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Matthew Cerrone

List: Next Season’s Free Agent Pitchers
By Matthew Cerrone - Dec 21, 2007 11:19 am

According to MLB Trade Rumors, in addition to Orlando Hernandez, Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez, the following noteworthy pitchers are currently able to be free agents after next season…

…frankly, with the way pitchers continue to re-sign with their current team, i expect this list to be quite shorter in a year…however, it does put trading for Johan Santana in to perspective a bit, especially with regards to trading Aaron Heilman and the team’s four best pitching prospects

…thanks to Peter Wade, our resident eyes and ears, for the link

126 Responses to “List: Next Season’s Free Agent Pitchers”

  1. calamityfrancis says:

    Survey says…..Sabathia, Santana and Sheets will never make it to free agency.

    • jaxson says:

      You are right, and this is why we cannot clean out the pitching farm. Lets face it – The Mets must develop young pitchers because the good free agents wont hit the market and for those that do, the contract demands are to high – We cannot have an entire pitching staff of free agent signings – Yikes!

      Lock up Maine and Ollie and work like hell to develop what we already have. And draft smart.

  2. djbutler says:

    Omar better lock up Maine and Perez sooner rather than later.

  3. GravediggerHebner says:

    Only if CitiField became CialisField could Randy Johnson live up to his name here.

  4. J.R. Dot says:

    Shill-rone,

    Based on your previous posts, who would you rather see the mets go after,

    R. Johnson
    M. Mussina
    R. Wolf

    IN OMAR WE TRUST BABY LOL

  5. tfc3rid says:

    I have a bad feeling Pedro and OP are going to leave after this season…

    • J.R. Dot says:

      True, but we’ll prob offer El Duque a 4-5 year guaranteed deal. He’s a proven vet, you know.

    • Peter says:

      OP probably, but I think Pedro will stay.

      ____, Pedro, Maine, Pelfrey, ____

      Fill in those blanks for the ‘09 staff . . .

    • GravediggerHebner says:

      Petey could do anything from re-up to retire. OP I believe has Boras as his agent so anything other than declaring FA and testing the open market would be a big surprise.

      • BiggieSmalls says:

        that would be the popular thinking in 2006.. But after the Kenny Rodgers and A Rod disasters Boras is probably looking to reinvent himself to being more client friendly..

        Given Omar’s good relationship with Boras i’d bet that Omar signs OP long term (4 years) before his arb hearing and Boras comes out smelling like a rose b/c for once he DIDNT wait til free agency for a client that clearly is most advantaged by staying put..

        • jamie says:

          Biggie, I hope you’re right too. I’ve been wondering, though, if Ollie’s the kind of guy you want to give money to (not pitching-wise, but people-wise). Will he bust his hump trying to improve, or will he be satisfied, since he was good enough to get the money? I like him well enough, but something just makes me wonder about that with him.

        • points guy says:

          Biggie,

          long time no post.

          Unfortunately, I highly doubt Boras will change his ways.

        • BiggieSmalls says:

          well he came up from sunny warm Mexico to play santa’s elf with Maine/

          seems like a decent young man who loves what he does.

          In the hotstove interview when he was stupidly asked what he would be doing if he wasnt a baseball player he said a baseball teacher.

        • jamie says:

          true, true…don’t know why I’m cynical about him.

    • Pedro will head back to Boston because they love him so much… I think Ollie likes it here and likes playing for Willie. Providing he has a similar season to last, I’d bet on him staying.

    • napes22 says:

      Why would OP leave? He’ll get the money he wants right here.

      • BiggieSmalls says:

        a agree OP likes it here and owes RP a pretty significant favor // if he leaves he probably goes back to not being able to hit the side of a barn

        but why would Pedro go back to Boston? i think he feels a strong loyalty to Omar for believing in him and likes what is happening here.. remember he was the first significant FA.. Boston thre him to the scrap heap and we supported him through his shoulder surgery.. Most likely he signs a Schilling type deal with us for 2009.

  6. gbaked says:

    Not to mention that Prior is talking about a 1 year deal so he can prove himself ready. If he does that, he is near the top of that list.

  7. Jay says:

    Yea I don’t think that list changes my perspective at all in terms of the important of trading for Santana. As has been stated, it’s very unlikely CC or Sheets make it to free agency anyways.

    I agree that one of the top priorities for Omar the first half of the season has to be resigning Oliver Perez to a longer term contract.

    Considering the current market where he would get a better deal than Meche/Silva but less than Peavy/Zambrano, I can see him signing for 4-5 years at 13-15 million per.

    • BiggieSmalls says:

      easy there.. Dontrelle just signed up for 3/29 .. id like to see OP get in that range.. maybe 4/44

      • points guy says:

        Depending on this year, I’d like to see if we can give OP Willis-type money.

        • BiggieSmalls says:

          if you are going to give him willis type $$ you have to do it this year to buyout his FA.. waiting til next year means he is a free agent and eligible for market rates.

          this was one of Omar’s signature moves. Stealing him from the Pirates.. I think he’ll make every attempt to sign him and say.. we have young signed pitching in the news conference. which will remind everyone that he was a good trade and Omar deserves an extension.

        • BiggieSmalls says:

          not that he DOES deserve an extension.. im not endorsing that.

          but its in HIS best interests to remind everyone of a successful trade by signing him long term b4 his arb hearing.

  8. Yeah, I doubt CC/Sheets will be free agents, but how I would LOVE to get either of those guys on the mets.

  9. firemetmanagement says:

    Who cares? Freddie Coupons will be looking on the discount rack for the Brian Lawrences and Dave Williams of the world next offseason, just like the past 2 offseasons. I’m not even going to pay attention to free agency anymore because the Mets don’t act like a big market team- two consecutive offseasons of dormancy, apathy, futility, and penny pinching has just been too much for me.

    I pray every night that Freddie the Cheap sells the team- and then maybe the new owner will apply common sense and immediately fire incompetent Minaya and Silly Stupid Willie.

    This is my Christmas Wish.

    • dannyb says:

      I coulda sworn i heard something. Points guy, you hear anything?

      • points guy says:

        I hear a +2

        Are we looking forward to next off season already? Which is it? Some people argue it’s too early, some say this team is fine as is, and now we’re looking to 2009?

        bleh I’m in a crabby mood from the last Schneider PR machine post.

  10. firemetmanagement says:

    Mussina is garbage

  11. Giaco says:

    I think Sheets would like good in a mets uniform opening up Citi Field next yr….

    why does everyone think OP will walk after next yr… we made him into a successful pitcher after the disaster he turned out to be in Pitt

    Sheets, Maine, Ollie, Pedro, Pelfrey

    not bad…

    • GravediggerHebner says:

      I’m not 100% on this but I think OP’s agent is Boras hence thinking he would go FA

      • points guy says:

        Boras is a genius.

        He cost his client tens of millions, made the Yanks look like hypocrites and sat on the sidelines for the negotiations and STILL made a percentage of the wealthiest contract in sports.

  12. Andrew says:

    What does that list put into perspective? That one other excellent pitcher, one very good one, two good ones, and a bunch of washed-up or downright bad pitchers will be free agents next year? Whup-dee-doo!

    Here’s the perspective: Get Santana.

    • napes22 says:

      I think you are using perspective wrong.

      Also, we can’t get Santana without emptying the farm; and it’s obvious Omar has no plans to do that. If he does get traded, he won’t make it to free agency next year.

  13. points guy says:

    It’s the same dog and pony show. They parade these fancy free agents whom Wilpon might want to sign, but won’t until the Mets attendance falls, which it won’t for a few years thanks to the new stadium.

  14. dannyb says:

    Ryan Dempster – Worst closer in the history of MLB. Piniella can’t wait to get rid of him. Never forget Piniella’s face when the Mets scored 5 in the 9th.

    Jon Garland – eh. Not an ace.

    Randy Johnson – unless he has a new bionic back…nah.

    Derek Lowe – interesting…..5 years ago.

    Mike Mussina – in the words of Dr. Evil….”moohooohahahaha”

    C.C. Sabathia – only if he wears his hat crooked. Think he’s on the same stuff as El Sid.

    Johan Santana – duh.

    Ben Sheets – only if the DL has extra ink remaining.

    Randy Wolf – only if we get the “Wolf Pack” going like in Philly, along with Padilla’s Flotillas, Utley’s Uglies, Chase’s Chicks, and Sal’s Pals (my personal fav).

    Get Santana.

  15. points guy says:

    Mussina? Didn’t he cry because the national anthem went too long? Yea, we need that headache in our rotation.

    But then again, he’s a Stanford guy, he’ll probably studiously study video all day.

  16. We wouldn’t be discussing this if we had kasmir

  17. firemetmanagement says:

    Points guy. I couldn’t have said it any better myself- you are DEAD ON with what you say. It’s cyclic, and they won’t spend money or act like a big market team again until the attendance drops, and unfortunately it’s not going to drop anytime soon w/ the new stadium coming. People are just that naive and stupid that they will blindly shell out money for this team- and that is why the Mets continue to be pathetic and dormant and penny pinch in the offseason.

    I have a question for a few of the apologists/schills on here:

    Been happy with the last 2 offseasons?(sandwiched around a horrific collapse for which nobody was held accountable?) ? It’s because of this legion of brainwashed, koolaid drinking mor*ns who will be lining up to buy tickets when they go on sale as the reason the Mets remain dormant and have behaved like the Pittsburgh Pirates the past 2 offseasons- and they will remain a dormant, pathetic laughing stock for years to come as long as the attendance is high- aka they know that naive schills that are STUPID enough to buy tickets even though they raise ticket prices to ridiculous levels without in turning raising the PAYROLL accordingly or making any big moves or $$ moves. All these blind m*rons are just that stupid that they will continue to open up their wallet for this cheap mickey mouse franchise even though they act like the Pittsburgh Pirates during the offseason at this point. Even when they signed Beltran, Martinez, Wagner, etc.- did they raise the overall payroll? The answers is no. They made fools of all of us- creating “the appearance” that they were these big spenders when in reality they shed a lot of other payroll in the process, which rendered the additions of Wagner, Delgado, Martinez, Beltran, etc. a WASH w/ regard to the total payroll. But fans are stupid and naively thought the Mets were these “big spenders.” Hogwash.

    Any naive clown who shells out 10 cents for this pathetic team should have their head examined, especially after doing NOTHING and penny pinching in an offseason following a HORRIFIC collapse for which nobody was held accountable.

    Actually, you know what? If they had just fired Randolph and Minaya after that collapse and then made NO MOVES and spent NO MONEY, I think I would have been fine with that. But they are retaining this incompetent “braintrust,” and on top of that they are acting like the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason- and that makes it 10X worse.

    My X-mas wish is for Wilpon to sell the team and to bring in an owner who will SPEND $$$$$$ and also FINALLY hold incompetent people accountable for the collapse and fire Randolph/Minaya/Peterson immediately.

    • dannyb says:

      At least you can’t say they were acting like the Royals…big spenders.

    • Head First says:

      FireMetsManagement, this is the best post I’ve ever seen you make. No cursing and minimal caps with a salient point. Kudos to you sir. Maybe I will rethink that 7 game pack…

    • pochemunyet says:

      So, firemetsmanagment, if I understand correctly, you are trying to say:

      Points guy. I couldn’t have said it any better myself- you are DEAD ON with what you say. It’s cyclic, and they won’t spend money or act like a big market team again until the attendance drops, and unfortunately it’s not going to drop anytime soon w/ the new stadium coming. People are just that naive and stupid that they will blindly shell out money for this team- and that is why the Mets continue to be pathetic and dormant and penny pinch in the offseason.

      I have a question for a few of the apologists/schills on here:

      Been happy with the last 2 offseasons?(sandwiched around a horrific collapse for which nobody was held accountable?) ? It’s because of this legion of brainwashed, koolaid drinking mor*ns who will be lining up to buy tickets when they go on sale as the reason the Mets remain dormant and have behaved like the Pittsburgh Pirates the past 2 offseasons- and they will remain a dormant, pathetic laughing stock for years to come as long as the attendance is high- aka they know that naive schills that are STUPID enough to buy tickets even though they raise ticket prices to ridiculous levels without in turning raising the PAYROLL accordingly or making any big moves or $$ moves. All these blind m*rons are just that stupid that they will continue to open up their wallet for this cheap mickey mouse franchise even though they act like the Pittsburgh Pirates during the offseason at this point. Even when they signed Beltran, Martinez, Wagner, etc.- did they raise the overall payroll? The answers is no. They made fools of all of us- creating “the appearance” that they were these big spenders when in reality they shed a lot of other payroll in the process, which rendered the additions of Wagner, Delgado, Martinez, Beltran, etc. a WASH w/ regard to the total payroll. But fans are stupid and naively thought the Mets were these “big spenders.” Hogwash.

      Any naive clown who shells out 10 cents for this pathetic team should have their head examined, especially after doing NOTHING and penny pinching in an offseason following a HORRIFIC collapse for which nobody was held accountable.

      Actually, you know what? If they had just fired Randolph and Minaya after that collapse and then made NO MOVES and spent NO MONEY, I think I would have been fine with that. But they are retaining this incompetent “braintrust,” and on top of that they are acting like the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason- and that makes it 10X worse.

      My X-mas wish is for Wilpon to sell the team and to bring in an owner who will SPEND $$$$$$ and also FINALLY hold incompetent people accountable for the collapse and fire Randolph/Minaya/Peterson immediately.

      • Kramer DirtyNezz says:

        FMM – JW did u ever see someone die? Was Fidel castro ur father? and also you know how sometimes youre walking in a hallway, and you go to the left at the same time the other person goes left, then you go to the right at the same time the other person goes to the right? How many times does that happen to you a day? 56 times? good day.

  18. The Wright Stuff says:

    i just looked at that list and vomited a little in my mouth…

  19. firemetmanagement says:

    Penny is not a big pitcher- wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him in a big game. He was a laughing stock in that ‘06 postseason vs. the Mets. Could be a steroid guy two- I think he was probably juicking in ‘07 following his pathetic ‘06 season. And if he has any kind of decent year this year, well then he’ll want 60 million.

    Not interested. Penny is not a big pitcher.

  20. firemetmanagement says:

    Hey don’t knock the Royals- they’ve made a little noise/buzz the past few offseasons and actually spent some pretty big $$$$$- much more so than Freddie The Cheap’s Mets. Pathetic.

    • dannyb says:

      That’s what I’m saying. Not knocking them at all. At least it seems like they’re trying.

      Too bad they have 2 of the best teams in baseball in that division. I think they should feed Jimmy Gobble some HGH and eat him for Thanksgiving.

  21. firemetmanagement says:

    This list is yet another reason why Prior is THE MOVE to make, especially since Santana is probably a pipedream.

    But Freddie Coupons would rather look on the scrap heap and CHEAPLY pick up another Brian Lawrence.

    F* You Freddie.

  22. 7-train says:

    What exactly does this “put into perspective” for our win now team?
    The only 2 even moderately attractive options on that list are Sabathia and Sheets and both are gigantic question marks who do not warrant 5 year deals.

    Unless you mean the perspective is that Omar should have drafted better so we wouldn’t be in such a desperate mess and about to watch another mid-80 game winning team trot onto the field next year.

    • The Wright Stuff says:

      I think this puts into perspective the fact that we NEED to go all out to get Santana this year, because we won’t be able to get anyone anywhere close to him next year.

      At least, that was how i took it.

      • points guy says:

        +2

        Let’s see, we have a pretty good team on the cusp of playoff berth for the next few years. Fan resurgence (aka bandwagon jumpers) is at an all time high. New stadium opening in 09. We should:

        A) go get some final pieces that will take us over the top.

        or

        B) cut payroll and raise ticket prices to maximize short term profits.

  23. Chris Jelic says:

    Who are next year’s Santana’s? The guys who hit the market after 2009, who teams might be trying to sell off next off season. We know that Bedard is high on this list? Who else? When does Kazmir hit the market?

  24. cousinrk says:

    And if the Mets signed Prior what would firemetsmanagement have said exactly?? I’m sure he would have blasted them for signing a washed up injury prone project.

    Dude, I just hope you don’t take out your pessimism and anger out on the dog every night.

  25. stickguy says:

    What this list means to me? 2 things.

    1) re up Ollie now, for whatever it takes 5/70? Sure, just do it.

    2) If you want pitching, you need to develop your own, and hang on (lick up early) to what you have (see #1). So trading every vaguely ML ready SP prospect (Pelfrey, Humber, Mulvey) plus the “next big thing” (GUerra) for a 1 year rental is certainly very risky.

    Relievers are also easier to come by each year, SPs are the trick.

    That actually points toward trying Heilman in the rotation, since if he pans out, he would be way more valuable to the Mets.

  26. BiggieSmalls says:

    i think looking back over the past two off seasons I was pretty happy when the moves were happening .. with 20/20 hindsight some of them were a mistake.. but at least Omar was moving..

    Does Freddy need to amp up the payroll.. yes and he will

    i think we’ll end up closer to 150 than 100 mil.

    Does Omar have difficulty multitasking? it seems so.. but maybe he likes to prioritize and check things off his list. One thing I know is he CAN be an out of the box thinker, generally is not afraid to take chances, is a decent evaluator of talent and has a good line into the latin talent markets.

  27. points guy says:

    Off topic, but great article calling out the cheaters for whom they are:

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/tim_layden/12/19/steroid.accountability/index.html?eref=T1

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