New York Mets Add Bullpen Depth By Signing Kiko Calero

Free agent pitcher Kiko Calero must have had the worst medical records of anybody this offseason. That is the only logical explanation I can think of for Calero not being able to sign a major league contract.

After posting a 1.95 ERA, 10.4 K’s/9, and a 1.10 WHIP in 60 innings with the Florida Marlins last year, I thought Calero would have many suitors this offseason. It was clearly not the case.

Many teams were scared to sign Calero.

Many teams were scared off by Calero’s medical records during the winter. Calero has consistently had elbow and shoulder injuries throughout his career. Teams felt that after undergoing a heavy workload in 2009, he wouldn’t make it through the 2010 season.

One team that was willing to take a chance on Calero were the New York Mets. According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News (New York’s hometown paper, or so they tell me), the Mets have signed Calero to a minor league deal.

The deal could be worth up to $1.5 million for the 35-year-old right hander. He earns $850 thousand if he makes the team, with another $650 thousand available in incentives.

I know the Mets have become a punching bag over the last 12 months, but this is a good move by them. With question marks throughout their rotation, the Mets are going to need all bullpen help as they can get.

Plus, the recently signed Kelvim Escobar is most likely to start the year on the DL, so the Mets could just slide Calero into his projected spot in the bullpen.

Good low-risk, high-reward signing by the Mets. I would be very surprised if Calero didn’t make the team out of spring training.

Speaking of spring training, I am watching the replay of the Mets/St. Louis Cardinals game on SNY right now and this Charlie Zink for the Cardinals is beyond brutal. He turned an entertaining spring training game into watching paint dry.

Calero has a career 3.24 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in seven seasons with the Cardinals, Oakland A’s, and Marlins.

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