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During a conference call to announce the acquisition of Johan Santana, which you can read more about by clicking here, Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters that this is the team he will go to spring training with.
However, in the Chicago Tribune, Phil Rogers writes that the Phillies and Mets could wind up in a bidding war for Kyle Lohse.
Last Friday, in a report for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote that the Mets continue to express interest in Lohse, even with Santana in their sights.
…this is interesting…first, i have no interest in seeing lohse signed to a long-term deal…however, he once told reporters that he had three teams interested in him, while seeking at least a three-year deal…that market has to be shrinking…and so, if the Mets can acquire lohse on a short-term deal, (1) it means Mike Pelfrey will most likely get an entire season at Triple-A, which he needs, and (2) Orlando Hernandez can shift to the bullpen, which means (a) a deeper bullpen, (b) the Mets can throttle el duque back and forth based on his health, and (c) when he takes his standard mid-summer vacation, it will be easier to absorb…
For what it’s worth, according to ESPN Deportes, the Astros will have two scouts watching Bartolo Colon pitch Wednesday in the Dominican Republic.
I can personally take it or leave it. I have a feeling most fans feel the same way about our #5 starter, being that John Maine is our #4. The only thing that worries me a little is that signing Lohs for 3 years could be tea leaves on their intent to let OP walk.
I don’t want Lohse, he is awful. I’de be more comfortable with me on the mound every five days.
How’s your change-up…..and what’s our fastball top off at, S-Met?
lol…my slider is my out pitch
I agree with Cerrone. A one year deal in the $8 million/yr range would bolster our team. This signing would be a flier, in the hopes that a pitcher-friendly ballbark, tweaks by Petersen, and his hope of a good FA payday will lead to a solid year. If he pitches poorly, then we relegate him to long-relief or don’t play him. If he pitches well, it only helps our depth.
He doesn’t cost a compensation pick as far as I know. A longer contract might make the team more reluctant to resign free agents next year.
This could be a blocking move against the Phillies. Lohse is the only slightly above average pitcher left on the market.
It would add depth but IMO it wouldn’t be the main reason for Omar going after Lohse. (Basically what the Twins were hoping Bosox would have to do with the Yankees and Santana).
I am also interested in whether Lofton would be signed as a backup outfielder. He could backup Castillo/Reyes as lead off or second as well as giving Alou a day of.
We already have good depth at outfield–Chavez (L), Anderson(L), and Pagan (AAA, Switch hitter..289 L, .236 R). In my opinion, Lofton is just another left-handed bat and not really an upgrade over the above 3.
Maybe if he weren’t 40–his numbers have to drop at some point.
i say add lofton and livan/….make this team deep…….they are built to win now and in the future……..
First off, I don’t believe it for a second. Rumors that the Mets may still be interested in Lohse probably emanate from his agent as a way to drive up interest in his client. I think Lohse always has been just a last resort in case they failed to land a quality starter this winter.
Lohse is crap. Not only that but the Mets are roughly $10 million short of the luxury tax threshold right now — and Church and Ollie’s salaries could put them even closer to it. This means they would have little leeway to add mid-season help should they need to. I know some of you don’t give a damn if the Mets are above the luxury tax threshold but I think it’s something they should try to avoid whenever possible. Or at least, if they exceed it, then make sure it’s due to quality players. Not crap like Lohse or LIvan.
The main reason not to excede the tax threshold by a few million is that the penalty increases each year you excede it.
Yeah, I know. It goes up so that by the third year they have to pay a 40% penalty. However, if you exceed it by only a few million, then at least it’s easier to get under the threshold the following year so that the penalty level would be re-set.
I think the main reason not to exceed the threshold is on principle. The threshold is there for a good reason — to try to produce a more even playing field.
I live in Chicago and reluctantly read Rogers column in the Tribune. Trust me: there is no validity to his report. He has proven to me time and time again that he knows nothing about baseball on a national level.
He suggested in the same article that Oliver Perez would be battling for the fifth spot.
I really don’t think you can yo-yo someone like El Duque back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen on an as-needed basis. I’m no expert, but I’d imagine that would put undue stress on his already shaky arm.
The only move the Mets should make at this point is to add some insurance to the rotation with a guy like Tony Armas, or someone of his ilk that would accept a minor league deal but would be available to pitch a handful of games if need-be.
Beyond Pelfrey and other not so appealing options (Sosa, Vargas, etc.) there’s not a lot there.
The funny thing is that El Duque’s arm is the least of my concerns. It’s the rest of the body that never seems to hold up.
Moving El Duque to the pen is an intriguing notion, but he shouldn’t be called on the same way as Heilman, Feliciano, or Wagner. Instead, they should employ him in a new bullpen role I have been tinkering with.
I like the idea of signing Lohse. The dude has pretty decent stuff and he’s only 29. This is the age where some pitchers “get it” and go on to become solid back end starters. Remember, since coming to the NL he’s pitched in Cincy and Philly, two band boxes. The guy is capable of giving 200 IP, and he would be an upgrade over whoever else we had in the 5 spot these past two seasons.
this might be the mets just driving up the price for the Phillies
Yeah I say just stick it to the Phils and make them have to pay a higher price for him. Lohse and Feliz,. that’s a heck of a counter to Santana.
“For what it’s worth, according to ESPN Deportes, the Astros will have two scouts watching Bartolo Colon pitch Wednesday in the Dominican Republic.”
1 scout to watch the front, 1 to watch the back?
Second scout to watch the first scout?
This is Colon we are talking about. Due to his size it takes 2 scouts to be able to view him in his entirety
I can’t see the need for Loshe. Elduque to me only has real value as a starter. We have no idea how his arm would hold up as a reliever during an entire season. When starting he is the best #5 in the league, maybe even the best #4. When relieving, who knows. I can guarntee that Elduque would put up better numbers than Loshe. Yes he will get injured and then we have Pelfrey to take his spot. To me because of the Santana trade we have to get value out of Pelfrey. He needs to be able to step into the rotation next year. Besides I am sure that there will be arms available in July if injuries happen and Pelfrey does not step up.
I would concentrate on getting guys to compete with Sosa for the longman role and possilby go to AAA and be insurance. I would sign Chacon for the pen to be the long man if you want, he can start if needed. Sign Jamey Wright to a minor league contract, he would be a great addition as a potential bullpen or fill in starter. Armas Jr might also be an option.
I doubt he would be used for the whole season out of the pen. More of an occasuional spot starter/long releiver…2-3 innings a couple of days a week, with a few emergency appearences in tie games in extra innings. He seemed to do well with the job at the end of last season. Its worth a try.
Do you really think Elduque’s body would hold up if used out of the pen for the season? Plus, how many starts did Darren Oliver get and he was a lights out long man? Elduque will be the #5 starter come opening day as well he should be. Much of the reason we got off to a hot start last year was due to Elduque, he was like an ace.
ironic, the Mets finally have a front four rotation that can make up for a garbage 5th starters, and NOW they address the 5th starter spot? Where was this kind of depth for the rotation the last… ten!? years?
I could do without Lohse maily because it will cause a bull pen spot to be taken by Duque who wont be useful out there. I’d rather have someone who will take a AAA deal and will just fill a few innings if he’s needed.
I agree completely. We have Elduque as a starter right now and that’s how he should be used. Unless you are trading Elduque, (not happening) or going with a 6 man rotation then he should be the #5.
Maybe they plan on the rotation being Johan, Maine, Perez, Loshe, Elduque/Pedro. 1st time through Pedro, 2nd time Elduque. That gives them both around 15-20 starts? Not likely.
I agree. I would rather see Pedro and El Duque at 100 innings rather than 200. Given the existing team Loshe / Livan / ??? would eat innings until October. When we get to the playoffs both Pedro and El Duque will be well rested and move Loshe / Livan to the bullpen or the stands.
and who should ask Pedro to volunteer to spend half the season on the DL while healthy?
there is no room in the pen to stash away a starter, so unless you can convince Duque and Pedro to alternate DL stints while healthy that just isnt a idea that has a starting point.
I agree, it was said in joke. Trying to convince Pedro to miss half his starts? Right. Paying 20 million for one starter when you combine Pedro and Elduque’s contracts? Right.
just use el duque for the 5th spot and back him up with Pelfrey. I want nothing to do with Lohse, other than to drive the price up for the Philthies.
If Pedro’s health is questionable, then sign Livan as insurance.
Go Giants!!!!
This morning on XM baseball Ken Rosenthal said he thinks it’s highly unlikely Mets will go after one of these guys for #5. He did add after, however, that nothing will surprise him anymore.
While I never ever want to see anyone refer to Wilpon as “Freddy Coupons”, I do think that staying under luxury tax is a big deal to them.
Yes, I also believe it is a big deal to the Wilpons, as they were one of the 29 teams who voted for the Luxury Tax. Can anyone guess who that one holdout was???
I agree with the Mets trying to stay under the threshold. 28 other teams currently do it, and I’m sure that’s the goal of Theo and, ultimately Cashman and Hal. Though Hankie probably couldn’t care less.
I do’nt understand the El Duque to the bullpen because of his health issues. If anything, he’d be more prone to injury pitching more often out of the bullpen. He’d have to get warmed up more often, pitch more frequently, and in higher stress situations. How does that add up to more healthy? He’s also a guy that over the length of an entire season loses interest at times, and he’d be more prone to do that in the bullpen, instead of knowing he has to pitch every 5 games. Simply don’t understand the bullpen/El Duque arguement, especially considering he gave up 150 innings last year with a .208 BAA. People, that’s REALLY good. More innings the better from him. ONe more thing, he also is prone to the long ball, his one fault, which will hurt more in the bullpen cause he might be coming in with runners on or with more at stake in the game. Don’t understand this one bit.
I really do not think this is a serious pursuit. No need to get worked up on this one. We are just makng Phillies life more difficult driving up the price. They can’t spend like we can so when we drive up a pitchers price that they are interested in we make it much more difficult for them to build a rotation that can beat us. This is a good move in general!
Duque should start until his arm falls off. Then you go to pan B.
So plan B either needs to be the long man (Sosa? Yuck), young gy in AAA (Pelf is all that is left), or make0good guy in AAA (Garcia? Armas? Whoever this years Lima is, but hopefully better!)
You also need at least 2 plan B guys, in case you lose 2 starters at the same time.
Yes, sir.
In my estimation, adding an extra pitcher is NEVER a bad idea in a 162-game season. It gives you more options and takes pitching options away from other clubs. The points about the luxury tax are valid and my memories of Lohse’s stuff aren’t overwhelming. If ANYTHING, Leevie or however you spell his name, would make more sense. His stuff is better and he’s an innings eater. Pass on Lohse unless there’s some scheme to move him for someone else. If you want another pitcher take Duque’s brother short term if he’s still out there. Make a one year offer, and if he’s interested in being on a team with his half brother and Santana and all of its potential to go deep into the fall, than here’s a jersey and a hat dude.
Any Thoughts to Jeff Weaver as a #5 ?