4
2012
Mets Going After RHP Vinnie Pestano
An article by 
Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports that the Mets have pursued Cleveland Indians right-hander Vinnie Pestano during the winter meetings, according to a major league source.
Pestano, 27, went 3-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 70 relief appearances last season while utilizing a solid sinker. He has only slightly more than two years of major league service time — meaning he is still under control for four years and not yet even eligible for arbitration.
Another source told Rubin that the Mets also pursued 36-year-old right-hander Joel Peralta from the Rays, but have found the asking price too high.
Petrano would be a nice acquisition for the Mets depending on what the cost is in players. I happen to like relievers who could come into tight situations and induce groundballs like Pestano can. But more than that, Pestano has excellent peripherals across the board including a K/9 of 10.9, a 1.103 WHIP, and a 158 ERA+ in his 3-year MLB career spanning 142 appearances.
In four years in the minors, Pestano has compiled a 2.55 ERA in 132 appearances with a 1.168 WHIP.
I hope we are successful in attaining him.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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This guy certainly looks worthwhile.
Pestano has some pretty decent numbers. He’d be a welcome addition to the club. Wonder what it would take to get him. Valdy? a Gorski + another type of deal?
I wonder what it would take to pry him away. The reliever market is a little thin this year so maybe it’s the wrong time to need two or three lol. Hopefully they can get something like this done. Oh and this is a good sign that walking and chewing bubble gum is possible. Of course its all moot if nothing gets done but this guy looks solid.
This would be a solid pickup. Still under team control. God knows the team will be better off with a ground ball pitcher, having the infield do more defense than whatever is stumbling out in the back.
How about Pestrano and Choo in the same deal. I know Choo has been banged up but he still would be a solid addition to RF.
Not a bad idea. I would bet that the topic at least came up if this conversation happened. I hope we don’t lose Niese to get a RP and a banged-up RF’r
I would be ripped about that. You can’t give up Niese and especially not for that. Having a young lefty in the rotation is just too important for this team.
Agreed. It needs to something like Flores, Mejia, Duda and another. They are not letting Choo or Vinnie go on the cheap, they have a need for a DH (DHuda), and I think they need some pitching too.
Yeah TX I am hesitant to give up any ML starters especially Niese but they do need some good return. Mejia is always number one on my trade list so I’d start with him.
I dunno how I’d feel about that deal seeing Choo is headed to free agency and we dont have a good track record as of late of keeping our guys. Not to mention he’s a Scott BorAss client.
And isnt Niese from Ohio as well…..
That’s a very good point. I guess it all has to do with what we would send off.
I think he is BBLB. I think they are good players for us to add but I would be hesitant to move big pieces for them.
I agree when thinking about trading Niese I cringe a little. Call me an over valuer of Niese but I’d have to be blown away to move him I wouldnt part with him for Choo and a reliever. I think Niese will has far more value
Found this scouting report on Pestano:
Pestano made it to the big leagues with a funky delivery that was easily classified as sidearm but was a little more complicated than that. Pestano is finding success not only because his arm angle is deceptive and unorthodox, but also because his arm works well enough for him to be able to generate above-average stuff.
His fastball ranges 90-94, which is typical, but for Pestano, it’s not the looks but the moves. His fastball at different times flashes late and jumps high in the strike zone and also has defined tail and sink against right-handed hitters. His secondary pitch, a change-up he throws at 80, has late sink to it, making Pestano, in effect, a power sinkerballer. Classifying him as “power” might be a matter of semantics for some, but it’s enough for him to be an eighth-inning set-up arm in the American League.
Go to 1:27 to see him pitching
Vinnie Pestano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o90t3WkVcug
Nice… Thanks for sharing that. Now I like him even more.
Count me for in Pestano. This could potentially be his best acquisition at the MLB level or overall, not counting Wheeler on whom the jury is still out.
I hate how cynical I’ve become. My first train of thought was, “Wow, a quality reliever! I bet Sandy will say his asking price was too high and he’ll go to some other team for something we couldve matched. “
I agree, this kid looks like a keeper.
Would Sandy be asking for Pestano as a decoy for Perez…..In the hopes that the Indians tell him Pestano isnt available or price is too high….to which point Indians counter with Perez who they want out of town badly since he continuously criticizes team management lol…In which Alderson plays little tto no interest to drive his price down lol
CAR SALESMAN TACTICS!!!
Same thing i am hearing about pestano was the same thing i was hearing about Ramon Ramirez last year when allegedly sandy alderson had a good day… Let’s hope first we get this guy, and that if we do he turns out better than ramirez was for us..
Ramirez had come off of a shaky year. This guy seems to be on the upswing. However, Relievers are notoriously hard to project. If we are rummaging around the Indians why not pick Joe Smith back up?
I’d bite. Smith was effective.
Can we get back Joe Smith too?
I project, based on 2012 stats we will be a team that will not score a lot of runs and will leave lots and lots of men on base for extended games and therefore we will be in a lot of one run games late. This guy would do a lot to help us win some of those games. Hope he becomes a Met.
Trading for a Bullpen arm?
Really?
I would have thought we learned our lesson on that act already.