New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has said since taking over the job that he did not have much money to throw around so he would be bargain-hunting to fill the team's many needs. Well, Alderson's bargain-bin shopping has now landed the team two pitchers who could compete for slots in the 2011 starting rotation -- Chris Capuano and Taylor Buchholz. Both pitchers have signed one year-deals.
Capuano is a 32-year-old left-hander who went 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 24 appearances (nine starts) with Milwaukee a season. He missed all of the 2008 and 2009 seasons after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career. Capuano has a 46-52 career record with a 4.35 ERA. He won 18 games in 2005. Capuano signed a $1.5 million deal.
Buchholz, 29, is a right-hander who was 1-0 in nine games with Colorado and Toronto. He missed all of the 2009 season after undergoing elbow surgery. Buchholz has a 19-21 career record with a 4.39 ERA in 135 games, 27 starts.
This might take the Mets out of the running for free-agent left-hander Jeff Francis, who is also on the New York Yankees' radar.
