After the winter meeting the Mets were greeted with congrats from everyone. They looked like clear favorites to win the offseason championship. They stood firm making sure they didn’t outbid themselves with K-Rod and then stunned everyone with their acquisition of J.J. Putz, not to mention ridding themselves of Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis. One could make a case that Heilman and Schoeneweis still had value but nobody can argue that they wouldn’t have been booed lustfully on the day the Mets open their brand new park, a situation you know the Mets wanted to avoid. That negative reaction will be left for fan favorite Luis Castillo to deal with on his own now.
But as time has worn on the Mets offseason doesn’t look as rosy as it once did. Losing out on Derek Lowe because of their low ball offer doesn’t make sense to many, and knowing he’ll pitch within their same division stings. Also, add the fact that even though the Mets obviously need another starter most Mets fans that I hear, be it in person or sports talk radio want Manny Ramirez but the Mets seem to want absolutely no part of arguably the best right handed bat in baseball.
So, this is where we stand: the Mets are now willing to take a look at Ben Sheets, a guy who one could call reliable if only compared to Carl Pavano. Someone said to me the other day the Mets should pick up Ben Sheets; he has ace stuff. He does, no doubt but the Brewers know that and they have taken a pass. The Brewers were willing to spend plenty for CC (reports said the Brewers offered Sabathia $100 million) but they let a guy who has ace stuff leave because of how fragile he is. In my book that’s all you need to know.
David Lennon of Newsday is reporting that the Mets are now showing interest in Ben Sheets but none in Andy Pettitte:
A person familiar with the situation said yesterday that Sheets is now being discussed, but it’s unclear what the parameters of such a deal would be. The oft-injured Sheets is a calculated risk, and in this market, so late in the offseason, he could wind up being a relative bargain. As for Pettitte, a person familiar with the club’s thinking said the Mets are not involved with the former Yankee.
Update – Sunday 1:25 pm:
While Texas appears to be considering Sheets, don’t be shocked if Philadelphia has interest as well. The Phillies have been arbitration-strapped, with a huge outlay likely headed Ryan Howard’s way. The Phillies are trying to find a way to get someone of Sheets’s caliber on their staff. – Boston Globe via MTR
Pete Lappin (3)
