Mets Full Squad Reports Wednesday
The New York Mets full squad will report to spring training camp on Wednesday, and thus will mark the beginning of what should be a year of excitement as well as redemption for the Mets.
With all the anticipation of Santana, Reyes, Wright, and Beltran, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the guys who may not be as fortunate to call themselves Mets when the big league season opens in Florida on March 31.
Here is the list of non-roster invitees at camp this year:| Non-Roster Invitees | |||||||
| | Pitchers | B/T | Ht | Wt | DOB |
| |
| | 44 Tony Armas | R/R | 6-3 | 225 | 04/29/78 | ||
| | 58 Andy Cavazos | R/R | 6-3 | 225 | 01/05/81 | ||
| | 68 Ryan Cullen | L/L | 6-2 | 204 | 01/20/80 | ||
| | 74 Joselo Diaz | R/R | 6-0 | 240 | 04/13/80 | ||
| | 66 Nate Field | R/R | 6-2 | 205 | 12/11/75 | ||
| | 27 Nelson Figueroa | R/R | 6-1 | 180 | 05/18/74 | ||
| | 78 Eddie Kunz | R/R | 6-5 | 250 | 04/08/86 | ||
| | 62 Jonathon Niese | L/L | 6-3 | 190 | 10/27/86 | ||
| | 28 Juan Padilla | R/R | 6-0 | 200 | 02/17/77 | ||
| | 75 Robert Parnell | R/R | 6-3 | 180 | 09/08/84 | ||
| | 73 Ricardo Rincon | L/L | 5-9 | 210 | 04/13/70 | ||
| | 76 Brant Rustich | R/R | 6-6 | 225 | 01/23/85 | ||
| | Catchers | B/T | Ht | Wt | DOB | |
|
| | 70 Robinson Cancel | R/R | 6-0 | 195 | 05/04/76 | ||
| | 30 Raul Casanova | S/R | 6-0 | 235 | 08/23/72 | ||
| | 71 Salomon Manriquez | R/R | 6-1 | 190 | 09/15/82 | ||
| | 65 Gustavo Molina | R/R | 6-0 | 220 | 02/24/82 | ||
| | 59 Mike Nickeas | R/R | 6-0 | 220 | 02/13/83 | ||
| | Infielders | B/T | Ht | Wt | DOB | |
|
| | 63 Michel Abreu | R/R | 6-3 | 245 | 01/02/79 | ||
| | 64 Anderson Machado | L/R | 5-11 | 160 | 01/25/81 | ||
| | 91 Olmedo Saenz | R/R | 6-1 | 230 | 10/08/70 | ||
| | 17 Fernando Tatis | R/R | 5-10 | 175 | 01/01/75 | ||
| | 22 Jose Valentin | S/R | 5-10 | 190 | 10/12/69 | ||
| | Outfielders | B/T | Ht | Wt | DOB | |
|
| | 93 Brady Clark | R/R | 6-2 | 200 | 04/18/73 | ||
| | 92 Ben Johnson | R/R | 6-1 | 230 | 06/18/81 | ||
| | 67 Fernando Martinez | L/R | 6-1 | 190 | 10/10/88 |
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The 2008 Mets roster seems pretty set to me right now, so I’m not sure how many, if any of these guys will begin 2008 in the bigs with the Mets.
Here are some of the more notable ones however:
Fernando Martinez, - "This year," Martinez said, "You’ll see me.“ Martinez, the Mets prized possession, won’t begin 2008 in NY, but if he has something to say about it, and if Alou gets hurt again, you may very well see him at Shea before the season is over.
Jose Valentin – Valentin, had a very good season in 2006 for the Mets, and perhaps if he didn’t get hurt in 2007, he is the Mets 2008 starting 2b. Sadly for him, I don’t think there’s any room for him on the Mets in 2008.
Olmedo Saenz - Saenz has been a very good career pinch hitter, so I think he has a very good shot of making the Mets as their righty pinch hitter off the bench. He should get the nod over Brady Clark.
Tony Armas – Armas could fulfill that long reliever spot for the Mets in 2008 which was used the past two seasons for Darren Oliver and Aaron Sele. I think he would probably have the edge over Nelson Figueroa, especially since Armas is an Omar guy, but even still, he’s not a lock.Eddie Kunz – Kunz, 21, will probably get a long look from the Mets, but I think he will end up getting some more work down in AAA when it's all said and done. He could very well be in Shea before the season is over however.
It seems to me that the Mets have plenty of right handers out of the bullpen to look at this spring. With guys like Kunz, Armas, Figueroa, Joe Smith, Jorge Sosa, Steven Register, Matt Wise, Ruddy Lugo, Brian Stokes, and Juan Padilla, it should make for an interesting battle for perhaps the last bullpen spot on the 2008 Mets.
2008 is going to be a great season for the Mets, and as a fan, I couldn’t be happier.
Let's Play Ball…
Comments
I agree with you Tommy about the Mets being set. I guess they might give some of those guys a little look so they know what they have in them. Have you heard anything new on Duaner Sanchez? That is one of the guys I hope makes the team out of spring training. Great job.
Posted by: kdm | February 20, 2008 01:11 PM
kdm, thanks for the comments.
I believe Sanchez will make the team and go back to his setup role that he thrived in during the 2006 season.
Sanchez has already been quoted in camp as saying he's in the best shape in his career.
I'm looking forward to seeing Duaner as the Mets 8th inning guy and looking like the Sanchez pre-taxi cab incident!!
Posted by: Tommy V | February 20, 2008 01:42 PM
Great job...
Its not going to be easy for Sanchez to make the team. For him to make it the Mets have to go with 12 pitchers and El Duque has to be the 5th starter. If Mets go with 11 pitchers Sanchez can not make it or if Pelfrey some how gets the 5th starters spot moving El Duque to the Pen then Sanchez can not make the team.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | February 20, 2008 02:16 PM
not exactly...
there are 12 spots available between the BP and the bench...of that anderson, chavez, easley, castro, wags, heilman, feliciano, show, and sosa seem like a lock. thats 9 out of 12.
there will be an open competition for the final spots likely adding 2 spots to the BP and 1 for the bench.
wise, smith, pelfrey, lugo, register, armas, figueroa, etc..... and SANCHEZ will have to compete for those 2 spots.
odds are, its sanchez's spot to lose.
good for goggles....i hope he gets his stuff back and lights it up again!
Posted by: whatdatmean | February 20, 2008 02:59 PM
Not true whatdatmean. Wise has 5 years of service time which gives him veteran status which means he can not be sent down without his written consent. Either he makes the team or you release him and still have to pay him. Its unlikely he would accept being sent down.
These 11 pitchers barring injury or trade are locks
Santana
Pedro
Perez
Maine
El Duque
Wagner
Heilman
Wise
Sosa
Feliciano
Shoenewies
If Mets go with 11 pitchers then those are the 11. If they go with 12 then for Sanchez to make the team Pelfrey can not be the 5th starter and El Duque can not be in the pen. Mets will not go with 13 pitchers.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | February 20, 2008 06:04 PM
Further more Wise has a split contract where if he is cut he gets $750,000 if he makes the team he gets the $1.2 million. It is not likely the team will drop him and pay the $750,000. Wise will be on the team, you can count on it.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | February 20, 2008 06:11 PM
I think Jose Valetine could be a backup 1st baseman.
I also heard that Duaner Sanchez lost almost 30lbs and is in very good shape....
all good
Posted by: Kate | February 20, 2008 07:38 PM
Ok who is this Jose Valentine people keep talking about. Is he some mix of Jose Valentin and Bobby Valentine? If your talking about Jose Valentin then I see no chance of him making the team and to be honest I hope to god I never see him in a Mets uni ever again. Heck I rather bring Cedeno or Mo Vaughn back anything but Valentin.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | February 20, 2008 11:36 PM
Geez Christian - when did you become the spelling police. Yeah - Mo Vaughn is better......I think this is the FIRST time we have disagreed.....(sure it wont be the last - but thats ok :)
Posted by: Kate | February 21, 2008 07:02 PM