The Young, The Fat and The Lefty

Like the Good, the Bad and the Ugly the pitchers of note in this upcoming offseason. I read a nice piece this morning on the merits of signing C.J. Wilson but I can't be sure I agree with it. Lets just evaluate the options before we jump head-long into that fray.

The Young:

Yu Darvish
Born: August 16, 1986
Height: 196cm
Weight: 98kg
Throws: Right
Bats: Right

Year	G	W	L	H	HR	BB	SO	ERA
2005	14	5	5	97	7	48	52	3.53
2006	25	12	5	128	12	64	115	2.89
2007	26	15	5	123	9	49	210	1.82
2008	25	16	4	136	11	44	208	1.88
2009	23	15	5	118	9	45	167	1.73
2010	26	12	8	158	5	47	222	1.78
2011	23	16	5	128	4	30	223	1.47

Yu has been good in Japan from the first year he pitched but he's also gotten better. Starting 2012 as a 25 year old, he's likely the second best overall talent available in free agency. However he COULD be the most expensive.

We all remember Matsuzaka and the insane price Boston paid for negotiating rights to him. The Wilpons could be looking at a posting fee in the same $50 Million range (though I think the climate of spending has changed) and that is a VERY un-Wilpon thing to do.

The Fat:

Carsten Charles Sabathia
Born: July 21, 1980
Height: 6' 7''
Weight: 290
Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Year	G	W	L	H	HR	BB	SO	ERA
2005	31	15	10	185	19	62	161	4.03
2006	28	12	11	182	17	44	172	3.22
2007	34	19	7	238	20	37	209	3.21
2008	35	17	10	223	19	59	251	2.70
2009	34	19	8	197	18	67	197	3.37
2010	34	21	7	209	20	74	197	3.18
2011	31	19	8	213	15	55	216	2.93

Sabathia is likely to opt out of his enormous contract with the Yankees to sign an even more enormous contract with... well... probably the Yankees. He's already making around (or over) $23 Million per year and his new contract is likely to be higher or (at the very least) longer.

But...

Wouldn't it be nice to steal talent from those cross-town rivals? Sabathia is the only TRULY proven Ace in the free agent market (Carpenter WAS and Ace... now he's just Old). If the Wilpons HAD to shell out big money, wouldn't it make sense to do it for proven talent?

The Lefty:

Christopher John Wilson
Born: November 18, 1980
Height: 6' 1''
Weight: 210
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
College: Loyola Marymount

Year	G	W	L	H	HR	BB	SO	ERA
2010	33	15	8	161	10	93	170	3.35
2011	31	16	6	178	15	67	190	3.01

Wilson has only been a starter for a few seasons but he's been a roaring success. Add that he's in the AL... in a hitter's park... and he's JUST north of 30 and he seems like a pretty good option.

Of the legitimate free agents, he's probably the guy most clubs will be targeting. Sure... Sabathia is more proven and Darvish is younger with a higher ceiling... but Wilson is attainable. Well... if he wasn't that "attainable" guy for EVERYONE.

Here's My Point:
The Mets NEED to improve pitching and cannot rely on every prospect turning into the next Nolan Ryan or Doc Gooden. Instead we need to use free agency to protect us in case we actually wind up with Paul Wilsons and Bill Pulsiphers. If I'm running the team I... still can't bid on Sabathia he'll REALLY just cost too much. HOWEVER before I go hog-wild for Wilson I'm trying to win posting rights on Darvish. Lefty or not... Darvish is the best pitching value available in the next offseason.

Given the choice, who would you try for first?