Mets Reportedly Make An Offer To Chris Young
by Eric Simon on Jan 4, 2011 10:52 PM EST
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Buster Olney lets on that the Mets have made an offer to free agent RHP Chris Young, formerly of the Padres:
Heard this: The Mets' offer to Chris Young likely includes guaranteed money over $1 million. He's a good fit for the ballpark.
If you're not on the Twitter, Olney famously begins half of his tweets with "Heard this," a trope so irritating that satirizing it has become a meme in widespread use among baseball writers. For instance, here's a tweet from Ted Berg during the winter meetings:
Heard this: A mystery team has made a bid for an unspecified player. Terms not disclosed.
As for Olney's latest broadcast, apart from the actual news item about the Mets offering a contract to Young, we're also furnished with the sharp-witted analysis that Young would be a good fit for the expansive outfield of Citi Field, a statement which can surely be made of all pitchers.
Young, like Chris Capuano, would be a low-cost, high-upside signing for the Mets. It's not terribly likely that Young throws 200 innings of above-average ball this year, but if he does then the Mets would have paid very little for something quite useful. If Young flops, wilts, or falls apart entirely, the Mets would still have paid very little.
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A rotation of
Pelfrey- Dickey- Niese- Young- Capuano
begs the question
where does Chris Capuano go when Santana returns?
"I bet you'd lobby her, you horny 15 year old!" -Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double-Bobby-Jones/137806699125
metsguy234
Don't assume Santna's returning anytime soon
and even if he does (and everyone else is healthy and effective), isn’t that a good problem to have?
What's the score, boys?
What did Bugs Bunny do?
What's with the Carrot League baseball today?
Or that no one else will get hurt or regress
With respect to pitchers returning from injuries being a major part of your staff, I guess my policy is the more the merrier.
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 4, 2011 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
He could be used out of the bullpen
possibly in the Darren Oliver long-reliever role.
by Thomas Wachtel on Jan 4, 2011 10:57 PM EST up reply actions
Once the season gets going, it's almost assured that you'll have 1 starter injured at any time.
Especially with Capuano, Young and a returning Santana.
Or maybe we’re going with a pitching platoon. Capuano starts against the lefty heavy Phils and Braves while Young goes after Nats and Marlins. It’s the new way of thinking and Sandy is bringing it y’all!
By the time Santana returns ..
Either Young or Capuano is on the DL
Exactly.
If you figure either one of them is good for about 100 innings, and they’ll be starting the season, they’ll reach that number around the time Santana will be getting back (or getting ready to get back- I can live with a few Gee starts).
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 4, 2011 11:51 PM EST up reply actions
Gee is arguably better than Young at this point.
I think we’re just trying to avoid having to find someone on the Ducks or the Mexican leagues for emergency starts.
There's essentially no chance that all five of those pitchers are going to be healthy
going into the last months of the season. Given that Caps has pitched 66 ML innings in the last three years combined after two TJ surgeries, and Young has gone 102, 76, and 20 IP from 2008 on, and that neither Dickey or Niese has yet to pitch a second good, durable ML season…
it’s more of a question as of August or so, who’s going to be in the rotation after
Pelfrey
Niese or Dickey
Santana, if he can even pitch in 2011
Some guy other than Young or Capuano
Some other guy other than Young or Capuano
The Mets rotation has a pretty good chance of being among the worst in the major leagues.
By the way, Eric, I don’t see either Young or Capuano as “high upside” signings. It would be remarkable if either of them pitched 100 innings with an ERA around 4.00. I’d characterize them instead as low-cost, modest upside, largely pointless signings. Largely pointless because they don’t do anything at all to address the team’s most desperate need: durable starting pitching that has a chance to be reasonably good.
The NY Post had this to say, the kind of thing we heard last offseason and that causes involuntary retching:
“But a source said Alderson has “wiggle room” within the payroll — he can appeal to COO Jeff Wilpon on a case-by-case basis — "
Sweet Jesus Christ.
That says to me,
the budget is $X amount of money. If Alderson thinks he can finagle signing some player who he really wants, but in doing so, goes over budget by $X+$Y, he could lobby ownership for an extra $Y to be added to the payroll. Doesn’t sound much like the “Can I go out and get this guy”-style of signing players that was used last Winter.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 5, 2011 12:42 AM EST up reply actions
It sounds more like
a NY Post reporter had one extra line to fill. “Ownership has given management a budget with the option to consider an adjustment if an exceptional deal comes along.” That could apply to any team, or even any business. It’s true of my office, for goodness sake.
I would say
100 innings @ 4.00 for $2m ish actually is a pretty high upside. Times that all by two (except the ERA obviously) and we’re into one solid season territory – if they can emulate Niese between them then I think the rotation would be better than average again.
One of the things
that SA said that I totally agree with—offense was a major concern last year. We did not score enough runs. So adding guys with mediocre ERAs would behoove us jacking up our firepower. We ain’t done that. It is reasonable to expect improvement from Bay and Beltran and Reyes, even if they do not go off and have career years, but will that be enough to offset the SP fallback? I wonder.
You might want to double check those projections for Capuano
Chris Capuano’s xFIP is always in the 4.00-4.50 range. Pitching in Citi Field could easily get him an ERA under 3.50. He also had three consecutive seasons of 150+ innings pitched until has second TJ surgery. He is rehabbed, and has a very good chance of being effective for the next few years, if not more.
As far as these signings being labeled pointless, that strikes me as an unrealistic appraisal of available options and what these pitchers are needed to do. The market for starting pitchers is abysmal. There are few options. The Mets need these pitchers to carry the team far enough until better options are available.
Just out of curiosity, when the Mets signed Dickey, did you label that as pointless too?
"The Mets are gonna be amazing!" - Casey Stengel
maybe a decent rotation eliminates the team from bringing back Johan too soon
I mean none of these guys are Johan, but if they pitch decent enough and we stay somewhat close in the race. Instead of Johan pitching in early June maybe he gets back after the All-Star game and is stronger and more like Johan
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Jan 5, 2011 7:04 AM EST up reply actions
I like it
We need all the SP depth we can find. And I’m not expecting anything from Santana this year so I doubt it’ll be an issue.
What's that about?
Eh
I mean I trust Sandy, but I don’t see Chris Young doing very much. Velocity is down from 89+ to 85 the last 2 years. Unless that velocity comes back, he won’t be successful.
Maybe he's been hanging with Jamie Moyer or something
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 4, 2011 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Mets will save money on the road
with AARP coupons and Country Kitchen buffets. (Your Mo Vaughn joke here. Unless we’re still paying him, in which case we know who the joke’s on.)
The thing is there are only a couple of lefties that can get by throwing that low like Moyer, Wolf, etc
And I don’t think there are any RHP who are successful with mid 80s stuff. Starting pitching anyways I can’t think of any.
This is all great news
Just nice and prudent moves by a capable management staff. Capuano was back into form at the end of last year and should be fully healthy. Give him what should be a good offense and he will be at best a good no. 3. Capuano was back to throwing with good velocity and good movement on his pitches. Same with Chris Young. He might not have the velocity that he once had but his breaking ball and split fastball have incredible movement. He would be another great in addition to Penny or Francis. And just to be greedy I would love it if we could get Bonderman on a minor league contract and keep him in the bullpen as a long relief option and as a backup option should someone go down. This team is going to be in great shape this year and people will be surprised by how well they do. These guys coming in on one year deals have something to prove and another deal to play for, so they should be playing their tails off. Bucholz was the biggest bargain by far. A really filthy relief pitcher who is recovered from his injury and will be a perfect setup man for K-Rod. Our bullpen is basically set with him, Krod, Parnell, Carrasco and Acosta. We just need to add a lefty in either Randy Flores or if we can spend some more money, Brian Fuentes who would be awesome to have and turn our bullpen from a weakness into a strength to support our pitching staff. The bench is almost set except for maybe a utility guy and another outfielder. One guy I really love for the bench is Jerry Hairston Jr who is so useful being able to play any position as we will need someone to play outfield to give Beltran rest. And Hairston can give us insurance at the middle positions along with Hu or Emaus.
I just have tons of optimism about this season and the future. The management staff is whipping this organization into shape quickly and wait a few years down the road when everything is fixed and we get big production out of the minors from the wise draft picks who we actually pay to get. Anderson is a great managing force while Depo and Rici are the best at finding and scouting talent. Our starting staff should be pretty consistent this year. We will have enough starting options to ensure that Santana does not return until completely healthy. I think Capuano can give us at least 150 productive innings and whoever else we add should be able to do the same. Our bullpen will be much better than last year and not thrown together with patchwork pieces like Dessens. And our lineup should be the best it has been sine 06-07. Reyes is fully healthy and should give a full season while playing for a contract. Beltran should be mostly healthy and is playing for a deal. Bay will come on strong to prove that he is not a huge FA slap. Wright should do better than last year with some actual hitters around him in the lineup for a full season. Davis has natural power and can hopefully improve on last year. Pagan is a baller and can hopefully repeat. And we should get consistent production our of the C and 2B position. This team is looking up and it will get even better come along 2013 and the great pool of pitching talent that year. Combining the pitching with what should be a filthy lineup by then with Wright, Duda, Davis, Bay, Pagan(?), Thole, Murphy/Emaus, and Reyes(?)
Forgot to mention
Pedro Beato, a relief pitcher we picked up in the Rule 5 draft who should be able to pitch out of then bullpen this year and has good stuff and nice potential. He could be the last part to what could be a really good bullpen; especially if we get Brian Fuentes (fingers, toes and ears crossed).
I'd like to see an offer made to Francis as well
mostly because he was the one I was hoping for more than Young.
Forgot to say
that I’m fine with this as well, though “over a million” seems like a little much to me. Maybe DePo knows something the rest of us don’t know.
by Thomas Wachtel on Jan 4, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
technicality
but this would fall under the scope of ricciardi’s duties.
What Would Matt Szczur Do?
by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 4, 2011 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
I meant simply that Young was with the Padres most recently (unless I'm mistaken)
as was DePodesta, so maybe he had access to some medical information that the rest of the league didn’t. Surely he’d share that with the rest of the brain trust, if he had such information.
by Thomas Wachtel on Jan 4, 2011 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
ah
thanks for the clarification
What Would Matt Szczur Do?
by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 4, 2011 11:21 PM EST up reply actions
If Young was healthy, you can be sure his agent is willing to share that info
Those medical records are available to any team once Young becomes a free agent per the CBA. If Young wants teams to know he’s healthy, anything the medical staff has examined is unable to be withheld. Outside of general observation of the player, Depo won’t have any inside information.
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 5, 2011 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
Meh
How much upside does he really have at this point??
There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ
The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet
We should sign 14 $600k - $1 million pitchers who looked decent at some point but had injuries that would have ended a career 20 years ago
For serious. If we have options, or they are otherwise under team control without being in the dugout if we need the roster spot, why the hell not? It’s not like we’ve gotten full seasons from our aces much over the past 5 or 6 years. You might as well stock up on guys and send them on the Sunday church bus with Dickey to learn the gospel of baseball redemption.
I can see it now: A SI cover featuring these guys dressed as Ulysses Grant and company and the title “Post-Reconstruction” or something.
Speaking of, guess what ligament TJ surgery replaces? Yep you guessed right, the ulnar collateral ligament, the same one that Dickey is missing.
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
As long as we leave out the SI cover
I’m totally behind this. I want nothing to do with the cover of that magazine.
by Thomas Wachtel on Jan 4, 2011 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
I see what you did here
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 5, 2011 12:04 AM EST up reply actions
Really though,
I would like Maine on a minor league deal if he would take that. This is not really based on anything more than I’ve always been a fan.
I think you missed out
a rags at the beginning – well, maybe not rags, but a poorly-tailored suit at best.
Diamondbacks already grabbed Hampton.
We have to hurry before the window closes on the other 2.
Since Capuano has had two TJ surgeries, where are they getting the extra ligament from?
I’d avoid going anywhere near Citi alone, at night. It’d be like those horror movies where you wake up in a bathtub full of ice with a huge scar where your kidney used to be, except in this case the scar runs the length of your forearm.
Leg
They get the extra ligament from your leg, or so I’ve been told. Or from that guy in Staten Island who went to jail.
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 5, 2011 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
R.A. Dickey
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 5, 2011 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
...
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 5, 2011 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
Do not like.
I don’t really think Young has anything left in the tank, as opposed to some of the other reconstruction pitchers out there.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 4, 2011 11:25 PM EST reply actions
Mike Pelfrey supporter huh?
Sad to see him possibly lose his “tallest guy” title?
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 4, 2011 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
I'd like to see Chris Young cook
by Thomas Wachtel on Jan 4, 2011 11:39 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
this and mo vaughn with the sandwich always gets a rec
What Would Matt Szczur Do?
by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 4, 2011 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
Did not realize Chris Young was that tall.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 4, 2011 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
Played center in college.
For a damn good Princeton basketball team.
by LeiterMilnerFasterStronger on Jan 5, 2011 12:30 AM EST up reply actions
Having been there...
It was really fun to have a ranked team for a little while. Chris only played basketball for two years thanks to the draconian Ivy League eligibilty rules, and the 10% of students that acutally cared about sports were pretty broken up when he had to pass up his last two years. Seeing how things worked out, I guess it was the right call since Chris was a great college player, but there’s no way he could put together a professional basketball career in the US. Most standout Ivy players wind up in the European leagues.
"It’s like being in love with an alcoholic. It’s like, you constantly defend her, and people are like, ‘Dude, your alcoholic friend is a mess,’ and you’re like, ‘Nah, you don’t know her like I do."- Jim Breuer
Between him and Moviel, we have two of the tallest pitchers around
Now sign Jon Rauch…
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 5, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
I think I'd rather Brian Bannister at $750K than Young at >$1M.
Not that bringing in Young necessarily means a Brian Bannister is out of the question.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
Arguably,
Bannister has a higher upside than Young, at this point in both of their careers.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 5, 2011 12:43 AM EST up reply actions
Bannisters usually are on the upside and the downside
Of the stairs.
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
by MookieTheCat on Jan 5, 2011 12:53 AM EST up reply actions
Et tu, Brute
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 5, 2011 1:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You see what I did there?
It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.
We came and conquered, too
"The '69 Mets will live on forever. But do you think anybody cares about Ron Swoboda's wife and kids? Not me! And I assume not Ron Swoboda" --Homer Simpson
Is that the stick figure drummer from King Missile?
Because I swear he is holding a stick figure Detachable Penis.
Tangent
John Hall, the lead “singer” of King Missile, did solo albums for a small record label I interned for one summer in college. I answered the phones a lot, so every so often I’d get to hear the inimitable voice of the “Detachable Penis” guy asking questions about royalty checks or whatever. It was pretty awesome. Clearly the best part of that internship.
“I asked them to check the medicine cabinet ’cause for some reason I leave it there sometimes…”
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