New York Mets sign Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch; trade Angel Pagan to San Francisco Giants -MLB Update
The New York Mets were one of the most active teams as the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) offseason Winter Meetings kicked off by signing on two Toronto Blue Jays’ free agents, Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch along with trading veteran centre fielder, Angel
Pagan to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.
For some, the multiple transactions might have come as a surprise, but for others, it was something expected since New York Mets had expressed the idea of wanting to rejuvenate their team with depth in various departments once the season had come to a close.
"We knew we had to get some bullpen help here," Mets general manager, Terry Collins, said. "I was all onboard the way Sandy's approach was, hey, look, let's not go spend it all on one guy. Let's spread it out and get some depth. I'm shocked how he made it
all fit."
Frank Francisco, a veteran relief pitcher who spent six straight seasons with the Texas Rangers before moving on to a single season with Toronto Blue Jays, signed a two-year deal with the Mets which is reported to be worth a whopping, $12 million.
Many analysts are of the view that Francisco is in no shape to overtake and fill in the gap left by Jose Reyes, who left to sign on with the Miami Marlins to a $106 million contract earlier this offseason, but it just goes to show that New York is not leaving
the position vacant either.
Free agent reliever, Jon Rauch, signed on to the Mets with a one-year deal as well, which is worth a reported, $3.5 million. The 33-year-old right-hander is expected to be settling into the eighth-inning position along with Ramon Ramirez, who was brought
in for Angel Pagan in the trade with the San Francisco Giants.
Outfielder Andres Torres is another acquired player in the trade for Pagan, which has him excited for playing another season on a new team.
“I’m excited ... because maybe I’ll get an opportunity to play, and that’s good,” Torres told the San Jose Mercury News. “I’ve been working with Juan Gonzalez [in Puerto Rico] a lot, hitting every day. I know it’s going to be a good year for me.”
How far will this help the Mets, only time will tell.
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