Mets Get Rejects in Return for K-Rod

In case you missed it, the Mets completed their trade with the Brewers — the one that sent Francisco Rodriguez to Milwuakee. In for K-Rod, the Mets received two pitchers who did not fit into the plans of the Brewers, nor the teams they were with immediately prior. But that doesn’t mean they can’t fit into the Mets plans.

Before we discuss the two hurlers the Mets received, it may be fun to look at some of the names thrown around in the comments section of the July post announcing K-Rod’s departure, and in the story and comments of Dan Capwell’s PTBNL article. Seems we all were way off, because the two players the Mets received were Daniel Herrera and Adrian Rosario.

Herrera started the 2011 season with the Reds, but was placed on waivers and claimed by the Brewers in May. Within 48 hours of that claim, the 5’6″, 26-year-old lefthander allowed five runs, six hits, a home run and a walk in 1.2 innings in two games and was sent to AAA Nashville (no, that’s not a misprint; he really is 5’6″ — so what? At least Terry Collins can see eye-to-eye with him.) While in AAA, Herrera had a 1.48 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 29 games, striking out 39 and walking only 8 in 42 IP (see? size does NOT matter). We’ll have more on Herrera later today.

The other pitcher is 21-year-old righthander Adrian Rosario, who was a Rule 5 pick snatched from the Brewers by the by the Orioles last December, but returned after spring training. Rosario spent the entire season at the Class A level. After going 4-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 16 outings (14 starts) for Brevard County, he was demoted to Wisconsin, where he was 0-1 with a 1.34 ERA in 19 relief outings. Looking at those numbers, you have to wonder if the Orioles wish they gave Pedro Beato a spot on the 40-man roster, rather than leaving one open to draft Rosario. We’ll have more on Rosario later today as well.

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