15
2013
Mets Spring Notes: Santana and the WBC, No-Shows In Camp, Limiting Harvey’s Innings
An article by 
I realize the matter of national pride and his desire to represent Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but Johan Santana is set to get $31 million from the Mets this year (including a $5.5 million buyout) and that’s where his responsibility lies.
There’s no disputing Santana pitches hard and has been a workhorse when healthy, but the problem is staying healthy. Only in 2008, his first year with the Mets, did Santana make his entire allotment of 34 starts.
The Mets have paid Santana a considerable amount of money, including a full season (2011) when he gave them nothing. This is his last year with the Mets and the club has the right to insist he not risk injury in the World Baseball Classic.
The magic number for Santana this year is 215, as in the number of innings he must pitch for his $25 million option to kick in. Considering his recent history, that likely won’t be a problem, but if he’s healthy it will be an interesting scenario.
You can bet the Players Association would get involved if Santana was close and had to skip a start or two. If it involves a player getting less money, they will be all over it.
Actually, if the Mets can’t, or won’t trade him, they would be wise to periodically skip him to keep him strong.
Teams have monitored pitcher’s pitch counts for years, but only recently has the trend turned to limiting pitcher’s innings in a season. Innings clauses in contracts are designed for teams to get the most for their money, but that backfires in the case of injury or if a player reached the level to have his option kick in and pitch poorly the next year.
The only way I see the Mets letting Santana get close would be in the unlikely case of them actually competing for a playoff spot. Now, that would pose for an interesting dilemma.
The Mets have made no announcement of limiting the innings of any pitcher, including Matt Harvey, who, like Washington’s Stephen Strasburg was shut down early last season. Terry Collins speculated that if Harvey pitches 210 innings this season, he will be a 17 game winner.
METS MATTERS:
Because of rain and chilly weather in Port St. Lucie, today’s workout is pushed back until noon. The pitching timetable is to start throwing batting practice Monday. … Manager Terry Collins’ first impression of his 2013 Mets was a good one in that 54 of the 58 players due in camp are already in Port St. Lucie.
Missing are Marlon Byrd, Jordany Valdespin, infielder Wilfredo Tovar and Jenrry Mejia, the latter whose age on this visa is disputed. … Collins said he would give the edge to veteran relievers if the competition were close. Experience is always the best bet in that situation.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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I predict we only get about 5 or 6 starts out of Yohan before he gets injured and out for the year. I’ll be so glad when we are free of him and his contract.
This was interesting:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2013/story/_/id/8951797/toronto-blue-jays-jose-reyes-blasts-jeffrey-loria-miami-marlins-trading-him
Once Jose got over the shock and/or anger he should have realized Loria actually did him a favor. He should be happy he got the chance to get out of the Miami organization sooner rather than later.
Off Topic: Looks like some of the players are having fun going through the Topps 2013 baseball cards.
https://twitter.com/Jay_HorwitzPR/status/302482844444413952/photo/1
Off Topic: ESPN has video of Jose Reyes talking about the day Loria stopped showing him love.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:8952062
My bad I didn’t realize Alex posted a link already.
Just watched a short live interview with Matt Harvey on the Loud Mouths.
I just love this kid. Apparently, so does the media. They’re already calling him the next face of the Mets pitchers. They couldn’t say enough good things about him. Bottom line, they believe he’s got the potential to be great, be the next ace.
Yes, every time I see or read something Harvey said I just enjoy hearing what he says. Another kid who I am starting to get that reaction for whenever I see or read something he says is d’Arnaud.
Mets Notes: I don’t know how many have yet to see this but here is a funny short interview with LaTroy Hawkins talking about his new business venture.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25600443&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_25600443&v=3
While I think that if Johann Santana is healthy he can help the team this year, I wouldn’t bet the ranch on that. Teams take a risk when signing players to long term contracts and get stung by players when they are hurt and miss significant playing time. Santana got paid regardless of his injuries and that is part of the deal…..but he should not even think about wanting to play in the WBC tournament. He owes that to the Mets and I hope they tell him no!