According to Mike Puma of the NY Post, the Mets may now be shifting gears and are turning their attention to obtaining a starting pitcher.
Minaya is still trying to strike a deal with free-agent catcher Bengie Molina and has turned attention in recent days to a starting pitching pool that includes Ben Sheets, Joel Pineiro and Jon Garland.
Based on many of the reports that are circulating, Pineiro is looking for a three-year deal worth between $30-$35 million dollars, while Garland could settle for something similar to the two-year deal that Jason Marquis got with the Nationals.
Ben Sheets, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, has refused to throw for any interested teams which seems kind of odd considering he is demanding a $12-15 million dollar deal. I could see this blowing up in some team’s face, and I hope it’s not us.
Although not mentioned in the Post article, Chien-Ming Wang who is ready to begin a throwing program in February, could be an option as well.
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, predicts that the Mets will sign Pineiro and writes,
Pineiro might be the best available starting pitcher, at least considering only those who were healthy in 2009. Maybe given the lack of bidders the Mets could get him on a two-year deal.
Also, Mike Francesa announced today on WFAN, that he would be revealing yet another significant move by the Mets later in his show this evening.
Could this be for one of the aforementioned starters?
Anybody care to guess?
