While reading another fine post by Ted Berg over on TedQuarters he suggested that a righty that could possibly help the Mets is Triple-A righty Dillon Gee. He writes,
“Gee has a deceptively high 4.52 ERA at Buffalo, but has shown excellent control and strikes out nearly a batter an inning. Gee is prone to the gopherball — a problem that would be at least somewhat alleviated by pitching in Citi Field…“
“Promoting Gee into a bullpen job could serve a dual purpose: Adding to the big-league club a pitcher who can reliably get the ball over the plate and allowing the Mets to judge if and how Gee’s not overpowering but apparently effective stuff looks against Major League competition.“
He goes on to note that while Gee is not on the 40 man roster he believes that Nieve being dfa’d automatically opens a spot on the 40-man roster.
He is correct Nieve being dfa’d opens a spot on the 40-man roster. Here is the official announcement by MLB.
“LOS ANGELES — The Mets designated reliever Fernando Nieve for assignment after Thursday’s 2-0 loss the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine.
The 28-year-old right-hander was 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in 42 innings and 40 appearances. He struck out 38 and walked 22. The move comes one day after Nieve gave up the winning run to the D-backs in a 14-inning, 4-3 loss.
He is immediately removed from the 40-man roster and the Mets have 10 days to trade or release Nieve, who can be assigned to the Minors if he clears waivers. He was signed to a one-year, $414,000 deal.“
So the question becomes should the Mets add Gee to the 40 man roster with the intent of giving him a shot with the ball club?
11 comments
metsfan4decades
7/23/2010-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
Except the Mets decided to call up Acosta, not Gee. With Perez taking up a spot in the BP, we’d have to DFA someone else to make room either in the starting rotation (Taka back to the pen) or the pen for Gee.
I’m not opposed to bringing Gee up and giving him a chance. Especially if we’re going to continue to struggle offensively as it won’t matter much who is on the mound. Losing by 1 run or 10 is still a loss.
Mr North Jersey
7/23/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Well right now they have 39 people on the 40 man roster.
They would as you said though need to remove someone from the 25 man roster to bring him up to the big club.
Who on the 25 would they move? Maybe that 3rd catcher? Maybe Ollie?
GravediggerHebner
7/23/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Another possibility is they have determined that they will be sellers at the deadline and are making room on the roster for multiple pieces in a trade return.
saltygary
7/23/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
I think they have determined that they will not be buyers, I don’t know what they could sell without going on firesale…
Guys Mets would probably trade:
Dickey
Acosta
Dessens
Parnell
Perez
Takahashi
Valdez
Barajas
Blanco
Castillo
Cora
Carter
Franoeur
Not much value IMO. Maybe Dickey can get a little return…
stickguy
7/23/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
I sse dickey and parnel lin the plans for next year. the rest of the guys, all expendable and replaceable.
GravediggerHebner
7/23/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I think the guys they have learned they can trade without any negative on-field impact are Francoeur, Barajas & Cora. Whether they could get anything in return for any of them that would be worth putting on the 40 man roster I can’t say.
stickguy
7/23/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think bringing Gee up for the pen wil make any difference. Sure, he should be better than having Ollie, but not a biggee.
different discussion if you were talking about having him slide into the rotation, and taka move back to the pen, but that ain’t happening now.
He quite possibly does get called up in September though, assuming he wil lhave to be added to the 40 man this off season anyway.
GravediggerHebner
7/23/2010-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
Adding to the catcher-specific roster intrigue Michael Barret was just moved up to AAA.
stickguy
7/23/2010-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
He certainly could fill the role of barajas or blanco. So yeah, if they can get something useful for barajas, no great loss.
House is floating around too.
Finding a good catch, no hit catcher is not all that hard.
trs86
7/23/2010-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
I was assuming that 40 man spot would go to Cordero.
GravediggerHebner
7/23/2010-3:42pm at 3:42 pm (UTC -4)
Sadly that’s the most logical thing. I would like to think they’d give him some time in AAA to show something first.
The Buffalo News writer said something to the effect of “Cordero to Buffalo to take Acosta’s place in bullpen (note to Mets: Acosta’s fastball is straight as an arrow he won’t help)” so I guess it’s just a matter of time before Cordero is up here thus taking that roster spot.