Looking at the Competitions Latest Moves
By Mike Silva ~ December 4th, 2009. Filed under: Outside the Apple.
While Mets fans complain about Alex Cora (a move I am indifferent about), Chris Coste (not something I care about), and Henry Blanco (a move I like) they may have missed some of the moves the competition made this week. The Braves replaced Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano with Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. The Phillies took on extra payroll and signed a blast from their past in Placido Polanco. All three of these moves come with equal, if not more, head scratching.
Wagner, if healthy, should do fine as the Braves closer. As we learned in New York, Billy is no sure think when closing out games – especially if the magnitude of the environment is at its highest. Having Billy as a setup man at this point in his career makes sense, I don’t know if I would want him as my closer. The concern I have is with his command which shows with his career high walks per nine innings of 4.6. To be fair he was less than a year removed from Tommy John Surgery, but it’s something to keep an eye on. Billy only can be effective when ahead in the count. He no longer can blow hitters away with a 100 mph fastball. You are ahead 2-0 on Wagner and all you have to do is sit dead red. Remember, Atlanta will be sending it’s first round pick to Boston since Wagner was a Type A free agent and offered arbitration by the Sox.
Saito may be even more an injury risk. Former GM Jim Bowden was quoted on Twitter as saying Saito is one of those players who eventually is going to need Tommy John Surgery. At 40 years of age it’s safe to assume the surgery would be career ending. If healthy he is unhittable (see 2006 in LA), but his strikeout rate has dropped by a third since his rookie year and sharply year over year. I didn’t like him as a fit for the Mets and stand by that for the Braves.
The biggest head scratcher may be Philadelphia rejecting Pedro Feliz 1 year/ $5 million dollar option and bringing in Placido Polanco for 3 years and $18 million. Offensively they are very similar at this point in their careers. At least Feliz has played third base where Polanco last manned the hot corner in 2005. If Ruben Amaro Jr. puts up the numbers he did in Philly from 2003-2005 than the deal makes sense, but what are the odds of doing such from the age of 34-36? If they needed a second baseman my tune would be different, but at third he quite simply does not seem to make sense on a long term deal. Especially not when you had a similar player for less years and dollars. Maybe the Phils know something that we don’t.
There will be more moves in the coming days as we are 72 hours away from the winter meetings. The Mets have tons of work to do, but so far what the competition has done doesn’t impress me.
