Wagner Out For A Year; Mets Now Need A Closer For '09

Well this kinda gets rid of the big obstacle to signing KRod... I wonder if he's already thinking about what he'll look like in blue.

My bet is it's a match.

Lol to you clowns that think you're gettin K-Rod.

However signs k-rod is going to have to WAY overpay and realize the very real risk of injury. With his throwing motion it's only a matter even though he's very durable so far, for most pitcher's its just a matter of time. He might be the best closer in baseball but he might nit either way he is going to get more than someone who will pitch 80 innings max should get.

The Mets have so much money coming off the books this season in combination with Wagner's injury, that signing K-Rod is a no-brainer and they will stop at nothing to get him. I can also see them making a splash in the starter's department with a Derek Lowe type, while re-signing Perez as well.

thank you, melonis, on both counts. gotta love brave fans flying off the handle.

K-Rod to the Mets would be great, but I don't know if they are going to throw that kind of money at him. I can see them going after Fuentes. They will also try and resign Perez and get another starter like Sheets or CC to round out their staff. Neise will probably be in the rotation next year as the #5 starter or maybe go after Dempster.

The problem with Maine as closer is teh Mets won't have any decent starters. We don't know what is gonig to happen to Pedro and Perez has Boras as a agent, so god konws. Johan is durable and Pelfrey seems legit as an above average starter. Past that, Maine is the only other given which still leaves two spots open or with Maine in the bullpen, three spots. THe Mets don't have the depth at starter to move a good pitcher like Maine to the bullpen.

He isn't having tommy john surgery. He has a torn flexor tendon not a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

For the kind of money you are going to spend to get KRod you can add 1-2 mil and sign someone like Sheets to solidify the rotation at 4/70.

And oh yeah, adding Randy Wolf and Jon Garland to the Mets pitching staff in place of Oliver Perez and Pedro is hardly stacking up anything. Bleh. Gross. The Mets will make a good offer for Oliver Perez. If they sign him, then I think they will offer Pedro a one year deal, just to keep him around as a 5th starter and to help with younger pitchers. He is also loved and he is a big part of the clubhouse chemistry, if you are into that type of thing. If not Pedro, I see them going after a guy like Derek Lowe, or another guy that they could sign to a relatively short term deal. Lowe would also be a good fit in NY I think, since they have a pretty solid infield defense and an above average offense. Hopefully, we have Johan, Pelfrey, and Oliver Perez leading the rotation. Maine will be back in 2009. I don't like the idea of putting him in the bullpen the more I think about it. His two biggest weaknesses are bases on balls and giving up homeruns. So there is the front 4. The question then becomes who is the number 5 guy. If not Pedro there are a ton of options. You could even let a guy like Claudio Vargas or Jon Niese have a shot at it. The way I feel about signing K-Rod is that, if you really want to shell out 5/75, then go the whole 9 yards, and sign CC for 6/120. It is only slightly more money annually, for less risk, and in almost all certainty, more production.

"However, that could allow them to stretch Papalboner into a starter so that it helps his shoulder. Papalboner only stayed a closer cause Boston has no one in their bullpen."

I dont think thats a realistic possibility, Boston would not want to mess up what Papplebon has given them out of the pen, and given their situation in their rotation he is more important in the pen.

Phillies fans must be ecstatic over this Wagner news, yes?

The last I heard on Niese is that he would get a long hard look but nothing is for certain(it never is with young starters). It would be a good idea to sign a veteran guy that has starting experience that would also be a viable option out of the bullpen for long relief to both limit the innings on Niese if he does stick or replace him if he isn't ready or if the Mets think he should spend some time in the pen himself. Don't forget that Heilman started in the minors and wants another shot at it in the majors so he could be an option.

melonis... tough to say on Niese. He had one start so far, and against the worst team for a young lefty to make his first start. Milwaukee. He got into trouble early, settled down and looked sharp for 3 innings, then started getting bombed in the 4th. He has a decent fastball, low 90's, around 89-92, that he is agressive with and throws up in the strike zone. He has a plus curveball, that he throws up and down in the strikezone. He throws a lot of curveballs that drop right into the top of the strikezone, a la Barry Zito. He has an average change, with upside, it has improved as the year has gone on and he locates it fairly well. Nice fluid motion and challenges hitters. I would like too see him get another couple of starts, against teams that dont absolutely kill lefties, but it might not be possible being in a pennant race. In a lot of ways Niese reminds me of Zito, when Zito sat around 90 mph. Same sort of stuff, and a similar approach, from what I have seen so far. The stuff is there, it is a matter of whether he challenges hitters and make the adjustments. It certainly wouldn't be the worst thing to let him pitch another year, or atleast part of one in the minors.

i'm not sold on neise yet, he's too green.

can we please stop associating ben sheets with the mets? his injury rap sheet is enough to warrant a substantial pause against throwing the big dollars at him. i'd love to have cc but i don't see that happening either. jon garland is a waste of money too but more palatable if you're looking for a fourth starter.

i have faith in omar.

Hopefully the Mets will make it much harder for the my Angels to resign Frankie. I really DO NOT want him back at a price tag of $15m/year. Would much rather use in house options and spend that money on impact bats.

I can't understand why people think Heilman would be a good starter. If you think he is a bad reliever try seeing that throughout the whole game. One good game two bad. It will be like Oliver Perez under Peterson only worse. He can't pitch in New York.

I do think heilman will end up like Brad Lidge getting booed out of Houston and do well somewhere else.

Heilman strikes out a batter per inning, doesn't walk many, is tough too hit, and is durable. He will be back in some capacity in 09, without a doubt.

nrmax- Thanks for the insight on Niese. With Vargas, Niese, and possibly Heilman, the Mets have three options for the #5 spot (Heilman could be a good starter, he's just not good in the clutch; he has decent peripherals).

BucSox- Why would the Indians go after K-Rod. IT would be a MUCH bigger risk and waste for a smaller-market team like the Tribe than it would be for a team like the Mets. My guess is K-Rod to Mets/Angels/Tigers (I prefer Angels)

Ben Sheets at 4/60 would be a much better value than K-Rod at the same price, even though Ben Sheets will most likely get injured for a part of the duration, he'll probably give you more innings throughout the contract that K-Rod will. And he's more dominant.

"doesn't walk many"
He has walked 40 in 72 innings.

Really he has walked 34. 6 of them were intentional. And this season is an abberation for Heilman. He doesnt walk guys. He also doesn't put up 5 era's.

The idea behind giving Heilman a shot is only really doable IF you sign a vet that could be a good swingman giving you inning in the rotation and out of the bullpen. If you have 4 starters (Santana, Maine, Pelfry, and one more of the Lowe, Garland variety)that you know are gonna be able to lead the rotaion then you fifth starter can be FA/Niese/Heilman?other in house options without hurting you over the course of the season and still give you a set 4 for the playoffs. Plus don't forget the Mets have many other holes closer, set-up, catcher, and at least 1 if not 2 outfield spot to throw money at. If the Mets can learn anything by looking across the city at the Yankees its that BALANCED teams win in October not the team with the most big contracts.

Adam H. - THANK YOU. Look at the top 5 best bullpens by ERA in MLB.

Blue Jays- Ryan is a great closer, but they have Camp, Downs, League, Tallet and Frasor

Dodgers- Saito, their closer's been down. They have Broxton, Wade, Beimel, Kuo, etc.

Phillies- Lidge closes, Durbin, Condrey, Madson

A's- Relies on rookies a lot, but Ziegler, Devine, Street, and Blevins make a solid core.

Rays- Wheeler, Bradford, Balfour, Howell. Percival blows, but there's still depth to go around. The pen didn't implode when Percival went down.

Several of those pens cost less per season than K-Rod alone will next year.

Another reason signing K-Rod for the big contract he's looking for is a bad idea for ANY team. Any.

Since it was a dumb idea for the Reds, a team coming off a 72 Win season, to sign Franciso Cordero to a four year, $46 million dollar deal in the first place, it would probably make more since for the Mets to trade for Cordero than sign K-Rod.

I mean, Wayne Krivsky, Special Assistant in the Mets Front Office was the Reds GM when Cordero was signed. So, if he liked him enough to sign him for a LOSING team then he shoud like him enough to trade for him.

Before anybody says anything about it, yes, I know, Cordero has a No Trade Clause. But so did Johan Santana and he was traded.

Take Trevor Hoffman off our hands, please. Signed the City of San Diego

Pedro wouldn't make a good reliever his problem is that he can't get loose in the first inning. He usually gives up runs in the first and then settles down.

As a Met fan, no way I am moving Niese for Coco Cordero. I am not even against moving Niese. I would definitely move him in the right situation, but that is not a good one.

Mitch, the fact that the Mets have holes to fill (although catcher is not one), is the number one reason why Heilman should get a chance too start, yet you are making it a reason why he shouldnt. The idea that Heilman could possibly give you 200 innings of 4.40/1.20 ball for very cheap is a huge oppurtunity. If you want that kind of production from a free agent. Say Jon Garland, it is going to cost you upwards of 10 million a year. Would you rather have Heilman starting for a couple mil, or Garland for 10 mil. I will take Heilman over Garland even at the same salary. At a fraction of the cost, it is a no brainer.

The fact is that Garland has a proven record as a starter, Heilman doesn't, plain and simple. I also voiced the opinion very early on that Heilman and Niese should get first shot at the fifth spot. and you consider the Catcher spot strong why? Brian Schnieder, Ramon Castro? YAHTZEE BABY!

And yeah, Garland has a proven crappy track record. So does Steve Trachsel. You want him? Garland is mediocre at best, and he is going to cost you 8 figures. Heilman has better stuff, and will cost a fraction of the price. You will probably get similar production out of them.

I don't know maybe watch Yaddy Molina here in St. Louis and seeing what REAL frontline defense behind the plate looks likes makes it hard to compare other catchers. and there's in no way that Schnieder is among the top 10 catchers in the majors period.

I dont think Molina's defense is better then Schneiders. There is more to catching games then just throwing the ball. But yes, Molina is a nice catcher. Still missing the point. Defense and leadership are the most important things to look for in a catcher, not a good stick. I disagree with you about Schneider being in the top 10 catchers. If I have to pick a catcher, and I can't get Martin, Mauer, McCann, Soto, or one of the top tier guys who have both bat and glove, I am going with a guy like Brian Schneider or Jason Kendall, a guy who can handle a pitching staff and put the ball in play.

1.No team has premier offensive players at every position. Not even Texas. Not even the Yankees. Mets have well above average offense for the position at 1B, 3B, SS, and CF. C is great.

2. Nobody will know about Pelfrey's playoff abilities (his ability to be the 2 punch in the playoffs) until he pitches in the playoffs. He could be, or he could implode in the playoffs. He's still young.

3.This is just a general question. What's the problem with trying Heilman as starter? I just don't get it If he's horrible, move him to the pen or cut him. Put in Niese/Vargas. The 5 spot isn't really a "premier" position, its just a "eat innings" position.