Let's talk about Antonio Bastardo

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, he has a funny name, for one thing.

And it seems there's a chance that he may become a New York Met:

Buster Olney wrote: The Orioles and Mets have been among those teams involved in talks with lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo. Very strong second half in 2015.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

More the merrier I suppose. Could be OK, could be a Putz.

[Gwreck]

Was in favor of signing him a couple of months ago; still am in favor.

[Guest d'Kong76]

$5-6 million dollars a year? Might be a little too rich for our blood.

[TransMonk]

I like and would be very comfortable with the bullpen if he was signed.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Him or Shmarley Malone will help this club, probably.

[nymr83]

editors at the post and news are pooling money to make this happen, think of the headlines!

[Zvon]

This is fine as long as I never have to see him face a righty. NEVER! Very one dimensional piece, but vs. lefties, apparently a very good one.
I officially nickname him "Son Of A Bitch". Antonio Son Of A Bitch Bastardo.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The thing is, he's NOT one dimensional. Check the career splits-- he's great against lefties, and pretty decent against righties, too.

At, say, up to $12-15M/2, or $8M/1? Sure.

[Centerfield]

He has an ERA in the 2's every other year.

If we were smart we'd wait until next year to sign him.

[Frayed Knot]

Just turned 30 (I would have guessed older) so going to a second year shouldn't be a great risk.
And, yeah, his career splits are barely splits at all as his .211/.308/.332 vs RHB barely differs from his .188/.277/.319 (v-L). He's faced RHBs nearly 2/3 of the time

[Zvon]

Well, going by his most recent performances, I stick to my fears. I love the guy as a lefties specialist.

[Guest Mets Willets Point]

Like J.J. Putz, he has a built-in insult for angry fans.

[seawolf17]

Heyman reporting that Bastardo is headed our way.

But really, eff Heyman.

[Zvon]

WooHoo!. I love this. And from what I'm reading today maybe I am wrong about him vs. righties. I guess we'll find out.

[Edgy MD]

I'm waiting on a second source before I paint him onto the roster, but I like this particularly because it may well have the added bonus of keeping Gilmartin from getting permanently tracked into the bullpen. With two veteran lefties in Bastardo and Blevins, and Alvarez, Edgin, and Smoker to push them from behind, Gilmartin can become starting pitching depth, which the team can use a little of.

[Lefty Specialist]

Filled a need that needed filling. A RH OF and Sandy's probably done. And no, that RH OF is not Yo, it's either Pierce or Raburn.

Not saying that's how I would have played the offseason, just the way I see it playing out.

[Frayed Knot]

Heyman, why don't you throw us a bone?
I said Heyman, what do you hear on the phone?
Listen Heyman, what do you know of this trade?
These off-season blues have got my mind out in space.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm waiting on a second source before I paint him onto the roster...

We've got multiple sources now. The Daily News, The New York Post, NJ.com, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are all reporting the signing.

Seems like it's two years, $12 million.

[Centerfield]

I think this a good move.

The every other year thing has to be a fluke right?

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, it's a two year deal, so we're guaranteed to get one of the good years.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Centerfield wrote: I think this a good move. The every other year thing has to be a fluke right?

Kinda, yeah. All the underlying pitcher-controllable stuff-- K-rate, BB-rate, GB/FB stuff-- is pretty similar year-to-year (FIPS of 3.33, 3.00, 3.10, and 3.33, respectively). 2012's ERA is mostly explained by a weird HR spike (an outlier, career-wise), while 2014 saw a career-low in strand rate (65%, well below career average AND the league average that year) and what seems like hit-bunching luck.

Anyway, he's our Bastardo now, and I'm okay with that.

[Edgy MD]

Bastardo's a pretty cool-looking pitcher. When a pitcher in his motion, as he moves forward, typically, everything above the waist seizes and contorts. The neck tendons stretch, the forehead scrunches, the mouth assumes a screaming rictus (if you're R.A. Dickey), but Bastardo just looks like he's at the beach reading a David Baldacci paperback.

They all seem like warmup pitches to him.

[fimg=400]http://themajors.net/detroit/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/fantasy_a_bastardo_576.jpg[/fimg]



[fimg=400]http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1281969/images/o-ANTONIO-BASTARDO-facebook.jpg[/fimg]

[fimg=400]http://metsmerizedonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/8540252.jpg?6c20df[/fimg]

That's a cool cat!

[MFS62]

Giving Terry Collins another reliever is like giving an arsonist another book of matches. But Sandy has been trying to give him some good ones, so maybe he won't have to burn them out.*

Later

* = yes, that was intentional. Sorry.

[Mex17]

Familia and Bastardo together in the back end of the same bullpen. Does anyone else find that weird based upon the last names alone?

It's almost the same as Angel Pagan (two completely opposing concepts wholly contained in the name of one individual).

Or if there was ever a hockey player whose first name was Jesus and somehow ended up on the same team as Miroslav Satan.

[MFS62]

I like Edgy's thought that this will allow Gilmartin to develop as a starter.

Later

[RealityChuck]

Looks like he's our Bastardo now.

Assuming the report is legitimateo.

[Edgy MD]

Bryce Harper vs. Bastardo
2-12, 2 BB, 7 SO
.167 / .286 / .333 // .619

Jason Heyward vs. Bastardo
2-19, 1 BB, 7 SO
.105 / .150 / .158 // .308

Freddy Freeman vs. Bastardo
0-19, 3 BB, 9 SO
.000 / .136 / .000 // .136

[MFS62]

WOW!
They should have signed him years ago!!!
Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Done deal. Carlos Torres DFAed to make room.