From the Newark Star Ledger, the Mets are apparently opening negoitations with Mark Mulder.
And from the Post, two articles of note:
The Mets are planning to bid on Daisuke Matsuzaka, who they grade out as a major-league "ace" caliber starter. The same article says that an unnamed source outside the organization said the Mets are pursuing Zito; an unnamed source inside the organization said they grade Zito out as either a #2 or a #3 guy.
Pedro also is mentioning retirement as a possibility.
If the Mets were to bring in Zito, Mulder, Matsuzaka, and re-up Glavine, they'd be...spending lots of money. That said, I don't think you can be more confident in that group than you could with Glavine, Heilman, Pelfrey and Maine. Mulder was terrible all year and hurt. Matsuzaka is a "?" until he actually pitches in the US. And Zito eats innings, but if he doesn't come up big in the post season, as he didn't yet again in '06, what's the point? A cheap rookie can eat innings and be a playoff question mark just as easily.
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If they really grade the Japanese guy out as an ace, I can see the logic to making a play there. If the Mets start the year with a rotation of Matsuzaka, Glavine, Maine, Perez and Pelfrey and I'm a happy guy. Dave Williams is still in reserve in case of injury or a Perez meltdown.
This is a tough call. I agree with the point that until he's pitched in the US, you can't call Matsuzaka an ace. That said, the other guys have all proven they are probably not #1 aces (I was on the fence with Zito until I saw him blow 2nd regular season game against Red sox and then fold in playoffs). Matsuzaka at least has that potential, and by all indications he is far superior to all the previous Japanese pitching busts.
Another problem with Mulder is that he might be fine, but if we have him, Pedro, and Humber, that's three guys with surgically-repaired arms. Not sure I like those odds down the stretch.
I say we go all out for one of Mulder, Zito, and Matsuzaka, but only one. Try to pick up Gagne, and offer Wagner and someone else as a trade for another legitimate #1 pitcher. Then you can still package Heilman and Milledge if you want a solid position player. Free agent market is not great this year, I think the Mets have to start thinking about trades to really end up with the team they want.
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