Bullpen

[Frayed Knot]

Gorzelanny is one of those names I knew (like you could forget a name like that?!?) but couldn't have told you where he's been recently or in his career.
Turns out the answer is Pitt, Cubs, Nats, Brewers, Tigers and Indians over the past 12 seasons.
Hasn't pitched much at all lately -- just 3 IP in 7 appearances for Cleveland in 2016 -- turns 35 in mid-season. On the other hand it's a minor league invite.


Salas was certainly good at year's end in 2016, although that was quite UNcharacteristic of how he had been prior to coming aborad so we'd be best to remember SSS before we expect to see six months of that.

[RealityChuck]

Lefty Specialist wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Rosenthal reports Fernando Salas is returning on a 1 year deal. Good stuff. He stabilized things down the stretch. Sign Blevins and you're done.

Your wish is my command.

[Frayed Knot]

Blevins for one year at $6 mil plus an option for 2018 acc to unofficial reports. Sandy gets his price again.

Certainly beats the hell out of the 3/$19 (plus option) that the Rockies gave Mike Dunn earlier this winter, especially seeing as how the two LH relievers are more or less the same guy.
In the four seasons starting with 2013 the stats favor Blevins in H/9 (7.2 to 7.9), BB/9 (3.0 vs 3.7) and obviously WHiP (1.13 vs 1.26); Dunn slightly in K/9 (9.9 vs 9.5) and ERA (3.38 vs 3.56)
Dunn is also a year and a half younger (32 in May vs 34 in Sept) and has been available for more appearances (273 to 211) but that's almost entirely on account of Blevins' lost 2015 year due to the broken arm rather than anything chronic or age related.

[Lefty Specialist]

Sandy gettin' the band back together. Short of a Bruce deal in Spring Training when some other team's RF trips over his shoelaces and breaks a leg, this is pretty much it.

This team rises or falls on health more than any other team I can remember.

[Edgy MD]

How do you like them completing the Gorzellany deal first?

Sandy Alderson: "Well, we've been trying all winter long, but haven't been able to come to terms with any lefties on a major league deal, so while we're offering you a minor league deal and an invitation to camp, the way we see it, if you work hard and show us something, you have a real chance to crack that roster and break camp with the team and be a real part of a playoff-bound roster from the get-go.

Tom Gorzelanny: "You know, hell, gimme that contract. I'm signing."

SA: "That's great. Here you go, right here."

TG: "... L-A-N-N-Y. Sorry. I always run out of space and have to use the margin."

SA: "That's fine. Now I want to introduce you to your new teammate, Jerry Blevins. I think you can learn a lot from him."

TG: "@#$%!!!"

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: Blevins for one year at $6 mil plus an option for 2018 acc to unofficial reports. Sandy gets his price again. Certainly beats the hell out of the 3/$19 (plus option) that the Rockies gave Mike Dunn earlier this winter, especially seeing as how the two LH relievers are more or less the same guy. In the four seasons starting with 2013 the stats favor Blevins in H/9 (7.2 to 7.9), BB/9 (3.0 vs 3.7) and obviously WHiP (1.13 vs 1.26); Dunn slightly in K/9 (9.9 vs 9.5) and ERA (3.38 vs 3.56) Dunn is also a year and a half younger (32 in May vs 34 in Sept) and has been available for more appearances (273 to 211) but that's almost entirely on account of Blevins' lost 2015 year due to the broken arm rather than anything chronic or age related.

This.

Happy about the moves. I don't pretend to have any idea which middle reliever will do well in any given year. I think I was happy with the Bastardo signing last year. But I like that we have a lot of relatively cheap options that have a chance of being good.

Well played Sandy.

[ashie62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Sandy gettin' the band back together. Short of a Bruce deal in Spring Training when some other team's RF trips over his shoelaces and breaks a leg, this is pretty much it. This team rises or falls on health more than any other team I can remember.

I find it scary when the success of the team depends on the return of four starting pitchers more than any other pending issue.

And I still want Bartolo back.

[Edgy MD]

Strangely, none of these deals (Salas, Blevins, Gorzelanny) seem to be official yet. None have appeared on Mets.com or MLB transaction lists. I'm guessing that they're holding off the physicals until these guys report to camp, so they wouldn't have had to make a second trip, but I'm a little (pointlessly) anxious to close these out.

[Vic Sage]

2017 projected pitching staff:

Starters: Syndegaard, deGrom, Harvey, Matz, Gsellman

CL: Familia (if suspended, Reed)*
CL/set-up: Reed
Set-up: Robles
Situational LH: Blevins
Situational RH: Salas
2nd LH: Smoker
long-man/spot SP: Wheeler *

* if Wheeler starts on DL, or if Famila is suspended, = Lugo

Other pitchers on 40-man roster:
- LHP: Smoker, Edgin, Gilmartin
- RHP: Goeddel, Montero, Ynoa, Flexen, Molina

Non-roster ST invitees:
-LHP: Gorzelanny, Conlon, Roseboom, Wilk
-RHP: Bradford, McGowan, Rowen, Sewald, C.Taylor, L.Taylor

[MFS62]

Internets are saying the Blevins deal is done (Heyman) and that Ty Kelly has been DFA, but saw no confirmation of the latter.

Later