The Mets have discussed Fausto Carmona internally, but have not yet approached the Indians about acquiring the right-hander, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. (all Twitter links). Carmona, who is enjoying a resurgent season, makes a guaranteed $8.9MM through 2011 at which point the Indians have three consecutive club options. As Olney notes, the affordable options through 2014 make Carmona appealing as long as he is pitching well.
That has certainly been the case so far in 2010. The former 19-game winner has a 3.31 ERA in 92.1 innings with 5.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. Carmona has always been a ground ball pitcher, rather than a strikeout pitcher, and he has a robust 57% ground ball rate that has helped him keep the ball in the park (six homers allowed).
The Mets are looking for top starters, but are unsure that Carmona will adjust smoothly to the pressures of playing in New York, according to an article Olney wrote over the weekend. If they prefer to acquire a veteran on the brink of free agency, they could look to Carmona's teammate, Jake Westbrook, or others such as Kevin Millwood and Ben Sheets.
I think Carmona could flourish in the giant ball park that is Citi Field..
i would think that carmona’s price tag would be rather high sense he is going to be with a team longer than just a year.
Don’t see the Indians trading him, but if they do, he’ll be dominant in Citi Field!
It could work, but he doesn’t put them over the top like Lee does….the benefit is Lee will still be sought after in the offseason…..its a little ridiculous to think of a rotation of Santana/Pelfrey/Lee/Carmona/Niese…..but you never know
Carmona doesn’t really seem like the dominant type but moving to the NL and to that park would certainly work in his favor. Has anything in his past indicated he couldn’t handle pitching in NY or is it just NY writers being passively condescending to the rest of the nation? Get over yourselves boys, Carlos Silva self-destructed in Seattle, should we start asking if players can handle playing there too? It happens everywhere, the rest of us just don’t cry over it as much.
I would be cautious here. Talent or no, Carmona’s had a lot of ups and downs over the course of his career, and if the Mets acquire him and he falls apart down the road, I don’t know that they have anyone with the necessary skill to put him back together. Dan Warthen ain’t all that.
Are we talking about the same ‘cautious’ Mets that sign ‘veteran’ (ie, just-over-the-hill) pitchers like Pedro, Glavine? or the Mets that pick up ‘hot young talent’ (Maine, Putz, Heilmann)? ;)He’s probably a solid 2/3 spot guy on the Indians (I only have cursory knowledge of their rotation so you’ll have to excuse some ignorance on my part. If they’re earnestly trying to compete for the NL East this season, or Wild Card at least, they’ll need someone that Johan has to compete with for the #1 spot. I personally would rather see Lee, but Oswalt wouldn’t disappointment me.
Are we talking about the same ‘cautious’ Mets that sign ‘veteran’ (ie, just-over-the-hill) pitchers like Pedro, Glavine? or the Mets that pick up ‘hot young talent’ (Maine, Putz, Heilmann)?;)”“We” are not talking about either. This is pure ME talking to ALL the abovementioned Mets…and [sadly] the caution is all mine! ☹☺ Seriously, your assessment is in the same spirit that generated my comments. It’s just that if the Mets could swing it, I would prefer to see them acquire Oswalt over Lee. To make either trade they’d have to give up talent, and to me there’s no point handing over a piece of the farm for a guy who is determined to hit the free agent market this winter. So, unless the Amazins have some tricks up their sleeve, it’s just too much to sacrifice for too little of a great Lee.PS: So, what does “Boh” stand for? Boston? Bohemian? I give up!
I 100% agree with you. I’m an O’s/Mets fan, so I half-joke about their trades and acquisitions. I personally would rather save the farm for someone other than a half-season/1 1/2 season rental. Even if he does want to stay, do we want another Pedro/Glavine? I can go without a playoffs for a few years if it means a better, YOUNG (emphasis) team for 3-5 years. Save the money to resign Reyes or Beltran if he can be healthy.
RE: Boh: It’s short for National Bohemian beer. ‘From the Land of Pleasant Living’ (ie, Baltimore.) :)
“Bohemian?!” Wow, I actually got it (not that I had the slightest clue what it symbolized though!). Well, good to know – although sadly this info comes a week too late. I went to Charm City last week for the Mets-O’s series (must’ve been one helluva conflicting weekend for you, yes?). Looks like I grabbed the “wrong” brew, but at least I got me some awesome crab cakes! :-D
Anyway, great park, great fans, so win or lose, it’s always good times!
I 100% agree with you. I’m an O’s/Mets fan, so I half-joke about their trades and acquisitions. I personally would rather save the farm for someone other than a half-season/1 1/2 season rental. Even if he does want to stay, do we want another Pedro/Glavine? I can go without a playoffs for a few years if it means a better, YOUNG (emphasis) team for 3-5 years. Save the money to resign Reyes or Beltran if he can be healthy.
RE: Boh: It’s short for National Bohemian beer. ‘From the Land of Pleasant Living’ (ie, Baltimore.) :)
What a strange headline. It makes the Mets sound like high school girls, calling up their friends at other teams. “What do you think of Fausto Carmona? I totally don’t think he can pull off those road greys.”
I think I’d probably give Carmona a little bit more time work up his value before I trade him. He would bring back a useful package now, but if he keeps it up through the whole season and returns to the Fausto Carmona we used to know, then he’ll have tremendous trade value in the winter.
If they want Carmona my guy who is under team control on the cheap through 2014 it would take the following
Fernando Martinez / Brad Holt / and Zach Lutz or Robbie Shields.
If they want Westbrook it would take the following
Brad Holt and Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Or if they want both Carmona and Westbrook for the run for
Martinez / Holt / Nieuwenhuis / Lutz & Shields
Honestly I hope they don’t go after Westbrook, he has never impressed me, and the Mets shelled him the last time they played him.
I would rather them just go for Carmona, and try to save the farm as much as possible.
I would say he’s worth Martinez (who I don’t think is such a great prospect anymore after injuries), Holt or Gee, and Nieuwenhuis if you can get a low level prospect thrown in.
Honestly I hope they don’t go after Westbrook, he has never impressed me, and the Mets shelled him the last time they played him.
I would rather them just go for Carmona, and try to save the farm as much as possible.
I would say he’s worth Martinez (who I don’t think is such a great prospect anymore after injuries), Holt or Gee, and Nieuwenhuis if you can get a low level prospect thrown in.
If the Mets are serious about winning this year they will acquire either Cliff Lee, Dan Haren or Roy Oswalt. Anyone else means they’re not serious and just taking a chance. I’m sick of this team’s delusional instincts.
If the Mets are serious about winning this year they will acquire either Cliff Lee, Dan Haren or Roy Oswalt. Anyone else means they’re not serious and just taking a chance. I’m sick of this team’s delusional instincts.
I’d like the Reds to go het him. A move to the NL could help, and groundball pitchers are perfect for GABP.