While their NL East rival Miami Marlins attempted to reel in Albert Pujols Tuesday night after agreeing to terms with Jose Reyes on Monday, the Mets made some moves of their own at the Winter Meetings in Dallas- although hardly any that will make people flock to Citi Field in 2012.
First, they agreed to a one-year deal with righty reliever Jon Rauch, a 6-10 righty who will compete for the closer’s role after picking up 11 saves for Toronto last year. Rauch fell off after a solid 2010, when he had 21 saves and went 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA for the Twins.
GM Sandy Alderson followed that move by making his second trade in less than six months with Giants’ GM Brian Sabean, sending Angel Pagan to San Francisco in exchange for right-hander Ramon Ramirez, as well as Pagan’s likely replacement in center Andres Torres.
Torres suffered through a fairly disastrous 2011 after playing a key role for the Giants in 2010. Torres had two stints on the DL, once for a right leg contusion and another because of a left Achilles injury. He was also benched by Bruce Bochy because of poor performance. Torres, who turns 34 next month, hit .221 last year with four homers and 19 RBI, but is superior defensively to Pagan.
Ramirez was excellent after coming to the Giants from Boston in 2010 and went 3-3 with a 2.62 ERA a year ago. The 30-year-old surrendered 54 hits and 26 walks in 68 2/3 innings and struck out 66.
In July, Alderson shipped Carlos Beltran to Sabean and the Giants.
Also on Tuesday, Alderson added more bullpen depth by signing Frank Francisco, who spent last season in Toronto, where the 32-year-old went 1-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 54 games. He finished with 17 saves and in 50 2/3 innings, gave up 49 hits, 18 walks, while striking out 53.