29
2013
Mets Sign Reliever Scott Atchison To Minors Deal (Updated)
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The Mets just announced that they have signed RHP Scott Atchison to a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training.
Atchison will make $700,000 if he makes the team out of camp, and can earn an additional $150,000 in incentives.
Atchison, 36, made 42 relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2012 and went 2-1 with a 1.58 ERA, allowing just two home runs in 51 1/3 innings.
He ranked fourth in the Major Leagues in ERA among relievers with at least 50 innings pitched.
Like Shaun Marcum, Atchison missed two months of the 2012 season with an elbow injury, and did not have surgery to repair the problem.
However, Atchinson’s injury was more severe, a torn elbow ligament, which is most likely why he was still available and didn’t get a major league deal.
By the way, the Mets may or may not bring in another reliever, and there is still some buzz circulating about both Roy Oswalt and Brian Wilson. There could be another announcement soon.
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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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Real odd that he didn’t have surgery to be honest.
At his age, he figures why waist a year and not get paid. Get a contract and hope for the best.
If anyone knows arm surgeries, its Atchison. I live in Boston and there were lots of stories about his baby daughter who was born with a rare genetic disorder that resulted in deformities with her arms. She’s had multiple surgeries to try and correct the syndrome. In fact, it was reported that one of the big reasons he came back from Japan to the Sox was because of the special care she needed.
I suspect if the doctors had recommended surgery to Atchison he would have gone for it.
You have to think that a guy like that also might not be able to afford to take a year off and have a surgery.
True. But its been reported elsewhere that he has been throwing without restriction since December and you have to assume the Mets gave him a thorough workout and exam. I mean they did pass on The Beard for at least now after watching him pitch.
Yes, rumor has it that he’s In The Best Shape Of His Life..
Me too.
Of course I favor round shapes with no hard angles.
At 36, there’s little chance he would have chosen to opt for surgery regardless of what the Red Sox recommended. I’d bet his agent told him otherwise. He’s opting to throw a Hail Mary pass and will hope to pitch good enough to earn another $2-3 million before riding off into the sunset.
Sad to hear about his little girl though.
This guy has never had a big payday. Baseball reference has his best earning year as 510k in 2012. He is still arbitration eligible. This is extra value shopping.
Another arm in camp. If healthy, he looks like he could be an asset. If not, cut him in March.
Until the last paragraph I was wondering how in the hell he only got a MLB deal.
I think we’re leading the league in minor league deals lol
when you are having an open competition for roster spots, can’t hurt to have more guys in the mix.
plus, it increases the odds that the AAA staff will have some viable options to call up if the first wave falters.
Was thinking the same thing myself. Actually, we might be neck and neck with the Yankees. Seems like MLBTRs reports almost on a daily basis the Yankees signing someone to a minor league deal.
Was thinking the same thing myself. Actually, we might be neck and neck with the Yankees”
Difference is, the yankees got about 10 All Stars in the roster and arguably, one of the best hitters in the game (Cano) and the mets don’t.
Outside of Cano, many of those ‘all stars’ are pretty up there in age.
Arod, Pettitte, Rivera, Jeter, Ichiro, Kuroda for starters. They’ve got some building of their own to do for getting younger, while trying to lower payroll. Sound familiar?
Yeah, except the Yanks are never going to be under 100M. However, cutting their payroll in half could feel like it for sure. You have to wonder what direction they are going to go as FA is not the same anymore. I am not sure you can build a team primarily on FA and their minor league system is not exactly top notch either. Honestly, if you merged the Yankee hitters in the minors with the Mets pitching you would really have something.
Looks like their projected payroll this upcoming season is around 230 MIL. They’ve gone on record saying they want to get below that luxury tax cut off of 189 MIL by 2014.
I don’t know a whole lot about their minor league system – I just know it was ranked above ours a year ago. Don’t think that includes prospects though to fill the holes they’re going to have as their team ages even more in a year. For one, I have to think this is Pettitte and Rivera’s last year – if they make it the entire year.
Already seeing articles speculating that they’ll trade Cano for a boatload of prospects, instead of re-signing him.
I read a couple while ago that have them slightly behind the Mets in their farm but heavy on hitting and very light on pitching.
The Yankees, like the Mets, have a lot of talent A and below. There isnt a whole lot in the upper levels at this moment. The Killers Bs both took a step back this year with one being demoted and the other missing 2013 due to TJ surgery.
Cano, if he has another year like last, will require $200M to get him signed.
Yeah I predicted they were going to punt on Cano last year…
David Adams is supposed to have a good bat…
AND in signings coming off Injury as well!
I actually like this signing. Bullpens are so fickle year in and year out, you need to have as many options as possible. It’d be nice to get 2-3 more arms, maybe 1-2 like Atchison, and 1-2 with a higher upside. It makes more sense signing 2-3 more guys than putting Familia and Mejia in the bullpen; they should be in the minors getting more innings as starters.
Bingo should be where guys like Wheeler and Familia are getting their stuff together before making the big club and Las Vegas should be where all the journeymen trying out for the bullpen are.
I actually like that. Although, I feel the Vegas thing is being a little bit overblown. I know PCL numbers are juiced, but in the MLB you have better lineups you face day in and day out. Does that make up for the overly offensive PCL, maybe not? But it might.
I like this move. If he doesn’t work out, no big deal.
Nice.
Wonder if they’re looking at Contreras. He’s worth a minor league deal with an invite to ST as well.
I think this is a good get for the Mets. The Mets needed an experienced set-up reliever in the pen besides Parnell and with the modest contract less than Acosta would have made with the Mets this year – whats the big deal. This guy might serve as a good crossover arm in the pen- performed very well vs. LHH last year.
Good. If we are not upgrading the OF, then let’s load up the pen. Go get Wilson, Oswalt, Lyon, anyone and everyone. I want to see Frankie Frank slotted to pitch the 6th inning. Who says the Braves have the best pen. Sandy’s on top of it.
Totally agree, if theres no options to improve the OF, lets load up the BP even if it means having 1 less man on the bench.
If we cant score a ton of runs & our OF defense gives up some runs we certainly need to have a strong BP that doesnt give up anything after the starter exits !
Those are some crazy sick numbers he put up for Boston. This was a great pickup so lets all hope he’s healthy and delivers a nice season on the cheap for us! LETS GO METS!
Bring in Wilson and we have a decent bullpen for once
I had Atchinson on my list players I hoped the Mets would give a minor league deal to, but hopefully they don’t stop here.
They need to sign a player that will at least compete with Francisco for the closer’s role. Francisco has been an excellent setup man, but has never translated that success to closing.
Although the sample size was pretty small, Oswalt had excellent numbers in relief last season. If he is healthy, I would have no reservations in making him our closer, should he look the part in ST…
I’ve been floating around the idea of Oswalt coming in as a closer at least until Brian Wilson is 100% and ready to take the closer’s role. Oswalt & either Parnell or Familia as the setup guys with Wilson closing solves the back end of the pen.
Expecting the Mets to sign both Wilson and Oswalt is not realistic. If I could only pick one it would be Oswalt because he actually pitched last season and doesn’t have the baggage Wilson does.
Wilson has baggage but Oswalt doesnt, back and hip issues & all? Huh?
I wonder if Oswalt could close? I think he has the temperament for it.
I wouldnt be surprised if he could. Oswalt as a closer would be the only reason I’d seriously sign him at this point.
Yeah, they both have issues…thats why they’re still available.
But what the hell, they may both have monster seasons in 2013…crap shoot…
If you can get them cheap w/incentives, do it.
Any opinions on Matt Capps?
If the contract is a 1 year deal and we do not have to forfeit a draft pick, I am in favor of signing any player on the market that could reasonably help this team.
Are we sure that isn’t Terry Francona in that picture? The dude looks like he’s in his 50′s.
I also like the idea of Sandy exploring Roy Oswalt as the Mets closer this season supplanting FF if Brian Wilson isn’t feasible. But, I think the rumor is Oswalt wants to pitch just part of this season and most likely much closer to his home. Please anybody but Frank Francisco.
I think the Mets should PED test him in ST training if he does well and they are about to sign him for 700K.
Whos to say that he wont get on HMB or testosterone loads or HgH for a couple of weeks to help his torn tendon, and then, once he signs & we fork over the money…BOOM….blown elbow!
It is also fairly obvious if Sandy is going to spend on a bullpen arm for this season its going to be for a new closer not some expensive FA set-up reliever like Rauch or Farnsworth which I think is wise.
Well Farnsworth has signed, but why is Rauch still un-signed?
How much does he want?
I think he pitched very well after his mid-season injury issue, I’d love to see him back.
Hefner
Parnell
Feliciano
Edgin
Francisco
+
Oswalt
M. Capps
B. Wilson
Rauch
The more, the merrier !
Lyon>Rauch
This is unrelated but Sickels did the team farm system rankings, mets are 12 (Cardinals are 1)
51 innings, 1.58 era, whats everyone complaining about, one more arm then yesterday..
I like the signing too but also wonder about his health. A pitcher with the type of season he had last year even at his age would be in more demand than just settling with the Mets for a minor league contract and invite to spring training.
Unless his arm is in real bad shape, I don’t see how he cannot make the club in spring training. But perhaps many a team knows how much shape that arm is in. He will also be 37 by season time and has spent 14 years in the minors. It was the past year and a half in which he finally amounted to something. He did come back from his injury to pitch five innings, gave up five hits, no walks, a strike out and no runs. He was so-so with inherited runners, getting out of one bases loaded jam with a double play but two other times allowing more to score than to hold.
Of course, too small an example but perhaps there was something in his velocity that the scouts picked up. Again, one must wonder why one who has pitched well the past year and a half couldn’t land a major league contract rather than just the promise of one.
Could be a steal for the Mets – he can also pitch multiple innings. It’s just that I’m looking back at our track record with reclaimation projects – the only of note was Capuano who didn’t miss a start but was a below par starter.
I think he was in Japan, not the minors but im not positive…honestly this guy looks like he should be riding the LIRR w/me communting to work lol, this years version of RA Dickey(no you;ll never be replaced RA..)