According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, multiple sources say the Mets have expressed interest in starting pitchers and have reached out to free agents Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano, Chris Young, and Shaun Marcum. The Mets may also be exploring a trade with the Dodgers who are shopping Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang.
Puma says that any decision the Mets make for starting pitching likely wont happen until after the new year, with the hope that asking prices drop..The Mets are the only team in the majors that have yet to sign any player to a major league contract.
On Thursday, Ken Davidoff also reported that the Mets checked in with representatives for both Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano as replacements for R.A. Dickey.
Liriano, 29, started the 2012 season with the Minnesota Twins before being dealt to the Chicago White Sox. He was just plain awful for both teams this past season going a combined 6-12, with a 5.34 ERA, and sporting a WHIP of 1.47. He has never really been able to regain the form he had prior to his arm surgery back in 2007.
Carl Pavano spent the last four seasons with the Twins, although his 2012 campaign was cut short due to injury. Pavano enjoyed a nice year back in 2010, going 17-11, but was just 11-18 over the past two seasons with a combined ERA of 5.15. Pavano is 36-years old, and will probably come on the cheap, but is more of an injury risk at this point in his career.
