Tony Plate = Mets and Yankees Sign Free Agents

                                                 

Both the New York Mets and Yankees signed free agents this month. Rick Porcello was born in New Jersey where he still makes his home which was basically the reason, he chose to sign with the Mets for a one-year $10 million deal even though the Toronto Blue Jays offered him more money.

He attended a few Mets games at Shea stadium growing up and one of his favorite teams was the 2000 team. He was a fan of Al Leiter who vouched for him immediately when free agency began.

Rick qualified for the earned run average title each of his eleven seasons which was impressive. He won the American League Cy Young Award with Boston, recording a 3.15 ERA in 223 innings. His earned run average was 5.52 in 2019.

The Mets hope he can return to his 2016 form. He has had some extra time this Winter trying to rebuild physically, mentally, mechanically to be ready for spring training.

Michael Wacha, who was a former teammate of Carlos Beltran in 2013 agreed to terms with the Mets and signed a one-year deal worth $3 million. Now the Mets have six proven starters for five spots.

Brodie Van Wagenen’s goal this Winter was to add staring pitching depth and he accomplished it. These signings tell me that Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellsman will remain in the bullpen where Brodie hopes to add more depth which was also one of his goals this Winter.

When the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole they became the Yankees again after they stayed away from signing players to huge long-term deals during the last few seasons. Cole, 29 agreed to a nine-year, $324 million deal.

He went 20-5 with a 2.50 earned run average and was the biggest prize of free agency this offseason. In my opinion, I think Hal Steinbrenner probably felt he had to sign a top free agent pitcher to satisfy the fan base since 2009 was the last time the Yankees won it all.

The Yankees got hurt in the past when it came to signing players to huge free agent contracts such as A-Rod for ten years and $275 million and Jacoby Ellsbury for seven years at $153 million.

You have to be very cautious when you sign a player to a long-term contract in the event an injury occurs. A general manager should put in an insurance policy with such a contract at all times.