Another Arm: Mets Ink Young

Well, it was expected and in the end it was another decent low-risk, possible high reward move. Adding Chris Young to the rotation (I would say it's fairly likely he'll be the Mets #4 starter to start the season) was a move many projected.

Young gets a simular deal that Chris Capuano got earlier this month. He signs a $1.1 million dollar contract with inceptives that could make the total amount $4.5 million.

Young had excellent back to back seasons in 2005 and 2006 and was solid in 2007 and the start of 2008 before injuries put him on the DL twice. In 2009 he again started well but ran into problems and lost his last four starts before he had season ending arthroscopic surgery to repair partial tears in his labrum. In 2010 he six shutout innings in the second game of the season before being pulled with a right shoulder strain which caused him to miss most of the season. He did make three starts at the end of the season, finishing 2–0 with a 0.90 ERA.

Like Capuano, I think this is a good move that helps stablize the rotation to a degree. I think Young is a decent talent that healthy, can do quite well in Citifield. Right now I would pencil him in as the #4, ahead of Dillon Gee and Capuano who will compete for the #5 spot in the rotation.

Mets Ink Chris Capuano

In what is likely to be one of the bigger moves (and yes the irony of that line is not lost on me) of the offseason for the Mets, they have signed Chris Capuano (formerly of the Milwalkee Brewers) to a one year $1.5 million dollar contract (with an additional $3 million in incentives).

Capuano won 18 games in 2005 and was an All-Star in 2006. He had tommy-john surgery after the 2007 season and missed the entire 2008 and 2009 seasons. He pitched decently in 2010 going 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA.

No one is expecting another 18 win season, but I think this is a good move with little risk and fairly decent rewards expectations. I see Capuano as either a long man out of the bullpen or the 5th starter (depending on if the Mets make any other expected moves for another starter.

This is the sort of thing I'm expecting the Mets to do this offseason. I think they'll get at least one or two more players in this same vein (ie: pitcher with past success coming off injury with something to prove). I'm fairly confident the Mets will wind up with Jeff Francis or Chris Young... both of who I'd be quite interested in. The thing is, I have faith in Mike Pelfrey and I think the Mets will be able to count on R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese to pitch fairly well. If they can get two servicable pitchers out of Dillion Gee, Capuano, and whom ever they sign next they can hopefully stay in contention until the return of Johan Santana, I know it's not ideal, but it's not out of the question either.