In 2011, the Mets scored 718 runs, good for sixth in the National League. They also surrendered 674 earned runs, good for fifth worst in the league.
The Mets scored those runs without Ike Davis, a half season from Carlos Beltran, and only 389 at-bats from David Wright and 391 from Daniel Murphy. So, it stands to reason that a Mets lineup with a healthy Davis, Murphy, and Wright (and Jose Reyes?) will score some runs in 2012. What they must improve upon is preventing runs. That means the pitching staff needs to step up and/or needs an upgrade.
The bullpen and starting rotation both need help. An upgrade of the starting rotation would help both. More innings will take pressure off of the bullpen. The Mets have some prospects, such as Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, but they are not projected to make the major league team until at least 2013. Johan Santana may or may not be ready for opening day. The nature of an anterior capsule injury is unpredictable – just look at Chien-Ming Wang.
But there are some potential free-agent bargains that the Mets could turn to for starting rotation depth.
Erik Bedard
Bedard split his time with the Mariners and Red Sox in 2011. He compiled a 3.62 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Those numbers would have been second only to R.A. Dickey among Mets starters. Plus, Bedard has a track record. He was a double-digit winner for the Orioles in 2006 and 2007, and his lifetime ERA is 3.70.
As far as his salary is concerned, he made $1MM last year – a mere bag o’ shells, even for the Mets. Depending how the free agent market goes, that price is not likely to change much.
His downside – he had injury problems in 2008 and 2009, then he missed the 2010 season entirely. He rebounded this year to throw 129 innings in 24 starts for Seattle and Boston.
The verdict: If his price tag stays about where it is, sign him.
Edwin Jackson
Jackson changes uniforms more frequently than a presidential candidate changes his mind. Edwin played for 3 different teams from 2010-2011, and has played for a total of six in his big league career. Most recently, he found himself on the mound for the world champion Cardinals.
He went 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.44 WHIP for the White Sox and Cards combined. Like Bedard, he also has a track record, including an unlikely no-hitter in 2010. In that game he walked 8 and threw 149 pitches. Maybe the Mets could use some of that positive no-hitter mojo. He also throws a lot of innings: 214, 209, and 199 over the past three seasons.
His downside – he tends to put people on base. He gave up 225 hits in 199 innings in 2011.
His 2011 salary was $8.75MM. If he demands close to that again, he may be too expensive for New York.
The verdict: His price tag will probably be more than he is worth. Pass on this one.
Either Bedard or Jackson can help the starting rotation in 2012, bridging the gap until the young guns arrive.
6 comments
MetsFan4Decades
11/7/2011-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
I didn’t realize Jackson’s salary was that high for 2011. With many teams needing starting pitching I’m afraid he just might get that again.
Other than the hourly Jose Reyes watch, and the increasing Wright trade posts, I haven’t seen many rumors linking the Mets to anyone yet. I know they gave Brydak an extension and did some adjusting with their 40 man roster, but otherwise seems kind of slow regarding the Mets camp.
Even though it’s early, kind of surprised though that we’re not reading any rumors linking the Mets to some arms, at least for the BP at this point. They have to have a plan. Are they moving slow, or do this FO just do a better job of not leaking their moves to the media before they’re ready?
Anonymous
11/7/2011-5:03pm at 5:03 pm (UTC -4)
Yeahhhh….Ummmm….Here’s a heads-up, Reyes won’t be a Met
in 2012. Also, Please…No Erik Bedard. That’ll be money down the drain when he spends most of the season on the DL.
Anonymous
11/7/2011-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
Edwin Jackson is Pelfrey. We don’t like the Pelfrey we have, why would we want another one.
For a million, sure on Bedard, but like Fongy said, you’ll have to plan for the DL stint.
MetsFan4Decades
11/7/2011-6:21pm at 6:21 pm (UTC -4)
J. Sanchez off the market after just having been traded to the Royals.
I believe the FO said they had two plans: Plan A spending remaining money and/or trades after signing Reyes and Plan B spending that money after Reyes signs somewhere else. Or something like that.
Since it’s a foregone consensus across Met Land Reyes is gone, have to wonder why they just don’t move forward with Plan B? I’m sure the answer to that will be something in the realm of ‘making it look good towards retaining Reyes for the fan base’, or some such crap.
Paul Festa
11/7/2011-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
I think the fact that they haven’t moved forward with Plan B is an indication that Reyes is not as good as gone. I think the Mets have a number and length in mind. If another team exceeds those threshholds, then they’ll let him go.
Anonymous
11/8/2011-2:57am at 2:57 am (UTC -4)
I have no clue what, if anything, they are doing this off season. Last year was almost non-existent of course, but I chalked that up to nothing to spend, new on the job (getting a late start), etc.
But, I figured by this year, they would be wheeling and dealing, shaking an jiving. Or something like that.
So, if they end up sitting ont heir hands, adding a few more Young/Harris types and nothing else, I will seriously wonder if they really do have a desire to do anything but run the payroll down as much as possible.
Even if you are building for the future (say 2013+) that still requires some moves and parts adjustments. Plus of course making the best attempt you can to compete in 2012!