Mets Sign Aaron Laffey
Lefthanded pitcher Aaron Laffey has accepted a minor-league contract and invite to spring training from the New York Mets.
(BTW, I resisted the temptation to use the title “Mets Add a Laugher.”)
This looks to me like a nice, logical signing. Laffey is a lefthanded pitcher who can start or relieve, will turn 28 soon after Opening Day, and has six years of MLB experience — all in the Adulterated League. He split 2012 between the PCL Las Vegas — where he posted a 4.52 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 11 starts and 63 IP — and the Toronto Blue Jays, where he had a 4.56 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 22 games (16 starts) covering 100 IP. Those numbers may not seem so impressive, but consider that both leagues he pitched in were decidedly “hitters’ leagues.” Considering that, there’s a good possibility his numbers improve pitching in a real baseball league, where the pitchers hit and there isn’t a 20+ HR-per-year batter in 6 of the 9 lineup slots. Add in the fact that he’s changing leagues, and therefore will have the benefit of mystery; it doesn’t work all the time, but it seems to help many pitchers during their first tour through the NL.
Where Laffey fits in on the Mets’ pitching staff is to be determined. Certainly, he’ll compete for the #5 spot in the rotation. At worst, he’ll end up starting the season back in Las Vegas’ rotation, providing depth in AAA. (I have to wonder how much his signing had to do with experience pitching in Las Vegas’ launching pad?) If he isn’t in a rotation on the Right or Left Coast, he might be a long man for the Mets. I don’t see him as a LOOGY, since it would seem a waste for someone who has shown a modicum of adequacy pitching multiple innings. My personal thought is he’ll eventually wind up as a LOOGY at some point in his future, but it makes sense to give him more extended opportunities before going that route.
In other left-handed pitcher news, the busy Cubs have given Hisanori Takahashi a minor-league deal and invitation to spring training. Remember him? After a decent 2010 “rookie” season with the Mets, Takahashi moved on to the Angels and had a similarly decent 2011. In 2012, though, he was horrible. Interestingly, the little lefty has never lost his penchant for swings and misses; he struck out 52 batters in 50 innings last year — though his ERA was a plump 5.54. His WHIP, though, was only 1.25, so maybe this is a good, calculated risk by the Cubs.
That’s all for the moment. Remember, a watched pot on the Hot Stove never boils.
Nice, logical signings are a good thing. So are minor league invites for players that can do it in the majors. I agree with your take on Laffey’s numbers. I would not call him an AAAA player but we’ll get a closer look. Call me crazy, but unlike Izzy and NormE I expect Alderson to make some more moves and spend a little – for a 10 – 12 win SP5 and and OF, maybe even a strikeout arm in the pen. He still has $15 – $20 mil in the bank, don’t let them fool you.
There are few 10-12-win free-agent starting pitchers left. Joe Saunders, Shawn Marcum, and Carl Pavano are the only ones I see.
We shall see. FF had a bad 2012 but as we have seen many times with relievers, theya re very up and down year to year. I would like to see the Mets find a 9th inning guy that can slide FF into the 8th, but SP5 and a CF/leadoff hitter are more important for our wonderful GM to spend some of that $20 million on,
I’ve always liked Takahashi and never understood why Alderson wouldn’t give him a 3 year deal worth less than one year of Oliver Perez. He was able to fill multiple roles as from the left side. Oh well…
Laffey may be insurance if Johan can’t get past the 2nd inning, in support of the theory that a healthy Laffey is better than a broken Santana.
When assessing Laffey’s 2012 performance, a game-by-game analysis is more impressive than his annual stat sheet. He had a lousy September, that’s for sure, but he shut down teams completely on a number of occasions. Perhaps he tired toward season’s end. Not unusual. You can’t argue with the price. 🙂
It appears that Sandy is a little slow to move in Chris Young’s direction. Young proved effective as a starter, but his inability to pitch through the 5th and 6th innings placed a burden on the bullpen. He also never recorded a win at Citi Field, which is strange for an otherwise effective fly ball pitcher.
Perez got 12M a year, right? That was insane, of course, but how has Takahashi turned out, after a multi-year deal was not provided? The Pirates eventually granted his unconditional release on October 31, 2012 once the Angels gave up on him.
Perhaps, spending a lot of money for multi-year deals after his one year nice surprise was a good move?
Was that deal any more risky than the 2 years, $12M handed to Frank-Frank?
Agreed – ALL of the Mets’ fortunes fall squarely on the shoulders and elbows of the two phenoms, and, secondarily, d’Arnaud.
Soriano, Valverde, Capps, Wilson and K-Rod are all out there, and they won’t all be getting the big bucks (though I don’t think we can consider K-Rod, and Soriano will be too pricey). Wilson on a 1-year rebuild-your-value deal would be a huge boon for the NY media…
Capps has shoulder issues, otherwise I might like him.
Valverde seems like another version of Frank-Frank, though his ceiling is much higher; that said, he also may be too pricey for the Mets’ shallow pockets.
No way Soriano is a Met, mainly because of his price but also because he’ll cost a #1 pick.
Based on what we’ve seen Sandy Alderson do in the past, my bet is he rolls the dice on Capps. Wilson, to me, is the better bet, but I really believe he’s out of the Mets’ budget. He can probably get someone to give him a 1-year, $5M-$7M deal, and I don’t see the Mets doing that.