Mets sign Claudio Vargas
Here's the 411 from the team:
METS SIGN RHP CLAUDIO VARGAS TO A MINOR LEAGUE DEAL
The Mets announced today that they have signed righthanded pitcher Claudio Vargas to a minor league contract. Vargas will report to extended spring training in Port St. Lucie, FL before joining New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League.
Vargas, 29, went 11-6 with one save and a 5.09 ERA in 29 games, 23 starts last year for the Milwaukee Brewers. In 134.1 innings, he allowed 153 hits, 80 runs, 76 earned, with 54 walks and 107 strikeouts.
Claudio was released by Milwaukee on March 25 earlier this spring. The 6-4, 238-pounder was 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five spring training starts before he was released. In 18.2 innings, he allowed 17 hits, eight runs, earned, with six walks and 10 strikeouts. Opponents hit .238 against him.
In 2006, Vargas was 12-10 with a 4.83 ERA in 31 games, 30 starts. In 167.2 innings, he surrendered 185 hits, 101 runs, 90 earned, with 52 walks and a career-high 123 strikeouts.
Claudio has posted a 43-38 career mark with a 4.95 ERA. In 153 games, 110 starts, he’s pitched 666.2 innings, yielding 715 hits, 396 runs, 367 earned, with 258 walks and 476 strikeouts.
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Comments (14)
I'm sorry NYC. i just can't understand Omars continual agenda of obtaining HIS players. No wonder Willie can't figure anything out.
Who are HIS players, and who is he bypassing?
We needed a guy like this. We needed to have an arm. I don't think it's wise to rush the prospects, so it's nice to have a guy who can give you a couple of starts throughout the year.
"HIS" probably means Latino. If his name was Claude Vaughn, it would be totally different.
Archie that is what a GM does get his people. Its his job to get the talent its Willie's job to use them. I have no issues. He has had success in the past. We cry when free agents go to other cities one comes here half way decent not a hall of famer but how many are. Give a chance before you pour water on the deal. What did we lose here.
I am not spanish but why does it bother people that they are spanish or not. Look at baseball as a whole how many are not spanish now adays. Why do we still in the post 2000 era have a grudge about how many minority if they are a minorty anymore. If they win who the heck cares. I am jewish do I want 25 jewish players yes and no. if they have talent and we have a need for their job pitcher or outfielder so be it. Get our heads out of our backsides. Do you root for the Mets or is a quota system going on here. I take whoever comes as long as they are not a axe murderer or J-Walker.
I've dropped the line a few times myself; its good fun when talking shop about the team. But the idea that someone whose livelihood relies on putting talent on a 40 man roster has somehow let his preference for a particular ethinicity could his decision making... well I don't buy it.
Perhaps when evaluating two similar players Omar leans one way based on experience (and experience includes background, personal or otherwise, whether we like to admit it or not). But he made the right call on Clark (and sent a Latino player down as a result).
Or perhaps he feels that the Latin American fringe player is an under-itilized resource in the game today.
Either way, I'm on board with Vargas (but I better be consulted about the next personnel move O).
In all seriousness Vargas is nothing if not a professional pitcher who has shown some durability. Given Duque's uncertainty and my discomfort in the idea of Figueroa, I'm happy as a clam.
Even if its a clam marinated in pebre.
This is Discrimination! Always trying to bring us folk down! Omar continues to segregate baseball.
Rally together brothers, as we must overtake the Mets and their Latino ways.
Omar never signs any Svedish players, ya? Fairness, it is not. We svedes need to hit the little ball good like everyone else.
It's just nice to get someone under the age of 30 (or 35 or 40 for that matter) that stands the chance of making it through the season without extended trips to the DL for arthritis
...because Minaya will give a contract to a spanish player quicker than a non-spanish player who may be more deserving. I'm not saying that he's prejudice, but what else could explain giving Julio Franco a two-year deal when he said just months earlier that "we don't give more than one-year deals for utility players." Jason Kendall was available this off-season, but he never got a call from the Mets, but Torealba was the only catcher he wanted (untill he failed a physical.)
Omar should have grabbed Lohse when he had the chance. I would feel better if he signs Freddie Garcia.He could be ready by June from what I have read. As far as omar signing hispanics, if they win they could play all Talaban players.
And John who did they end up with, Brian Schneider..I dunno is he a really light skinned spanish guy in hiding. With a name like Schneider can understand why. I guess he is from the Dominican clan of Schneiders....lol. Get real people. Claudio Vargas is a capable pitcher, thats why is he is here..not because he is spanish. Deal with it.
"his" guys also seem to be guys who were with the Expo's/Nat's when Omar was the GM. He seems to also bring them back and for the most part have stunk.
I don't care what the guy is, but it does appear they are all from the D.R., P.R. or one of the islands.
The biggest thing I have a problem with is this is just sort of a boring team that I can't really root for because the players are blah... Look at the team.
Pitcher
Ambiorix Burgos bum and will be remembered for trading Bannister for him. (Noticed Ban's is 2-0 and just beat the Yanks)
Pedro Feliciano I do like, but the flight thing sucked
Nelson Figueroa a local, ok
Aaron Heilman his change up is sucking right now
Carlos Muniz a rookie, no idea
Duaner Sanchez used to like, then didn't work hard enough to get in shape to help last year. Seems like was only collecting a pay check.
Scott Schoeneweis and his $3.6M salary?
Joe Smith ok
Jorge Sosa blows
Billy Wagner is good to root for, even though the BB's are a lot
Matt Wise know zippy about
Orlando Hernandez will never see again this year
John Maine Yes
Pedro Martinez will make 15 starts this year if that.
Mike Pelfrey could root for with some good starts
Oliver Perez hard to root for when he walks someone or someone gets a basehit against him. He just gets unglued
Johan Santana Yes
Catchers
Raul Casanova will never see
Brian Schneider possibly, the 2 past balls cost the game
Infielders
Luis Castillo I want to, but he will never be the same.
Carlos Delgado his $14.5M, non leadership and anti-American position? No thanks.
Damion Easley is boring and terrible
Jose Reyes yes
David Wright yes
Outfielders
Moises Alou who?
Marlon Anderson is ok
Carlos Beltran just gets hurt too much. He never was such a pansy until he signed that huge deal and won't play hurt.
Endy Chavez yes
Ryan Church starting to warm up to.
Brady Clark this should be Gotay not Clark
Angel Pagan yes
So in all we have Wright, Reyes, Pagan, Chavez, Maine, Santana and Wagner. Everyone else doesn't take to the media, has nothing to say, suck or are blah.
Eckstein and Gotay would have been better.
Omar is saturating the field with Spanish players. The reason why is because he and every other team can get these players for so much less money. We have so many good American prospects in college and minor league ball but are overshadowed by the Latino players. Its disturbing to see this when the real talented guys are being overlooked.
Now he even has the balls to open up a training camp in the Dominican Republic. I think his views are obvious. This is a shame and very upsetting to see the segregation.