Jeff Francis Also Forsakes Flushing
You just can’t make this stuff up — yet another high-profile free-agent has refused to take the Mets’ money. The latest is former 17-game winner and 16-game loser Jeff Francis, who opted instead to accept an invitation to spring training and minor league dealoffered by the Cincinnati Reds. It was a wild, wheel-and-deal day for the Reds, who also picked up former Met Wilson Valdez in a trade with the Phillies.
As reported in various outlets, the Mets had been keeping a close eye on Francis, perhaps fearing he might pickpocket an employee. In any case, I’m a little sad they weren’t able to bring him into the fold — anyone with the guts to wear a Vancouver Canucks hat around Denver has to have some moxie and would add interest to the team.
OK in all seriousness … with Francis off the table, there aren’t many starting pitchers left on the market who the Mets can consider for depth. They do have to sign at least one more arm, don’t they? Here’s who I believe is still available, likely fits into the Mets’ financial plan, and might be willing to sign a minor-league deal with the club, in no particular order whatsoever:
Kyle Davies
Zach Duke
Ross Ohlendorf
Clay Hensley
Scott Kazmir
Sergio Mitre
Micah Owings
I’m sure I’ve missed someone, just as I’m sure one or more of the above have already been signed and I wasn’t sent the press release. Either way it’s not an inspiring group.
No, Jon Garland, Roy Oswalt, nor Edwin Jackson are on the list, as I just don’t see the Mets affording any of them. Livan Hernandez is not there, either, since he seems to be considering retirement; also, he might still be ticked about being released by the Wilpons in 2009 just prior to his performance bonus kicking in. If you want to consider Rich Harden, Chris Young, Brandon Webb, Ben Sheets, Mark Prior, Wayne Garland, Steve Busby, David Clyde, or some other guy who was a great pitcher for a brief period and then blew his arm out go right ahead — but, to me it doesn’t make much sense to go down that road again, when what the Mets need right now is someone with the potential to remain healthy in the event one of their projected five starters breaks down. I just don’t see the point in signing a disaster as your disaster plan. In fact, Kazmir and Mitre are teetering on the edge in terms of potential reliability.
Tim Wakefield is still a free agent, and it would be really cool to have two knuckleballers on the staff, but I’m just not seeing it become reality. Word on the street is Wake will retire if Boston doesn’t re-sign him.
Owings is intriguing, both as an arm and as a fourth outfielder. But is he still available after going 8-0 with a 3.57 ERA last year? I haven’t heard anything about him this winter.
I keep looking at these seven names and thinking I must be missing someone, because it seemed to be only a few days ago that there were two dozen healthy starting pitchers looking for work. Help me out — who am I missing? Who would you consider? Do you think the Mets still need to sign a starter for depth or am I all wrong on this? Answer in the comments.
The Mets probably should sign some other garbage pile type starter (how excited I sound) and very well might. I don’t know who it will be, but it might be from your pile. It probably will be akin to their new back-up middle infielder: no one to be too excited about, but reasonable for the job.
They can try Tom Seaver, but I see by the NY Daily News, he is a wine guy now. Sounds like good material for a indie film with Dennis Quaid. He already has one old timer ball player role under his belt.
Please, just let it not be Ross Ohlendorf.
I think you left Brad Penny of the list. He is big and still looks nasty, so he could help when they have a brawl with the Marlins or Phillies. Adding him to Rauch and Francisco, that is one angry-looking bullpen. Owings might fit best, and his .820 OPS could put him ahead of Bay on the OF depth chart. And, unlike selfish Cody Ross, I hear he will handle the cream pies and maintain the bullpen garden. Unfortunately, I think Boras is his agent.
But, good suggestion — his burly figure would add to the Mets’ beefy bullpen.
In a pinch Freddie W. could insist on young Jeffie putting on a uniform and showing us his stuff. After all, Jeffie’s phantom baseball career makes a better fit for the team’s roster than a position in the front office.
Back-up plans: Mitre and Duke seem pretty healthy. Hensley was an excellent reliever in 2010, so could be double insurance.
For upside: Harden. More Ks than Young/Webb/Sheets.
Kazmir is also interesting, but I wouldn’t consider him less risky than those other guys. He needs a surgery or a mechanical overhaul or something — he hasn’t been good since 2008. At age 28, it may not be too late.
Safety or upside? Personally, I don’t care about the difference between a 6th starter who’s awful and one who’s just bad. I’d rather gamble on finding someone who can be better than bad, and much better than Pelfrey. So sign me up for Young/Webb/Sheets/Harden. That said, is there any reason why we can’t get those guys and Davies?
Furthermore, I don’t see the purpose (other than just plain meanness) of ripping the Mets for missing out on a guy who’s spent the last three years going 14-32 with a 5.00 ERA.
The Mets have been bashed in the media constantly for the past several years, and some of it is well-deserved, so there’s no reason to pick on them for not signing a mediocre pitcher.
We’re all frustrated, and many of us are angry. But let’s keep it real.
We all know the plight of the Mets. However, their starting 5 include a guy that missed all last season and may not throw a pitch in the majors in 2011, a young lefty with some upside that has been unable to complete the season 3 years in a row, a young righty who had a poor second half and has a partial tear in his pitching shoulder, a 36 year old knuckelballer, and a former #1 pick who “eats innings”, with very poor results against divisional opponents. Behind them are minor leaguers who aren’t ready. They need at least one more big league option, even if that option is offsesaon leftovers, and as Joe J chronicals, they are becoming few.
But then I looked up the actual definition, and it says “to stand upright”.
So now I think the Mets will “sit back”.