is not Left handed. I would prefer to see Liriano in the mix rather than Young but that depends on the cost. If he is asking for real starter money then it would be a waste to put him in Long relief if he doesn’t outright win the #5 slot. Its a tough call. Build up depth and risk blocking guys who are ready or give the kids an opportunity to shine. I’m more in favor of building depth. Last year showed us how much depth is necessary as we lost most of rotation at some point.
try for someone a little better. Young hasd a 4 ERA which ain;t bad for a number 5. But he comes up short in the innings department. so try for someone better, then settle.
Please no. They have a much better chance with some of the good pool of SPs left. The Mets need to start thinking younger in the rotation, especially when Johan leaves in the summer.
try for someone a little better. Young has a 4 ERA which ain;t bad for a number 5. But he comes up short in the innings department. so try for someone better, then settle.
Why not make the guy a reliever?
Any word on the street about Santana? I have heard nothing about him. Curious if he gives us a full season and can pitch better than .500 with an ERA below 4.00.
Thoughts?
I think Johan will be fine….What everyone has to realize is Johan is not superman he just came off surgery and missed the whole year prior so his arm wasnt prepared to endure so many inning after all that down time and rehab.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-All Star game:
GS W L CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP BAA
17 6 5 2 2 102.2 87 39 37 12 33 99 3.24 1.17 .228
__________________________________________________________________________
Post-All Star game:
GS W L CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP BAA
4 0 4 0 0 14.1 30 26 26 5 6 12 16.33 2.51 .423
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Hope this comes out looking right when I press post…if not here is a link to check out Johans split stats prior to the Allstar break)
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6441/splits;_ylt=AlWYjNwUaMl_sYwKB8qqW5yFCLcF
Santana was awesome for the 1st 17 games and just 4 bad games after the break when his arm tired and his overall stats all of a sudden makes it seem like he was bad the entire year…I expect an Allstar caliber season from Johan Santana…..
Thanks, BBLB.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE VICTRIOLE OVER A #5 OPTION, CERTAINLY THE MORE OPTIONS THE BETTER IN S.T.
CONSIDERING TERRY COLLINS IS NO DAVEY JOHNSON & SANDY ALDERSON IS NO FRANK CASHEN THE ODDS OF WHEELER BREAKING CAMP ON THE BIG ROSTER ARE INFINITESIMAL @ BEST WITH ZERO BEING THE MOST LIKELY SCENERIO 1-4 APPEARS A LOCK FOR SANTANA, HARVEY, NIESE, GEE PRESUMING THE FIRST & LAST REPORT HEALTHY WITH JOHAN, AFTER LAST SEASON IT’S MORE LIKE BETWEEN 3.5-3.75 THAN 4 MAKING YOUNG OR ANOTHER TRUSTED VET CHEAP A MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTION
JDON, I TRUST HIS STRENGTH CAN LINGRE A TAD LONGER AS A #5 WITH SMALLISH WORKLOAD SO EARLY IN THE SCHEDULE
Oh, I understand the victriole, just not the vitriol
The guy has the right mental makeup. Just works really hard and grinds it out. If the FO feels that he can improve physically by having more stamina and maybe a little more pep on the FB, I am fine with re-signing him. He has had so many injuries though and what we have seen maybe is all that he has left. If that is the case probably time to move on. Between him and Santana while trying to keep innings down on Harvey and Wheeler, the pen will be taxed before the all star break.
The FO needs to cut their crap out of bringing in additional garbage to this team for us to suffer and feel disgusted through out the year. I say bring in Liriano since he is a lefty and he has worked with Santana in the past, and most important since he woukd be the adequate replacement to Santana half way down the traiding dead-line or when Santana goes down (injury) yet again. If you are going to sign Young then bring him in for a minor league contract and send him down to help out the youngsters who could be a call up later in the year for depth purporses.
Wally, I too am advocating for Liriano however you can’t say “The FO needs to cut their crap out of bringing in additional garbage to this team for us to suffer and feel disgusted through out the year.” because of thinking about Young and then advocate Liriano who pitched worse than Young last year.
I wouldnt say Young pitched better than Liriano…since Young rarely gave you quality starts…He imploded after 4innings regularly….Not to mention Young is ALWAYS hurt…Its also kinda odd to sign Young as insurance in case one of our starters get hurt due to the fact that he is always hurt lol….
Honestly IMO…..We are rebuilding its the #5 starters spot thats open….Why cant we have a spring training competition with the Young guys
1.Mejia
2.Familia
3.McHugh
4.Hefner
5.And even Wheeler
6.and sign a vet or two to minor league deals w/spring training invite as insurance
Give them all a fair shot to earn it…..There is nothing better than competition….
“At worst it will Separate the Wheat from the Chaff”
It looks as though the one pitcher that could be the most use to us and at reasonable cost is off the table. Tom Gorzelanny.
Young should definitely be in the group being considered. We know they like his intangibles and while he has a terrible track record of injury, there is some sentiment that he can be stronger this year as he fully recovers from the 2011 surgery. I would like them to strongly consider Liriano as well, and hopefully sign the one that provides the best value. Even though 2013 may be a rebuild year, I don’t see any of the group of Mejia, Familia, McHugh, or Wheeler as ready to start the season. Gorski had a so-so season at AA last yaer and has yet to play at AAA. Let these kids continue to develop their secondary pitches and command in the minors, and make them force there way to the big team. If any do, great, then make YOung, Liriano, or the signed veteran earn the right to keep the spot.
I dont mind if they keep young another year. If the idea is to find a placeholder for Wheeler He is a good fit. Dont forget this guy had some very nice seasons in San Diego before he hurt his arm. As was stated, Hes one year futher away from surgury and should be able to go longer into games. Its also good to have a junkballer in the mix with the hard throwers. I would rather have a vet than to trust a hefner or mejia at this point.
The plan should be plug young in the 5th spot and hope he impresses a team in the playoff hunt and trade him for a prospect or 2 at the deadline and bring Wheeler up.
I noticed there was no mention of any other club interested in Young (San Diego was referred to only as a team Chris might want to pursue on his own).
Sometimes what isn’t said is really what is being said.
Young is better than given credit for.
Right now, the rotation is Niese – Santana – Harvey – Gee – and whoever is the 5th SP among Mejia, Hefner and McHugh.
Let alone the very realistic and solid idea of going with a 6-man rotation.
It wouldn´t hurt to let the back-end youngsters “work” for their money. Considering that injuries are bound to happen and growing pains will occurr, signing a decent veteran stopgap won´t hurt at all.
Young did alright last season. The team rarely scored more than 2 runs for him – and he usually kept the team in games through 6 innings before being pounded in the 7th in most of his starts.
I’m surprised we haven’t heard anything about Joe Saunders. I think he is a great fit. been solid, and in hitters parks, puts up innings, and will probably only require a one year deal it looks like. unless someone is willing to give him two, but it doesn’t appear that way.
Liriano has tons more upside, but Saunders is as close to a sure thing as you can get to 180-200 quality innings, especially in Citi.
“The trade that sent R.A. Dickey to Toronto and brought back catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, created a new hole in the starting rotation.”
WHACK A MOLE
We filled a hole at Catcher, but made a hole by trading away a Cy Young Pitcher!
METSIE, WITH WHEELER CHOMPING @ THE BIT, THAT HOLE U SPEAK OF IS AS MUCH OF A CONCERN AS THE HOLE YOUR BUCKET CREATES IN THE WATER U DIP IT INTO.
CERTAINLY WE GOT A “TODAY” CATCHER AT LEAST EQUIVILENT IN CATCHING PROCLIVITIES AS THOLE+NICKEAS AND A “TOMORROW” CATCHER TO HOPFULLY RIVAL THE LEGENDS OF CARTER/PIAZZA IN MET-LORE. INSTEAD OF BEING A HUNDLEY ECHO
IF NOTHING ELSE, IT WAS A GAMBLER’S MOVE. SOMETHING WE’VE ALL WANTED TO SEE FROM THIS NEW HIERARCHY.
AS WITH MOST GAMBLES THERE ARE DOWNSIDES TO LOSING AS WELL AS UPSIDES TO WINNING & UNTIL THE GAME IS FINISHED & U COUNT YOUR CHIPS U ARE UNLIKELY TO KNOW WHICH HAPPENED.
AS DICKEY, QUITE HONESTLY, WAS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE MET, I’M FAR FROM CONTENT; BUT HAVE ACCEPTED HIS TIME IN FUSHING PASSED THE MOMENT HE DENIED JEFF A PERSONAL REQUEST( PASS ON KILLAMANJARO)
INSTEAD OF THE WILPONS BEING ETERNLLY GRATEFUL THAT ALL BY HIMSELF R.A. FOR 1 SEASON CHANGED THE MOST DOMINANT 1 WORD ANSWER TO THE QUESTION,” THINK METS? FROM MADOFF TO DICKEY, FOR THAT WAS AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE EVEN IF HIS ENTIRE STORY OVERSHADOWED THE NO-NO PRODUCED BY JEFF’S LONE BASEBALL CONTRACT NEGOTIATION[SANTANA]
Not really 62 because Wheeler was the guy to replace Santana after his contract expires.
He is not going to start this season (Wheeler and prob not Travis either) and even if he does start this year that still leaves us shy one pitcher next season because I don’t see them re-signing Santana.
I would have had less issues with a Dickey Trade if it went towards getting that Power RHH OFer we needed…
METSIE, MIND YOUR CALENDAR; I BELIEVE U’VE MENTALLY PASSED A SEASON AS “NEXT” YEAR IS 2013, THE LAST GUARANTEED YR OF SANTANA’S “LICENSE TO STEAL”
AS SUCH, ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT & UNLIKELY AS IT SEEMS, THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR AN APRIL ROTATION OF SANTANA,HARVEY,NIESE,WHEELER,GEE
THOUGH I STILL BELIEVE THE FO HAS ALAYS PLANNED TO REPLACE DICKEY WITH A BOTTOM-OF-THE-BARREL VETERAN SIGNEE, CONTINUING TO FORESTALL WHEELER’S EVENTUAL ARBI/FREE AGENCY ELIGIBILITY DATES TO IT’S OUTER-LIMITS. WITH WHEELER BEING THE 2013 LATER SEASON SANTANA REPLACEMENT SHOULD SANTANA EITHER FADE, LIKELY , OR MORE UNLIKELY BE DEALT @ DEADLINE
Sure Bring Back Young. to a minor league contract with incentives.. There is never enough pitching. I expect Santana to be gone by the July trading deadline. We’ll be shutting pitchers down by August. Batista left some shoes to be filled.