Mets Offseason Thread | Mets sign Mike Jacobs

[The Dark Knight]

According to FoxSports.com, the Mets are close to re-signing RHP Elmer Dessens.

The 39–year-old Dessens had a 3.31 ERA in just 28 relief appearances for the Mets last season, during which left-handed batters hit .193 against him. He struck out 14 batters and walked 10, while allowing five home runs.

… the Mets need another ‘lefty specialist’ in addition to PedroFeliciano… minor-leaguer Mike Antonini will be in the mix, i would think… bringing back dessens makes sense as well… it is omar’s way to ‘have numbers,’ as he says, when it comes to staging auditions for the back-end of the bullpen… the thing is, at no other point in his career was dessens so effective against left-handed hitters…

http://www.metsblog.com/

[The Dark Knight]

yay?

[metsfreak]

I hope this isn't a sign (signing nobodies) of things to come.

[METS4LIFE]

Why the fuck do we care?

[DBurchHero]

According to FOXSports.com, the Mets aren't pursuing Rich Harden.

The Mets are considering a list of secondary pitchers in the event that they are unsuccessful to sign John Lackey -- Joel Pineiro, Randy Wolf, Jason Marquis and even Ben Sheets -- however Harden isn't one of them, according to a source. The 27-year-old right-hander was 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 2009, posting a 10.91 K/9 in 141 innings, however the Mets may be a bit gun-shy given his injury-history.

rotoworld

[The Dark Knight]

Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker reports that the New York Mets are among eight teams that have interest in Japanese reliever Takashi Saito.

According to Sponichi, Takashi Saito has eight teams interested, including the White Sox, Cubs, Braves and Mets. The Braves had some interest in Saito way back in 2002 but he wound up remaining with Yokohama.

Saito turns 40 in February, and had a solid season for the Boston Red Sox in 2009. In 55 innings pitched he had a 2.42 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, while striking out 52 batters.

Saito became a free agent when the Red Sox declined his $6 million dollar option last month.

As much as I commend Saito for a fine season coming off an elbow injury in 2008, I don’t believe he’d be a good fit for a team that has plenty of less riskier and much better options available to them in free agency.

The Mets would probably be better off signing Darren Oliver who had a better season and is a year younger, but more importantly he has proven to be very durable. Additionally, Oliver is lefthanded and fills a more significant need for the Mets bullpen.

Oliver, who has already had some success with the Mets, appeared in 63 games last season for the Angels and had a 2.71 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 73 innings. He struck out 65 batters while walking just 22. He shows no signs of slowing down.

If I’m laying out $3 million bucks for a reliever, I think I’d rather have Darren Oliver instead of Saito.

http://metsmerizedonline.com/2009/11...shi-saito.html

[metsfreak]

I'd rather have Oliver.

[The Dark Knight]

yeah me too, i always liked him, i wish the Mets didnt let him goafter 2006

[metsfreak]

Yeah he is one of the guys who will have a great year for us then we just let them walk away like we did with Bradford and a lot of other guys that I cannot think of at the moment.

[CenterIce]

Ja, I wouldn't shell out $6MM+ for a 40 year old reliever who pitched all of 55 innings.

[metsfreak]

The Mets, continuing their quest to fortify their bench, are close to a deal with free-agent catcher Henry Blanco, according to major-league sources.
Blanco, 38, would serve in his usual backup role. The Mets also are looking for a starting catcher, and free agent Bengie Molina is believed to be their leading target.
Omar Santos and Josh Thole are currently the only catchers on the Mets' roster. Brian Schneider, a free agent, will not be back with the club.
Blanco spent last season with the Padres, batting .235/.320/.382 in 67 games. He has spent 11 of his 12 seasons in the National League. The Mets would be his eighth team.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10357594

[The Dark Knight]

First Coste now Blanco, Im guessing these guys will act as place holders until Thole is ready

[metsfreak]

Coste, Blacno, Cora and Dessens :nozz:

[The Dark Knight]

The Mets did not offer salary arbitration to Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis, both of whom were Type B free agents.

…the buzz around delgado continues to suggest the Mets have interest, and will keep in touch throughout the off season… but, like i have said before, i have to think he would prefer to move to the American League where he can DH and rest his hip…

…had the Mets offered arbitration, there is a good chance, given his age, service time, career numbers and last few seasons, that he would have been rewarded close to $10 million, which was not a risk worth taking in hopes of snagging a compensatory draft pick should delgado sign with a new team…

The Mets did not offer arbitration to Marlon Anderson, Gary Sheffield, Elmer Dessens or J.J. Putz, as well.

…again, this does not mean these players will not return… the Mets can still negotiate a new deal with these guys, and, in some cases, like with dessens, they probably will…

http://www.metsblog.com/

[The Dark Knight]

not getting picks from any of those guys only makes out first pick this upcoming draft that much more important