Should Mets Sign Pudge Rodriguez?
According to Mike Puma:
A Mets official spoke with Ivan Rodriguez as recently as 10 days ago, and the team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing Rodriguez as a backup to Josh Thole. But before the Mets spend the roughly $2 million they have remaining in the budget, their priority is to ensure Johan Santana is healthy. Otherwise, the remaining money would be allocated toward another starting pitcher. The Mets official told Rodriguez to “stay in shape,” because anything can still happen.
I feel like there is a Pudge-to-Mets rumor right after the end of every season and right before the beginning of every season; it’s like a bookend. Could it really happen this time?
In past seasons, signing Ivan Rodriguez would have made plenty of sense, because the Mets could have used his veteran experience and leadership behind the plate in years when they were gunning for the postseason. Now, I’m not so sure why the Mets would add him.
Perhaps Pudge fits in as a mentor, both to Josh Thole and to the youngsters on the Mets’ pitching staff. The Thole idea holds water, but as for the latter, the Mets’ Opening Day roster doesn’t project to have many “young” pitchers. Jonathon Niese, Dillon Gee, and Pedro Beato are all the youngest, at 25 years old (and Beato may start the year in AAA), so I’m not sure the “teaching the youngsters” thing flies.
On the other hand, I wonder if the Mets bring in Pudge because they don’t have confidence in Thole to properly handle a pitching staff. If that’s the case, well, hmm … if Thole isn’t going to be given the chance to learn this year, then he likely never will.
One more possibility: the Mets believe that there’s still enough left in Pudge to make him a worthwhile chip at the trading deadline. Who knows? If he goes on a hot streak in June, and a contender’s starting catcher goes down with injury, Pudge could command interest.
My best guess is that the Mets would bring in Ivan Rodriguez to both teach Thole and take some of the load off of him. Mike Nickeas appears to be a solid defensive catcher who pitchers like to work with, but Nickeas doesn’t have the same aura or experience that Pudge does — and therefore isn’t as valuable as Pudge in terms of mentoring Josh Thole.
What do you think? Should the Mets bring in Pudge? Why or why not? Answer in the comments.
Pudge there might add some interest. As to trading deadline stuff, yeah, maybe. I recall one year the Twins needed a back-up catcher, they were a playoff team and had few options. Probably can find a taker for one of the slots there. The back-up often is some vet.
I rather give N. time in the bigs though.
Second Mets source adds definitively: “We are not bringing Ivan here.”
The mets should get creative with deal making- an incentive laden contract that would top out at around $2M dollars. Something like $800K plus tiered bonuses for games caught, number of hits, home runs, etc. Is Pudge going to help the Mets win the division this year- no. But if he can impart guidance to the flashes of brilliance but amazingly inconsistent Pelfrey, Neise and Gee and the potentially useful Josh Thole, than we would be looking at having a quality 3,4, and 5 in the rotation and a catcher that would be in the upper half of big leaguers.
Lastly it allows you to cultivate a relationship with someone who could in the future fill the roving catcher instructor/mentor role, especially with younger players from Latin America. If this is going to be Pudge’s last year as an active player, he still has a long future ahead of them as a coach.