avatar

Buzz: Joe Smith Being Sent Down

by Regis Courtemanche on May 13th, 2008 at 9:03 am

According to Adam Rubin at his blog for the Daily News, the Mets have decided to send down Joe Smith on Wednesday to make room for either Adam Bostick or Willie Collazo, who will start Wednesday – and only Wednesday – for the Mets.

as rubin points out, the goal is to use a pitcher from the 40–man roster…whereas Claudio Vargas, like Jorge Sosa, would have to be passed through waivers if the team wants to return him to the minor leagues following the start

Rubin also reports that Matt Wise will be activated from the disabled list on Thursday, “once the spot starter is returned to New Orleans.”

Ted Berg, of SNY.tv thinks the Mets should just demote Sosa, and risk losing him, writing: “The only rationale the Mets could have for keeping Sosa around is the fear he could flee to free agency or be claimed by another team if he is waived. But at this point, how many Major League teams are clamoring for a reliever with a 7.06 ERA?”

For more, check out Rubin’s report in the Daily News, where he quotes Billy Wagner on the decision to demote Smith.

added to by Matthew Cerrone

…this is absurd…Willie Randolph is having a hard enough time managing his bullpen, now he’s being forced to go at it without smith, who has been his best reliever not named wagner…all for sosa, who is due to earn $2 million on the year…unreal…

…i hope this is temporary, in that they recall smith as soon as Wednesday’s starter is no longer needed, which would mean putting a player like Luis Castillo on the disabled list to make room for smith or Matt Wise

…it’s just so difficult to understand when a team is unwilling to field the best 25–man roster possible

… added to by Joe Janish

… if the Mets are so bent on keeping Sosa around, wouldn’t it make more sense to demote Nelson Figueroa? Figueroa would have to remain in AAA for ten days, but his turn won’t come up again until May 24th … then you demote the spot starter on Thursday and activate Wise in his place … plus Figueroa gets a start with New Orleans to stay sharp … unless the Mets are worried that Figueroa won’t pass through waivers on the way down …