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阿民應該不愁沒地方可去 METS的官網就把可能網羅王的新聞放上首頁

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Beat reporter Marty Noble answers fans' questions

By Marty Noble / MLB.com

12/14/09 9:41 AM EST

Chien-Ming Wang being non-tendered by the Yankees has me salivating in spite of his recent injury history. John Lackey's contract demands will likely surpass his skill level. Keeping in mind salary demands and budget restraints, what free-agent pitcher do you feel will give the Mets the best bang for their buck?
-- Neil M., Flushing, N.Y.

Two weeks ago -- and last December when the Mets were pursuing Ollie Perez -- I said Randy Wolf is the pitcher they ought to sign. But the contract he signed with the Brewers stunned me and, no doubt, a number of general managers as well. Now, I can't identify one pitcher they should pursue, though I know they need at least one.

I do see a degree of logic in the Mets' thinking; that is if Wolf, Joel Pineiro or Jason Marquis is going to cost X dollars, it might be wise to spend 1 1/2 X for Lackey, who has a greater upside than the others. If Lackey's price tag is 2X, then the club has to determine how great a need exists. The need is quite real.

All that said, I like Pineiro. And it can't be that he can command as much as Lackey. Can it? My only reservation about Pineiro is that I have seen him against the Mets mostly, and he has handled them particularly well. But the Mets have scouts who have seen him against other opponents.

Wang would be a bit of a gamble, given his poor performance last season, but he appears to be the kind of pitcher -- relatively young, 29, and with a history of success -- who would be worth a look now, perhaps a December audition and possibly a contract for a low salary and incentives to protect him. His winning percentage in four seasons (95 starts) before 2009 was .730.