The Interesting Case of JJ Putz
Letting JJ Putz just walk away would definitely be a major mistake. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)
BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR
The Mets made a big trade this past off season to acquire one of the game’s better closers to become their eighth inning specialist. The Mets’ pen was supposedly set. The starters would hopefully get us six innings, Feliciano and the righties would team up for the seventh, and then Putz and K-Rod would finish it off.
It hasn’t been exactly as we may have expected it to be.
Putz has been out for quite some time due to surgery to have bone spurs removed from his elbow. It was revealed that he pitched with the pain for quite some time, leaving us to question the medical team for the Mets for the gazillionth time. He will now be out until mid August.
Most people seem to think it would be a no brainer to decline his $9 million option for next season. Well I am here to explain why those people are dead wrong.
Whether or not Putz has been effective this season, he still has an excellent track record. He has been a top closer for the past few years, and if he hits the market, there would definitely be a team that would be willing to throw some money his way.
I have a better alternative. If the Mets are so set on giving up on Putz, then they should exercise the option on Putz and put him on the trade block. You may think I am crazy, but the Mets could probably net a couple of decent minor leaguers for the former All Star.
Or they could just keep him.
The other rationale would be to let him play next season at Citi Field, and if the Mets are out of contention, they could deal him if he has built his value up. If not, then you let him walk after next season and get some draft picks.
There is no reason to let him leave now.
What do you think?
Posted in 
interesting. if he’s pitched in pain this season, before he went down, then how could you write the guy off as a Met based on this season only? you can’t. i think you’re right that the Mets should pick up the option so they can possibly get something from him and/or for him. Money would be the deciding factor – if the Mets are so cash-strapped, they may cut him free rather than be on the hook for the $9 mil.
$9 Mill? Chump change for an organization paying Willie Randolph this season to be a bench coach for the Brewers. Pick up the option and see what happens.
Picking up his option would be quite a gamble seeing that the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Phillies all have closers already… who would trade for him? Does any team actually have the money where this would be a credible idea? There are only 6-7 closers in baseball making that much money. Brian Fuentes signed a cheaper deal on the open market and he’s been a heck of a lot more dependable then Putz the last 5-6 years.
That 9 million dollars could have gotten Dunn, Abreu, O. Hudson last year and with the economy not getting much better, more bargain will be had next year. The Mets can’t spend 20 million on just 2 relief pitchers that will give you maybe 140 innings tops.
Trade him. He’s a good closer, but his history the past two years reflects that of a lot of 30-something closers who had one or two great years. The reality is that 90% of non-sandman closers only have those two really stellar years before they revert to mostly average pitchers.
I’m not sure you’re ever going to see the return of the JJ of 05. Trade him to a team who thinks they will.