It's been a quiet offseason for free agent pitcher Todd Wellemeyer. The 31-year-old righty has surfaced in nary a rumor aside from a November 20th Brewers mention by SI's Jon Heyman. Today, MLBTR learned that the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Rockies expressed interest at various points. Wellemeyer would prefer to continue starting.
Wellemeyer had a strong 2008 season for the Cardinals, posting a 3.71 ERA in 191.6 innings. But even then there were a few warning signs. His strikeout and walk rates were nothing special at 6.3 and 2.9 per nine. He's a flyball pitcher, leading to 25 home runs in those 32 starts. The biggest concern was the innings jump – Wellemeyer had spent most of his big league career as a reliever.
Wellemeyer agreed to a $4.05MM deal in his final year with the Cards. 2009 didn't go well – his elbow started hurting, his velocity and control slipped, and more flyballs left the yard. He might have to accept a minor league deal for 2010 to redeem himself.
Don’t even THINK about it, Omar (and Co.)!
With what they are doing this offseason, they don’t appear to be thinking much.
Noticed that too, did you? How should Mets fans despair? Let me count the ways…
For a minor league deal, I’d think about it. Fly ball pitcher in Citi Field?
What the Mets need isn’t another fly ball pitcher per sé. What they need is another pitcher who doesn’t suck, whatever his repertoire.
How about a fly ball pitcher at Coors Field? but like you said i think a minor league deal might be something to thing about….would much prefer this guy than Gregg, and he would be much cheaper.
This was my first reaction too.
I wonder what the odds are that the Nationals finish ahead of the Mets.
At this moment I’d say they’re “a lock” to. But hey, maybe I’ll snap out of it.
a lock? you realise they lost 103 games last year? the mets lost 92 with a team of bench players.
Gettin’ a little too literal on me, chief! My comment was meant as a lighthearted reflection of my frustration with the Mets’ ‘improvements’ to the team this offseason; particularly the glaring needs that still go unaddressed. Just a little subtle humor.
He’ll probably end up in Milwaukee to be yet another pitcher-in-the-NL-Central-Who-Only-Pitches-Well-Against-The-Cards (PITNCWOPWATC for short). See: Jeff Suppan
Braden looper as well .. And it’s not against the cards.. It’s with
I don’t see why teams wouldn’t want to take a chance on this guy. He probably won’t put up a season like 2008’s ever again, but still you can do worse at the back of your rotation or even the bullpen. I have no idea what’s going on at the back of the DBacks rotation, if them or any other team picks him up on a minor league deal, what is there to lose? A contending team doesn’t have Ian Kennedy in their rotation, see: New York Yankees.
Also, he has a filthy slurve in MLB the Show, haha.
Agree 100%. What’s the risk? He takes up a roster spot. If it doesn’t pan out he gets cut. The dollars will be low and if he can pitch in the 4.50-5.00 ERA range then he would be an upgrade for virtually any club in the #5 spot.
Including Pineiro.
Watching him pitch in 2009 was unbearable. LaRussa had inexplicable loyalty to him as the 5th starter. Even his good outings in 2008 barely went 5 innings because he issues a lot of walks, so he probably is better suited to being a middle reliever. Actually, he is best suited to being in the minors.
I guess Wellemeyer is proof that some pitching miracles are even beyond the skills of the mighty Dave Duncan. Who’da thunk it?
Wellemeyer did not show up at all for 2009. He was serviceable in 2008 and the last half of 2007 though.
Come on Hendry! Give TWell a minor league deal!
Is hendri’s idea of a minor league deal 4 years and 60million?
I do have an old Cubs wellemeyer jersey
Give him a shot in Seattle eh? Huge expanses should help his ERA, he could be the fifth starter. Felix/Lee/RowlandSmith/Snell/Wellemeyer.