New York Mets: What To Do With Tim Redding?

The Mets signed Tim Redding to a one-year $2.25 million contract, and knowing how they operate, they will simply not eat the deal, no matter how ineffective Redding is.

Jerry Manuel will either keep him as the fifth starter or put him in the bullpen as the long-man/mop-up duty.

After his first start against a very tough club, in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Redding has been absolutely awful.

I gave him a pass against Boston, they were hungry to avoid the sweep and have a formidable offense, but yesterday, against the Marlins, he was throwing batting practice to a team that's reeling.

Manuel said he will get another start to prove he belongs in the rotation and that will come against an easy opponent, in the Pirates.

More important then Manuel's challenge, is that Redding doesn't sound like a guy who belongs in the majors, I was surprised to hear such candid comments from a veteran.

If the Mets decide to pull Redding from the rotation, their options are limited, it would probably come down to Ken Takahashi or Nelson Figueroa.

"Said Redding: "I'm not commanding the fastball and getting ahead of hitters. Right now, I'm going through a mechanical flaw. You can't be trying to battle through that during the game. It's getting to the point now where to be aggressive I almost have to throw the ball down the middle first pitch, trying to get ahead. When you feel that way as a pitcher, or feel that's the only way you can execute, you're in for a long day." source Daily News
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