Mets sign LHP Laffey to a Minor League Deal

The Mets signed left-hander Aaron Laffey to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training, the team announced Thursday.

Laffey went 4-6 with a 4.56 ERA in 22 games with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, including 16 starts. He also made 11 starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, going 3-5 with a 4.52 ERA. Over a six-year big league career with the Indians, Mariners, Yankees and Blue Jays, Laffey has produced a 4.38 ERA in 148 appearances, including 65 starts.

The 27-year-old could compete for the vacant fifth slot in New York's starting rotation, though general manager Sandy Alderson has said he will take a hard look at more expensive free-agent candidates who would command a guaranteed job. The Mets had a full starting five until they traded R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays earlier this month.

Laffey could also compete with fellow lefties Josh Edgin, Robert Carson and Darin Gorski for a job in the bullpen, or provide rotation depth in the Minors.

Commentary: Are the Mets Scrap-heaping in 2013?

Holiday Greetings to all!  Here is my Holiday Rant!

The New York Mets have done nothing but trade the NL Cy-Young R.A. Dickey, which I thought was a much needed move here. We got back the possible Piazza-ish catcher the Mets have lacked over the years.. The Mets also have a immediate future of   Wheeler, Niese, Harvey, Syndergaard, Gee which looks good.  But now the Mets in 2013 need at least a fifth starter...

The trade of Syndergaard looks good even though made inappropriate comments, his talent much warranted..

Scouting Report:
The towering Syndergaard spent all of 2012 in A-level Lansing, striking out 122 batters in 103 innings while racking up an eye-opening 1.08 WHIP. The move to New York means he's no longer a sleeper candidate, and now that he's an NL talent, he's even more appealing. 

When this imposing righthander arrives, it'll be thanks to the plus command he shows with his decent 94mph fastball and near-plus curve. Of course, as with any young pitcher, it'll be the quality of his developing change that will determine whether he's an ace or a middle-of-the-pack starter a year or two from now. He should see AA action in 2013. 

But when are the Mets going to make a statement move towards 2013 besides locking up David Wright, which was the right (no pun intended) thing to do..

Rumor Mill: Mets still looking for Starting Pitching

Well, the Mets who were in pursuit of starting pitching after the departure of R.A. Dickey have lost out on Francisco Liriano to the Pittsburgh Pirates for big bucks considering. The Mets were hoping to land the big lefty on a one year contract..

So now the Mets are continuing their ongoing search for a fifth starter. The Mets according to Marc Carig of New York Newsday are in pursuit of RHP Carl Pavano. He also tweets that he hears the Mets also have interest in Shawn Marcum and Chris Young.

Free agent left-hander Joe Saunders is talking to the  Orioles, Mariners, and Padres according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Mets have expressed interest in him, but again he is looking for a multi year contract.

Rumor Mill: Grady Sizemore, Francisco Liriano, and Carl Pavano on Mets Radar

The Mets don’t have a legitimate everyday outfielder at this point. So far they have Mike Baxter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Lucas Duda (wrist injury) and newly acquired Collin Cowhill, who are all mostly going to be platoon players.. The Mets are hitting the recycling bin once more by having interest in someone who hasn’t played in the majors since September 22, 2011,  former Indian Grady Sizemore..

SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt hears that the Mets are “very interested” in free agent outfielder Grady Sizemore. The 30-year-old didn’t play at all with the Indians in 2012 and is expected to be out until midseason next year following microfracture surgery on his right knee in September, so patience will be required by any team that signs him.

After having micro-fracture surgery on both of his knees since 2010, his days as a center fielder are likely over. Chances are he’ll have to settle for a one-year deal with a low guarantee or possibly a minor league deal.

Sizemore's Career:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
2004	21	CLE	AL	43	159	138	15	34	6	2	4	24	2	0	14	34	.246
2005	22	CLE	AL	158	706	640	111	185	37	11	22	81	22	10	52	132	.289
2006	23	CLE	AL	162	751	655	134	190	53	11	28	76	22	6	78	153	.290
2007	24	CLE	AL	162	748	628	118	174	34	5	24	78	33	10	101	155	.277
2008	25	CLE	AL	157	745	634	101	170	39	5	33	90	38	5	98	130	.268
2009	26	CLE	AL	106	503	436	73	108	20	6	18	64	13	8	60	92	.248
2010	27	CLE	AL	33	140	128	15	27	6	2	0	13	4	2	9	35	.211
2011	28	CLE	AL	71	295	268	34	60	21	1	10	32	0	2	18	85	.224
8 Yrs				892	4047	3527	601	948	216	43	139	458	134	43	430	816	.269
162 Game Avg.				162	735	641	109	172	39	8	25	83	24	8	78	148	.269

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/21/2012.

Rumor Mill: Dodgers have Parnell on the trade radar??

According to John Heyman of CBS Sports,  sources suggest the Dodgers are considering a variety of relievers, and could also make a play for either Indians closer Chris Perez or Mets reliever Bobby Parnell instead of  Pirates Closer Hanrahan (Red Sox also have interest).

The Pirates are willing to consider trading Hanrahan, as they have re-signed Jason Grilli, who could close. The bullpen has been a Pirates strength in recent years.


The Dodgers would prefer a left-hander, but many of their best choices appear to be right-handers -- including Hanrahan, Perez and Parnell.

OF Andre Ethier has been mentioned on the block. Can the Mets pull of a deal with the Dodgers??? Is he a right handed hitting power hitter?  No, but it is a power threat and he is in the prime of his career..

Ethier's Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
2006	24	LAD	NL	126	441	396	50	122	20	7	11	55	5	5	34	77	.308
2007	25	LAD	NL	153	507	447	50	127	32	2	13	64	0	4	46	68	.284
2008	26	LAD	NL	141	596	525	90	160	38	5	20	77	6	3	59	88	.305
2009	27	LAD	NL	160	685	596	92	162	42	3	31	106	6	4	72	116	.272
2010	28	LAD	NL	139	585	517	71	151	33	1	23	82	2	1	59	102	.292
2011	29	LAD	NL	135	551	487	67	142	30	0	11	62	0	1	58	103	.292
2012	30	LAD	NL	149	618	556	79	158	36	1	20	89	2	2	50	124	.284
7 Yrs				1003	3983	3524	499	1022	231	19	129	535	21	20	378	678	.290
162 Game Avg.				162	643	569	81	165	37	3	21	86	3	3	61	110	.290

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2012.

Ethier is set to make $10.9 Million and is under contract to 2017.. Click Here for more

Starters RHP Aaron Harang and LHP Chris Cappuano have been also mentioned available... The Mets do need starting pitching help , especially in the 5th spot of the rotation..

Mets need to get Scott Hairston Back!

The Mets pulled off a small move getting Collin Cowgill from the A's yesterday as they move to build the 2013 Mets Offense.. Cowgill's upside is he plays all three outfield positions and he hits lefties at a .298 clip.. The Mets are going to give Mr. Cowgill the go , but is that enough?


The Mets need to sign Scott Hairston or someone with similar righty pop that the Mets vs lefties lack that can make the difference... The Mets were 21-38 vs lefties and most of those wins were contributed by Hairston's ability to mash lefties..  Hairston hit .286, with 11 HR's and 30 RBI's

There have been reports that Scott Hairston wants to comeback to the Mets , but the Mets do not want to cave in and give a 2yr contract... With Jason Bay out of the picture this can give Hairston a better shot at better numbers..

He is probably the Mets best option out there to fit the Mets budget and needs at this time. Cody Ross would have to rank as the second outfielder that I would consider, but don't think he wants to be here.

Another option as a bench player I would not mind seeing in a Mets uniform and who might not cost much is OF/IF Alfredo Amezaga..Who is a free agent.. He is not a power hitting outfielder, but a fiesty, switch hitting, slap hitting utility player who can almost anywhere..

Hairston's Numbers:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
2004	24	ARI	NL	101	364	339	39	84	15	6	13	29	3	3	21	88	.248
2005	25	ARI	NL	15	20	20	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	.100
2006	26	ARI	NL	9	16	15	2	6	2	0	0	2	0	0	1	5	.400
2007	27	TOT	NL	107	294	263	37	64	18	2	11	36	2	0	26	55	.243
2007	27	ARI	NL	76	199	176	21	39	13	1	3	16	2	0	19	37	.222
2007	27	SDP	NL	31	95	87	16	25	5	1	8	20	0	0	7	18	.287
2008	28	SDP	NL	112	362	326	42	81	18	3	17	31	3	1	28	84	.248
2009	29	TOT	MLB	116	464	430	50	114	27	2	17	64	11	3	25	83	.265
2009	29	SDP	NL	56	216	197	26	59	14	1	10	29	8	1	17	45	.299
2009	29	OAK	AL	60	248	233	24	55	13	1	7	35	3	2	8	38	.236
2010	30	SDP	NL	104	336	295	34	62	10	0	10	36	6	1	31	69	.210
2011	31	NYM	NL	79	145	132	20	31	8	1	7	24	1	1	11	34	.235
2012	32	NYM	NL	134	398	377	52	99	25	3	20	57	8	2	19	83	.263
9 Yrs				777	2399	2197	276	543	124	17	95	279	34	11	162	507	.247
162 Game Avg.				162	500	458	58	113	26	4	20	58	7	2	34	106	.247

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/19/2012.