Bullpen 2016

[Benjamin Grimm]

Blevins and Bastardo are still out there last I checked.

[Frayed Knot]

I hear Tyler Clippard is available.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frankly, if it's not an elite bullpenner, we'd be best served to Verrett and Gsellman it, and spend our resources elsewhere, by, say, splashing the pot on an OF or a interesting Cuban/Asian postee.

[Edgy MD]

The Mets have about 12 guys ahead of Verrett and Gsellman. Asides, Verrett's our fifth starter, last I checked.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think that 2016 will be an opportunity for Hansel Robles to step forward.

But I do think they want to add a lefty to the pen, and my guess is that Blevins will be that guy.

[Centerfield]

Wonder if they give a low risk deal to Parnell. Second year from TJ bla bla bla.

[Zvon]

Gwreck wrote: Darren O'Day re-signed with the Orioles: 4 years, $31 million. I was particularly disappointed to read this but then saw this note from ESPN: "O’Day’s wife is a Fox News correspondent based in D.C., and it was no secret that he wanted to stay in the Baltimore/Washington area."

This was the guy I had my eye on. I didn't know about the deal with his wife.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets have about 12 guys ahead of Verrett and Gsellman. Asides, Verrett's our fifth starter, last I checked.

Figuratively speaking, I meant. Look within. Goeddel-plus-eight-million is worth more than whatever non-O'Day reliever at whom you're throwing O'Day money.

[Edgy MD]

Look within is my mantra. It has helped me achieve higher consciousness.

Or it had, until everything went terribly wrong.

[Centerfield]

Yeah, I'm not sure anyone left is worth that much of an investment. Was all set to go in on Antonio Bastardo until I realized he's only good in odd years.

[Vic Sage]

i'm morally opposed to spending money on middle inning guys and situational lefties. They fall out of trees. We've got enough on the 40 to fill the slots adequately. Sign Cespedes.

[seawolf17]

Vic Sage wrote: i'm morally opposed to spending money on middle inning guys and situational lefties. They fall out of trees. We've got enough on the 40 to fill the slots adequately. Sign Cespedes.

Yeah, I'm back on the Yo bandwagon too.

[Frayed Knot]

Blevins is officially back on a one year deal.
Now all he has to do is last more than a week this season and we'll be ahead of the game.


"Thanks for the early Christmas present! I couldn't be happier to return to the Mets" - tweets the lefty

[Edgy MD]

Great.

I meant to start a thread sometime on this, but here is as good a place as any.

Blevins pitched to 15 batters, retiring them all, before having his season end. Has anybody ever had a longer perfect season?

I imagine a solid handful have gone deeper into a season before surrendering their first baserunner, but perhaps none have had the dubious grace to get injured before that first guy ever reached.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

This douche owes us a whole season, and he better give one to us.

I don't get how he broke his arm twice.

[Centerfield]

Good against lefties. Post says $4 million. More than I would have guessed, but I guess relievers be expensive these days.

Good move.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: "Thanks for the early Christmas present! I couldn't be happier to return to the Mets" - tweets the lefty

And in doing so, is rumored to have broken his thumb.

[MFS62]

Good move. Keep him in a protective bubble between appearances.
Walking is hazardous to his health.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: This douche owes us a whole season, and he better give one to us. I don't get how he broke his arm twice.

Fell on a high curb and re-fractured it.

Seller's market and all, but it's still curious how the guy gets a 60% raise on a week of service. Ah, well. Good to have him back.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah. "Fell" on a "high" "curb"

How drunk/stoned do you figure he was?

[Frayed Knot]

Playing the waiting game with the bullpen

... the Mets are reluctant to go beyond one season for [bastardo], according to an industry source. [Tyler] Clippard, who came to the Mets at last year’s trade deadline, still could be an option if he’s willing to accept a one-year contract. As it stands, the Mets have no real top target ... History suggests Alderson could wait until spring training begins before adding another reliever or could decide to gamble on his current crop.

[Centerfield]

Can't fault the strategy here, though I think I'd be ok to go 2 years on Bastardo, so long as the AAV is reasonable.

[Vic Sage]

Sandy is playing it exactly right. There is no point chasing middle relievers, particularly with the system depth we have in pitching arms. I'd rather see Josh Smoker get a shot than throw $$ down the bullpen rabbit hole.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nick Carardo of the Boston Glove reporting that the Mets are still interested in Tyler Clippard:

Full article

You'll have to scroll down a bit to get to the paragraph on Clippard, which doesn't say much, other than "The Mets may still bring back Clippard." This is about as lukewarm as a rumor can be.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: You'll have to scroll down a bit to get to the paragraph on Clippard, which doesn't say much, other than "The Mets may still bring back Clippard." This is about as lukewarm as a rumor can be.

I am working on a groundbreaking piece for the CPF Daily where the point of the article is "Or they might not."

[Benjamin Grimm]

Be careful that you don't break the Internet.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: You'll have to scroll down a bit to get to the paragraph on Clippard, which doesn't say much, other than "The Mets may still bring back Clippard." This is about as lukewarm as a rumor can be. I am working on a groundbreaking piece for the CPF Daily where the point of the article is "Or they might not."

I'm thinking of writing an auto-content generating script that just picks a free agent and writes "X Team may be interested in signing" and fills in all the needed uncertainties "If the price is right" "Sources familiar with the thinking didn't rule this move out"

[Edgy MD]

The Chicago Cubs are said to be interested in free agent Clint Barmes said sources familiar with the club's thinking. While no deal is currently in place, the team's executives are reportedly weighing a broad array of options.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ken Rosenthal reports Tyler Clippard to Arizona for two years, $12.25 million.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Extreme flyball pitcher steadily losing fastball velocity/control going to park where balls fly out with ease, housing a home team whose OF defense is getting significantly worse.

Vaya con dios, man.