PORT ST. LUCIE — Two more starters are gone from the free-agent pool, and there is still a big question mark at the back of the Mets’ starting rotation.
Ben Sheets and Jon Garland became the latest high-profile pitchers to sign elsewhere, yesterday agreeing to terms with the Athletics and Padres, respectively.
That leaves John Smoltz as perhaps the last man standing if the Mets intend to address their rotation through the free-agent market. A club insider yesterday indicated GM Omar Minaya has been in contact with Smoltz, but the Mets will only sign the 42-year-old right-hander if they can do it cheaply.
After watching Johan Santana’s bullpen session at mini-camp, Minaya didn’t sound as if he’s counting on landing Smoltz.
“We’re going to have to look to take some chances on guys with minor-league offers who can maybe come in and compete for [jobs], whether it’s that fifth spot or whatever you want to call it,” Minaya said.
As it stands, Jonathon Niese and Fernando Nieve are the two candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation. Both are coming off season-ending injuries.
“I think Nieve is ahead of Niese right now because he pitched this winter,” Minaya said. “We’re not going to rush Jonathon, because we’ll see how he is, and we’ll probably bring in a couple of minor leaguers like we’ve done in the past.”
John Lackey, Joel Pineiro, Sheets and Garland were all free-agent pitchers in whom the Mets had some level of interest this winter. Sheets took a one-year deal for about $10 million from the Athletics. Garland received one year at $5.3 million from the Padres.