I thought I was kidding.

MLBTR:

And for the record, aren't we kind of hoping that Adam Loewen turns into "good Jack Cust"?

I was hoping he'd turn into a young Val Pascucci.

For Buffalo.

Zach Duke and Jack Cust released.

Cust was 1 for 25 this spring. Duke had an 11.30 ERA.

I actually proposed in the offseason after he missed Francis that Duke may not be a bad get, due to his effectiveness against lefties in the past and his ability to go multi-innings and act as insurance over the likes of Hefner, et al. Kinda thought he might be like a Chuck James, but with usefulness vs. LHB. Not going to let 14 spring innings change that all that much, but I'd consider it very unlikely we go after him now - I'm not even sure the whole veteran minor lg clause thing came up with these two releases, as I'm positive Cust signed a major league deal, but unsure about Duke.

Anyway, does bring the list to "recognizable major league names cut in ST" to:

-Joel Pineiro
-Zack Duke
-Mitch Stetter
-Joe Beimel
-Conor Jackson
-Jack Cust

Does this (spring training veteran cuts with potential use to our bench/bullpen/depth) deserve its own thread? Or maybe just bring that list thread that sluger compiled back to life?

I have a confession. I don't recognize Mitch Stetter.

Also, they should sign Joe Beimel simply because his name has been connected to the Mets so many times over the years without ever actually playing here. Time to close the circle.

On edit: I looked up Stetter and now I recall who he is.

Zach Duke was a pretty decent, league average starter a couple years ago. Wouldn't hurt to add him into the list of starter depth options alongside Joel Pineiro.

MJ: I'm sure the Article XX(B) rule came into play with Duke; he was given a minor league deal, pitched in the Majors last year, and has 6 or more years of service time.

I'm unsure if the XX(B) clause still covers Duke now that he's been cut though; I believe the cut-off date for that was March 25th. Now that we're past that date, I THINK he can be signed to a typical minor league deal. Don't quote me on that though.

Jack Cust doesn't have enough service time to have been eligible.

Couldn't remember the exact date, but yes, I believe this is true. I remember discussing it with Pineiro - made sense to wait and see.

Of course, those guys would likely be motivated to wait and see if a definitive job in the majors opened up either due to injury or unexpected releases before agreeing to sign into a potentially black hole of minor league baseball, too.

Brian Sabean, you guys.

Because .309/.448/.527 aren't big numbers...

Can we trade for this guy? Here's praying for a hot two months from Jason Bay.

Bay has too much money left to bring anything back even with a far-fetched 2 month hot run. Best case is him costing us less to dump. Remember... if you are adding him because he is hot then you want him to play... if you play him then the option vests...

Regardless where he goes, SF MUST trade Belt now. This is getting ridiculous.

It would be super awesome if the Mets could swing a deal for him somehow. Would be a fun jolt to begin the season.

(Not happening.)

In a world where Alex Rios and Vernon Wells can be traded there is always hope. The Bay for Belt idea was a pretty gross exageration though.

I wonder what would get the Giants to talk on Belt, though. Murphy would be a big upgrade over Sanchez. Niese as a 4th/5th starter maybe?