Mets Add Seven Rule 5 Eligible Prospects to the 40-Man Roster Before Friday's Deadline

Not a huge surprise really, but the Mets protected SP Jeurys Familia, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, 2B Reese Havens, OF Juan Lagares, RP Robert Carson, INF Wilmer Flores and OF Cesar Puello from the Rule 5 draft by adding them to the 40 man roster. Some of the interesting names that were left unprotected are RP Brad Holt, SP Collin McHugh, 3B Jefry Marte and C Juan Centeno.

The 40-man roster stands at 38, allowing the Mets 2 spots with which to sign free agents or make a pick of their own in the Rule 5 Draft, which takes place during December's Winter Meetings.

6 months ago Steve Schreiber 39 comments 1 recs |

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Hmm, so Marte and Cohoon are left unprotected.

I guess Alderson is following my example and will trade them to Toronto for Cecil and Perez.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Nov 18, 2011 6:17 PM EST reply actions

I'm happy with this

Mainly I am glad that we protected Lagares, Kirk and Jeurys. I had a feeling someone was gonna take them. But if someone wants to take a risk on Marte or Holt I’m fine with that.

Bobby Baseball - The future of Amazin' Avenue.

by Bobby Baseball on Nov 18, 2011 6:38 PM EST reply actions

I'm really happy that Kirk, Puello, and Familia got protected.

They seem to be the most likely to be taken.

I like Holt, but if we’re not trading Murph, Wright, and Davis, he doesn’t really have a position on the MLB roster.

Marte is hurt. I don’t know if that figured into the decision, but its a possible explanation behind the move.

Rey-sign Rey-ass
Logic Your Sense Makes None.

by JoeBighead on Nov 18, 2011 7:07 PM EST reply actions

Holt is a pitcher.

Not sure what he has to do with Wright, Murphy, and Davis.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Nov 18, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

My bad.

Thinking of Lutz.
And for some reason I thought he played 1st…
He has, but only 28 games (14 in 2009, 14 this past year).
I’d say it was a brain fart but it was more like brain diarrhea.

Rey-sign Rey-ass
Logic Your Sense Makes None.

by JoeBighead on Nov 18, 2011 7:58 PM EST up reply actions

Marte is also a defensive liability at third and hasn't even hit well in A+

by Evan_S on Nov 18, 2011 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

He's still young and had a good AFL

by TheKid08 on Nov 18, 2011 8:47 PM EST up reply actions

Marte's wrist injury

Probably takes him off most team’s lists. He should be fine, but that is the kind of thing that ca sap power for a bit. Though even without that, I don’t see how he sticks on an MLB roster. At least Puello you can hide as a 5th OF.

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by Jeffrey Paternostro on Nov 18, 2011 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

I'm a little worried about McHugh

He’s 24 and in AA, but outside of six bad starts and 35.2 poor innings in St. Lucie to start the year, he has a 3.11 ERA in A, A+ and AA ball- and, even with it, it comes out to a 3.58 ERA. His K/9 rates are decent, his BB/9 rates are satisfactory, and overall, he seems very much a generic back-of-the-rotation pitcher. Presumably, if Gee is in the rotation, Schwinden is the first in-house candidate to fill in a slot in the rotation if one becomes available. McHugh might be the second, if he (A) is still on the team come Spring, and he doesn’t do poorly when the season starts.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 18, 2011 9:04 PM EST reply actions

He also picked up a couple of MPH during the season

to the point he was sitting around 91-92 (he used to throw in the upper 80’s). His ceiling isn’t really high but he’s a smart guy and I think I could see a team grabbing him and letting him compete for a long relief or 5th starter spot.

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by Steve Schreiber on Nov 18, 2011 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

I'd rather have McHugh protected than Carson

Carson looked real good in Rookie ball and Single-A, but has a 4.17 ERA in High-A, and 5.95 ERA in Double-A. His peripherals are also very underwhelming. He still is only 22, but it’s been two full seasons since he’s been halfway decent.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 18, 2011 9:25 PM EST up reply actions

For me,

I’d rather protect Carson over McHugh when it comes down to it. Carson is a 22 year old lefty who throws mid-90’s out of the pen and with a little work on command and offspeed stuff, he could become an elite reliever. McHugh has a lower ceiling/higher floor but in this case, I think there’s just more of a chance that Carson would get taken than McHugh. Many teams have Collin McHugh-type pitchers floating around in their minor league systems (the Mets have a bunch themselves in Gee, Schwinden, Brandon Moore, etc) while most teams would love to get an electric lefty arm like Carson into their organization.

I think we’ll need McHugh at some point this season, though, so I’m really hoping he doesn’t get taken.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!
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by Steve Schreiber on Nov 18, 2011 9:41 PM EST up reply actions

Good point about being converted into a reliever

Why an elite reliever? Given, he is pretty young, so he has that working on his side, but his looking at his numbers, I don’t see anything that screams that high of a ceiling other than velocity- and, at this point, that isn’t helping him all that much with the amount of hits and walks he gives up, and his K/9 rate.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 18, 2011 10:07 PM EST up reply actions

Have you seen Jonny Venters numbers as a starter in the minors, for example?

Take a look at them and compare them to Carson. Venters was drafted in 2003 and was a starter in the Braves system through 2009 with some pretty ugly results. Not to say that Carson will become anything like Venters, who’s probably the top lefty setup man in the game right now, but sometimes (or many times actually), pitchers just have stuff that can play up as a one inning, put it all out on the line reliever, as opposed to having to have the stuff and command to survive 5-6+ innings every five days.

I think there’s definitely a shot that Carson could develop into a solid lefty reliever. He’s young and he throws hard. He just needs to clean up some issues, but relief can mask some issues because of the short samples and such.

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by Steve Schreiber on Nov 18, 2011 10:16 PM EST up reply actions

I love the idea of Carson being like a Venters

considering they’re minor league numbers are near identical. I try not to put too much stock into those stats, when being a reliever it’s the stuff that counts. It’s not like Venters has Rick Reed control or anything, he just has the pitches to miss bats.

Still Amazin'.
Jose Reyes is a MET in 2012.

by piazza62 on Nov 18, 2011 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

Wow, I had no clue his name was Jonothan, and not John

Any clue how/why he changed so much? He almost doubled his K/9 rate overnight

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 19, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Game Theory

Teams are more likely to select Carson in the Rule 5 than McHugh. He’s younger, left-handed, throws harder and has a better secondary pitch. On balance, McHugh arguably has a better arsenal, but he’s not ready to be a starter in the majors, and he needs to stick on a roster for the whole year. You can hide Carson in the bullpen. That said, I think it’s 50/50 he gets selected, though he is not the typical Rule 5 pick. Carson is.

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by Jeffrey Paternostro on Nov 18, 2011 10:09 PM EST up reply actions

True

Carson has more upside than McHugh. Besides being two years younger, he could still figure things out as a youngish lefty and maybe even emerge as a legit SP.
His projection is late inning reliever right now – and how many LH relievers who touch 95 mph have the Mets had since the days of Randy Myers ?
To be honest, I cannot remember a single one.

McHugh´s profile is pretty similar to Dillon Gee or Chris Schwinden. If all goes well a useful back-end rotation SP. If not, maybe a righty setup reliever. Those are much easier to procure than power lefty relievers.

Still, I very much hope that McHugh doesn´t get selected. Seems like a smart guy who could serve as valuable depth over the next few years.

As for Marte, he´s a notch below Flores. While Flores may not be a SS longterm, he may be an adequate 3b or 2b. Marte probably ends up at 1b where his bat really needs to play. Also, Flores has shown better contact hitting skills. Flores would have been much easier to hide on a major league roster for an AL team like, say, the Twins or Mariners, who like toolsy players and have a structural need at 3b longterm.

In Marte´s case, doubt anyone will take a shot, especially with the wrist injury, though we´ll see.

Holt probably is the most intriguing pitcher left off. That said, with the fastball hovering in the 90-92 mph range last year, don´t think the upside is really significant enough to worry about. Beato & Stinson have better velocity & have more potential at this point.

by Doob on Nov 19, 2011 2:33 AM EST up reply actions

Billy Wagner?

by Stephen Schmidt on Nov 19, 2011 4:10 AM EST up reply actions

I think he might mean LHPs in the system.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Nov 19, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Yes

Sorry, forgot to edit:
Who was the last hard-throwing LH reliever (i.e. consistently at 92+ mph) who came up through the Mets system ? My memory begins & ends with Randy Myers in this case. Former prospect David West (traded in 1989 in the Frank Viola deal) ended up as a pretty decent reliever for the Phillies after lengthy & failed trials as a starting pitcher in the 1990s.

For decades, the Mets have run out generic veteran LOOGY types from the scrap heap here – with the rare exception of Dennis Cook in the late 90s and Pedro Feliciano in recent years. And both of those came from outside the organization. Same for Tim Byrdak who was okay in that role in 2011 as a finesse LOOGY.

Instead, it´s been wasting money on the wrong Mike Stanton, Mark Guthrie, Scott Schoeneweis, Ricardo Rincon, Lee Guetterman, Mike Matthews and a host of other geezers or hoping for Royce Ring, Jaime Cerda or Jason Saenz (remember him ?) to come through.

So, Carson was a definite addition based on his upside. And whether he does make it or not eventually…

by Doob on Nov 20, 2011 2:58 AM EST up reply actions

Jack Leathersich and I guess Alex Pantelodis

are another couple of lefty relievers in the system now that can touch 95, but their ways away at this point.

By the way, my favorite of that group of pitchers you listed was Rich Rodriguez. Just awful.

Still Amazin'.
Jose Reyes is a MET in 2012.

by piazza62 on Nov 20, 2011 4:09 AM EST up reply actions

Josh Edgin will probably start in AA and could see big league time later this year.

He supposedly throws mid-90’s with a wipeout slider and had an awesome season between Savannah and St. Lucie. Minor league relievers are crapshoots but I know Toby Hyde thinks he could be for real.

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by Steve Schreiber on Nov 20, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sure the Mets will sign some AAA veterans during Spring Training

Those Miguel Batista types

Bobby Baseball - The future of Amazin' Avenue.

by Bobby Baseball on Nov 18, 2011 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone think there is any chance that any of those players get taken in the draft?

I can’t really see any of them sticking around on a ML roster all year

Down 2 in the bottom of the ninth?
Lets Bring in Willie Harris!

by ShaqKazaam on Nov 19, 2011 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Definitely

Familia isn’t ready to be a major league SP, but he probably could make a decent reliever right now. Nieuwhenhuis would probably be the Mets projected 2012 CF if it werent for his injuries. Someone would give him a chance. Lagares would also get taken for sure. I could even see Havens getting taken.

Bobby Baseball - The future of Amazin' Avenue.

by Bobby Baseball on Nov 19, 2011 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

There's no way Nieuwenhuis would be starting in CF in 2012, even if he didn't have his season cut short

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 20, 2011 12:41 AM EST up reply actions

Sure

Pretty much every non-contender without a stacked farm system would find room to carry someone like Familila – Carson – Havens – Lagares – Nieuwenhuis – Puello and even Flores on its roster in 2012. Familia & Carson in low pressure middle relief roles. Havens & Flores as backup infielders for an AL team. Lagares, Nieuwenhuis and Puello as 5th outfielder types who´ll get to play defense late in games.
It doesn´t matter whether they´re major league ready or not. It matters that one can add talent for almost free to an organization which – at worst – has to be hidden on a major league roster.

So, the Mets made the right calls here.

McHugh, Holt, Rosario (from K-Rod deal), Rhiner Cruz and maybe Marte seem like the 5 Mets who are most in “danger” of being selected. Don´t think anyone should cause sleepless nights for Mets fans. Still, would be nice to to lose them.

by Doob on Nov 20, 2011 3:03 AM EST up reply actions

Aw, hell, kick Baxter off the damn 40-man, and protect Carson and McHugh

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 19, 2011 2:12 PM EST reply actions

I think Baxter and Nickeas get the eventual boot anyways for whatever free agents

we sign/resign.

by FrancoTAU on Nov 19, 2011 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

I think Nickeas sticks around,

even if at the AAA catching depth.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Nov 20, 2011 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

Forget Mike Nickeas

Target Dusty Brown. He’s a career .261/.342/.396 hitter in 10 years in the Minor Leagues, but he hit .285/.367/.506 this past season, so maybe something clicked. He’s known for his excellent defense, primarily, though. Very good defense.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 20, 2011 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

Wasn't he in our system this year?

I know he’s an MiFA now but why did Nick get the callup over him?

Still Amazin'.
Jose Reyes is a MET in 2012.

by piazza62 on Nov 20, 2011 12:45 AM EST up reply actions

He was an Indianapolis Indian

Which, ironically, is a Pirates farm team.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 20, 2011 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

Oh, gotcha

There’s also a catcher in Buffalo called Dusty Ryan, which is just odd.

Still Amazin'.
Jose Reyes is a MET in 2012.

by piazza62 on Nov 20, 2011 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

Catchers named Dusty = new market inefficiency?

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!
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by Steve Schreiber on Nov 20, 2011 1:05 AM EST up reply actions

Here's a list of all of the historical players named or called 'Dusty'

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=dusty

There is a surprisingly large amount of Dusty’s who played catcher: Dusty Boggess, Dusty Brown, Dusty Kravitz, Dusty Reynolds, Dusty Ryan, Dusty Napoleon, and Dusty Wathan. Presumably this is because catcher is a dirty position, I guess? Regardless, apparently, catchers not named Dusty are the new market inefficiency.

My favorite names are Dusty Bullock and Dusty Hall. And, of course, the various Dusty Rhodes’.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Nov 20, 2011 2:03 AM EST up reply actions