Mariners Make Offer to Silva

It looks as if the MetsToday-sponsored #1 free-agent target of the offseason is about to sign elsewhere.

While MetsBlog recently reported that Carlos Silva was offered a 3-year, $30M deal by the Kansas City Royals, Ken Rosenthal is also reporting that the Mariners have put a 4-year, $44M contract on the table.

Also per Rosenthal, by signing Silva, the Mariners would be halfway toward their goal of adding two starting pitchers — with Eric Bedard their other target.

Huh.

So the M’s were looking to get TWO starters, and have already made a substantial offer to one of them. The Mets are trying to get just one and are floundering.

If in fact Silva accepts the offer from Seattle, the Mets would be left to choose from Livan Hernandez and, um, no one — at least as far as healthy free agent starters go. If they’re OK with gambling on less healthy options, there is still Jon Lieber, Bartolo Colon, Jason Jennings, Mark Prior, and Freddy Garcia.

In my opinion, it’s time to make a huge push for Prior, and then settle for either Jennings or Colon as a backup option. If the Mets were desperate for a starter, it might not make sense to go after a questionable guy like Prior, but at this point, if they’re not getting an innings-eater such as Silva, then they may as well take a gamble on someone who has a high ceiling. After all, they always have Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber to take the #5 spot if the gamble doesn’t pay off.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
  1. Walnutz15 December 18, 2007 at 2:04 pm
    $11MM/per for Carlos freakin’ Silva….I don’t care for any, thank you.

    Essentially, Pedro Martinez-type contract for a guy who’s a glorified American League version of Steve Trachsel.

    PASS!

    By the way, I’m all for a healthy Bart Colon. Let’s get the docs on him, immediately and see what’s up. We’re gettin’ down to some seriously slim pickin’s on the FA market — and really, the guys who are available via trade aren’t guys I’d go giving up a king’s ransom to get.

    I’ve said it from the start, but I’m still fully expecting to see Livan Hernandez in a Met uniform before all’s said and done.

    P.S. — Joe, missed out on saying this in my last post. Hope you’re feeling better, moses.

  2. Walnutz15 December 18, 2007 at 4:00 pm
    Per Metsblog:

    The Mets have signed free-agent RHP Matt Wise to a one-year contract.

    Wise, 32, was 3-2 with one save and a 4.19 ERA in a career-high 56 games last year for the Brewers.

    Mets GM Omar Minaya, on Wise…

    “Matt has had success in a variety of roles. He adds a versatile arm to the bullpen.”

    Since 2005, Wise has posted a 3.27 ERA against the NL East.

    http://www.metsblog.com

    Here are some relevant stats for the last 3 years:

    2005: 3.36 ERA / 64 IP / 62 k’s
    2006: 3.36 ERA / 44 IP / 27 k’s
    2007: 4.19 ERA / 53 IP / 43 k’s

    Scouting Report

    Assets

    With his height, he is able to generate good velocity, and as he develops a better breaking pitch, he should keep hitters more off balance, and become more dominant.

    Flaws
    He has the tendency to get nervous and to try to aim the ball. This results in getting knocked around a little more than he should.

    (http://www2.sportsnet.ca/baseb…yers/Matt_Wise/)