Friday, January 25, 2013

Shaun Marcum is Officially a Met


                        The Mets are  hoping that Marcum is a valuable addition to their pitching rotation.


Shale Briskin
Assistant Editor

Rumors yesterday of the Mets signing free agent veteran right-handed pitcher Shaun Marcum to a one-year contract have become a reality. According to Anthony DiComo of Mets.com, the Mets have indeed reached an agreement with Marcum that will include a one-year contract worth $4 million. It will also include performance-based incentives.

The addition of Marcum now solidifies the Mets' 2013 Opening Day rotation, which will also include Jon Niese, Matt Harvey, Johan Santana and Dillon Gee. Zack Wheeler figures to be a part of the rotation as well sometime this year. The Mets have yet to name an Opening Day starter.

Marcum will fill the void left by R.A. Dickey after Dickey was traded to the Blue Jays in December. Marcum is not expected to be an ace for the Mets, but rather an innings eater. Marcum has averaged 173 innings in the last three seasons. He threw 195.1 innings with the Blue Jays in 2010, 200.2 innings with the Brewers in 2011 and 124.0 innings last season with the Brewers.

In 2012, Marcum only made 21 starts due to injuries. He finished the season with a 7-4 record and a 3.70 ERA. His name in the summer was floated in potential trade rumors, but he did not end up getting dealt.

Marcum was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in 2003 and made his MLB debut in September of 2005. After going 3-4 with a 5.06 ERA within 21 appearances in 2006, Marcum had a breakout season in 2007 with a 12-6 record and an ERA of 4.13.

Marcum had another good season in 2008 with a 9-7 record and a 3.39 ERA in 25 starts. However, he struggled down the stretch and was sent to the minor leagues in August. He returned to the Blue Jays in September and left his final start of the season with pain in his elbow. As it turned out, Marcum would need Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of 2008 and almost all of 2009 because of it.

Marcum did not make an appearance with the Blue Jays in 2009, but made five total minor league starts before being shut down for the year. In 2010, Marcum was the Blue Jays' Opening Day starter following the trade that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies.

 He notably allowed the 600th home run of Alex Rodriguez's career on August 4. On the positive side, Marcum finished the year with a career high 13 wins and a 3.64 ERA.

In 2011, Marcum was dealt to the Brewers in exchange for one-time prospect Brett Lawrie, who is now the Blue Jays' third baseman. He ended up having an even better season as the Brewers' No. 3 starter with a 13-7 record and a career best 3.54 ERA.

Unfortunately for him and the Brewers though, Marcum struggled mightily in the 2011 postseason. He was 0-3 with a 14.90 ERA in three starts. Marcum got shelled in all his starts and gave up a grand slam to Paul Goldschmidt in his only postseason start against the Diamondbacks.

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