Relief pitcher Duaner Sanchez was designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres today. If you recall, he was released by the Mets during spring training in March. With San Diego Sanchez was 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.36 WHIP. Even the lowly Padres couldn’t handle that.

WFAN’s Eddie Coleman calls in from Port St. Lucie to Joe & Evan talking about the Duaner Sanchez release and the bullpen options for the Mets.
Eddie Coleman audio

There’s been so much chatter recently about the Mets having a looming decision about whether to keep Duaner Sanchez or release him. I thought they would at least give him a look until the end of March.
By releasing him now the Mets are only responsible for one-sixth of his $1,687,500 salary for the 2009 season. [...]

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The big news today is that the Mets are playing their first spring training game against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale. Sean Green was hurt pitching in the first inning. The early word is that he split a finger nail on his pitching hand.
Onto the news of the day:

John Harper wrote a nice [...]

With the acquisitions of J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez, Duaner Sanchez’ stock has lowered dramatically this season. Last year, returning from a major shoulder injury, he didn’t look like himself at all. His velocity was way down and his breaking ball didn’t bite at all. It was more of a floating break.
He’ll be pitching in [...]

Today the Mets agreed with Duaner Sanchez on a 1-year/$1,687,500 contract. That’s one of the six players off the Mets board that are salary arbitration eligible. Last season Sanchez made $950,00.
I have to say that I was really disappointed in Sanchez at several points last season. He had his up’s and down’s. He finished the [...]

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The Mets decided to offer contracts to all five arbitration elegible players. Ryan Church, John Maine, Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez, and Jeremy Reed were all offered contracts.
The Mets have a history of agreeing to contracts without going to salary arbitration with their players. Last year Oliver Perez won $6.75 million [...]

The Mets lost the first game of their seven game road trip today in Pittsburgh. John Maine gutted through five innings even though he clearly didn’t have his good stuff. His fastball was in the mid-80’s for most of the game.
The Mets generated very little offense on a day when Jose Reyes had the day [...]

The Mets had a rough road trip and the two main weaknesses of the team were exposed, the corner outfielders and the bullpen. The two positional weaknesses should be looked at independently.
Sure, the losses of Moises Alou and Angel Pagan for the season and Ryan Church for an unknown period of time have hurt the [...]

Here are some links for Mets reading while you’re having lunch today.

Mets minor leaguer Yeiger Sanchez tested positive for anabolic steroid nandrolone while playing in the Venezuelan summer league. He was hit with a 50 game suspension.
Rumors have been swirling about the Mets seeking bullpen help at the trade deadline. One of the main reasons [...]