The New York Mets have plenty of moves to make this offseason is they want to even consider themselves to be in contention next season. We know they need to address back of the bullpen, middle infield, catcher, depth in the outfield and a fully renovated bench.
On paper, the one place the Mets seem to be ok is their starting rotation. With the return of Johan Santana, the rotation seems set with Jonathon Niese, RA Dickey, Dillon Gee and Mike Pelfrey expected to join him. Even if Santana was guaranteed to be healthy, it would still be wise for the team to add another starting pitcher. Teams seldom use just their five starters during the season. It would be necessary to have an extra pitcher somewhere which is why most teams try to have proven major league starters in their high levels of the minor leagues. Unfortunately, most of these pitchers are pitching in AAA because they don't belong on a major league staff. They are there for a reason and in spite of the fact that these pitchers usually log a good amount of innings each year, they are usually ineffective. An example of RA Dickey is not the norm. 2011 NL pitchers like Armando Galarraga, Zach Duke, Dustin Moseley, Brian Moehler, Kevin Millwood, Miguel Batista, Rodrigo Lopez, Doug Davis, Ramon Ortiz, Nelson Figueroa, Pat Misch and Dontrelle Willis are the types of pitchers that teams hold on to in their minor leagues. Obviously because no other team wants to use them in the majors.
It would be more beneficial to have a veteran major league pitcher who is added to be on the major league roster. Somebody such as Jason Marquis, Jon Garland, Javier Vazquez and perhaps Jeff Francis could provide depth in the rotation in case Johan Santana is not fully recovered. Others such as Erik Bedard and Aaron Cook may be willing to sit in the minor leagues if they don't make the team. And lets be serious, having six starters to start a season is not a bad thing. Chances are, somebody will get hurt or somebody will pitch ineffectively and require the more dire need for the additional starter. I am glad the Mets are looking to add another starting pitcher even though names like Wilson, Buehrle, and Jackson are unlikely fits.
On paper, the one place the Mets seem to be ok is their starting rotation. With the return of Johan Santana, the rotation seems set with Jonathon Niese, RA Dickey, Dillon Gee and Mike Pelfrey expected to join him. Even if Santana was guaranteed to be healthy, it would still be wise for the team to add another starting pitcher. Teams seldom use just their five starters during the season. It would be necessary to have an extra pitcher somewhere which is why most teams try to have proven major league starters in their high levels of the minor leagues. Unfortunately, most of these pitchers are pitching in AAA because they don't belong on a major league staff. They are there for a reason and in spite of the fact that these pitchers usually log a good amount of innings each year, they are usually ineffective. An example of RA Dickey is not the norm. 2011 NL pitchers like Armando Galarraga, Zach Duke, Dustin Moseley, Brian Moehler, Kevin Millwood, Miguel Batista, Rodrigo Lopez, Doug Davis, Ramon Ortiz, Nelson Figueroa, Pat Misch and Dontrelle Willis are the types of pitchers that teams hold on to in their minor leagues. Obviously because no other team wants to use them in the majors.
It would be more beneficial to have a veteran major league pitcher who is added to be on the major league roster. Somebody such as Jason Marquis, Jon Garland, Javier Vazquez and perhaps Jeff Francis could provide depth in the rotation in case Johan Santana is not fully recovered. Others such as Erik Bedard and Aaron Cook may be willing to sit in the minor leagues if they don't make the team. And lets be serious, having six starters to start a season is not a bad thing. Chances are, somebody will get hurt or somebody will pitch ineffectively and require the more dire need for the additional starter. I am glad the Mets are looking to add another starting pitcher even though names like Wilson, Buehrle, and Jackson are unlikely fits.
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