David Lennon of Newsday is now reporting that GM Omar Minaya just announced minutes ago that Duaner Sanchez has been released.
Sanchez knew he had to fight for a job this spring — he said as much after yesterday’s outing — but the Mets didn’t hesitate to cut him loose. I figured Minaya would wait a little longer and Sanchez was even scheduled to pitch today in Viera. But the GM said he didn’t see much progress since last year and wanted to give some other bullpen candidates more of look this month.
Yesterday, in my blog entitled “The Mets Would Be Smart To Cut Duaner Sanchez“, I said the same things that Omar Minaya said regarding his progress since returning from his injury, and about giving the younger Mets in camp a shot instead. Here is what I wrote:
I think it’s time we stop dreaming about the Duaner Sanchez we saw for three months in 2006, and start accepting the fact that the “pre taxi cab from hell” Sanchez is never coming back. It’s been three years… Lets move on already…
If the Mets release Duaner Sanchez by April 1st, they only would be obligated in paying him 25% of his $1.7 million dollar salary. Considering that the Mets already have a setup man and closer, I just don’t see the need for paying a guy like Sanchez $1.7 million dollars to get an out in the 6th or 7th inning.
Matt DeSalvo and Darren O’Day are both having great springs and each have a lot of promise and would only cost the Major League minimum of $400,000.
As I also said yesterday, Sanchez was riding a hot April in 2006 that really made his numbers look better than they really were.
This may also open up a spot for another lefty reliever in recently signed veteran Ron Villone.
Memo to Redding, Livan, Garcia: Forget what you think you know… Spring Training Performance and Stats Do Matter!
