The New York Mets made a firm and quick response to the Yankees signing of Gerrit Cole ... eh ... sort of ...
The Mets agreed to terms with former St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha on a one-year deal worth $3 million. He will slot into the number four or five spot in the rotation behind Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.
This is a good signing by the Mets, and one that carries little risk.
The 28-year old went 6-7 with 4.67 ERA in 29 appearances for St. Louis last season, a year where Wacha also made five appearances out of the bullpen.
Wacha was a break out star for the Cardinals in 2015, when he went 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA. His namesake, of course, drawing comparisons to the famous saying by Jim Henson's Fozzy Bear muppet, Wacha became an instant star in the sport.
However, injuries hampered the righty the past few seasons. Wacha dealt with shoulder inflammation in 2016, making only 24 starts that year. Two years ago he missed almost the entire 2018 season after suffering an oblique strain, which was most unfortunate because Wacha was on pace to duplicate his success from 2015.
Last season Wacha suffered elbow inflammation in his final start of the season, and could't pitch in St. Louis' run to the NLCS against Washington.
This is really a no risk move for the Mets. They aren't paying Wacha a great deal, and if he works out then they don't have to run either Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman into the rotation. At the same time, if Wacha shows he's better suited for the bullpen, the Mets can now make that transition work for someone like Lugo to go into the rotation.
The Mets had pursued free agent Rick Porcello during the Winter Meetings, but the former Red Sox signed a ridiculous five-year $118 million deal with the Phillies.
Meanwhile, the Mets are still in the hunt for center fielder Sterling Marte, but if they do acquire him they would have to give up Brandon Nimmon to get him. The Mets are also considering a trade for Houston Astros short stop Carlos Correa, but it might be hard for the Mets to provide Houston the prospects it would be looking for in return.
This is a good signing by the Mets, and one that carries little risk.
The 28-year old went 6-7 with 4.67 ERA in 29 appearances for St. Louis last season, a year where Wacha also made five appearances out of the bullpen.
Wacha was a break out star for the Cardinals in 2015, when he went 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA. His namesake, of course, drawing comparisons to the famous saying by Jim Henson's Fozzy Bear muppet, Wacha became an instant star in the sport.
However, injuries hampered the righty the past few seasons. Wacha dealt with shoulder inflammation in 2016, making only 24 starts that year. Two years ago he missed almost the entire 2018 season after suffering an oblique strain, which was most unfortunate because Wacha was on pace to duplicate his success from 2015.
Last season Wacha suffered elbow inflammation in his final start of the season, and could't pitch in St. Louis' run to the NLCS against Washington.
This is really a no risk move for the Mets. They aren't paying Wacha a great deal, and if he works out then they don't have to run either Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman into the rotation. At the same time, if Wacha shows he's better suited for the bullpen, the Mets can now make that transition work for someone like Lugo to go into the rotation.
The Mets had pursued free agent Rick Porcello during the Winter Meetings, but the former Red Sox signed a ridiculous five-year $118 million deal with the Phillies.
Meanwhile, the Mets are still in the hunt for center fielder Sterling Marte, but if they do acquire him they would have to give up Brandon Nimmon to get him. The Mets are also considering a trade for Houston Astros short stop Carlos Correa, but it might be hard for the Mets to provide Houston the prospects it would be looking for in return.
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