Jon Heyman of SI.com said on the MLB Network that he talked to a couple of scouts who were very impressed today with free-agent RHP Ben Sheets.
The scouts both told Heyman they feel they were watching ‘the old Ben Sheets.’
Heyman says to keep an eye on the Cubs and Rangers, as well as the Mets, who might now want to do something ‘positive,’ in response to seeing Bengie Molina sign with the Giants.
Verducci feels the Mariners and Cardinals are a likely destination.
Heyman, as well as his colleague, Tom Verducci, believe teams will offer Sheets a deal similar to what Brad Penny agreed to with the Cardinals, i.e., one year, roughly $8 million, plus incentives.
Updated at 7:35 pm:
…i believe we are about to hear a ton of rumors linking the Mets to sheets, Joel Pineiro and John Smoltz over the next week or so… i was told today that the Mets would like to sign smoltz and one of the other two, which would suggest they see smoltz as a bullpen arm… there are several other teams with interest in all of these guys, so who knows how it all turns out… but, from what i can gather, all three have legit interest in pitching for the Mets on short-term deals, and i have to think that is a credit to Citi Field and being in the National League… i mean, where better to throw one year in hopes of re-entering the free-agent market next off season… but, of course, money talks…
Even as dominant as Sheets can be…with his injury history that’s a good deal for him and the club that signs him. I think the Mets should roll the dice and jump on this.
I am in full agreement…that kind of deal is worth it for the Mets to take a chance…we could catch lightening in a bottle…
He won’t sign with the Mets.
he’ll sign with whoever offers the most money. this idea that people are afraid to sign with the mets is pure paranoia. i would suggest that until spring training, you stop reading the sports section entirely.
for that price…having a possible santana , sheets … vs santana … arroyo at best if were lucky ??…. yeah pleaseeeee sign him. do what it takes we need to make moves like this that could have us really compete… go big or go home, take a chance, shoot for the moon, eat the cheese, kick the curb, bite the monkey, throw the bird, whatever it takes lets get it done omar.
Be careful with oft-injured players!!! Sheets/Delgado?? They didn’t learn anything from last year. ????!
the other moves you make are smaller impact moves that might keep us in the picture, but dont exactly make us a monster. healthy sheets could make us a REAL monster. and its only 1 year, so if it goes bad… oh well. without signing him we’re probably not winning a championship this year anyway. its a GREAT gamble. if im omar, im pulling out all the stops to make sure this gets done.
All the pitchers currently available in FA have risk. But, of all the pitchers out there, he is the most talented and the least risky because he only wants one year. He is going to want to pitch his heart out because he needs a contract next year. and, if he gets injured, we are no worse off than now and, we aren’t saddled with a multi-year contract.
NJ, sure there is a risk . . . but who expected Reyes and Beltran, who were iron horses, to go down last year?
It’s a dice roll, but a good one, I think.
The key (and I have said this for three years now) is Maine. If HE is healthy, that takes a lot of stress off Santana.
We still need a stud SP, but Sheets may be a good gamble.
As for Smoltz. . . If he is cheap enough, roll the dice there.
With BOTH of these guys, however, we need a good long man in the bullpen to bail our SPs and set it up for KRod.
If you sign both Sheets and Smoltz you have protection. As well as secondary protection with Niese. Then go sign a catcher and go to war!!!!!!!
thats not a bad deal for a guy who was out all last season to comeback today and 91 on his fastball and 61 on his curve we should call him as soon as possible.and also sign torriabla or barajas
Sheets is a must sign for the Mets. Get Sheets and obtain another pitcher via free agency or trade.
i would be pretty happy if we signed Sheets, it would be something exciting.
He is worth every penny. The Mets are all of a sudden committed to signing players on what Minaya called “their terms” during an interview following the Bay signing. My question is, what is with this sudden paradigm shift in terms of signing players and how come more caution wasn’t exercised when signing players like Castillo and Perez to multi-year deals. In my opinion, Molina for two years is far better than Castillo for 4 or Perez for 3, but Minaya saw no problem signing them to their terms. The way things are falling in place continue to prove that the Mets HAVE NO PLAN.
More like it shows the Mets are limiting what Omar can do, which is a good thing.
If they had a plan, they would have started “limiting” him a long time ago. Sorry, their hindsight doesn’t pass as a plan…not in anyone’s book.
I’m referring to this offseason, not of those past.
Well, look. Can’t we just give Omar credit from learning from his mistakes?
are the mets interested in smoltz to be a bullpen guy or a back-end starter??
how bout bp guy , possible starter if they need him?
Its about to get real with Sheets really fast.
Lets see if the Mets have the stomach to outbid teams for a pitcher this fragile.
if we really want sheets, no team can outbid us, so GET IT DONE!!!
I want to win as well as anyone but after last year… this team can’t have ??? and “ifs’. It all sounds great in January, but playing in the Northeast in April/May – I see “DL” on both Sheets and Delgado – let’s not forget the medical personnel associated with this team!! Buyer beware.Sorry about the pessimism.
You are 100% correct, but before last season, the Mets also had one of the healthiest teams year in and year out. Every team goes through rough patches with injuries. Granted, the Mets had more of a rough SEASON than a rough patch, but they can’t be gun shy forever because of one season. They need to take a chance on Sheets because he gives them the best chance to win and go deep in the playoffs if he is healthy.
exactly, better to take risks than do nothing.
I also agree.
At the very least I’ll be excited if we sign sheets, and believe a miracle can happen (a healthy sheets, mets playoffs).
If we sign Piniero, I’m not going to be as hopeful that we’ll make the post season
I would be very excited as a fan to see Sheets here – I think that in some cases, they have to be conservative – they need to get healthy and play defense/pitch.
The Mets are so not contending for the playoffs with Beltran out and Pineiro in the rotation. So why not go for high risk-high reward with Sheets. If he’s great, they may just go somewhere this year, and they’ll have the inside track to sign him long term at the end of the year. I say go for it.
it isnt even high-risk high reward. its low risk high reward bc its a one year deal. if he doesnt stay healthy we’re back where we started. its a MUST that he makes this move.
The thing is if they don’t take risks and do something they are not good enough to get it done. This is something that could be a difference maker. Granted it’s high risk but if you sign Sheets and he makes 20 – 25 starts that more than you got out of Pedro Martinez and I didn’t hear many people complaining about the $53MM they spent on him for 32 wins.
I still dont understand what happened with Molina ? Sheets is a hicup away from the DL. Smoltz for the pen okay Pinero sticks but where else do we turn better to work out a trade with the Reds Or maybe Gil Melch in KC.
I agree – get creative with a trade. Strive for innings and consistency to start the year -
they can stay competitive with much of what they have – if they are healthy. Defense and depth to start – then add a big player as the season progresses.
Our main trade bait–Pagan–is suddenly not expendable.
If they could have gotten a real solid starter for Pagan they would have done it already.
Corection Pinerio stinks!!
I like the idea of Smoltz a lot. Sheets scares the heck out of me. He seems like a guy that will work out for every team other than the mets but for i year 8 mil the risk is worth while I guess.
Gotta admit it would be strange seeing Smoltz in a Mets uniform.
how would you rather hand the ball to Smoltz or Green for me its a no brainer. Omar do something Bay’s signing cannot be our only move.
HUH?
it should have read who would you , not how would you
No chance he signs with the Mets
Thank God we didn’t bite on Molina. That would have been a disaster. Hopefully Minaya steps up on Sheets.
Molina would have been a good addition to the team. He would have been battling 7th or 8th (not a clean up hitter like in SF), handling Maine, Pelfrey and Perez while helping in Thole’s development.
This one, didn’t play out as planned.
Signing Sheets and Smoltz will do more for this team in 2010 then Bengie and Delgado. Those two solidify our rotation (Sheets), our bullpen (Smoltz), and send future arms (i.e. Niese, Parnell, Nieve, etc.etc.) to AAA for more development since the 3-5 becomes Maine, Pelfrey, and Perez.
Pretty sure Nieve is out of options
anybody care about nieve?
People seem to think that all Omar needs to do is waive his magic pen, offer Sheets untold millions and he’ll be a Met. Nobody wants to come play for the Mets this off season.
Seriously, what about this off season suggests that any free agent will sign with the Mets? Other than Bay, who had no other serious suitors (although I wouldn’t be surprised if he wishes he took two years from Boston now), what frontline player or even starting caliber player, has signed with the Mets. The front office couldn’t convince Molina to come to NY for more money and more years. Players and agents read the news papers like everyone else. They see the catastrophe that runs this team. Players at least have to sort of want to play for a team.
Short of ridiculously overpaying Sheets and guaranteeing 3 years, there is no way he ends up in NY unless he’s starting for the visiting team.
All of a sudden the Mets were offering more money and years to Molina? I don’t think I have read that anywhere.
The fact is Molina decided to try and get fat (pun intended) one last time in free agency hoping the mets would cave and offer multiple years and dollars. When the Mets stuck to their guns and said one year at maybe $1MM more than SF, Bengie decided uprooting himself for one year wasn’t worth it.
I have no problem with this decision. I don’t think it had anything to do with the drama that is the Mets.
The Mets’ offer as reported for Molina was two years at $5 million per. According to reports he signed with SF for one year at $4.5. Now, you may be better at math than I am but that sure seems like more money than he ended up getting.
Not sure where you are getting the 2 years @5 million per from, but if you read Matt’s update on the subject it clearly says that the “Mets refused to guarantee 2 years for Molina” this is from SNY, the folks paid to report Mets news so I would think it’s legit.
This is the byproduct of all the semi-logical ranting the rest of us do. I don’t think the Mets helped their case as a premier destination for FA’s (Boston, Bronx, Philly due to the 2x NL champs, maybe LA?) but outside of those teams the Mets are right their on the next tier. I cant see a player wanting to go to Colorado over NY. Unless its his home town or previous team.
Cardinals couldn’t get a hit in the NLDS = they are chokers
They are about to sign an admitted drug user and cheater to their coaching staff = they are hypocrites
Pujols is not willing to talk about a contract extesion until he is a free agents ( http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2010-01-19/pujols-still-isnt-talking-extension-cardinals ) = He hates the cardinals, doesnt want to play for them and is only there until the yankees trade for him.
Oh yeah and all the players hate Larussa.
It only looks that bad because you a crazy Mets fan like the rest of us. I gaurantee Sheets has no idea that Beltran even had surgery. Nobody cares this much about the Mets except us.
As I have said before in other posts, this free agent class was a very weak one in terms of talent. So what we didn’t sign Lackey to me thats a Derek Lowe contract soon enough, Oh WOOOOW Marquis didn’t sign with us. I can see being this upset one year from now when we can’t anyone from your so called theory but can’t we wait. WE got BAY he wanted to be here, as far as other suitors how would you know for sure The Yanks, Cards, Cubs, Angels, etc didn’t at least contact his agent. Dude your pessimism is better left off being a Cub fan. As for me I keep the faith and still Believe!!!
Sheets in probably the only guy who if he got re-injured and missed significant time that we as Mets fans wouldn’t kill Omar over.
BTW, hate to say this but after everything I’ve read today I would bet the farm on the following:
1.players don’t want to play for this team
2.Jason Bay will get injured and miss time
just sayin’
good attitude
Well, I hope u don’t mind losing the farm. Obviously, no one knows who will get hurt this or any season but, this myth that no one wants to play for the Mets is silly. Sure, some people would prefer not to play in a big market like NY but, the idea that a player like Sheets, who is in an “audition” year to get a huge multi-year contract in 2011, doesn’t want to play in a huge stage like NYC doesn’t seem right.
Now, that’s not saying that, if another team puts up similar numbers, he won’t choose them instead. I’m just saying that there is no scarlet letter pinned to Citi Field.
Bottom line. If the Mets win then players will want to play for them.
I would roll the dice on Sheets, but I would not overpay. If he his healthy 75% of the year he makes a huge difference.
Othewise go for a deal to get Harang.
I agree Harang is not a bad option and if healthy, could be high reward pitcher for the Mets. A healthy Harang could be closer to a #2 than Arroyo who is a #3 at best.
As long as Piñeiro is not wearing a Met Uniform, I don’t mind neither of:
1) Sheets
2) Harang
3) Garland
What are you going to get Harang with? The two major league guys we had that were expendable (Pagan, Santos) are no longer expendable!
Tough call to offer him $7.5MM guarantee. This is what I would do:
1) Sheets: 1 year deal for $4MM + $275K per Game Start + mutual option for 2011 ($12Mm guarantee or $1MM buyout).
2) Garland: 1 year deal $7.5MM
3) Delgado: 1 year deal for $2MM + $3MM incentives based on PA
Lineup:
SS Reyes
2B Castillo
3B Wright
LF Bay
1B Delgado
CF Pagan
RF Francouer
C Blanco
Rotation:
Santana
Sheets
Pelfrey
Perez / Maine
Garland
I think that Sheets is right their for the Mets to get. Look at the teams linked so far.
Dodgers: Don’t look like they are willing to spend 8 million total this off season and especially not on one injury risk starter. My guess is Garland, only because he makes the most sense. He slides right in as their #4 starter and is a huge upgrade.
Cubs: I just dont think that a team would go from wanting to trade their declining, injury risk, former ace to signing a second declining, injury risk, former ace in one offseason. But as a Mets fan, nothing should shock me and this is the team that traded for Rich Harden.
Rangers: They’re the Rangers and they already signed Harden. A fully healthy Sheets might get rocked in Dallas. Not the place for a comeback bid.
Mariners: Felix: 6/100 mil, Figgins: 4/36. Gutierrez: 4/20.5, Kotchman will get another 3 mil. You have to think they are pretty much done with any big ticket players.
Cardinals: Makes sense but I just see them resigning Piniero.
Time to use the positives and give Sheets a tour around Citi Field. If he is really looking for a 1 year deal to try to cash in a bigger contract next season, he needs to sign with a team that offers him home field advantage (big park + good offense) and the chance to compete in the division.
He would be a good fit for the Mets, but again, it should be heavy incentive type deal.
Quit dreaming. I’ll believe it when I see it in black and white. Right now, I don’t see the Mets doing anything else. Pelfrey and Perez battling it out for #2 and at lease a half a season of Castillo and Murphy on the right side of the infield.
MLBTR has a report that they Mets are now looking to add 2 more pitchers since they lost out on Molina. They want to do something good with all the preasure the club is getting from the fans. They are looking to add 2 of Pinero, Sheets and Smoltz. They also said that they might add both Pinero and Sheets than look to add Smoltz for the pen
I like this idea a lot.
go with pitching our lineup till Beltran gets back is fine. Why not both Sheets and Garland if we can.
I hate the idea of Smoltz on the Mets. Hate it.
I want to add, that Ben Sheets is the ONLY player left on the market that gets me even remotely excited as a fan. Any other players being brought in are just filler to me, even if they are necessary.
While Sheets is a risk, his upside allows me to envision a rotation with Santana and Sheets at the front with some very capable guys like John Maine and Mike Pelfrey in the back end. When I think about Maine/Pelfrey as bottom of the rotation starters, I think about them favorably. When I think about them trying to be #2 starters, I get very nervous.
As I have said many times before, as a GM I would be looking to bring in TWO starters. A guy like Sheets (who is risk/reward), and a more steady and reliable guy for the #3 spot (Arroyo, Garland, Pineiro, etc.). I would then bump Pelfrey, Maine and Perez down to fight for the bottom two spots, and/or use one of them in a trade to fill other needs. Ideally Perez, in some salary swap type move, but more realistically it would be Maine simply because he has value.
Niese is your default #6 starter and first guy to get a shot if and when someone gets injured.
I’ve been pro Sheets for a while….the risk/reward is worth the investment. If they can work out incentives, have Maine make every third or fourth start as the long man out of the pen. One injury risk hedging another.
Missing out on Molina could be a blessing in disquise… If we end up getting 2 pitchers out of sheets, pinero, garland, and smoltz, I would be satisfied. I prefer sheets and pinero, but if we get any two that could be huge for our rotation. In sheets we have an injury risk, but he can be a dominant pitcher (we would have a great 1-2 punch). With pinero or garland we would get 32 starts and probably 13+ wins each. In smoltz, well he is a ?, but I think he adds depth to the rotation and could be a nice addition to the bullpen