Category: Pitching

Rumor: Mets Release Freddy Garcia

Original Post: There are rumors this morning that the Mets have released starting pitcher Freddy Garcia. I’ll try to confirm that during the day.

Garcia got rocked at Triple-A Buffalo last night and said that he was thinking about quitting the game but would sleep on the decision. He went 5 innings and gave up 8 runs raising his season ERA to 8.18. The word is that his fastball was barely hitting the mid-80’s during the game.

Garcia has been attempting to recover from shoulder problems for a few years now. He just doesn’t look like he’ll be able to re-gain his form.

Update: Confirmed. Multiple media sources are reporting that the Mets have indeed released Garcia after two minor league starts. Garcia also says that he won’t retire. His agent tells the media that the Mets made a mistake releasing him and that they shouldn’t have sent him to cold weather locations to pitch.

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Mets Designate Fossum, Call Up Takahashi

Casey Fossum was designated for assingment after today’s game against the Nationals. He pitched in 3 games for the Mets after getting called up from Triple-A Buffalo when Nelson Figueroa was DFA’d.

Ken Takahashi is a 40 year old lefty who’s pitched very well at Buffalo. He’s pitched in 6 games, going 11.2 innings and has a 0.77 ERA.

I’m not sure what the Mets didn’t like about Fossum. He did give up 3 hits and 3 walks to the Nationals today. But that’s nothing compared to the disaster that Oliver Perez threw today. Then again, Fossum doesn’t make $12 million/year. So I guess that’s what happens.

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Report: Mets Figueroa Will Become Free Agent

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Adam Rubin of the Daily News reports this morning that pitcher Nelson Figueroa will refuse an assignment to Triple-A Buffalo and become a free agent. The story here is that he was upset that the Mets designated him for assignment after his spot start on Sunday. Subsequently, he cleared waivers.

I can understand Figueroa being upset that the Mets started him and then immediately designated him for assignment. But the fact is that every team chose not to claim him on waivers. Even the Los Angeles Angels that are in the market for pitching right now didn’t claim him.

I think Figueroa is shooting himself in the foot with this move. Maybe he plans to pitch overseas or in an independant league. But that would virtually secure that he wouldn’t be in the major leagues this season. At least with Buffalo he has a chance to be back with the Mets at some point.

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Mets Figueroa Clears Waivers

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Many of us were surprised that the Mets designated Nelson Figueroa for assignment after having a quality start on Sunday. The start came as a spot start in place of Mike Pelfrey who’s been suffering from some minor forearm tendinitis.

The Daily News reports that Figueroa has cleared waivers today so he can return to Triple-A Buffalo. He was placed on waivers so the Mets could add Casey Fossum to the roster as a second lefty in the bullpen. If Fossum keeps pitching the way he did last night we should see Figueroa back with the big league team soon.

There were some rumors that the Los Angeles Angels were looking at claiming Figueroa off waivers.

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Mets Figueroa Designated For Assignment

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Immediately after pitching six innings against the Brewers yesterday and giving up three runs, Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment by the Mets. He had a nice spot start for Mike Pelfrey who is not going on the disabled list but resting after feeling some forearm tendinitis.

Casey Fossum was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Figueroa on the roster. So Darren O’Day and Figueroa are now on waivers for the Mets.

I have to admit that I was surprised when I read that Figueroa was designated. He offers some good versatility in the Mets bullpen and has been pretty solid in every role that the Mets have asked of him. Fossum is a second lefty for the Mets bullpen that’s been a source of concern, but I got the feeling that the Mets weren’t overly concerned about Pedro Feliciano being the only lefty in the bullpen.

Hopefully, Figueroa will get picked up by a team that could use him at the major league level. If not, he could end up in Buffalo again and possibly back with the Mets at some point this season.

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Mets Add Nelson Figueroa For Start Sunday

NEW YORK - MAY 12: Mike Pelfrey #34 of the Ne...
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Mike Pelfrey‘s forearm tendinitis will keep him from making his scheduled start tomorrow. To replace him, the Mets called up Nelson Figueroa from Triple-A Buffalo. Pelfrey says that he could make the start if he had to. But keeping him on the sidelines this early in the season is a smart move.

To make room on the major league roster for Figueroa the Mets designated Darren O’Day for assignment. O’Day was a Rule 5 pickup from the Angels this off-season so if he clears waivers the Mets have to offer him back for $25,000.

In my opinion, Figueroa can do more for the Mets major league roster than O’Day can anyway. He’s more flexible in terms of being able to spot start, long relief, and short relief. I’m hoping they keep Figueroa on the team at least until Tim Redding is healthy.

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Mets Sign P Ken Takahashi

Ken Takahashi signed a minor league deal with the Mets only days after the lefty was released by the Toronto Blue Jays. Takahashi is 39 years old and only pitched in one exhibition game for the Blue Jays. He’ll be an insurance policy at Triple-A Buffalo in case the Mets find as they get into the season that they really need a lefty in the bullpen. Currently, Pedro Feliciano is the only lefty reliever on the team.