Mack and Company: - Free Agent Minor Leaguers

Baseball released the names of all the minor leaguers that became free agents. There were a lot of interesting names on it, especially some pitchers that could fit into the Mets 2012 bullpen. I asked the other writers who they thought should be signed by the Mets and invited to camp”

Charlie T: - Charley T here, after checking up on at least twenty of these free agent pitchers I have come away with little hope of finding a diamond in the ruff.  However, i'll take my flier on a familiar name for Mets fans.  LHP Royce Ring.  He's proven to be affective throughout his minor league career, usually only coming up short at the major league level. Which I believe happens to players on occasion when there fighting for a job.  Hard to get comfortable when you're always pressing.  However, since Herrara seems to be the Mets second lefty, I think with a great showing in spring training, Royce could easily over take Herrera as the second lefty in the pen.  I also wouldn't mind seeing Manny Corpas either.  He has a decent history in Colorado, and has saved over thirty games in his career.  Honestly, I can't imagine having to put a bullpen together with the names on this list.  But for the money Sandy gets paid, he just might have to.

Mike Friere:  Why not Manny?    No, not that Manny, I am referring to Manny Corpas. You know, the 28 year old right hander, who many of us remember as a key component in the Rockies bullpen.  Especially in 2007, when he was an effective closer, posting nineteen saves and four wins, over 78 innings, while striking out 58 batters.    He also obtained playoff experience during that season, as the Rockies almost won the World Series. Now, I know he has been largely ineffective since then, but you have to remember he has had some injury problems and he tried to come back pitching Coors Field!   Not the best place to regain your confidence, if you ask me.   Plus, he was battling Huston Street, who was pretty effective in his own right. Corpas is a minor league free agent, as we know.   He is also looking for a place to re-establish himself.   The Mets have a huge need in the bullpen and I can’t think of a better “lottery ticket”.  He will come cheap, and he can spend the entire spring getting his arm back in shape. Who knows?   If he comes most of the way back, he would look great as sixth or seventh inning righty out of the bullpen.    He needs to get his walk rate back down to 2007 levels, for starters.   Worst case, he is a Spring Training arm and we didn’t lose much.

Prince Rahman:  Can I pick 2? I would say Mark Prior and JD Martin. Both can compete for the number 5 starter job with Dillon Gee and if healthy, both would make great additions to the bullpen. At worst they are depth for Buffalo. I would profile those 2 in the low-risk, high reward category. Both were 1st rounders and still have the talent to succeed in the major League level if HEALTHY.


Phlavio:  James Houser: He's a big lefty who is probably only a middle reliever, but could be a big league lefty in the bullpen. Adam Millier: He's got talent and what appears to be a long and winding injury history.  He COULD be a steal if he gets and stays healthy.


Frank Gray:  Out of the hundreds of minor league reliever options available in free agency this off season, one intriguing pitcher would be Ryan Rowland-Smith. He has a few red flags going against him. First, he was injured halfway through his last season with the Seattle Mariners in 2010. He suffered from a strained back (sound familiar David Wright?). He never reached the majors in 2011. He was with the Houston Astros and he never reached the majors! That tells me he was still hurting. The next red flag is his career 4.57 ERA. That's a bit misleading, though. He had three season in Seattle with an  ERA under 4.00 (3.96, 3.42, 3.74). He has a few pluses too, though. He has experience closing games (even if it was only twice in four years). He has experience as a starter and middle reliever. All of these factors point to two things: he is flexible and he will be cheap. Both points resonate loudly to the ears of Sandy Alderson. The major question is whether he would overcome the injury and make the leap to the Mets. It's a fact that the Mets have had enough injury woes and they don't need another, but if they signed a previously injured player that has a good chance of coming back healthy, it would be worth the risk. The Mets have dealt with Seattle Mariners relievers before in J.J. Putz. That was a case where the Mets dropped the ball. In Rowland-Smith's case, they should consider him for his experience, but be sure to give him a physical.