Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Blog Archive » Who is Raul Valdes?

Who is Raul Valdes?


By Mike Silva ~ March 30th, 2010. Filed under: Mike Silva, New York Mets.

So who is this 33 year old lefty that all of a sudden has a chance to make the Mets ballclub?

With the news yesterday that Pedro Feliciano will assume the eighth inning responsibilities, one would have to assume a situational lefty now is in order. Hisanori Takahashi, as impressive as he has been this spring, does not profile as such from his NPB days. According to Jerry Manuel Raul Valdes is a possibility.

We have talked endlessly about the bullpen and it appears the locks are K-Rod, Feliciano, Nieve, Figueroa, Igarashi, and Takahashi. I assumed the final spot was coming down to Jenrry Mejia and Kiko Calero, but Valdes all of a sudden is in the mix. It’s quite possible that Calero might need some extended spring training (he signed March 4th) and that, coupled with the need for another lefty, opens up a spot for Valdes.

Who is Raul Valdes? According to MILB.com “Valdes was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2004…struck out 243 batters while issuing just 50 walks over the first 209.1 innings of his career…has also seen action as an outfielder…defected from Cuba, where he was a member of the Cuban National team.”

He struggled as a starter with the Cubs, was released, and spent some time in the Independent Canadian-American League. Since coming to the Mets in 2007 he has averaged about a strikeout per nine innings.

Valdes is a non roster invitee so the Mets would need to make room for him on the 40 man roster.

If he doesn’t make the team there is talk of “loaning him” to a Mexican League team. This was a tactic used in 2008 with Ricardo Rincon who became important that September when the bullpen was decimated.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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2 Responses to Who is Raul Valdes?

  1. R U Kidding
    March 30th, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Wow,what a difference a year makes. Last year Parnell was the talk of the camp. This year even with an awful bullpen he can’t make the Opening Day roster!

  2. RonOK
    March 30th, 2010 at 9:53 am

    Mike, doesn’t this sound awfully odd to you? A guy who no one knows and who has not pitched in a game all spring training suddenly has the chance to make the team?

    I am baffled at the decisions I see this organization making … but it’s become the norm.

    Odd decision to move Feliciano from LOOGY to 8th inning setup role given his inability to get RH hitters out … and another odd decision to consider a retread that has not thrown a pitch in a game all spring.

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