Buster Olney, in a post to his blog for ESPN, says the Mets, top starting pitching target is likely to be RHP Joel Pineiro.
…i think the Mets really need to be careful about Pineiro because he could be a product of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan…i’d be ok with a short term deal for Pineiro but nothing more than one or two years…i think he would be ok and certainly less risky than a guy like Erik Bedard or Ben Sheets, although his upside isn’t as good as those two…
In addition, Olney believes the Mets, who he says has between $15 – $22 million in payroll flexibility, should abandon the pursuit of Jason Bay and focus their money on three or four players who provide them with short term depth which will give them flexibility beyond 2010.
…this is what i said earlier, and exactly what Matt said yesterday and the day before…
…i think as far as an available dollar amount is concerned, there is no way to really know how much they have to spend, but the offers out to Bengie Molina and Jason Bay push what Olney believes is the Mets’ ceiling…it’s safe to say they probably don’t want to go above the luxury tax threshold, and nor should they with the crop of players that are available…that said, the Mets, as will any team, should always have flexibility at the top, provided the right player come around…
I’m pretty tired of seeing “guesses” as to what the Mets have in payroll flexibility. No number has ever been publicly put out and for these sports commentators (I have now refused to call these guys journalists) to keep ball-parking it for the sake of backing up their theories is ridiculous.
That being said, please stay away from Joel Pineiro.
Agree. If he is coming with Duncan then fine but if not i’ll pass. Go get Ben Sheets.
Agree. I have a feeling he will not work at all in NY, specially without Duncan.
More speculation without any proof. They have two proposals on the table:
Bay: $16.25 per year (4yr/$65MM)
Molina: $5MM per year (2r/$10MM)
That’s without assessing pitching rotation (Garland names keeps coming up and that could cost $6-7MM) and bullpen (lefty). Current team payroll (including Blanco, Escobar, Igarashi and others ) is aprx $107MM. That’s far from the $139MM from last season. They should still have payroll flexibility (aprox $30MM) to go out and put a good team for 2010.
Abritration raises to other players. Not to mention big raises to reyes, wright and santana i believe.
BTW, what’s the fascination of Randy Winn to the Mets?? Did I missed something?? Don’t they have enough enough guys in the lineup that can’t get On base??? I’m starting to think some writers get an incentive % from agents if they promote them through the media.
Hey Onley, here is an idea for you:
Randy Winn
Age: 35
Possible Salary: $5-6MM
Angel Pagan
Age: 28
Possible Salary: $500K
Just think about it for a while.
great point! pagan imo is even better than winn at this point in their careers.
Absolutely! Pagan is a cheap, high upside player already in the fold. He makes a few mistakes on the bases but hits in the clutch and plays a mean outfield. He’s young, eager, plays hard, and loves being on this team. Only way you don’t keep him is to use him in a trade to get someone great in return.
I love Pagan, he reminds me of Shane Victorino, I wouldn’t have him as my everyday starter though because thats when he gets exposed a bit.
Since Pineiro became a full time starter…
2002 – 3.24 ERA – Great
2003 – 3.78 ERA – Good
2004 – 4.67 ERA – Terrible
2005 – 5.62 ERA – Terrible
2006 – 6.36 ERA – Terrible
2007 – 4.33 ERA – Only started 11 games
2008 – 5.15 ERA – Terrible
2009 – 3.49 ERA – Great
He is Oliver Perez part two. No thank you.
Nobody, and I repeat nobody, here in St Louis wants him back. 2009 was a complete fluke.
If Omar goes hard for Pineiro then he’s bonkers! Especially when you could have gotten Marquis to fill the same spot. Marquis is a known inning eater, while Pineiro is likely to be a bust. Wow, I hope this is nothing but a feint to throw off other teams. Can’t be serious?!
The only way I want Piñeiro pitching for the Mets is if he agrees to a 1 year deal. That’s highly unlikely considering he is asking for a 3 year contract.
Actually he wan’ts 4 years! lol but who’s counting………
I don’t like Pineiro because he hasn’t had consistancy over his career. If the Mets signed him I would guess he would end the 2010 year going 9-14 with an ERA of 4.57. That’s just a guess.
At this point I would like them to get a more consistant pitcher like Jarrod Washburn who would be coming over to the NL from the AL which is always a plus.
As far as Sheets is concerned. Healthy or not, I’d give him no more than 9Million take it or leave it. The upside is too good if Sheets would sign for that much.
LF, I’m interested in Corey Hart. I think he needs a change of atmposhere (like Franceour).
I’d go for it.
I’d give Sheets or Bedard 8mill each. Not meaning we get both though.
Badard will not be ready until at least May ’10.
Bedard has a labrum tear and isn’t likely to be 100% until July. Signing him isn’t a wise move.
I didn’t know this about Bedard. Where did you hear this? I thought that he would be ready by ST. Maybe I’m imagining things.
Bedard couldnt handle the media in Seattle, he’d be toast here. I really would like to see them take a flyer on Sheets though, if the price is reasonable.
One of the Seattle papers. He may be ready by May but not 100% until Jjne or July. Plus there is no guarantee 100% means the Bedard of old.
id go for Sheets and Wang, Wang is likely to be cheaper than Bedard and ready before him.
He scares me but it looks like it could become a Mets poor pitching contract all over again. If they overpay for him, it is because the Mets are feeling the heat on not making any moves. I would rather they not make any moves then a move like Piniero and regret it later. Between he and Ollie, they would make the most expensive set-up rolls in Mets, and baseball, history.
Yeah you could go after both sheets and bedard. You would have 6 starters, but maybe one would start in the pen or not make it out of spring training. Bet your @ss all 6 wont be healthy all year so its good to be prepared. Maine could always go back into the rotation if Ollie has a meltdown or injury. So could Escobar or Neise. If we are able to get rid of Ollie or Maine in a deal for Arroyo, great. Have Johan, Sheets/Bedard, Arroyo, Pelfrey , Maine/Ollie(who ever isnt traded). You may be worried about relieing on injury prone pitcher as your #2, but there are 3 or 4 other pitchers that are garanteed alot of innings.
Maybe he wants us to get Pinerio so we don’t have to face him again