Here is the list (I'm leaving Rivera and Soriano off the list as they are not options for the Mets - there is SOME chance any of these guys could end up in Citi) - if you want the punch-line, skip to the end:
Dotel (37) - type B - 0.1 WAR, 4.20 FIP, 4.27 xFIP, 10.55 K/9, 4.5 BB/9 - numbers slipped slightly off his career averages. Seems to be good for 60-65 innings these days. Worth a look as a set-up guy.
Francisco (31) - type A - 1.0 WAR was lowest in last 3 years (which is still excellent for a set-up man). Lost closer job to Feliz, probably will get a shot closing elsewhere unless he accepts arbitration.
Fuentes (35) - not offered arb, had 0.4 WAR in '10. 3.85 FIP, 4.54 xFIP belie 2.81 ERA, though career numbers trend that way - 3.41 career ERA, 4.00 career xFIP. Off two shaky years with the Angels and being traded to Min to be a set-up guy, could be left as set-up guy again?
Gregg (33) - type B - 0.8 WAR in '10, 3.57 FIP, 4.22 xFIP, 8.85 K/9, 4.58 BB/9. Another borderline closer/set-up guy. If we can get him for set-up guy money, could be a good fit.
Hoffman (43) - type B - had a -0.6 WAR in '10, 5.21 FIP, 5.26 xFIP. An ignominious end to an amazing career. Did the Brewers really offer him arbitration?
Qualls (32) - Type B - 0.3 WAR, 4.13 FIP, 3.91 xFIP, 7.32 ERA. What the heck??? How does anyone have their actual ERA end up almost twice their xFIP?!?! 3.20 BB/9 well above '09's mark of 1.21, BABIP was .399. LOB% was 53% compared to 71.9% in career. Get him out of the desert. Could be a cheap option for a rebound year as a set-up guy.
Rauch (32) - 1.1 WAR, 2.94 FIP, 4.18 xFIP in '10. Thrived as closer for Twins then they replaced him mid-year. Probably another guy more suited to be a set-up guy than a closer, but I could see the Pirates or some such team getting him as their closer.
Wood (34) - type B - 0.1 WAR, 4.17 FIP, 4.55 xFIP in '10. 5.67 BB/9 is a long way from 2.44 mark he put up closing for the Cubs in '08. Another big K arm that may be looking to re-establish himself as a big-time reliever - willing to take set-up man money?
Balfour (33) - type A - 1.2 WAR, 2.68 FIP, 3.78 xFIP in '10. 0.9 WAR in '09, 2.1 WAR in '08. One of the top set-up men in baseball.
M Batista (40) - had a -0.3 WAR in '10 after 0.0 in '09. 4.76 FIP, 4.78 xFIP. No thanks.
D Bautista (28) - had a -0.1 WAR, 4.68 FIP, 4.88 xFIP, 3.74 ERA. Career best WAR was back in '05 starting 7 games for the Royals. Pass.
Bonser (29) - 0.2 WAR, 3.72 FIP, 4.32 xFIP, 6.12 ERA in '10. Had WAR of 1.2, 1.6, 1.3 from '06-08 mostly as a starter before missing '09 due to injury. Peripherals seem to indicate he is back. I'd definitely be interested in him as a 7th inning guy at least.
Corpas (28) - 0.4 WAR, 4.19 FIP, 4.41 xFIP in '10. Saved 10 for the Rox. Career FIP is 3.82, xFIP is 3.98. 6.48 K/9 and 2.52 BB/9 in caereer. Doesn't seem special. If he could be had super-cheap ($500K), I wouldn't throw up.
Crain (29) - type B - 0.8 WAR, 3.45 FIP, 4.10 xFIP, 3.04 ERA in '10. Seems to be generating a lot of interest as set-up guy. I'd take him at the right price - $1.5-2mil maybe? - but I think someone else will offer more.
Cruz (30) - 0.1 WAR (only 5.1 IP all in April) - was cut for no apparent reason, and not picked up by anyone else. Career FIP is 4.19, xFIP is 4.35, ERA is 4.15, 9.15 K/9, 4.72 BB/9. I'd want to figure out what the heck happened before thinking about offering any kind of contract.
Dessens (40) - had a -0.3 WAR for the Mets, 4.72 FIP, 5.56 xFIP, 2.30 ERA, 3.06 K/9, 3.06 BB/9 for the Mets last year. No thanks.
Donnelly (39) - had a -0.8 WAR, 6.47 FIP, 5.62 xFIP, 5.58 ERA in '10. Pass.
Durbin (33) - 0.3 WAR, 3.97 FIP, 4.19 xFIP, 3.80 ERA in '10. 8.26 K/9 and 3.54 BB/9 compared to 5.90 K/9 and 3.93 BB/9 career. Doesn't seem like a bad 6-7th inning guy, but nothing special. League minimum offer or minor league contract OK, more than that, no thanks.
Escobar (34) - did not pitch in '10, seems to me I remember him from somewhere. Had only 20.2 IP in '09 and 5 IP in '08. I'd say he owes us a year at a minor league contract.
Farnsworth (35) - 1.0 WAR, 3.06 FIP, 3.63 xFIP in '10, 8.49 K/9, 2.64 BB/9. Actually seemed useful last year. HR/9 of 0.56 is biggest change from Yankee years (1.35 and 2.24). Might do well in Citi. One year $1.5-2mil?
Frasor (33) - type A - 0.9 WAR, 3.31 FIP, 3.85 xFIP good peripherals, not worth losing a draft pick over.
Gaudin (28) - had a -1.0 WAR, 6.16 FIP, 4.91 xFIP in '10. 2.20 HR/9 compared to 1.07 career average seems the biggest culprit. Won 11 games for the A's in '07 as a starter. 4.68 career FIP, 4.69 career xFIP = pass.
Guerrier (32) - 0.2 WAR, 4.23 FIP, 4.53 xFIP, 3.17 ERA in '10. 5.32 K/9, 2.79 BB/9. No thanks.
Heilman (32) - type B - 0.1 WAR, 4.47 FIP, 4.72 xFIP, 4.50 ERA in '10. K/9 down to 6.88 from career 7.79. Pass.
Howry (37) - had a -0.6 WAR, 6.36 FIP, 5.97 xFIP, 7.71 ERA in '10. Pass.
Lincoln (36) - 0.0 WAR, 4.35 FIP, 5.29 xFIP, 7.32 ERA in '10. No thanks.
MacDougal (34) - 0.0 WAR, 4.36 FIP, 5.03 xFIP, 7.23 ERA in 18.2 IP in '10. Minor league deal maybe.
D Mathis (27) - had a -0.5 WAR, 7.74 ERA, 5.07 xFIP, 6.04 ERA in '10. No thanks.
G Mota (37) - 0.36 WAR, 3.86 FIP, 4.76 xFIP, 4.33 ERA in '10. Getting up there in age. Omar might've but I wouldn't.
F Nieve (28) - had a -0.1 WAR, 6.08 FIP, 4.74 xFIP, 6.00 ERA in '10 for the Mets. 8.14 K/9 is the only nice thing to say. Pass.
Owings (28) - had a -0.1 WAR, 5.03 FIP, 5.10 xFIP, 5.11 ERA in '10. 9.45 K/9. Career .293/.323/.538 hitter in 198 major league PAs. Worth a shot in the minors as the next Ankiel?
Park (38) - 0.1 WAR, 4.32 FIP, 4.07 xFIP, 4.66 ERA in '10. 1.5 WAR in '09. Not a bad 6th/7th inning guy for the right price - $1.5-2mil max I'd say.
Putz (34) - type B - 1.5 WAR, 2.52 FIP, 2.87 xFIP, 2.83 ERA, 10.83 K/9, 2.50 BB/9. Oh, THAT'S the guy the Mets traded for! Will probably close somewhere in '11. I'd give him 2 years $5mil to set up though, if we had protection against a relapse (a Lackey-like option for a club option year at league minimum if he has a recurrence of previous injury).
Riske (34) - 0.0 WAR for second straight year. Pass.
Saito (41) - 1.2 WAR, 2.43 FIP, 2.83 xFIP, 2.83 ERA, 11.50 K/9, 2.83 BB/9. Old but not showing it (yet). 1 year $2-3mil with a club option at similar.
Sampson (33) - had a -0.5 WAR, 5.91 FIP, 4.22 xFIP, 5.93 ERA in '10. 4.75 K/9. Pass.
S Shields (35) - had a -0.4 WAR, 5.43 FIP, 5.13 xFIP after a -0.1 WAR in '09. Pass.
Uehara (36) - 1.4 WAR, 2.40 FIP, 2.91 xFIP, 2.86 ERA, 11.25 K/9 in '10. Saved 13 games at year-end for O's. I'd be surprised if they don't ask him back. I'd take a flier on him, but '09 (6.46 K/9, 3.56 FIP, 4.51 xFIP in 12 starts) are troubling. Could be (like Takahashi) better suited to relief. 1 year $1mil.
T Walker (35) - 0.2 WAR, 3.90 FIP, 3.84 xFIP, 3.57 ERA, 7.64 K/9. Seems like ages ago he was a Mets farmhand. I'd offer a minor league deal, but he'll probably set up for a (different) bad team somewhere.
Jeff Weaver (34) - had a -0.3 WAR, 4.79 FIP, 5.24 xFIP, 6.09 ERA, 5.28 K/9 for the Dodgers in '10. Pass.
Wheeler (33) - 0.1 WAR, 4.11 FIP, 3.90 xFIP, 3.35 ERA, 8.57 K/9 for the Rays in '10. Decent middle reliever. 1 year $1mil?
Wright (36) - 0.0 WAR, 4.23 FIP, 4.66 xFIP, 4.17 ERA in '10. 4.32 K/9> Nothing special. Pass.
LEFTIES:
Beimel (34) - 0.1 WAR, 4.59 FIP, 4.94 xFIP, 3.40 ERA, 4.20 K/9 in '10. Pass.
Chen (34) - 1.3 WAR, 4.54 FIP, 5.01 xFIP, 4.17 ERA, 12-7 in 23 starts for KC. A long way from making the 9/11 start for the Mets. Pass.
Choate (35) - type B - 0.5 WAR, 3.50 FIP, 3.55 xFIP, 4.23 ERA, 8.06 K/9 for the Rays in '10. Definitely worth a look as a lefty specialist (.201 ave vs lefties, .378 vs righties).
Downs (35) - type A - 1.2 WAR, 3.03 FIP, 3.51 xFIP, 2.64 ERA in '10 for Jays. Too pricey I think particularly with draft pick too.
Feliciano (34) - type B - 0.8 WAR, 3.22 FIP, 3.86 xFIP, 3.30 ERA for Mets in '10. Think I agree with offering Arb seeing what else is out there for lefties.
Flores (35) - had a -0.5 WAR, 5.85 FIP, 5.19 xFIP, 3.19 ERA in '10. Pass.
Hendrickson (37) - 0.4 WAR, 4.09 FIP, 4.13 xFIP, 5.26 ERA, 6.57 K/9 in '10. Could be worth a look at 1 year $1mil or so if Feliciano doesn't accept Arb.
Mahay (40) - 0.1 WAR, 4.23 FIP, 3.84 xFIP in '10 for Twins. Pass.
Ohman (32) - 0.3 WAR, 3.98 FIP, 4.24 xFIP, 3.21 ERA, 9.21 K/9 in '10. Reasonably successful vs righties too - .289 ave vs R in '10, .222 ave vs L. Interesting option.
D Reyes (34) - 0.0 WAR, 4.26 FIP, 4.58 xFIP, 3.55 ERA, 5.92 K/9 in '10 for Cards. Has earmarks of Dave Duncan project. Let the Cards keep him.
Rhodes (41) - 0.9 WAR, 3.24 FIP, 3.84 xFIP, 2.29 ERA, 8.18 K/9 in '10 for Reds. 1.0 WAR in '09, 1.2 WAR in '08. Doesn't seem to have slowed down yet. 1 year, $2-3mil?
Romero (35) - had a -0.4 WAR, 5.40 FIP, 5.38 xFIP, 3.68 ERA for Phils in '10. Pass.
Seay (33) - 0.8 WAR, 3.61 FIP, 4.72 xFIP, 4.25 ERA, 6.84 K/9 in '10 for Tigers. 1.0 WAR in '09 and '08 each. Career BAA vs L is .258, vs R is .253. Good middle relief option - 1 year $2-3mil.
Schoeneweis (37) - had -0.1 WAR in '10 for his 4th straight negative WAR season. How much money did Omar give him? Pass.
Tallet (33) - had a -1.5 WAR, 6.70 FIP, 5.53 xFIP, 6.40 ERA in '10 for Jays. They tried to convert him to a starter in '09 and it didn't work. Could be worth a minor league contract to see if he can go back to being a reliever.
Tankersley (28) had -0.7 WAR for second straight year for Marlins. 8.25 FIP, 6.64 xFIP. No thanks.
Randy Williams (35) - had -0.1 WAR, 5.24 FIP, 5.89 xFIP, 5.40 ERA, 7.92 K/9 in '10. Pass.
PHEW! So out of 59 relievers, I have 27 of them split into these categories:
Set-up Guy: (12) Dotel, Fuentes, Gregg, Qualls, Rauch, Wood, Balfour, Crain, Park, Putz, Saito, Uehara
7th inning guy: (5) Bonser, Seay, Wheeler, Ohman (L), Rhodes (L)
Other (minor league deal, major league minimum guy): (7) Corpas, Cruz (depending on what happened last year), Escobar (I know it hurts!), MacDougal, Owings (as a hitter?), T Walker, Tallet (L).
Lefty Specialist: (3) Choate, Feliciano, Hendrickson




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