Claudio Vargas Rumors

Odds and Ends: Lieber, Tavarez, Oswalt

We've got mostly smaller stuff today, so let's kick it off with an odds and ends. The Mets designated Claudio Vargas for assignment. I'm a bit surprised, I think he's still a useful pitcher. Pitcher Jon Lieber may retire after the season. 130+ wins, that's a nice career. With Tom Gordon's shoulder barking, the Phillies' desire to add a reliever has intensified. Here's a look at the relief market. When a 2.93 ERA is considered underperforming, expectations were never reasonable. Anyone else get the impression that if Johan Santana's record was 10-3 instead of 7-6, there wouldn't even be a...   Continue Reading

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Mets Close To Deal With Claudio Vargas

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets are close to a minor league deal with free agent righty Claudio Vargas. It's a smart move; they need someone who can eat innings at a league average ERA. Four teams were pursuing Vargas. Vargas, 29 in May, has always posted a decent strikeout rate. If he rediscovers his control from '06 and limits the longball, he could be solid. No risk for the Mets. Vargas initially balked at the idea of going to the minors, but perhaps he couldn't find any better offers.   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Pedro's Injury

Earlier this week Pedro Martinez pulled a hamstring in his first start of '08 and is expected to be out until mid-May. The loss of Martinez will likely only cost the Mets seven to eight starts, which might only be a difference in two to three wins over that span. Of course, two or three more wins in '07 and the Mets would have spent October in the playoffs. With the importance of every single start magnified this year for the Mets, it would not be surprising for Omar Minaya to seek outside help as a contingency plan for Martinez...   Continue Reading

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Vargas Unlikely To Sign With Mets

David Lennon of Newsday talked to Claudio Vargas' agent, Bean Stringfellow. Stringfellow indicated that the Mets are not the right situation for his client. That may be because the Mets want to send Vargas to Triple A, as Jayson Stark suggested yesterday. The Mets are not completely out of the picture, but Stringfellow is looking for better opportunities and may get a contract for Vargas by the weekend. Apparently a deal with another team was close but fell through. The Angels could work, as could the Mariners if they want to use Miguel Batista as their closer for a while....   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Bonds, Howard, Vargas

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up; let's take a look. Stark surveyed execs from three teams about why Barry Bonds remains unemployed. They provided the answers you'd expect, and collusion isn't one of them. One of the team officials believes a major injury to one of the 14 DHs could very well result in a Bonds signing. Related note: Gary Sheffield just tore a tendon in his finger. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman speculates that Bonds would be a nice match with the Blue Jays. There are signs that Ryan Howard wants an unprecedented contract - he won't...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: DeWitt, Murton, Vargas, Hatteberg, Pena, Baek, Piazza

Ken Rosenthal has his latest column up at FoxSports.com. As usual he is not shy about stirring up rumors. Let's take a look at what the rumor-guru has to say: Rosenthal notes that the Dodgers will go with Blake DeWitt at third base who has never played a game above AA. This comes after the Dodgers failed to acquire either the Astros' Mark Loretta, who was unavailable and the Royals' Esteban German, who was too expensive. The Royals were asking for the Dodgers' third best prospect, shortstop Chin-Lung Hu. He indicates that the Padres and the Rays are pursuing Matt...   Continue Reading

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Mets Interested In Vargas

The Mets are currently considering Orlando Hernandez, Mike Pelfrey, and Jorge Sosa for their fifth starter job. A little more depth wouldn't hurt. According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, Omar Minaya said the Mets "will have a strong interest" in Claudio Vargas. Minaya once traded for Vargas as GM of the Expos. My gut says Vargas could be solid with the Mets. His strikeout rate and control never seemed to match up with his ERA. If Rick Peterson could help him keep the ball in the yard, a low 4s ERA over 180 innings seems possible. There...   Continue Reading

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Brewers Release Claudio Vargas

According to Tom Haudricourt, the Brewers have released 29 year-old starter Claudio Vargas. It's a very surprising move. The Brewers save $2.7MM with the move. Just like that, the Brewers' starting pitching surplus is pretty much gone. Even if the ERAs haven't been there, you have to credit Vargas for good peripheral stats (6.43 K/9, 3.48 BB/9 for his career). To me he's an affordable #4 starter with the chance to post 175 innings of 4.50 ball. All sorts of pitching-starved clubs should be vying for his services. Joel Sherman notes Omar Minaya's history with Vargas.   Continue Reading

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