Updated Post 1/20
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Assistant GM John Ricco said the team could still sign additional starting pitchers, despite the recent signing of lefthander John Lannan to a minor league contract.
It’s probably a good idea to bring in another arm or two and have them compete this Spring and then provide the team with some depth at Triple-A in case we need it.
The good thing is that they do consider Mejia as the favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation and that deGrom and Montero are also options.
I can’t wait for Spring Training to start already…
(Joe D.)
Original Post 1/19
The Mets signed former Washington Nationals lefthander John Lannan to a minor league deal on Saturday, but where does he fit in with the Mets staff?
He is certainly at a crossroads in his career. He’s appeared in just twenty games over the course of the last two seasons and has been released by two different teams.
But he’s just a couple of seasons removed from his 33 start, 182.2 inning season with the Nationals when he finished with a 3.70 ERA.
Still, I can’t see him realistically competing for the number five spot in the rotation this spring.
As long as one of the young studs are ready to go – with Jenrry Mejia being the frontrunner – I don’t see Lannan leapfrogging Mejia, Jake deGrom or possibly even Rafael Montero. The only pitcher really being challenged is Carlos Torres.
Torres is projected to be the long man/spot starter. He pitched well for the Mets in 2013 after being called up and earned himself the spot. It’s Torres’ to lose.
If Lannan’s minor league contract includes an opt out if he’s not called up by a certain date (like the one Torres had last year), he may possibly get a call-up by that date if he’s pitching well in Vegas and the Mets need a fresh arm.
As far as making the Opening Day roster, unless he’s the second coming of David Price, Lannan is likely competing for a job as the long reliever and hoping he’ll get the nod because he’s a lefty.
