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According to the Rocky Mountain News, free-agent RHP 
Jon Lieber has indicated an interest in the Mets, among other teams.
Leiber’s agent told the newspaper that his client enjoyed pitching in New York when he was with the Yankees.
According to a report by Daily News in late December, the Mets had expressed interest Lieber, whose agent admitted to having talked with the Mets as well.
…as i have said before, if a deal for Joe Blanton or Johan Santana cannot be worked out, meaning Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey are all in camp, i have no problem with bringing on an inexpensive, limited-commitment veteran to round out the competition……
In seven appearances at Citizen’s Bank Park for the Phillies last season, the 37–year-old Lieber had a 5.26 ERA, compared to a 4.19 ERA while pitching seven times on the road.
He missed the final 13 weeks of last season after having a ruptured tendon surgically repaired in his left foot.
According to previous reports, the Royals, Astros and Reds have all expressed interest at various times during this off-season.
What the heck, bring him on.
If they add someone like Leiber or Morris, I don’t see them making a move for someone like Blanton. Maybe a Snell type, since he is lefty and seems to have more “upside”.
But, I think they should add a 1 year vet like this for a #5, even if they stil hope to add Santana. Since you have to assume that much of the close Spitching prospects go in the deal, they wil need the depth.
Even if they get the big fish, and keep say Pelfrey, having Leiber gives them a fall back. Worst that happens 9actually the best!) is that he pitches fine, but gets outgunned in ST by Pelfrey, and they have a dilema (too many SPs).
Pelf could always start in the pen or AAA to work on his secondary stuff, and be reay to come up when the first geezer goes down.
Pedro/Maine/Perez/Duque/Lieber-Morris is OK, with Pelfrey waiting in the wings.
Santana/Pedro/Maine/Perez/Leiber-Morris with Duque in the pen? that’s a nice rotation.
+3
good reasoning.
Oh, and has a FA ever said they were NOT interested in NY? Must be something the agents put into the CBA, to help keep the prices up!
Funny old quote in today’s Times-Goose Gossage back when he signed with the Yankees, when asked why he signed there:
“Because my agent told me to.”
Good point, but to be fair Leiber did pitch well for the Yanks. I bet he was angling for San Diego, but moved on to the Mets once Prior took that spot.
A guy who will throw strikes all the time and eats up innings could have a positive affect on Perez, Pelfrey, and others. He averaged 6 1/3 IP per start in 2004-05 coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Even though he struggled the last two years Leiber still averaged over 6 IP per start, and only walked 46 in 246 IP.
Shea would allow him to throw strikes with more room for error than CBP, so it makes sense for Leiber and the Mets. Except when the Mets go to Philly.
wow, Lieber threw 483 innings in 2000 and ‘01 before blowing out his elbow… the Cubs just love killing pitchers careers don’t they?
regarding above: having Pelfrey in AAA would be the likely move, he needs to stay stretched out so he can fill in for Pedro or Duque as needed, and the pen is already bursting at the seams with Stokes/Register/Vargas types who either make the team or get sent on their way out the door. But most importantly he would have a chance to up his trade value by dominating AAA for a month instead of pitching once a week in relief.
I beg to differ, Stickguy. Pedro, followed by Maine, OP, Duque, and Lieber-Morris is not “OK.” It’s a shambles.
It has become popular to say that the rotation is upgraded by Pedro replacing Glavine. While it’s true that Pedro is the better pitcher, there’s little chance he’ll throw 200+ quality innings this season. Someone else will have to fill in for him, and that person will drag down the “ace’s” numbers.
Omar has to be prepared for the possibility that Duque makes 10 starts and then hurts himself. If that should happen, the Lieber-Morris hybrid moves up from #5 to #4 (or to #3 if Pedro’s out).
Having the L/M hybrid as our #3 starter would be a disaster of epic proportions. And that leaves out who’s going to be #4 and #5.
I prefer not to contemplate such dire scenarios.
But like I’ve said before, don’t worry about a #5 who slots everyone else up, get a #1 who moves everyone else down. Please, Omar.
even if the theoretical #1 eliminates anything passing for depth? That’s the big danger trading all the ML plausible pitching.
Santana, Maine, Pedro, Perez and Duque to start the season. I think you will like that.
But, when Duque goes down (and God forbid Pedro) , what then?
Do you stick in Humber if he is left? beyond that, is it Lima/Lawrence time again?
Oh, and theat “shambles” is probably better than all but 2 or 3 teams (top to bottom) in the NL.
And if you want to assume that 40% of the Mets rotation goes down, you better do the same for every other team!
Actually, assuming that 40% of the rotation misses at least 1/2 of the season is a prudent thing to do when building a team, hence the need for some depth.
And don’t forget my favorite darkhorse, Heilman!
The “shambles” part refers not to the pitchers themselves, whom I happen to like. It refers to what the team does when the inevitable occurs. Both Pedro and Duque are certain to miss starts, possibly a lot of them. Rummaging around the bargain bins for a #5 and imagining that such a move will suffice is naive, in my view.
Here’s the problem, simply stated: Pedro can’t be the ace going into the season. He’s too fragile. He’s reinventing himself as a pitcher at an advanced age. He’s an awesome pitcher, but let’s not be unrealistic about what he can accomplish.
I like Heilman, too, but only as a #5. If we acquire the Lieber/Morris hybrid, we have too many #5s going into the season, and not enough #1s and #2s.
Good point. If they get a new #5, then Pelfrey is the 6th man I guess. #7 is Humber/Mulvey, unless they pick up some other AAA “stud”, or go with Vargas.
I am fine if Pelfrey comes in. But, if you stand pat, Pelfrey (as of today) is already in the rotation. So, who is the #6 guy? Start with Humber? or right to Lima time?
The Mets seem to have this backwards. Most teams start with the Vets, and replace them with young guys tearing up the minors. The Mets start the young guys, and replace them with washed up vets!
I have to say a great opportunity was missed a couple years ago when we could have gotten Millwood and Lieber when Omar first got here. This one valid criticism you Omar haters have never touched on… Our rotation would be very different right now.
Millwood and Lieber instead of Pedro and Duque… interesting idea. With those two contracts, no room in the budget to sign Pedro, and then no need to trade for Duque because both were still healthy when that trade happened…
Thier chances in the 2006 playoffs would have been better, although Millwood was the only healthy one of the four at the time. But they likely wouldnt have gotten there in the first place without Pedro.
38 years old in april. pitched 1 full season in the last 7 years.
haven’t we been down the passed their prime. limping onto the roster guys? i’d rather have a kid pitch and get shelled.
27 starts in two of those non ‘full seasons’ isnt really a problem. I mean, we have two of those in Duque and Pedro… and 3rd guy like that would fill out the four starters… and still leave a few starts as a #5
Maine 34 starts
Perez 34
Pedro 27
Lieber 27
Duque 27 or less
Pelfrey 13 or more
Humber/Mulvey/Bostick hopefully less than 5 starts, but to fill in as needed if the numbers above are too high. I don’t think this is too unrealistic.
I’d take my chances with that over any other non trade for Santana scenario…
Hey Nostra Damas do know how many wins we will get next year
In my crystal ball I see
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you never contributing anything useful or thought provoking.
:)
with the team as it is right now 81-85 wins,
with the start numbers I noted above 84-88 wins,
with Santana and no AAA depth 86-90 wins.
btw, this time last year I predicted that the Mets would win 87-89 games and win the division by one game… It was received with much ridicule and 100 win kool-aid drinking.
Nate I hate to differ with you but most posters on here were very realistic about last year before the season started. We thought it would be a dog fight that we would eventually win and we would win 88-92 games. It was our hot start that got everyone all in an uproar. I still see us being a #3-5 starter away from that same record and a Santana away from 95 wins.
Either way, I still agree that we need to add a #5 either way. I would not depend on Elduque, Pedro and Pelfrey. Lessen the potential blow by taking out at least 1 of those 3. Obviously Pedro is not coming out so….. If we get 1 #5 then Pelfrey is bumped and then if we add an ace then Elduque is bumped.
I recall it being very mixed, but nearly everyone as looking for 90+ wins. There was certainly a lot more optimism and positive thoughts than right now. But yes, it wasnt as bad as I said here.
I was also on NYFS forum and it seems over the top optimistic there. I guess thats what did it.
if the mets already have 2 guys in the rotation who may or may not be healthy and who will likely miss a bunch of starts: why would you want to add another old, unreliable pitcher? if they had 4 healthy, young starters then sure. not with the current staff and bullpen without depth (pen will have no arm strength left by the all-star break)
I understand your point but its all about options. If we can’t get Santana and the A’s want too much for Blanton and Colon is injured and Garcia is not ready and Loshe wants 40 million…….
That is our point, if you want an innings eater this offseason you have to keep your backup plans open.