As pointed out by Mike Salfino of SNY Why Guys, there’s more to the additions of relievers Jon Rauch, Frank Francisco and Ramon Ramirez than just the obvious which was to bolster a depleted bullpen.
Relievers are very easy to trade at the deadline for real prospects, especially when the relievers in question have either closing or postseason experience and are not overpaid.
File that sentence away and remember it come July. The key, of course, is having these pitchers pitch well enough to draw significant interest. I think it’s very likely one will and it’s quite possible that two of the three will be very attractive to self-described contenders near the 2012 deadline.
Excellent observation and more evidence of a forward thinking front office. It was a great Winter Meetings for the Mets considering their dire financial circumstances.
