Yu Gotta Believe!

If Not Yu, Then Who?: Wondering who the attractive Japanese man who borrowed Ringo Starr's mustache is? It's Yu Darvish, 25 year old pitcher from Japan and... THE top pitching "free agent" (Not an actual FA until 2014) for 2012. What else do you want to know? He's 6'5" tall and from what I can tell filled with cotton candy (he only weighs 187 pounds). He's married to a movie star and has two young children. Oh... and he's probably the best Japanese pitcher to post in America... so far... sorry Daisuke.

Scouting:
Fastball - Low 90's (Tops out at 96)
Secondary - Slider, Curveball, Splitter, Changeup and Cutter
Command - Described as PLUS

The Question Is: Even assuming we sign Jose Reyes, should the Mets go after Yu?

What I Like About Yu: Lets look at some stats. He's averaged over 200 K's per season in 4+ years pitching in Japan (AAAA, in terms of the minors). This season he currently sports a 1.56 ERA, 10.2 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9. PLUS... as I've mentioned... HE'S ONLY 25!!! Let's look at the MLB Free Agents Available: Mark Buehrle (33), Ryan Dempster (35), Edwin Jackson (28), Scott Kazmir (28), Roy Oswalt (34) and C.J. Wilson (31). Sure, I cherry picked a little but you get the picture. Nobody who can REALLY come in and assume a front of the rotation role with any surety AND NOBODY under 28. So... sign him, right? Well... it's not that easy. He's 25 and looks like a sure thing for success in the majors but... every other team knows that he's really the best arm to be had this off season... so he comes at a price. That includes BOTH posting and contract.

Yu Had Me At Hello: What does this picture tell you? Yu has a drinking problem. Thus far the clear front-runners in the Darvish Derby are the Yankees (Cuz We Got Money), the Red Sox (Cuz we also got money) and the Mariners (If they are Japanese... we are interested). Clearly, the Yankees and Boston can out-bid everyone, case closed. NOT SO FAST! Boston was VERY recently burned by signing a can't miss Japanese hurler for a bunch of money, the Yankees are likely to eye Albert Pujols as some kind of way to win at baseball without needing to play the game and Seattle... well they aren't exactly ready to win right now. Ready for the $3 Billion Dollar Question? How much money do the Mets have?

Well... that is an interesting point. The Mets have $64.8 Mil devoted for 2012. That doesn't include Reyes and it doesn't include arb raises. So... let us imagine that The Mets have spent $75 Mil after giving out the raises and signing the illusive LOOGY of the year. That easily leaves $20 Mil for Reyes (though I'd hope he'd be less) and PLENTY of money for Darvish. This assumes that Alderson actually HAS the freedom to go up to $120 Million dollars in payroll and that the Wilpons have enough free cash to spend on posting rights for a player. How much will he cost?

Matsuzaka Cost:
$51.1 Million Dollars (Posting Rights)
Signed 6-Year $52 Mil Deal

Darvish is younger, his stuff is better and the market is well in his favor so...

Yu Darvish Cost:
$60 Million (or more) Dollars (Posting Rights)
Average Yearly Contract $10-12 Million

Is he worth it? You decide, but note that there really isn't anyone the Mets NEED to go after this off season and starting pitching remains the biggest immediate need.

2012 Rotation:
1. Johan Santana, LHSP
2. Yu Darvish, RHSP
3. Jonathan Niese, LHSP
4. R.A. Dickey, RHSP
5. Dillon Gee, RHSP

Where's Pelfrey, he was traded in Spring Training once it was clear the Mets could rely on Gee. Of course... should that prognostication be false, swap Gee out and put Pelfrey in. He's still the #5 pitcher.

Did You Catch All The References?

Ya Gotta Believe - 1973 Mets Slogan
Not Me, Then Who - Thee who stole yon cookie from the like named receptacle
What I Like About You - The Romantics
You Had Me At Hello - Jerry McGwire
Drinking Problem - Airplane!