Free-agent right-hander Justin Duchscherer, considered one of the best starting pitchers still on the market, said on Tuesday evening that physically he feels “pretty much 100 percent” and shot down the notion that his previous depression issues would prevent him from playing in New York….
“For me, it’s black and white. I want to start; that’s the whole mind-set I have. I haven’t even thought of being a reliever. I want a team that’s going to be honest with me and say, ‘If you’re healthy, you are going to start.'”
Duchscherer has thrown two full bullpen sessions off the mound already this winter, with favorable results, and is quick to point out that despite his “injury-prone” label, his arm has proven to be durable.
It’s going to be hard to shake that “injury-prone” label when you haven’t had a fully healthy season since 2005, but injury concerns aside, Duchscherer is a guy the Mets should probably consider taking a flyer on. I’ve had a number of readers email me suggesting as much, and they’ve got good points: Duchscherer has pretty much always been good whenever he’s been on a Major League mound.
Unlike Chris Capuano and Chris Young — both of whom finished 2010 in their teams’ rotations — Duchscherer’s five starts in 2010 came at the beginning of the season. He’s coming off hip surgery now, which I imagine means he’s less likely to be fully healthy and full-strength by Opening Day.
Still, if by some chance he is healthy and can stay so, he’s probably as likely as anyone on the Mets’ staff to pitch like the ace everyone’s clamoring for: Duchscherer has a career 139 ERA+ (a number, granted, likely aided by his time working a relief role).
Point is, pitchers get injured. Some — like Justin Duchscherer, for example — do a lot more often than others. But it’s not really possible to have too much starting pitching depth. Starters that can’t crack the rotation can count on an opportunity when one of their teammates gets hurt or proves ineffective, and usually can serve valuable roles in the bullpen in the interim.
Provided the Mets don’t know something we don’t about Duchscherer’s current health, if he can be had on a cost-effective and incentive-laden contract like the deals for Capuano and Young, he seems like a good risk to take.
Link via Aaron Gleeman.
Tedquarters 