Lots of names out there that have been non-tendered. MLBTR is doing a great job keeping us up to date with their Non-Tender Tracker.
While there are certainly more names out there that would fit the Mets current needs, a few of them stood out to me.
Russell Martin: Martin missed time last year with a fractured hip and had already seen a dip in his offensive numbers. His agent of course claims he is healthy and ready to play again. In a market that is weak in catchers, it’s possible he nets a full time gig. However, if the interest is not there, he would be a perfect guy to come in and back up Thole and teach him the fine arts of catching, and being a productive hitter as a catcher for that matter.
Ryan Church: Yes I did just go there. Church absolutely stunk for most of the year last year, however in limited AB’s he did seem to rebound a little with Arizona. The Mets in my opinion need a decently fielding LH 5th OF and Church could fit. I know the Mets and Church did not have a great break up but I don’t think Church himself burned any bridges and I don’t have any ill will towards him.
Ryan Rowland-Smith: Spent some time looking at this one this morning. Honestly, perhaps I should leave this up to our saber department but, looking at his peripherals I don’t understand why he tanked last year. I did notice that his HR/FB was up to 14% compared to 6.7% the year before. That’s a sharp increase. He is a fly ball pitcher and could be exactly the guy I was referring to in this morning’s previous post. The minor league deal guy that competes for a rotation spot or slides into the pen.
Joel Peralta: The star of the show. From MLBTR “Joel Peralta, RP. He’s not a hard-thrower but it’s difficult to argue with a 2.02 ERA, 9.0 K/9, and 1.7 BB/9. He is an extreme flyball pitcher though.” Don’t know about you guys but that screams a perfect fit for the Mets bullpen. Considering the Nationals bullpen woes , I have no idea why he was non-tendered. The guy averaged 5.44K/BB. WHIP of .80. I expect there to be serious demand for this guy unless the Nationals knew of some type of undisclosed injury.
17 comments
Bryan
12/3/2010-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
I really like the Russell Martin idea, even if he comes close to splitting time with Josh Thole. Most of the other catchers that fit the Mets needs are pushing 40, so a younger guy like Martin even though he’s coming off an injury might not be a bad idea.
njstuckintx
12/3/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t mind Martin, but what do you think he’ll cost?
He would fit the ex. Dodger/Padre/Blue Jay roll the Met’s are filling up on!
rustyjr
12/3/2010-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
I think it will be Josh Bard or Olivo
Ceetar
12/3/2010-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
I’ve always kinda liked Church, but those concussions really derailed him, and he didn’t seem to have anything after that. I think he was just a little less of a “baseball guy” in attitude which sometimes got him looked at as an oddity and a weirdo. I wouldn’t mind him as a 5th OFer. Lefty to complement Evans right?
metsfan4decades
12/3/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know about Church….I remember reading something a couple of months ago about his decline since the Mets traded him. Kind of sad b/c it’s not like he had much wiggle room there to start with.
Russel Martin – fractured hip? Ouch…I guess if he’s young enough that could heal fine and he’d be ready to play.
It’s a shame that Blanco is up there in years b/c he would have been my choice for back-up/Thole mentor. I know his bat isn’t very good but he threw out most runners that tried to steal. I was surprised to read he’s playing in the Fall league, given his age and the fact that he can’t play more than 1-2 times a week during the season.
I too wonder about Peralta. I don’t know what the asking price would be but his numbers look good. And we need several arms for the BP. Who is our long guy gonna be – Misch?
kingman 26
12/3/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
LOL on Church!
kingman 26
12/3/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
But I love the idea of Martin…supposedly the Yanks like him…
Peralta sounds good too.
njstuckintx
12/3/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Still no Heb sighting?
kingman 26
12/3/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Have not heard back from him; first time that’s happened. Will email again this weekend just in case he did not get my email.
Will certainly let everyone know if I hear anything…
njstuckintx
12/3/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
Hmmm. Hope all is well.
stickguy
12/3/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
wait, the CHurch idea wasn’t some kind of inside joke?
I don’t think so on that one.
he also doesn’t really fit the criteria for a bench OF, since he has no particular power, not great defense, and isn’t a CF.
He is LH though.
wannybackstra
12/3/2010-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
Peralta was okay his first three years in the majors (was 29 year old rookie) and has always been pretty good in the BB and K departments. Until last season, however, he gave up 9+ per 9 innings and somehow managed to drop that all the way down to 5.5 at age 34.
To me he is a serviceable bullpen arm but nothing more. If he goes back to giving up 9+ hits per 9 IP then he sure won’t have a 2.02 ERA ever again.
How about Ronnie Paulino as backup catcher? Should only cost $1m or less… and kills left handed pitchers (3 yrs = .308 .351.469)… makes a good complement to Thole offensively even though defensively he’s nothing special.
stickguy
12/3/2010-4:20pm at 4:20 pm (UTC -4)
works for me. I remember wanting the Mets to go after him in the past.
I would like someone that can play more often than Blanco, in case that is needed. Being able to hit some would be a nice upgrade too!
Keep Blanco as the catching or BP coach if he doesn’t get another playing job. Let the old man heal up in peace.
wannybackstra
12/3/2010-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
Some free agents that I would consider for the Mets are:
Paulino (as above a nasty hitter v. left handed pitchers);
Melvin Mora (can still hit and stand around at several positions);
Felipe Lopez (bad season, might come cheap, insurance at 2B — possible starter);
Willie Harris (if you can’t beat him, join him)
Brad Hawpe (one year removed from .900 OPS can get some at bats in corner OF and 1B and possibly take over in RF if Beltran is traded — a real bargain hunting opportunity)
Jeremy Bonderman (stayed healthy last season, young enough to find his mojo again?);
Ryan Rowland Smith (what TRS said);
Jon Rauch
Scott Downs
Grant Balfour
Todd Coffey (Ks and I like weirdos in the pen)
Taylor Bucholz
Juan Cruz
Jesse Crain
Siato
Uejara
Choate
Tankersley
Sherrill
njstuckintx
12/3/2010-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
I’m in on Rauch, Uejara, Choate & I like the out of the box Brad Hawpe.
wannybackstra
12/3/2010-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
Als Bobby Seay, a LH reliever who can pitch to RH batters just as well. I’m tired of OOGies.
oleosmirf
12/3/2010-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
there are so many relievers on the market im not really gonna delve into that b/c they are so hit and miss and besides Aceves and Jenks, noone really jumps out at me. as for the rotation, Ryan Rowland-Smith is someone I would look at.
as for the bench, Dioner Navarro, Fred Lewis, Gwynn Jr,, Hairston, are guys I would take a look at