Regarding the rotation, Adam believes that Jon Niese is still the front-runner to be the team’s fifth starter and writes,

The smart money still has Jon Niese claiming the final slot in the rotation over Fernando Nieve, with Hisanori Takahashi only on the fringe of that race, despite the Japanese lefthander slated for a pair of Grapefruit League starts, on March 27 and April 1.

I have a feeling that the winner of the competition for the fifth starter spot may still be undecided when spring training ends. I’d bet that we may see two to three of them each getting starts in April, with Jerry Manuel playing the hotter hand for the rest of the season. The fifth starter spot has been constantly in a state of flux for the past few seasons now, with over a dozen different pitchers trying but not succeeding in keeping a job in the rotation.

In the bullpen Adam writes that Bobby Parnell and Sean Green are in some jeopardy of not making the Opening Day roster, although Green would seem to be less vulnerable because his salary is $975,000 even if he’s in the minors.

I actually mentioned that both Parnell AND Green were dangerously close to losing their bullpen spots last week, especially when you consider the outstanding spring performances of Nelson Figueroa, Pat Misch, Ryota Igarashi, Hisanori Takahashi and Jenrry Mejia.

Rubin points to Francisco Rodriguez and Pedro Feliciano as the obvious locks, with right-handers Ryota Igarashi and Kiko Calero virtually assured of spots as well. Fernando Nieve is also close to locking up a bullpen spot leaving just two more spots that are yet to be decided.

He believes that Jenrry Mejia will most likely unseat Parnell with Green’s spot possibly going to free-agent lefthander Joe Beimel, whom he says the Mets remain in touch with. But if that doesn’t transpire, Hisanori Takahashi or Nelson Figueroa could make the team.

It’s starting to look more and more like Mejia could make the team, even though I’m still against such a move. Ironically, he could replace Bobby Parnell who was exactly in the same position Mejia now finds himself in. We had these same debates regarding Parnell last spring, and I wondered if promoting him to the bullpen would jeopardize his ability to be a future starter for the Mets. Now Parnell could find himself going back to the minors, and whether he returns as a reliever or starter is still to be determined. Now everyone is just as fascinated with Mejia’s fastball as they were with Parnell’s… Hopefully Mejia won’t suffer a similar fate…

I have a strong hunch that the Mets could possibly trade Sean Green to make room in the bullpen and create an opportunity for Misch or Takahashi.

Sean Green may be the weakest link in the bullpen this season as I’m sure Jerry and Omar are going to have him in the opening day roster. Big mistake.

The 30-year-old former Mariner had a less than inaugural first season with the Mets.

As you can see, his runs and earned runs are well above any of the other Mets relievers, while his strike-out to walk ratio is 1.5/1. Only Ollie Perez was worse among all Mets pitchers.

When Manuel goes to Green it’s almost a surety that runs will score if they are in scoring position, costing us the lead, or on too many occasions, the win. It had almost become a matter of routine. So much so that when he entered a game I feared watching how it ultimately would unfold.

On Thursday, Sean Green’s two-thirds of an inning performance in the Mets 17-11 win against the Cardinals, gave me little hope as he gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. This after his much ballyhooed new delivery which was intended to give him better control and a consistent release point. The new delivery did none of that. Sure it was one spring game, but it mirrored what he already did for an entire season in 2009.

The best thing the Mets could do is cut their weakest link by either trading him or sending him down to AAA-Buffalo where he can work on a delivery that will actually lead to better results.

I would love to see the Mets increase their offer to free agent Joe Beimel who would be a significant upgrade and more useful as second lefthander with a proven track record of success. If the goal is to build the best bullpen we can for the 2010 season, let’s begin by replacing Green with Beimel.

The Mets already have an offer on the table for the local southpaw, but Beimel is looking for something closer to $2 million and the Mets offer is reportedly half that amount.

While looking over Calero’s numbers last season, I was immediately impressed with how well he fared against left-handed hitters. I decided to compare his performance against Joe Beimel and the results show that the mets may already have their LOOGY in Calero.

Here are their head-to-head comparisons versus left-handed hitters in 2009. (Stats provided by Baseball Reference)

What really stands out to me more than anything is that Beimel allowed four homeruns while pitching in spacious Dodgers Stadium and Calero allowed no homeruns in cozy Florida. (In fact, Calero allowed one HR all year in 2009, and that was to our own Fernando Tatis.)

Calero’s one flaw is that he walks more batters, but usually gets out of his jams. His .187 BAA ranks up there with the elite closers of the game. That’s something you look for in a LOOGY when he’s asked to get a big out with runners on base. 

Calero also gives the Mets something they have lacked in the last three seasons, and that is a cross-over reliever who is effective against both RH and LH hitters.

So is Kiko Calero a better LOOGY than Joe Beimel? Probably not…

I’m not suggesting that the Mets step on the brakes and pull their offer to Joe Beimel. But if we were to fail to sign him, this Calero acquisition may soften the blow a little.

According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post via Twitter, free agent Joe Beimel is still looking for something similiar to the $2 million that he earned last year, but that the Mets won’t go there.

Original Post 2/26

According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, the Mets have made an offer to free-agent reliever Joe Beimel, and the 32 year old southpaw has confirmed the offer.

Left-handed reliever Joe Beimel confirmed he has received an offer from the Mets. “We’ve been talking to them for a good part of the offseason. I am still just being patient, waiting for the right deal,” Beimel told the Denver Post.

The Daily News reported this week that the Mets would bring in Beimel or fellow left-hander Ron Mahay if the reliever was willing to accept a Rod Barajas-type contract (less than $1 million).

It’s no secret that the Mets have longed for a second left-handed reliever all offseason to help keep Pedro Feliciano from being overworked for a third straight season.

Beimel finished the season with a 3.58 ERA, but if you took away his brutal month of May when he was overused by the Nats and logged a season high 13 innings, his ERA comes in at a sterling 2.67.

Obviously this would be a significant upgrade for the bullpen and one that can have a lasting effect all season long.

I’m really digging Omar Minaya’s tactics and strategy as the hot stove season winds down and he picks up some really good bargains.

Of the players that are now coming across the sports news wire, these four players could be useful for the Mets.

Rich Harden – Cubs: I’ve been a fan of Harden ever since he broke into the big leagues. He’s coming off a rough year, but has a career ERA of 3.24 and a 1.24 WHIP.

Placido Polanco – Tigers: He just won a gold glove and in my opinion he could be a better fit than Orlando Hudson if the Mets trade Castillo.

Miguel Olivo – Royals: If the Mets are looking for a one year option until Josh Thole is ready, Olivo could be that guy.

Joe Beimel – Dodgers: The Mets still need a bridge to K-Rod, and Beimel has played that part with great success in the past.

More updates to come in what looks to be a busy Hot Stove Tuesday.

There is a very good chance that Joe Beimel will once again test the free agents waters this winter. Last season, he was hoping to land himself a three year deal but as spring training neared without any offers, he settled instead for a one year deal with the Nationals for $2 million dollars. He was subsequently traded to the Colorado Rockies.

Last March I wrote the following about Beimel in a post entitled, Mets Should Make A Move On Joe Beimel.

As soon as the Dodgers decided to non-tender left handed reliever, Joe Beimel, I remember thinking to myself, this guy will be signed within a week. Wrong again…

The 31 year old specialist had a solid season last year after posting a 2.02 ERA in 71 games.

During the 2007 season, Beimel set a record for the Dodgers by making 83 appearances, the most by a left-handed pitcher in the Dodgers history.

I took a look at his three year average as I believe it’s more reliable than just looking at one season.

In 216 games he has a 3.04 ERA, but more importantly he held left handed hitters to a .232 batting average and has only allowed two homeruns in 280 at bats against him. That’s pretty impressive. In that same span, J.J. Putz allowed 10 homeruns.

While with the Dodgers, he was not only used as a lefty specialist, but also as the team’s setup man and emergency closer.

Well, now with the season over, Beimel again proved to be a solid value at $2 million dollars. He finishes the regular season with a 3.58 ERA, but if you took away his brutal month of May when he was over used by the Nats and logged a season high 13 innings, his ERA comes in at a sterling 2.67.

Beimel may be willing to take a similar deal again this off season, and like last season he is one of the best available lefty relievers out there. He has already pitched extensively as a setup man and even appeared as a closer at times.

There seems to be some momentum building around Bobby Parnell as the setup man. I say not so fast. He’s young and we shouldn’t just thrust him into the role simply because we have no other options. Beimel would make a better option.

Beimel is more experienced, has a great record of success over a long period of time, and would cost the Mets less than half of what they paid J.J. Putz.

Furthermore, I rest my case with this final note on Joe Beimel.

He has a very cool broken heart tattoo on his right shoulder, superimposed over the New York City skyline with the motto “Only God Knows Why”.  It’s in remembrance of 9/11 and the quote is the title of his favorite Kid Rock song.

It’s a win-win-win situation.