The Mets front office made 4 additions to the 40 man roster last night in order to protect them from the upcoming Rule 5 draft in December. SP Erik Goeddel, SP Jacob DeGrom, RP Jeff Walters, and SP Steven Matz are now unable to be selected by other teams. Notable players left exposed include OF Cory Vaughn, RP Chase Huchingson, OF Darrell Ceciliani, 1B Allan Dykstra, SP Darin Gorski, and RP Adam Kolarek.
Goeddel is main question mark amongst the group. Nothing he does really stands out as a must protect. He had a 4.37 ERA with a pretty good 8.4 K/9 rate in 25 starts for Binghamton this year.
His arsenal however is just average. A 92-93 MPH fastball with some sink coupled with a plus curveball, a slider that scouts are mixed on, and a change-up that is below average.
He may be used in the mold of Colin McHugh as an "emergency starter" if needed in the big leagues but in the meantime a start in Las Vegas seems about right.
Steven Matz pitched for the Single A Savannah Sand Gnats last season and completed his first full season of baseball since the Mets drafted him in 2009. In 21 starts, Matz was 5-6 with a 2.62 ERA and a strong 10.2 K/9 rate.
Know for his rare upper 90's fastball from the left side, Matz is widely regarded as the Mets top and ONLY left handed pitching prospect in the minor league system.
He is slated to play for Port St. Lucie next season but don't be surprised if he finishes the year with Binghamton.
Jeff Walters bursted onto the scene late last season after breaking the Binghamton Mets all time career saves record of 36, in just 1 season! At one point Walters had a consecutive save streak of 20.
The former 2010 7th round pick possesses a mid 90's fastball that tops out at 97, a mid 80's slider, and a low 80's change-up. Along with his 36 saves, Walters had a 2.09 ERA and a very healthy 9.6 K/9 rate coupled with an equally healthy (for a reliever) 2.6 BB/9 rate.
Walters should start the year in Las Vegas but will certainly be given the opportunity to fight for a bullpen spot.
DeGrom opened the eyes of the front office with a strong 2012 performance for both Savannah and St. Lucie in his 1st full season of pitching. This, along with his advanced age, led the organization to advance him quickly all the way to Las Vegas last year.
The stats weren't great, a 4.51 ERA with an average 7.3 K/9 rate doesn't exactly scream future star. However, Baseball America grades is fastball as a plus pitch with a 7 out of 8 rating with his slider and change-up earning 6's. Thats not bad for a guy who only has 51 career starts in professional baseball.
He'll start the season with Las Vegas again just for the simple fact that he needs far more innings pitched before becoming a viable option for the big league club.
11 comments:
I guess I will never understand this whole rule 5 draft/process....
The Mets protected Matz for fear of another team drafting him directly on to their MAJOR LEAGUE club....meanwhile, the Mets will now, in turn, throw Matz down in A-ball.......
Fear is the name of the game.
There are club such as the Marlins or Astros who could easily select someone like Matz, hide him in the back end of the bullpen all year, and then let him continue developing in AAA the following season.
I'm sure the brass would rather not lose their top left handed prospect.
I'm still surprised at the Goeddel pick. I think he's a decent pitcher but I can't see him being chosen by another team and being put on their major league roster for the entire season.
Regarding who we may lose, I always worry about young pitching.
All Darin Gorski (also left-handed) did was pitch to a sub 2.00 ERA and a WHIP below 1.00, but he's not worth protecting? Apparently they think more highly of Hansel Robles, Jordany Valdespin, Scott Atchison and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, though I'm not sure why. What about Adam Kolarek? John Church?
@Reese, I was extremely surprised they did not protect Gorski.
As for guys currently on the 40 man.....no worries they will eventually get cut/nontendered once FA signings are made.
Gorski already cleared waivers once...
Not sure what you mean Craig....
This is Gorski's first time eligible for the Rule 5 draft i.e. first time exposed to any sort of claim by another team.
Chris
He and Reese Havens cleared waivers in March. He had already been on the 40 man once before.
I'm not saying he won't get picked up this time.
But he's 26, and has an 88 mph fastball...he can get away with that in AA but if they put him in Vegas next year he will get destroyed...
Ah....you are correct. My apologies Craig.
The team did protect him from the Rule 5 draft last off-season and then had to outright him in order to make room for LaTroy Hawkins.
That going back to notes I've amassed on him....the front office was high on him last year as a LOOGY for the team but with the emergence of Leathersich, Edgin, Rice, and Huchingson, that may been the reason they passed on him this time around.
Still....Can't argue with the results
Chris
You're right, he's always pitched well when healthy. He and Hutchingson are definately at risk.
Have you seen any lists of rule 5 eligables who were left unprotected? I'd be interested to see we might be able to steal...
At this point I have not....however we have a month to figure out who was left unprotected so I'm sure a list will pop up some time soon.
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