Update – 2:42 p.m.: Looks like this is all moot. Bart Hubbuch tweets that the Mets have informed Putz that they will not pick up his option. They will buy him out for $1 million.
Update – 2:44 p.m.: I still don’t think they should bring him back, incentive-laden deal or not. I think the team can find someone to fill that role at a much lower cost and with less of an injury history.
If anyone thinks it’s a smart move for the Mets to bring back J.J. Putz and his $9.1 million option, they need to take all their Mets gear and light it on fire.
Putz, who appeared in a mere 29 games for the Mets after coming over in an 11-player trade, was oft-injured and mostly ineffective. He posted a 5.22 ERA and 1.636 WHIP, notching the same amount of walks as strikeouts: 19.
His reoccurring elbow injury, which the Mets had to have known about when trading for him, kept him out for a majority of the season.
For $9.1 million, there is no way on God’s green earth that the Mets could even think about bringing him back for the 2010 campaign. That much for an injury-prone set-up man? No way, J.J.
So good day, Mr. Putz. Off you go to another team. I feel bad for anyone who bought a Putz jersey before this season.