Like the Good, the Bad and the Ugly the pitchers of note in this upcoming offseason. I read a nice piece this morning on the merits of signing C.J. Wilson but I can't be sure I agree with it. Lets just evaluate the options before we jump head-long into that fray.The Young:
Yu DarvishBorn: August 16, 1986
Height: 196cm
Weight: 98kg
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
| Year | G | W | L | H | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
| 2005 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 97 | 7 | 48 | 52 | 3.53 |
| 2006 | 25 | 12 | 5 | 128 | 12 | 64 | 115 | 2.89 |
| 2007 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 123 | 9 | 49 | 210 | 1.82 |
| 2008 | 25 | 16 | 4 | 136 | 11 | 44 | 208 | 1.88 |
| 2009 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 118 | 9 | 45 | 167 | 1.73 |
| 2010 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 158 | 5 | 47 | 222 | 1.78 |
| 2011 | 23 | 16 | 5 | 128 | 4 | 30 | 223 | 1.47 |
Yu has been good in Japan from the first year he pitched but he's also gotten better. Starting 2012 as a 25 year old, he's likely the second best overall talent available in free agency. However he COULD be the most expensive.
We all remember Matsuzaka and the insane price Boston paid for negotiating rights to him. The Wilpons could be looking at a posting fee in the same $50 Million range (though I think the climate of spending has changed) and that is a VERY un-Wilpon thing to do.
The Fat:
Carsten Charles Sabathia Born: July 21, 1980
Height: 6' 7''
Weight: 290
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
| Year | G | W | L | H | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
| 2005 | 31 | 15 | 10 | 185 | 19 | 62 | 161 | 4.03 |
| 2006 | 28 | 12 | 11 | 182 | 17 | 44 | 172 | 3.22 |
| 2007 | 34 | 19 | 7 | 238 | 20 | 37 | 209 | 3.21 |
| 2008 | 35 | 17 | 10 | 223 | 19 | 59 | 251 | 2.70 |
| 2009 | 34 | 19 | 8 | 197 | 18 | 67 | 197 | 3.37 |
| 2010 | 34 | 21 | 7 | 209 | 20 | 74 | 197 | 3.18 |
| 2011 | 31 | 19 | 8 | 213 | 15 | 55 | 216 | 2.93 |
Sabathia is likely to opt out of his enormous contract with the Yankees to sign an even more enormous contract with... well... probably the Yankees. He's already making around (or over) $23 Million per year and his new contract is likely to be higher or (at the very least) longer.
But...
Wouldn't it be nice to steal talent from those cross-town rivals? Sabathia is the only TRULY proven Ace in the free agent market (Carpenter WAS and Ace... now he's just Old). If the Wilpons HAD to shell out big money, wouldn't it make sense to do it for proven talent?
The Lefty:
Christopher John WilsonBorn: November 18, 1980
Height: 6' 1''
Weight: 210
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
College: Loyola Marymount
| Year | G | W | L | H | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
| 2010 | 33 | 15 | 8 | 161 | 10 | 93 | 170 | 3.35 |
| 2011 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 178 | 15 | 67 | 190 | 3.01 |
Wilson has only been a starter for a few seasons but he's been a roaring success. Add that he's in the AL... in a hitter's park... and he's JUST north of 30 and he seems like a pretty good option.
Of the legitimate free agents, he's probably the guy most clubs will be targeting. Sure... Sabathia is more proven and Darvish is younger with a higher ceiling... but Wilson is attainable. Well... if he wasn't that "attainable" guy for EVERYONE.
Here's My Point:
The Mets NEED to improve pitching and cannot rely on every prospect turning into the next Nolan Ryan or Doc Gooden. Instead we need to use free agency to protect us in case we actually wind up with Paul Wilsons and Bill Pulsiphers. If I'm running the team I... still can't bid on Sabathia he'll REALLY just cost too much. HOWEVER before I go hog-wild for Wilson I'm trying to win posting rights on Darvish. Lefty or not... Darvish is the best pitching value available in the next offseason.
Given the choice, who would you try for first?
9 comments:
Let me approach this in a more pragmatic way, rather than answer it as who I would "want".
Darvish is NOT an option in 2012. The money isn't there.
The same goes for C.C.
Regarding Wilson, he would be a financial option but only if Jose Reyes isn't resigned.
There's only room for one more big contract in 2012... Reyes or someone.
I still believe that Reyes will return to the Mets and Chris Young will sign another one-year deal.
You see, you and I disagree on the amount of money the Mets can and should spend.
The Wilpons lost a lot of fans this year with the woes of their finances and the rebuilding mentality.
I don't think the rebuild is magically finished, but I do think the Wilpons would be well served by making a second FA splash beyond Reyes.
Fans will (and should) see Reyes as a move that is merely treading water. We've HAD Reyes and keeping him is GREAT (Needed) but we think that the team needs more to win. If the Wilpons gave Alderson the approval to go out and get another larger contract in free agency they will bring back fans.
I could still see a world where Alderson trades Davis for pitching and signs Pujols. I think the Mets are THAT interested in bringing butts back into the stadium and I don't think JUST signing Reyes does that.
maybe it's age, but I'm long past what the Mets want or need...
the Mets will not have a payroll over $110mil and no one will get a super duper contract except Jose Reyes.
That's the fact, jack.
:)
Not to get heated but I don't like people making blanket statements about what WILL and WONT happen. We don't really know what WILL happen.
In your professional opinion the Met payroll will sit around $110 Million.
In my opinion the fan response to the Mets payroll starting that low will be negative and the Wilpons will raise that number.
If everything were 100% up to Alderson that $110 might be accurate but remember that the Wilpons want a product on the field that generates buzz and revenue. This means that making a move is ALWAYS a possibility.
so, you don't like people like me?
Miss-spoke:
I don't like WHEN people make blanket statements.
There is a lot of IF in the world.
I want what Phavilo says to happen to happen. However, there is no way in HELL it will. Mack is right, there will not be any big bucks spent other then for Reyes & if his price tag doesnt drop, you can say goodbye to him too. Thinking the Mets will spend alot, even wisely, will not happen in 2012 or until the Mets already have a winner built and a full Citifield.
Charles, if the Mets can't open the purse strings AT ALL I don't see how they can have a winner built or a full Citifield. They can be competitive and even exciting at times, but I think it will be a long road to mediocrity if they think they can add almost all of the pieces they need cheaply. The Mets are going to need at least one more established pitcher if they expect to do anything before 2015. That's a lot of lost revenue for the Wilpons as people won't shell out much money for an average team.
Phlavio, GREAT POINT about Wilson. If everyone thinks he's attainable then he'll be in demand by EVERYONE looking for pitching and thus much less attainable.
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