2
2013
Mets Still Seeking A Starter, Using Citi Field and Guaranteed Spot For Bait
An article by Craig Lerner
Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog is reporting that The Mets are still looking for a veteran starting pitcher, who they will most likely sign off the free-agent market.
This winter, the Mets have been most linked in rumors to Shaun Marcum, Joe Saunders, Carl Pavano and Chris Young, though Jair Jurrjens, Kyle Lohse, Derek Lowe and Daisuke Matsuzaka, among others, are also available.
From what I can gather, the Mets are looking to give only a one-year deal. They have the money to pay any of the above, but they would prefer not to give out a long-term contract. They’re using New York City, their pitcher’s park and a guaranteed spot in the rotation as bait.
Personally, I like Shaun Marcum and Kyle Lohse the best out of that group, but lets get serious here, there’s no way in hell the Mets can afford either of them. Additionally, Lohse would cost the Mets a first round draft pick so why he’s even being mentioned as an option is beyond me.
The others are all huge question marks that could end up backfiring on the Mets. Plus they are all seeking multi-year deals and I just don’t think any of them are worth it, especially with Zack Wheeler knocking at the door.
It seems like everyday one or more of these pitchers are being reported on by MetsBlog so I assume the interest is genuine and that’s what their sources are telling them. That really scares me.
At this point I wouldn’t be upset if we ended up just having Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia and Aaron Laffey battle it out for the fifth starter role this Spring. Ideally, they’ll only be holding the spot down for six to eight weeks anyway until Wheeler is ready. We’re still rebuilding, aren’t we?
I would have been okay with spending $2.5 million on a John Lannan and taking a flyer on him. But to spend anywhere between $8-12 million annually on those other options? No thanks.
One more thing… I doubt very much that pitching for the Mets, or in Citi Field, or having a guaranteed spot could be construed as bait for any of those pitchers.
Until things change or improve drastically, the Mets are anything but an attractive option for any of these free agents. The only real bait the Mets have is overpaying players to come here.
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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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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I disagree about the bait angle. A lot of these 1 year guys are really trying to rebuild their value so that they can wrangle a much bigger deal next off season. So for them, a pitching friendly park, and a guaranteed rotation spot (instead of going to the pen and hoping to get out of it!) can be a real selling point. They tend to get about the same $ from any team.
Not talking about a veteran looking for 1 more year and a last shot at a ring. They would be looking elsewhere.
Exactly, the reason Hairston isn’t a Yankee yet? ABs. Players who think they are still in their prime aren’t looking to hitch on to a championship. I was listening to an interview of Matt Diaz and he said the last time he was a FA the Yanks offered him a deal and he said no. Not enough ABs. Now this time he signed with them because he was at a different point in his career and is ok with being a lesser role on a contender.
I heard the new Mr. Met batting practice caps are also bait.
Just bring back Young. What is he looking for?
Velocity?
the 6th inning?
Lol, not bad.
Bingo. LOL
You guys are hilarious. I meant money wise.
THE DL!
Lol I don’t think he has to look too hard for that.
‘From what I can gather,’
LOL.
How are we offering a guaranteed spot for bait when Wheeler will be up at some point?
Because most likely, Santana will be gone in the middle of the season. Unless things change, they’ll probably keep Wheeler in AAA Vegas so he can progress until that time comes. It also gives Mejia some more seasoning, that is, until the shoe drops (AKA injury to someone in the rotation).
well, guaranteed to start the year and at least a couple of months. By then, rotations usually become much more “fluid”
Saunders wouldnt be a bad choice. I could live with him.
No to Young nor Lowe.
Matt Cerrone is reporting? Are we seriously gonna go there now?
“Mets Still Seeking A Starter, Using Citi Field and Guaranteed Spot For BAIT”
So I guess they are using the defense of Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy and the Offense of there Quad-A Outfielders as REPELLENT!!!!
Sounds like a split decision to me
Matt Cerrone is also reporting that.he doesnt wear Jerseys with another mans name on the back!
If Alderson is offering playing for the Mets as bait, that must make him the ultimate master baiter. Okay sorry, I know that was bad,
LMFAO!!!
Lol….After reading that at 1st Im like what a terrible joke….I dont get it….then BOOM! Master baiter…Masterbater lol….The oldest joke in the book and it still caught me by surprise lol…
Cant BEAT a classic!
Hi Amanda,
LMAO – had to read it twice to be sure I was reading it right. Great pun.
That hundreds and hundreds of people comment there and depend on them for the pulse of the Mets is really scary.
I’m surprised they haven’t inquired on Tim Stauffer yet on a 1-year deal. Better him than Lowe, Pavano, Young, or Dice-K.
YES!!!! EXACTLY
Ive been pushing for Tim Stauffer for a while now…He is a good pitcher just had problems staying healthy. And at worst he can pitch in the bullpen he was lights out in the bullpen for the Padres a couple years ago. And apparently all the Padres are offering him is a minor league deal
Its also surprising because he is a PADRES who played for Alderson and Depodesta in San Diego and we know how much they love EX-Padres
I’d have no issue with Stauffer with being either in the rotation or the pen. He’d probably swing to the pen sometime into the season. Speaking of pitchers who are good but have trouble staying healthy, what about Jeff Karstens?
Just read an article that Brandon Webb is attempting a comeback. Worth a shot on the very cheap and incentive laden contract. If he’s. fraction of what he once was he still better than all the others mentioned in his post.
Hi Craig,
I agree with you. Let 2013 be the year our young pitchers get a chance to show us what they could possibly do. We’re not expecting anything from this club since Sandy gave us no other choice so we have to now go along with his re-building plan.
Let the kids pitch. I know there will be some who will be sent down that will open up one or two holes and that might not even then be the time to get a fill-in for we don’t know what other prospects might suddenly find themselves taking off and can be given a shot.
If we’re going to re-build, then re-build and not waste our time filling the roster. I’d rather see the kids get their feet wet and see if those like Kirk, Baxter, etc. might be able to surprise us. Otherwise, Sandy, start concentrating on getting real players who are going to possibly help those kids for many years down the road. We need some long term contracts for the right players – don’t like long-term contracts myself and still feel the player’s union had it right when originally negotiating the terms for free agency after the 2006 season – everyone has to sign just a one year contract and become a free agent at the end of the year.
That would also bring exciting baseball back to us in September – no, not necessarily a race for a playoff spot but simply players giving their all because of the old fashioned salary drive.
Maybe if Sandy throws in a Box of chocolates he will get someone….
Signing a veteran stopgap for 1 year makes sense. Just for the sake of the readiness of Wheeler, Mejia and McHugh determining when they´re up and not a need on the major league staff. Familia – imho – is a reliever going forward and should be used that way instead of delaying the inevitable.
That means you sign a veteran SP to a 1-year-deal who you can dispose again if & when the kids are ready.
Chris Young may be quite unsexy – but he´s the type of SP who can be a solid placeholder and probably is willing to sign a 1-year deal in the 3-4 million $ range.
Pretty sure Saunders will get a 2-year-deal from someone closer to the 15 million $ range overall.
Tim Stauffer also is a solid strike-thrower – but I´m not sure he´s healthy enough to open a season in the rotation. The Mets have enough in.-house options for mid-season.
This comment thread is great. Lol.
Marcum is the one Id focus myself on if I was Sandy.
Its is absolutely incredible that this rotten inhuman GM has beaten down the Met fan base so successfully that Met fans are longing for Young to return. He will never produce a winner but when the payroll is own to 50 mil the Wilpons will make a profit no matter how empty their city morgue becomes. They are following the Pirates routine 100%. Never win, never draw well, but make a profit on MLB contracts.
THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wait, I thought the Mets relying solely on prospects was something new and ingenious? You mean other teams do this too?
Seriously, whats more funny are the ones who say “why spend now?” As if things are suddenly going to change in 2014 when the last big annual contract comes off the books. Oh no wait, then there’s Wright too.
Met fans make it so easy for the Wilpons, they are easily the biggest saps there are. Led by their chieftain Matt Cerrone.
Maniac, the question is this: Sandy doesn’t like to spend money, then what happens if wheeler is a bust? D’arnaud sucks? then what? what if none of the “prospects” we have pan out? then what do we do? wait more years for newer prospects to help the team? then suddenly 2014 becomes 2016? a lot of this fans are very delusional…
Yes exactly that’s the risk with this strategy.
Just like winning the 1991/1992 winter by signing Bonilla, Murray, Randolph and trading for Saberhagen didn’t produce a 1992 World Champ or the Marlins losing 90 games with Buehrle, Reyes, Bell and others added. Or the LA Angels not making the playoffs in spite of signing Pujols and CJ Wilson.
There is no guarantee with either approach.
If Matt Harvey tears his labrum and Zach Wheeler blows out his elbow and Travis D’ Arnaud develops an eye problem, this all gets delayed to 2016 hoping for Syndergaard, Nimmo, Fukmer, Cecchini and others.
Spending 100 million $ on Francisco Rodriguez and Jason Bay didn’t get the Mets title either.
Hi DrD,
Nope, not signing those types of players or having the type of prospects we did back in the late eighties. Our teams of the early ninties weren’t going anywhere and thus that was INDEED the time to rebuild since there were too many holes to fill.
I would find out between Mejia and Familia who can pitch in spring training and put them in rotation to start the season if they can’t find someone. Ideally they both should start in AAA with Wheeler..
They’re using New York City, their pitcher’s park and a guaranteed spot in the rotation as bait”
Sad… Truth is players want money, who cares about pitcher’s park, probably none of the foremention will be with the mets and guys like chris young or a reject will probably get the nod.. This is as sad of an era as i’ve seen. and while most of the people who consider themselves know it all just because they read a book and like sabermetrics, no met era has been as sad and pathetic and diverse as this one. where fans are rooting for the GM and a player rather than the team. It’s ok to conceide defeat because we suck anyways, forget about trying your best as a player or as a coach or as a GM, it is ok to accept defeat and futility. It’s amazing and shocking to say the least what i’ve been seeing the past few years. This one is easily taking the cake as the worst yet. we keep signing POS’s left and right to see what can pan out so sandy alderson’s gooners can say how stoic genius he is. yet another wasted offseason under this man and the team is looking worst and worst..
I rrad where Derek Lowe stillwants to pitch and would accept a one year deal. The bonus of signing Lowe is that he pitched out of the pen for the Yankees and did a creditable job so if we have him start and later on in the season a youingster earns the fifth starter spot he could go to the pen. The biggest question mark is Jurgens. If his medical problems are solved he can really be a good pitcher and it is not out of possibilities of him having a15 win season with an under 4 era.
Alright lets get real THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY ANYBODY!! that being said why not bring back Chris Young he had a good 2nd half and most important THEY WOULDN’T HAVE TO GIVE HIM ANYTHING, he will be glad to just play and maybe if he has a good year go out and get a real contract he is just our kind of guy
Since we are rebuilding lets go with the youth for our fifth starter and bring up Kirk and DenDeker play them and resign Hairston. What do we have to lose how many can”t miss guys did we have that never made it. Lets see Fernandez, Wilson, Millage, Vail and lots not forget generation K.So give them a shot and we just might be in for a nice ride.