The New York Mets' starting rotation may not be big on talent, but it's looking mighty big on volatility. Two weeks after signing free agent Chris Capuano, the Mets have now taken another step, reaching an agreement with free agent Chris Young.
Chris Young, Mets Reach Contract Agreement, Pending Physical
Terms of the contract with Young aren’t yet known, and the deal isn’t official, as it’s pending a physical exam. And while these physicals are usually something of a formality, it could be more of an issue with Young, who had shoulder surgery in 2009 and then missed much of the 2010 season with a shoulder strain. Nevertheless, odds are that Young will pass and head to New York.
With the Mets, he'll look to join an Opening Day rotation featuring Capuano, R.A. Dickey, Mike Pelfrey, and Jonathon Niese. Johan Santana will return a few months into the year, but will begin the season on the disabled list following shoulder surgery.
The 31-year-old Young - who, at 6'10, is one of the tallest players in baseball history - appeared in just four games last season with the Padres, allowing two runs over 20 innings. Shoulder injuries have derailed what was once a very promising career, and there's no guarantee that a healthy Young will be able to get his fastball back into the high 80s, where it used to sit. Even so, this is a risk with a big potential reward, and the Mets will hope that Young can get back to what made him so successful in 2006-2007. When right, the righty works off of a fastball and slider and puts a ton of catchable balls in the air.
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