Starting Pitcher for 2010

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He does appear to be full of Sheets on the Smoltz niblet. Discussing the Cards' signing of Rich Hill to a minor-league deal (good move, that), Joe Strauss of the St. Looie Post-Dispatch writes:

After stating a need for greater competition for the rotation's final spot, the Cardinals appear unlikely to engage free agent John Smoltz about a possible return.

[metirish]

That likely leaves only the Mets as a landing spot for Smoltz , can Omar get it done. Does he have other things on his "to do list" that need his attention?

SC = 11

[ashie62]

Please Omar don't do it!

Smoltz, scrape off your uni and tend to your family

[Centerfield]

I thought I remember reading that Bedard was not only an injury risk, but that he was actually hurt. And that he wouldn't be ready for Opening Day.

If that's not true, I say make an offer and bring him in. The Mets have plenty of douchebag fans that need a hero.

[Benjamin Grimm]

There was something in the Daily News today about Smoltz perhaps preferring not to sign at all rather than sign with the Mets. He would wait until a contender is desperate for a starter, and then sign. (Like Pedro did last year.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Worked twice for Clemens also.

Not a bad move for some of these guys, it seems. Maybe Schilling tries that shit this year also.

[TransMonk]

Speaking of Pedro...I'd almost prefer him to Smoltz if we are talking about a spot in the rotation.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

TransMonk wrote: Speaking of Pedro...I'd almost prefer him to Smoltz if we are talking about a spot in the rotation.

This. Sorta... it would be a toss-up for me. (Although it would help my Free-Agent Derby chances, too, so... awesome!)

[Farmer Ted]

DN noting that Misch will be brought into camp as a starter. Possible 5th man or gap-filler due to injury. The leftie version of Figgy.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Davidoff sez Smoltz-to-Flushing is like a fat man going down a waterslide: gaining momentum.

It's believed that Smoltz wants a deal for about $4 million guaranteed, plus performance bonuses. Cooper said Smoltz is preparing to pitch for the entire season and is not contemplating the half-season run that Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez have popularized in recent years... If the Mets sign Smoltz, they could use their current fifth starter, Fernando Nieve, as a reliever and give more time to recovering youngster Jon Niese, who tore his right hamstring last August. And if the Mets falter again despite success by Smoltz, they could trade him to a pennant contender in the season's second half.

This might have been a better idea with a younger, better injury-risky FA pitcher, no?

[Fman99]

This thread makes my brain/heart/cock/anus hurt.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow, that's the Grand Slam!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Fman99 wrote: This thread makes my brain/heart/cock/anus hurt.

So it's pretty much just like any other Thursday Night at Fman's GomorrahHaus.

[metirish]

A kick in the **** would complete an fman cycle

[metirish]

Mets, Smoltz looking more and more like a fit
January 28, 2010 By KEN DAVIDOFF ken.davidoff@newsday.com

The Mets and John Smoltz aren't quite ready to announce a new partnership, but increased momentum toward such a union exists as the Mets search for pitching help and Smoltz, 42, looks for a team with which he can continue his Hall of Fame-caliber career. Lonnie Cooper, Smoltz's representative, told Newsday Thursday that he has been in touch with the Mets regarding a deal for Smoltz. Although the Mets haven't made an official offer to the righthander, they have expressed enthusiasm about bringing him aboard, according to multiple people familiar with the situation. Smoltz, likewise, is encouraged by the Mets' interest, according to a source familiar with the situation. It's believed that Smoltz wants a deal for about $4 million guaranteed, plus performance bonuses. Cooper said Smoltz is preparing to pitch for the entire season and is not contemplating the half-season run that Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez have popularized in recent years. "At John's age right now, he's going to know when it's the right deal," Cooper said. "We're just having good dialogue. We're looking at all of our options." Smoltz, who lives in the Atlanta area, doesn't want to pitch too far from home; he turned down feelers from West Coast teams earlier this offseason. He also would prefer to stay in the National League after his 2009 stay with the Red Sox resulted in his release. He wanted to return to the Cardinals, who signed him to finish out last season. St. Louis, however, hasn't expressed serious interest in re-signing Smoltz. "We're getting a lot of calls," Cooper said, but the Mets might be the best positioned to sign their former rival Brave. They have an opening in their rotation, geographical proximity and at least the intention of contending for a playoff spot. Those chances at contending, of course, have taken a hit because of the Mets' failure to sign any of the top free-agent starting pitchers this offseason. Ultimately, the Mets could land Smoltz for the same reason they signed Jason Bay: They might be his best option by far. If the Mets sign Smoltz, they could use their current fifth starter, Fernando Nieve, as a reliever and give more time to recovering youngster Jon Niese, who tore his right hamstring last August. And if the Mets falter again despite success by Smoltz, they could trade him to a pennant contender in the season's second half.

[nymr83]

Davidoff wrote: Those chances at contending, of course, have taken a hit because of the Mets' failure to sign any of the top free-agent starting pitchers this offseason

There was exactly one "top" free agent starter this offseason, and the Mets chose not to make an obscene offer for his services. Everyone else was a question mark in one way or another and I'd bet that after Lackey you'd have a hard time accurately ranking their expected perfomance for the coming few years.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's pretty much what Omar said last night on Hot Stove. He acknowledged that the Mets pitchers were a lot of ifs, but that other than Lackey, all the other options were ifs as well and he couldn't be certain that the external ifs were any better than the ifs he already had.

It's a valid point. But I'd rather have five iffy guys than three iffy guys, because it gives you better odds of finding the guys whose ifs will turn into yeses.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think the Mets do have five iffy guys behind Santana, though.

[MFS62]

I thought I heard that John Niese was at mini camp and has been throwing. The injury seems to be ok.
While he might need some time at AAA, I think he will become the fifth starter early in the season. He showed some nice flashes last year.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

There continue to be conflicting reports about Smoltz.

[list:23axssql]He's nearing a deal with the Mets.

He has no interest in the Mets.

He's leaning towards returning to St. Louis.

St. Louis isn't interested.

He wants to pitch a full season.

He's going to wait until the middle of the season.[/list:u:23axssql]

You know what? He wasn't my first choice, or my second choice, or my third choice, or...

But I find myself kind of hoping they sign him, at least if the alternative is that they don't sign anyone at all. I expect that the Mets rotation is going to be awfully thin this year, and I'd be glad to have one more potential guy in the mix.

[metirish]

At this stage I hope he signs too. It shouldn't matter and I shouldn't care but every time a player signs elsewhere it's brings an avalanche of shit down on the Mets....it's their fault.....it's beyond stupid but it's the theme of this offseason.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's not like they won't get an avalanche if he does sign with them, because they certainly will.

[metirish]

Heyman saying the Mets have fallen behind in the Smoltz derby...his words.

Says are one of a few teams looking at Frank Catalonatto.......

[Guest Edgy DC]

There's a Smoltz Derby, Jon? I had no idea?

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Mets are allegedly kicking Noah Lowry, who has missed 2+ seasons over what the agent claims was a misdiagnosed injury by his club.

And it wasn't the Mets.

[nymr83]

Noah Lowry? wow. If he's really looking healthy why not?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Lowry was scheduled to toss a Sheets-y audition tomorrow for about 15-16 teams... but it's been pushed back a bit due to stage fright. Sorta.

"He's close to where he wants to be," Lapa said Monday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "We're confident once Noah throws for teams questions will be answered. Noah's missed a lot of time and understands the importance of this audition. If he's at 90 percent now, we're going to allow him the time to get to 100 percent because we know clubs have questions based on the time he's missed."

[Centerfield]

Bedard to the M's. $1.5 million, reportedly.

Yes, that's $500,000.00 less than Alex Cora for those keeping score at home.

(Yes, I'm sure that there are incentives and the deal is not official yet, I'm just saying...)

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Maybe Omar is hoping Cora has a little Desi Relaford in him.

[nymr83]

Centerfield wrote: Bedard to the M's. $1.5 million, reportedly. Yes, that's $500,000.00 less than Alex Cora for those keeping score at home. (Yes, I'm sure that there are incentives and the deal is not official yet, I'm just saying...)

now theres a guy i feel the Mets let slip at that price tag because i wouldn't have blinked if Wilpon paid double