4:45pm: The Royals are showing interest in signing Maine to a minor league deal, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
2:30pm: Maine will sign in the next day or two according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter). The Phillies are on the short list, though the right-hander has several possibilities.
9:34am: The Phillies remain the most likely destination for John Maine, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The right-hander was auditioning for teams late last month, but remains a free agent.
The Phillies are the only team that has been publicly linked to Maine since the Mets non-tendered him last December. The 29-year-old struggled with injuries and poor performance last year, though he pitched to a 4.01 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 87 starts from 2006-09.
Maine struggled through nine early-season starts last year and didn't pitch after injuring his shoulder in May. He underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in July.
Real sloppy seconds
low risk high reward… and i’m guessing Ron you don’t have the stones to walk up to John Maine and call him sloppy seconds
Low risk high reward out of the pen. Best role for John is the long man type because as a SP this guy wears down real quick hence the strong first half of the season and the colossal fails in the second half.
yeah boy, that John Maine is one intimidating dude. the wad of dip he always has in his mouth weighs more than he does…while we’re talking sloppy seconds throw in Figueroa, Schnieder, Valdez, Pedro just in the last year or two.
Enjoy last place for the next ten years.
ooh, looks like that last comment hit a nerve huh…
I think the nerve that was hit was the realization that ex-Mets players can actually perform well on a good team.
Yea, because nelson figueroa, brian schneider, and wilson valdez have really took their game up another notch.. oh wait…
Lol. It’s going to take more than a simple comment like that after the off-season my team’s had. It’s just ridiculous to call guys like Figueroa, Schneider, Valdez and Martinez “sloppy seconds” for the Phils’, when they’re nothing more than role players contributing to a winning team.
If you consider former Mets’ starters playing off of the bench for the Phils’ “sloppy seconds,” then by all means…
I’m still wondering why there’s any sort of rivalry between the Mets and Phillies.
What about Mid 90’s when the Phillies were in dead last and the laughing stock of the MLB?
Welcome to 2011.
Yeah, still the franchise with the most losses in the history of American organized sports.
That’s when the Phillies had ‘those 80’s Mets leftovers such as Kevin Elster, Sid Fernandez, Gregg Jefferies, and a declining Lenny Dykstra (circa 1996). Not to mention Rico Brogna who was traded from the Mets.
Too bad the games aren’t played on paper. Other wise the Mets would be world champions in 09 wouldn’t we?
When I read the headline I thought the Phillies were moving to Bangor or something.
If they’re moving to Maine, might as well go to Stockholm.
Make it reaaaaaaaal out of the way for people to get to.
Yeah, because everyone is really concerned with the Phillies’ pitching “woes.”
Could fill Durbins roll as a multiple innings guy IF he is healthy and IF the younger guys with more upside aren’t ready.
They’re already paying Kendrick $2 million+ to be a long reliever. Why spend money on a guy like Maine when you have several guys (Stutes, Worley, Herndon) in the system that can already throw long relief out of the pen. I like him as AAA depth.
because if they knew they were going to sign Lee and not trade Blanton they would have never offered arbitration to Kendrick, they would have released him.
They can sign Maine for less than they are paying Kendrick and get the same (if not better) results, regardless of his role. It would likely be a minor league deal, anyway, so its low risk. If Maine steps up during spring training, and makes the team, they have options with kendrick and Blanton or both. If he doesn’t step up, but they see potential, he can start the season at AAA and be insurance.
That doesn’t change the fact that they’re paying Kendrick. You can’t just have a do-over because they signed Cliff Lee. They’re guaranteeing Kendrick more than $2 million anyway you look at it. They aren’t going to pay Maine to get similar results in the same role when they’re already paying Kendrick.
Like I said. I like the deal if it’s for minor league depth as a starting pitcher. There’s no need to move him to the bullpen.
If Maine makes the team on a million dollar a year type deal (which would be about what he’d get), they wouldn’t be paying Kendrick, someone else would because they would trade him for a bag of balls. Or they’d keep Kendrick and trade Blanton. Either way, they reduce payroll and have similar results in the 5 slot if Maine produces.
If he doesn’t make the roster, he likely will have an opt out clause allowing him to become a free agent again, and play for someone else.
If they can trade Kendrick, then by all means. Although I think they’d be able to move him, you’re assuming that they would. Of course, Armando Galarraga was moved with relative ease, so the Phils’ shouldn’t have a problem there. I just don’t see the point here. I don’t see the potential that everyone else does. Essentially, you’re replacing a 4.88 FIP starter with a 5.78 FIP starter from 2010, and similar numbers over their careers.
At the very least, Kendrick will provide some solid depth without the Phils’ having to worry about an opt-out clause, like you’re speaking. For a little over a million more, they’re getting the better pitcher. I don’t think the Phils’ payroll is to the point where they have to pinch pennies by signing Maine to trade Kendrick.
You can never have enough pitching. Maine’s a nice guy to have around in case the Phillies see a chance to move Blanton or Kendrick during spring training.
as a met fan, he has been my favorite player to root for since 06.. he pitched well in some very important games that season. i liked his fastball a lot especially up in the zone where hed get a ton of swing and misses. it will hurt to see him on the phils but even as a met fan im still going to be pulling for him to do well – against everyone other than the mets of course
When did Maine ever miss any bats? Even back in 2006 he topped out at lasting an average of 6 innings per game. He may have been averaging 7-8 Ks per 9 innings, but he was throwing way too many pitches.
He wasn’t missing bats- he was getting fouled back nonstop.
It’s over Johnny…IT’S OVER!!!
I always liked Maine. He pitched in 3 of the most important Mets games 2006-2008. (2 starts in the 2006 Playoffs, and game 161 of the 2007 season). It was really sad to see what had happened to him, needing 100 pitches to get through 5 innings.
I’ll root for him as well. Somehow with the Phils rotation, I don’t think Mr Maine is going to factor into whether they win the division or not.
I dont see the point of this unless hes going to go play in Lehigh. There is to many young options that the Phillies need to give time at the MLB level. DeFratus, Worley, Schwimer, Mathieson and soon JC Ramierez should be part of the pen.
If John Maine is healthy…and that’s a big if….I think he would best be suited out of the bullpen. I actually believe he could be a dominant closer, when and I mean when Brad Lidge implodes. Like I said if his shoulder has healed John Maine could be really good. When healthy he is un-hitable for the first 9 batters of a games(WHEN HEALTHY) I mean 2007 and 2008 John Maine
Why does it seem Phillies fans all of a sudden think their franchise is so ridiculously good? What about the mid 90’s when they were terrible? The past 15 years..Mets total wins 1307, Phillies total wins 1303.. this is why it’s a good rivalry.. most teams are cyclical….Also, John Maine is a train wreck.. never admits injuries..no excuse to throw 83 mph tops in some starts last year, good luck with that, Phillies fans in that whiffle ball stadium.
Lol.
“Why does it seem Phillies fans all of a sudden think their franchise is so ridiculously good?”
Four division titles, two pennants and a world championship since 2007 could have something to do with it. Yes, the Phillies were bad in the mid/late 90s at the same time the Mets had a very good run, but that was then and this is now. You forgot to mention the Phillies have finished ahead of the Mets in the standings 9 of the last 10 years
I’m not a Phillies fan by any stretch of the imagination, but come on. Their franchise is ridiculously good as of late, which is why they think that no doubt.
When the Mets have a rotation that good, I’ll be impressed.
Past 15 years…..Braves total wins?
If anything the Phillies should concern themselves with the Braves and Marlins and stop going on about how much better they are than the Mets. Plenty of clubs have been better than the Mets, it’s nothing to be proud of….
my man most experts think the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies could posibly have the best SP in the history of baseball. So yes this Frachise is ridiculously good. As far as the Mets haveing 1307 wins in 15 yaers AHH My man or Gal we should stop trying to live in the Past…. LOL , And As far as are stadium hummm are stadium is why the Philadelphia Phillies will control all of baseball for the next 10 years or so. Anyway Go Phillies.
the Phillies are a great team but you still have to play the games and those starters have to stay healthy. easier said than done!!
Nah, it’s an historic rotation that’s definitely better than those Braves rotations throughout the 90’s. Sure, other clubs have to play the games……but it’s definitely going to be the Phillies and Red Sox in the World Series, and as we seen last year…..pitching wins championships. The Phillies had the best front 3 last year and they’ll definitely have the best front 4 this year. It’s over, sorry.
lol, well you better have big shoulders if they dont come through with a World Series appearance!! Hopefully you will be man enough to say they underachieved when that day comes…;) I will remember if it happens and i will call you out!! hehe
I think he would be a good fit for the Royals. If I were Maine, I’d rather sign there than Philadelphia just because I probably get way more playing time.
N,, I read it wrong
jeez im a mets fan and its really actually a low risk low reward situation.
last year he was out of gas by the 5th inning because he couldn’t put batters away
i actually really respect the phils becasue they always play hard, a severe problem the mets had last year