Jan. 7: Santiago’s deal comes with a $2MM base salary in the Majors and allows him to earn an extra $100K for every fifth start up through 25 total starts, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The contract contains an out clause that stipulates the Mets will release Santiago on July 31 if he’s not on the MLB roster and if another club is willing to put him on its 25-man roster.
Jan. 5: The Mets have reportedly picked up some rotation and bullpen depth, adding veteran left-hander Hector Santiago on a minor league deal. He’ll head to Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. Santiago is repped by Excel Sports.
Santiago, 31, appeared in 49 games (7 starts) for the White Sox last season, pitching to a sub-replacement-level 4.41 ERA/5.09 FIP/5.38 xFIP in 102 IP. The journeyman lefty apparently brought back one of the league’s only screwballs last season – which he featured regularly in his first stint on the Southside – in an effort to rejuvenate a floundering career. He was, yet again, quite homer-prone, surrendering 1.41 big flies per nine, a mark just slightly above his career average of 1.37 HR/9 a season.
The lefty has shown occasional aptitude for the strikeout over the course of his career, but it’s too often been offset by command issues – Santiago walked 5.29 men per nine last season, and has yet to finish a single big-league campaign with a total under 3.5 BB/9 in that category. He’ll look to compete for the 5th-starter role in the Mets’ rotation, currently occupied by Jason Vargas, with Seth Lugo, Corey Oswalt, and others – P.J. Conlon, Drew Gagnon, Chris Flexen, and more – also in the mix.
In 887 career MLB innings pitched with the ChiSox, Angels, and Twins, Santiago sports a career 4.05 ERA/4.88 FIP/5.05 xFIP. The lefty, it should be noted, is one of the rare pitchers to outperform his fielding-independent marks in every career season, owing in large part to his stellar 77% career strand rate.
Rich Mancuso first reported that the Mets and Santiago had a deal (Twitter link), and SNY’s Andy Martino clarified that it was a minor league pact (Twitter link).
He brought back the screwball from extinction.
That’s good enough reason for me to root for him. Good luck
Great 2014 piece on “Mystery of the vanishing Screwball” https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-vanishing-screwball.html
Yu Darvish will probably throw a screwball every once in a while too. He throws just about every other pitch.
Agreed, I read that article a few years ago. Remember when everyone thought John Franco threw a scroogie but he stated it was just a change
Are the Mets trying to set a record for transactions in a day?
Jerry DiPoto scoffs at this notion.
Good point. Doing their best impression of Seattle, how about that?
So you’re saying they miss the playoffs?
Very likely they miss the playoffs. If Harper leaves the Nationals, this will be the rear they actually get it done.
This is exactly what I think, the Nationals have a great team. I just think last year they could’ve felt so much pressure because of Bryce’s impending free agency.
I never thought about this before but imagine how hot the takes will be if the Nationals advance after losing Harper. Especially if Harper’s team doesn’t advance.
I’m telling you…it is their year. Corbin for Gio?! That team will be fine without him, as crazy as it sounds.
Thats what happened the year A-rod left the Mariners in 2001. And that was just the second year without Griffey Jr.
I guess no one else is working?
This is such a solid minor league signing, The Mets have very little sp depth after their starting Mlb five. Brodie has done a great job so far, I’ve liked every move he’s made this year. It’s actually nice to not be the laughing stock of baseball for at least this offseason.
He would draw a lines on the mound from each edge of the pitching rubber towards home plate before the game would start. This would help him keeping his mechanics towards home while pitching. He had very good stuff in Anaheim. Great pick up by the Mets. Jerry D was the GM at that time. Should have brought him to Seattle.
Former all star, hector santiago
Did Colonel Jessup order a Code Red on this guy?
You can’t handle the truth!!!
While tragic, probably saved lives.
You WANT me on that wall, you NEED me on that wall!
You damn right I did!
Jesus someone in the Mets organization had some strong coffee today. A lot of moves coming to light today.
Adjust the ERA down .50 moving from the AL to NL puts him as a high 3 so innings eater…
Uh, no…
Good for Hector.
Had some good early years with the ChiSox.
he was good for a while with the angels. but like most other players faded a bit. anyway, best of luck to you and your family!
Will keep saying it…….
Callaway and Eiland are the best combination manager/pitching coach in MLB. They had great overall success with the Mets in their first year, especially as the season went along. deGrom broke out; for the first time Wheeler began to reach his potential; Syndergaard completely reworked his approach and credited them; Gesellman and Lugo began to transition to bullpen pieces. Vargas and Matz need to improve or will be moved – in Vargas defense he was injured a good part of the season.
As pitching coaches for the Royals and Indians, Eiland and Callaway put together pitching staffs on small market budgets that went to 3 WS’s. They built lockdown bullpens out of scraps. When I saw Santiago on the free agent list I thought him a candidate to be reworked to become a bullpen piece – maybe even a 2-3 inning guy. The Mets are a perfect destination for him. The FO needs to get Callahan/Eiland more out of favor veterans to work with. Not everyone they try to redo is going to succeed. But those that are reestablished will be gotten for cheap. Winning teams have to develop their own players.
PostScript – of the relievers that Eiland and Callaway developed, the only one that has come close to the success he had under their tutelage is Wade Davis – and while still very good, he is nowhere near as dominating as he was.
come on Brodie!! maybe we can work out trade with Giants since they need to rebuild.. either TDA or Plawecki for Will Smith.. Giants should contact Stros.. trade Bumgarner and Posey for maybe package Tucker/ Whitley/ Perez/ Davis
Giants aren’t trading Posey, won’t happen. But if the Astros wanna talk MadBum/Smith/Watson I’m all for it, Josh James, Myles Straw, Dean Deetz and lotto?
The mets. The team of minor league contracts and 4th and 5th outfielders and infielders…
I like what BVW did. Every team makes these depth trades/signings. I was pretty sure the heavy lifting was done for this off-season so I’m not too disappointed. He has obviously improved this team in the short term. Significant upgrades at 2B, catcher and bullpen. Depth/bench also. I really like the JD Davis move. Given the at bats, he may flourish here. Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes for a player to begin to show returns on his investment potential. If Davis can push Frazier to a bench role than this move is a clear win. Broxton is a defensive whiz…and paired with Lagares…the Mets have the best CF defense by far…and if Broxton can approach hos 2017 offensive splits..huge win for BVW. Santiago isn’t far removed from success, so there is hope there as well. He can also push Vargas to the ‘pen..or go there himself and that would solve the need for a lefty back there. And if there is another significant addition the Mets can make…then i’d go 5th starter. Miley, Gonzalez, Bucholtz or Hellickson are all upgrades from Vargas at #5. Or…if the Mets wanna get super creative…swoop in and grab Kuechel…
Make it a short term…high AAV
Say 2yr/$44mil with 2 options at $18mil/per
So overall could be a 4yr/$80mil contract…it gives him the option to be a FA at 31 where he can either take the $36 mil for 2 more years or try for a long term pact..i know it is a dream…but if it were to happen
deGrom
Syndergaard
Kuechel
Wheeler
Matz
By far the best rotation…
The whole point is BVW has done a great job improving this team. Davis and Santiago could be steals and all they truly lost was Plawecki, who was expendable.
I gotta give BVW his due
I have a feeling Brodie has a sneaky move or two left. There is no way he took without the ability to spend money. Everyone complains, but there is still talent out there.
I don’t see any more moves but then again this is not the same front office. We always knew their moves before they happened. BVW plays it close to vest. Hopefully we are surprised but he may be holding out for a mid season splash if the record holds up. Regardless, I am a Mets fan. LGM.