Should the New York Mets Look Into Scott Kazmir?
I am fully aware that I’m standing alone with this proposition. We have all had that guy/girl situation in high school or college that we would love to do over again. Admittedly, this is my baseball version of that “situation”. The New York Mets’ trade of Scott Kazmir was probably my first taste of prospect heartbreak. I had always been well aware of rookies and young players in the Major Leagues, but Scott Kazmir was one of the very first prospects that I followed throughout the minors as he climbed his way up the ladder. Luckily my prospect hugging was still in its infancy stages – nor did I even know what a blog was, let alone know how to post on one – so the emotion that would have been uncontrollable rage today was simply significant disappointment back in the summer of 2004. Again, I’m very aware that nostalgia could be clouding my judgement here, but let’s discuss a New York Mets – Scott Kazmir reunion anyway.
I’m going to start off being reasonable. Scott Kazmir has been A**. With all due respect, I really think that is the most appropriate word to be used here. To simply say he’s been “bad” or “awful” is almost a compliment at this point. I don’t feel like crunching a bunch of numbers to tell you the exact ERA that Kazmir has posted since 2009. It’s well over 5.00 though and probably damn near 6.00. I will say that over the past three full seasons, he has only pitched 36.1 innings of worthwhile baseball. That came in 2009 after the Tampa Bay Rays traded him to the Los Angeles Angels. The dude has been so bad that some fans out there may rather have A.J. Burnett and John Lackey in the rotation in his stead. Maybe.
After actually processing the cons and seeing them on the screen, I’m a little hesitant to even halfway suggest that the Mets should tap the tires on the lefty. I guess the most important factor is that Kazmir would be dirt cheap. He certainly wouldn’t require any sort of guaranteed contract or anything close to seven figures. There is absolutely no harm in bringing him to Spring Training knowing they have the ability to simply cut him loose if (and probably when) he doesn’t show anything.
The main thing that I’m going to be alone on is the feeling that Kazmir isn’t 100% done. He may never get back to the 239 strikeout form that he displayed in 2007, but he’s still two-plus years from hitting 30. I find it hard to believe that his tank is completely dry. The Mets fostered a nice turnaround for Oliver Perez in 2007-2008 – a turnaround which did end up working out fabulously for the Mets. <– That was sarcasm by the way, just in case “fabulously” didn’t make that clear. Comparing Kazmir to Perez is hardly a vote of confidence or a way to get anybody to remotely consider inching over to my corner on this, but the fact remains that Ollie was a useful big league starter for two years and I think there is a small (smaller than small) chance that Kazmir could have a semi-similar turnaround one of these years. I don’t know if 2012 is that year, but I’ll reiterate that it won’t cost much to find out.
The New York Mets are not going to win in 2012 and can afford to do some scrounging at the Goodwill store. I wouldn’t be upset if Sandy Alderson and Co. took a look at Kazmir next spring…then again, after taking a second glance at his stats, I wouldn’t be upset if they didn’t.
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