Free Agent Focus: Joel Pineiro

The New York Mets have many holes to fill this off season. Adding a starting pitcher is right on the top of the to-do list. The Mets seem to be focused on free agent Joel Pineiro as a solution for their rotation.

Pineiro’s agent said that they are seeking a 4 year deal but I find it unlikely that he will get this. More likely scenario for him is a 3 year $30M deal. Personally, I don’t think he deserves that kind of contract.

Pineiro is coming off of his best year going 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA and 214 innings pitched. These numbers are very good and at first glance you might think that a contract of 3 years $30M is worthy, perhaps even more. But when you look at his career numbers you’ll see from 2004 to 2008 he is a very mediocre pitcher. He did have solid years in 2002 and 2003 with the Seattle Mariners but it seemed as if he forgot how to pitch after that and remembered in 2009.

I really don’t trust pitchers who aren’t great and then a year before they are a free agent, they have a career year and then turn around  and demand a huge contract. Giving him 3 years $30M would be a huge mistake for the Mets.

Bill James predicts him to have a 4.17 ERA with 205 innings pitched in 2010. For me that does not warrant a $10M a year contract.

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