Mets sign Daisuke Matsuzaka

The Mets have agreed to sign pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to Major League deal. Matsuzaka, 32, asked for his release from the Indians on Tuesday, and will go directly to the big league squad in New York. He will make his first start Friday night against the Detroit Tigers.

Matsuzaka, whose agent is Scott Boras, posted a 3.92 ERA in 103 1/3 innings for Cleveland's Triple-A squad in 2013. He hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2012, where he made 11 starts for the Red Sox. The season prior, he only made 7 starts, before being lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery. 

Matsuzaka was pursued by the Mets over the winter, but he ultimately chose to sign with the Indians. 

This is a solid move by the Mets for a variety of reasons. The Mets have recently lost Jeremy Hefner and Jenrry Mejia for the remainder of the season, and they need someone who could eat up some innings.

Assuming Matsuzaka stays healthy, he has every opportunity to finish the 2013 season strong, and he heads into free agency. Coming out of Japan in 2007, Boston fans expected him to be the next big thing in the game, but he looked overmatched for the most part.

His best season came in 2008, where he had a 2.90 ERA in 29 starts. The problem was he also had a league-leading 94 walks. Matsuzaka's control has always been an issue, as he owns a career 4.3 BB/9 rate.

I know many Mets fans would like to see some young arms in September, such as Jacob deGrom and Rafael Montero. But the reality is they are on tight innings limits, and rather than risk a potential injury, the team has basically decided to be cautious by signing Matsuzaka, who will likely eat some innings from now until the end of the season. 

Hefner may be facing Tommy John surgery

Jeremy Hefner will likely undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right elbow. Hefner has yet to decide whether he will undergo the surgery, or seek a second opinion. 

Hefner posted a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts with the Mets in 2013. However, don't let that number fool you. Through his first 18 starts (19 appearances), the 27 year old had a 3.33 ERA, making him the second best starter on the Mets behind Matt Harvey.

Recovery time to return from Tommy John surgery is generally one year, so if he decides to undergo the surgery, 2014 will likely be a lost season for him.

Hefner does indeed have an option left in his contract, so, according to Metsblog contributor Chris Walendin, "the Mets retain the flexibility to work him back as needed in 2015," if they choose to retain him.

This is really a shame. Assuming Hefner undergoes the surgery, he will be lost for the entire 2014 season. Hefner quietly had a nice season for the Mets in 2013, and if it wasn't for his last 2-3 starts that roughed him up, his numbers would have been very impressive. 

Hefner has really made a name for himself ever since being claimed off of waivers by the Mets from the Pirates back in December of 2011. He went from a decent swing-man to a solid rotation piece, and his performance certainly opened some eyes in this organization.

As for Hefner's future, he is clearly done for the 2013 season. 2014 is not looking too good either. As Chris Walendin of Metsblog explains, the Mets could work out a deal with Hefner to bring him back in 2015, if they would like to keep him. I see no reason why they shouldn't do that, as Hefner has proven that he could have success at this level.

Mets sign Talbot and Thompson

Talbot with the Indians

The Mets have signed pitchers Mitch Talbot and Daryl Thompson to minor league deals. They have both been assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Talbot, 29, last pitched in the Majors with the Indians in 2011, posting a 6.64 ERA in 12 starts. In 2013, he made three starts in the Miami Marlins organization before being released due to an elbow injury. Talbot has a career 5.30 ERA in 232.2 big league innings.

Thompson, 27, has spent the 2013 season with the Southern Maryland Rock Crabs of the Independent League. He posted a 3.18 ERA in 22 starts with them. He last appeared in the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2011 season. Thompson has a career 8.31 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched.

I don't mind these signings. Obviously they won't too much of an impact, but the Mets need organizational filler players, and that is what Talbot and Thompson are. Talbot did have one decent season with the Indians a few years ago, but injuries have held him back. If he proves himself with the 51s, that could earn him a September call-up, and he would be able to showcase himself to receive a new contract in the winter.

Thompson has had nice success with the Rock Crabs. However, it is the Independent League, which talent wise is nowhere close to the Major League level. Thompson will be put in Triple-A to see if he could continue his fine success, and if he does I expect him to earn a call-up in September as well.

Sooner or later the Mets will shut down their younger pitchers, such as Harvey and Wheeler. The rotation is beginning to thin out as it is, with Jenrry Mejia and Jeremy Hefner both done for the season. The Mets need all the depth they can find, and who knows, maybe they'll strike lightning in a bottle with one of these minor league signings.

d'Arnaud will stay with Mets, Recker optioned to Triple-A

After Monday's game against the Twins, the Mets announced that Travis d'Arnaud will remain on the big league roster. John Buck has been activated from the paternity list, and Anthony Recker has been optioned to Triple-A. Sandy Alderson told reporters that Buck will likely shift to being the backup catcher to allow d'Arnaud to have the majority of playing time.

d'Arnaud, the team's top hitting prospect, was called up 4 days ago, and has gone 0-for-7. However, he has walked 5 times in 12 plate appearances, which gives him a .417 on-base percentage. The entire reason for d'Arnaud's promotion was because John Buck was expected to go on the paternity list. 

Recker, the team's backup catcher since day one of the season, has been exactly what the team expected of him. His .193 batting average and .244 on-base percentage are well below league average, but he has been a solid backup catcher for the team. 

This is the right move, especially considering that the Mets are out of contention, and are looking towards next season. We've heard a lot about d'Arnaud, and now that he is finally healthy, it is time for him to show what he can do at the Major League level. 

I have no problem with Buck as the backup catcher. He will definitely add a solid veteran presence for d'Arnaud, and will earn a much needed rest. He was never supposed to become the every-day catcher, but because of d'Arnaud's injury, Buck played much more than he expected.

Recker will be back with the team when the rosters expand in a few weeks, so I don't have too much pity for him. Recker did an average job as the team's backup catcher all season long, and he does have an option for next season, so I expect him to stick with the Mets in 2014.

Could Lagares become an every-day player?

Juan Lagares has been a surprise for the Mets in 2013. The 24 year old rookie outfielder has showed above average defense out in center-field, but his bat has been lacking. In 80 games with the Mets, Lagares has hit .255 with 4 home runs, 25 RBI, and a .286 on-base percentage. 

Hitting coach Dave Hudgens met with Lagares before Thursday's game against the Padres, and told him "don't let any offensive funk affect your fielding." Lagares is hitless in his last 13 at-bats.

Terry Collins further explained to reporters what Hudgens told Lagares, saying "Hitting is hard, and you're going to have ups and downs. But that catch he made in center field tonight, that's what he want him to do on a nightly basis. He may not have driven in any runs, but he saved two."

I've really enjoyed seeing Lagares play in 2013. His defense is, no question, the best in the outfield, but the Mets will eventually need to make a decision with him, given his offensive struggles. It really seems like the league has figured him out, meaning that they know where to pitch him. Lagares will need to adjust if he wants to get those offensive numbers back up.

I actually agree with what Terry Collins and Dave Hudgens have said. Lagares has been doing just fine as a whole, and his offensive slump shouldn't influence his defensive game at all. 

If Sandy Alderson fully commits to Lagares, then he will certainly need to acquire two solid-hitting corner outfielders to compensate for Lagares' offense, or lack thereof. Those players are out there but at this point the two questions are: Will Sandy give Lagares the long-term nod at centerfield? And who will he chase after in the winter? Those questions will need to be addressed very soon. 

Allan Dykstra is making some noise Binghamton

In 2011, the Mets traded away a pitching prospect named Eddie Kunz to the San Diego Padres. Kunz was drafted in the first round of the 2007 draft by the Mets, and was expected to be "the closer of the future" in Queens. However, he really struggled in the minor leagues, and the Mets were happy to get SOMETHING for him when they dealt him away. They ended up receiving a first baseman by the name of Allan Dykstra. 

Dykstra, was a first round pick by the Padres in the 2008 draft. After putting up a few so-so seasons with the Padres' minor league affiliates, he was traded to the Mets. In his first full season with the Mets, he hit .269 with a .389 on-base percentage and smashed 19 homers with 77 RBI. That opened some eyes in the organization, and in 2013, Dykstra has raised his stock even more. He has hit .285 with 18 home runs and 70 RBI in Double-A. He also has an incredible .452 on-base percentage.

Walks are a huge part of Dykstra's game. He has a career .404 on-base percentage, and that has certainly grabbed the attention of Sandy Alderson, who pays close attention to the OBP statistic. Dykstra is primarily a first baseman, and may not have the power to be a successful everyday player in the majors. However, his minor league stats have indicated that he could be a solid bench player.

At 26 years of age, Dykstra's ship is ready to sail. As a first round pick, he hasn't exactly lived up to expectations throughout his entire career, but in 2013 he has certainly made a name for himself. I love the fact that he is a base-on-balls machine. Also, as a first baseman, he gives Terry Collins yet another toy to play with and try out at that position.

I expect to see Dykstra with the Mets in September. He really deserves an opportunity to prove himself with the varsity squad. I understand that he would be skipping Triple-A, but as I mentioned before, at 26 years old, it is make or break time for Dykstra. 

Early thoughts on Wilmer Flores

Wilmer Flores has been in the Major Leagues for a little over a week now, and he is already beginning to make a name for himself. Despite the current .259 batting average, Flores has been money with runners in scoring position. In 7 games, he already has 9 RBI, and seems to deliver whenever he is called upon. Defensively he has been no David Wright, but average nonetheless. Considering that he has been constantly flipped around in the field throughout his career, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. 

I know it is a small sample size, but Flores already looks like he could be a solid Major League hitter. His smooth swing has drawn comparisons to Jason Bay in his prime. One thing about Flores is that, once he steps in the batters box, you know that he has a good idea of what he is doing. He is very mature at the plate for a 22 year old.

Now, I'll get into Flores' long-term future with this team very shortly, but first I want to talk about what he will be doing for the rest of this season. Flores, a third baseman by trade, is only playing the hot corner right now because David Wright is on the disabled list. Wright may be out for the season with his injury, but is is not guaranteed. If he manages to return off of the disabled list sooner than expected, then the Mets have a decision to make with Flores. 

What position will he play?

Flores has had minor league experience at first and second base. Personally, I believe the team should stick him at first base if they truly believe he is part of the long-term solution. I say that because Flores may be involved in trade talks this winter, because he is one of the Mets' highest trading chips. If the team continues to stick to Ike Davis at first base, then Flores may be looking at the second base job. 

I like Daniel Murphy, I really do. In my mind, he is underrated offensively, and defensively he has come a long way. I don't think the Mets should just simply hand over the job to Flores, but if Murphy struggles with the bat or shows any sign of fatigue in the final weeks of the season, I'd give Flores a shot. If Flores succeeds, then he has the opportunity to run away with the job.

The whole Flores situation is a tricky one, because no-one knows if he will even be with the Mets next season. He will certainly be talked about in trade dialogue involving the Mets and other teams, and I have a feeling the Mets will eventually move him in a package for a big-name outfielder. These final weeks of the season are meant to showcase Flores' talent at the Major League level, and if he finds success, the Mets could really cash in on his value.