Mets Sign Jon Rauch

by Chris McShane on Dec 6, 2011 9:18 PM EST

The Mets have signed relief pitcher Jon Rauch, pending a physical. Jim Duquette's reporting that the deal is for $3.5 million, including performance bonuses, presumably for one year.

Rauch has bounced around quite a bit over the past few years, but he spent the 2011 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, earning $3.5 million in the process. Toronto held a club option for the 2012 season at $3.75 million but chose to decline it, paying Rauch a $250,000 buyout instead.

After pretty good years in 2009 and 2010, Rauch struggled mightily in 2011, which explains why the Blue Jays decided to seek alternatives in their bullpen. His 4.85 ERA was by far the worst of any single season in his career, but an xFIP of 4.56 suggests that he may have been at least a little bit unlucky in terms of giving up home runs.

On the upside, Rauch is pretty stingy with the free passes. Over the past three seasons, he's walked only 2.55 batters per nine innings, which isn't elite but is still pretty good. It's a lot better than the rates of the Mets' bullpen this year.

Sandy Alderson made it known at the end of the season that one of his top priorities was intelligently improving the bullpen. Rauch may end up closing games for the Mets, but it wouldn't be surprising for the team to sign another reliever or two over the coming days and weeks.

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I'm hoping we re-sign Chris Young now, just because

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 6, 2011 9:22 PM EST reply actions

I wouldnt mind that either

But like Santana he is a total unknown coming off surgery

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by BlueChill on Dec 6, 2011 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

The Mets' Twin Towers

We might suck at baseball, but we’ll be able to beat the Nets.

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by Russ on Dec 6, 2011 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

yeah that wouldn't be so bad, Young was decent when healthy

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Dec 7, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Not only 3.5 mil which is an overpay imo

but incentives that could lead him to getting more? Don’t like the move.

by graves9 on Dec 6, 2011 9:22 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Well, if he gets the incentives

it means he was good.

by TheBigStapler on Dec 6, 2011 9:25 PM EST up reply actions

A reliever who doesnt give up a lot of walks? UNHEARD OF!!!

I really hope this deal works outs. The LOLpen cant get any worse, right?

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Dec 6, 2011 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

The article above says 3.5 million including incentives, not plus incentives.

by Curtis3331 on Dec 7, 2011 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

Damn you Cot's! I want the FA contract details now, not 3 days from now!

That’s my stance.

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by Michkin on Dec 7, 2011 8:35 PM EST up reply actions

This is a fine move

But I’m waiting for WFAN to blow up over it

AAARRRRRRRSSSSSHHHHHHHHAAAAAAVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!
Dream goal!

by Aidan Gibson on Dec 6, 2011 9:23 PM EST reply actions

Mets are reportedly trading for a reliever too

I’m scared

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only BLUE WALLS.

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by Syler on Dec 6, 2011 9:25 PM EST reply actions

Really?

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

Never mind

I see it now.

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Turner+bay+bats&balls for anyone worth a damn

maybe we can toss in free punches on the wilpons

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Dec 6, 2011 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

Reportedly it's meant to be a closer.

by MetsFanXXIII on Dec 6, 2011 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

Heyman says "multi-player trade"

Sherman just says “trade”

by cpins on Dec 6, 2011 9:30 PM EST reply actions

What is a "trade"?

I only know traid.

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

As I said in the FanShot

They’re basically paying market value (based on fWAR) for a guy coming off his worst season since his rookie year. Not a very good deal.

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by Ogre39666 on Dec 6, 2011 9:31 PM EST reply actions

I'm really, really scared

That we’re about to trade Murph.

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:33 PM EST reply actions

I like it

I’d be more willing to bet that last year was an aberration, seeing as most of his peripherals were within reasonable tolerance of his norms, he just seems to have gotten homer happy (1.90 Hr/9, 12.9% Hr/FB compared to 1.07 Hr/9, 8.3% Hr/FB for his career) He’s also had years like that before sandwiched between good years.

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by blueandorange4life on Dec 6, 2011 9:34 PM EST reply actions

Eh

This is ok. We did need some bullpen help.

by EtSuKe on Dec 6, 2011 9:37 PM EST reply actions

Murphy for Street and a prospect, I guess?

Pretty sure Rauch sucks, but way less hard than Iggy or Carrasco. $3.5M I guess is cheap for a reliever these days though, although the Blue Jays, (who blew 25 saves last year decided not to retain him with a $3.75M option). Not sure if this is a good move.

by robotoverlord on Dec 6, 2011 9:41 PM EST reply actions

Murphy for Street?

Hope not.

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by Ogre39666 on Dec 6, 2011 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

Kuo for F-mart?

dunno, trying to think of a trade that makes sense when we have so little to give up is hard.

by robotoverlord on Dec 6, 2011 9:46 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, Pelfrey for Affeldt?

by robotoverlord on Dec 6, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

Prediction time:

Thornton and Rios for Bay.

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:43 PM EST reply actions

Prediction time:

Fernando Martinez and PTBNL for Ramon Ramirez.

by TheBigStapler on Dec 6, 2011 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

Looks like

This might be Ramon Ramirez and Andres Torres for Pagan. I vote nay.

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:46 PM EST reply actions

I think it's a slight win for us

dont really understand why the giants are doing it, but whatever.

by robotoverlord on Dec 6, 2011 9:52 PM EST up reply actions

Appropos of that

Check this article out

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by blueandorange4life on Dec 6, 2011 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Please tell me no.

It’s like they’re trying to kill me.

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

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 6, 2011 10:05 PM EST up reply actions

Thought he come cheaper to be honest

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by Rey-O on Dec 6, 2011 9:47 PM EST reply actions

he would*

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by Rey-O on Dec 6, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

It's done, according to Sherman

Andres Torres and his .312 OBP is the only hitter capable of hitting leadoff on the team.

Sandy…I just…I just don’t get it. Why?

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by santana9237 on Dec 6, 2011 9:55 PM EST reply actions

It’s not like Pagan had a much better year last year and Ramirez has a solid track record of pitching well throughout his career. Torres had a decent year in 2010 when he played full time. I like the deal, nothing major but at least we know their alive.

by mr1313 on Dec 6, 2011 10:02 PM EST reply actions

Well, I feel sooooooo much better now.

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

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 6, 2011 10:04 PM EST reply actions

This was the worst move of the day

by nerfan on Dec 6, 2011 10:20 PM EST reply actions

Again I would have offered the reliever we sign a million less, but would have offered him 2 years also

but after seeing the option that got declined from Toronto, I understand why the Mets felt the could get him for that money. Haven’t made up my mind on the issue, but there would seem to be a benefit in offering a reliever a little more money to a reliever in order sign a shorter term deal

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by astromets on Dec 6, 2011 11:15 PM EST reply actions