So Omar used his interpersonal skills to get a pitcher who’s been hurt for two years.
Great. More work for Ray Ramirez and Mike Herbst. That’s just what the doctor ordered.
Got to hand it to the Mets. They’ve been able to reach one goal this off-season. That Buffalo (AAA) club ought to be better than last year. Hell, they couldn’t have been much worse.
So far this off-season the Mets have accomplished the following:
1. Re-signed a back-up middle infielder in Alex Cora who needed surgery to repair a damaged thumb and has been experiencing back problems during winter ball.
2. Signed two journeymen catchers in Chris Conte and Henry Blanco, both of who are over the age of 35. Let’s just hope that Dan Warthen was right and that last year’s catching was so bad that these two will be a palpable upgrade.
3. Signed journeyman reliever Elmer Dessens. He’s 38 and the Mets are his 6th major league club.
4. Signed Japanese reliever Rygota Igarashi. At least he has an actual upside. And he’s only 30. But pitchers from Japan have proved to be feast or famine. But comparatively, the Mets got him far cheaper than they would many of the other experienced relievers. So far, this is probably the club’s best player move.
5. Signed journeymen pitchers (geez, I’m using that alot) Clint Evers (26) and R. A. Dickey (35).
6. Signed 3B/1B Mike Hessman (31) to a minor league contract – another player to make Buffalo better.
On now Escobar.
The line of the winter went to Peter Gammons yesterday when he said that Jason Bay would rather play in Beirut than Queens. Let’s hope that prompts the Mets to move on. Even if Bay would decide to take the money, why would you want to make such a financial commitment to someone who really doesn’t want to be there.
Say what you will , but the Mets have been willing to pay for talent this offseaon to improve a glaring hole in leftfield and in the line-up. They haven’t looked to take advantage of the salaries that came off the book after last season.
But on this day after Christmas Minaya’s moves thus far have only unwanted parts that were discarded after last year’s disaster. There have been no additions that in any way can be seen as improving the major league club. To make things worse, no deals have been made that improve the farm system. Keeping Billy Wagner would have better served the future of the club than would they acquisition of two low tiered prospects from the Red Sox.
President Obama has sent signals he’s looking to make a “hard pivot” toward jobs and the economy. Let’s hope that Minaya does the same.
Posted under Uncategorized
This post was written by bobsikes on December 26, 2009
Tags: Alex Cora, Chris Conte, Clint Evers, Dan Warthen, Elmer Dessens, Feast Or Famine, Financial Commitment, Henry Blanco, Jason Bay, Journeymen, Kelvim Escobar, Leftfield, Middle Infielder, Mike Herbst, Mike Hessman, Minor League Contract, Peter Gammons, Ray Ramirez, Winter Ball
