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In the San Francisco Chronicle, Bruce Jenkins speculates that the Mets must now have interest in A’s RHP Rich Harden, who is 1–0 with a 0.82 ERA in his first two starts of the season.
…no need for harden…it has not come to that, considering the A’s will almost certainly demand Fernando Martinez…
Harden has missed roughly 60 percent of his starts over the last three seasons due to injury.
Of course, during his last 38 starts, Harden is 16–7 with a 2.95 ERA, having struck out 197 batters through 200 innings, while opponents have hit just .193 against him.
The 25–year-old Harden will earn $4.5 million in 2008, after which his contract contains a $7 million team option for 2009.
At his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney recently wrote that it will take at least six starts to show he is healthy before team’s seriously consider trading for Harden.
Previously in the Chronicle, Susan Slusser wrote that the Yankees have expressed interest in Harden, who would likely cost them Ian Kennedy among other pitching prospects.
…jeez, just when i thought the off-season was behind us, here come A’s rumors again…ugh…
However, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin reports that, because Mets officials believe Pedro Martinez will back by mid-May, “they’re not inclined to seek any outside pitching help now.”
…in other words, since Nelson Figueroa will only be needed for one start before Orlando Hernandez can return from the disabled list, the Mets are comfortable advancing with el duque, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Johan Santana from mid-April to mid-May, when pedro is expected back…
Although the Mets appear willing to wait, like Rubin writes, according to David Lennon in Newsday, citing the player’s agent, the team has been in contact with free-agent Claudio Vargas.
Last night at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote that the plan for Vargas would be to simply add him to the team’s inventory in Triple-A, joining Brian Stokes and Tony Armas Jr.
Lennon also reports that the Mets have interest in Rangers RHP Robinson Tejada, who was recently designated for assignment.
Stark, however, writes that the team has no interest in Tejada, nor David Wells or Jeff Weaver.
…my bet, based solely on speculation and past behavior: the Mets will look in to Freddy Garcia, who will reportedly be ready in June…if you recall, the Mets and garcia talked in the off-season, and he’s still a free agent…he could sign a minor-league deal, rehab with the team, and if el duque or pedro suffer a set back, garcia would be ready around the same time…
“because Mets officials believe Pedro Martinez will back by mid-May, “they’re not inclined to seek any outside pitching help now. “
…in other words, since Nelson Figueroa will only be needed for one start before Orlando Hernandez can return from the disabled list, the Mets are comfortable advancing with el duque”
THAT is NOT a good plan. even when they come back, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE BOTH EL DUQUE AND PEDRO LAND BACK ON THE DL!
Yes it IS a good plan, because they need to wait and see before they overpay for someone like Harden or trade for someone else’s dead weight.
that wasn’t my point. i wouldnt rely on el duque or pedro…period. but i would plan on using figgy or niese.
The “plan” you were criticizing was to not seek “outside pitching help.” Figueroa and Niese are not “outside” help.
yes, but my POINT was to criticize any reliance on the AARP club.
“and if I claim to be a wiseman, well, it surely means that I don’t know…”
kansas?
carry on my wayward son, they’ll be peace when you are done.
Yes, Kansas, but Kansas wasn’t really the point. The point was that the first poster’s name was “wiseman” and I didn’t really (and neither did toomanyuniforms) agree with him. and the lyrics just popped in my head, so I posted them.
I hate explaining jokes, but I’m sure not that many people are going to read this thread since there are now 5 or so new ones.
this is the guy we were supposed to trade milledge for
And Pelphrey implodes!
I’d love to have Harden, because I think he’s going to avoid the DL and have a bounceback year. However, there are 2 BIG reasons why it’s not gonna happen. 1) It’d cost the Mets an arm and a leg (and probably a few more arms) and 2) the last thing the Mets need right now is another injury prone pitcher (their DL is gettin’ crowded). And as much as I believe in him (Harden), I wouldn’t bet on him.
I don’t think that it would take Fmart. However, I would guess it to take Heilman, Neise and Parnell. Prob. too much for an oft injured although dominant pitcher. Still have to remember that the A’s prob. have no intention of renewing his contract next season so it’s a use it or lose it situation. They will most likely trade him before he gets injured again.
Meant to say Neise or Parnell not both. 2/3 of those should do it.
Matt - did you read the article? At the end, the writer says “If this was an audition, you figured the Mets, Yankees, Cardinals and Tigers (among many others) were somewhere in the audience.”
That’s the extent of the Mets “buzz”…it’s a throw away line of speculation. Hardly worthy of mentioning by you, IMO.
I was thinking the same thing. Amazing that no one else picked up on this.
Personally, I think this is a blow to Cerrone’s credibility here.
Yeah must be a slow news day. This post was pure rubbish. I figure the Mets may want to get Johnny Cueto…. can we get a post saying the Mets have interest in him too? Maybe name some prospects to make it sound like something is really happening.
Why? Because he read an article, noticed the mets were mentioned and threw out his opinion on it? Isn’t that what a blog is about? It’s what he does every day. He mentioned several other articles/blogs where people have mentioned this same rumor, so I guess it’s a blow to every one of them too.
I think you are wrong about this being mentioned in other articles, it’s the first I’ve heard of this. If you are talking about 3-4 months ago that was a backup plan if they couldn’t get Johan.
They can write about whatever they want here, it’s up to them. But there is a big difference between “the Mets being interested in” and “you figured the Mets…..were in the audience(scouting). Teams scout other teams all the time, that’s what they do.
Upon a second reading, Cerrone chose his words very carefully, but it was still quite sneaky and very much unlike him.
No need to make up news when the season has just started.
I totally agree. There was no “BUZZ” here. It was Slusser guessing (i.e. “you figured”).
definitely a speculation and logic article, but I don’t see how that affects matt’s credibility. mornings after off days in april are tough
Of course its speculation but it is not Matt’s. It is Olney and the San Fran Chronicle writer who assume Oakland will be out of the race by the deadline an then throw out the 6 highest pay (and most competitive) teams as interested cause they always are.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It is not time to freak out and move F. Mart.
On the other hand if this is just a way to leverage some free agents into accepting a Minor league deal instead of asking for a ml deal..then I am all for rumor creating….
Or to push the Yankee’s into making a mistake.
thanks, but no thanks on Harden.
and thank you for not making this a rumor to follow. I don’t think I can take any more Minaya/Beane rumors for trading a young pitcher to the Mets.
You know I would be terrified that the Braves get into this one. They have the prospects to trade. That rotation would have incredibly dominant potential
Hudson, Harden, Smoltz, Glavine
Not good at all…. Maybe we should get into the mix.
Exactly what I was thinking. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Braves were interested given that they basically have their own Carl Pavano in Mike Hampton. The question is do they have the money to bring in Harden’s contract while getting no relief on Hampton’s.
However I don’t think that we need to get into the mix with this. Our rotation will be be fine. I’d prefer to just look on with quiet concern and nothing more.