Mets Sign Shaun Marcum to One-Year Deal

By ZACH DOLEIDEN

NEW YORK — The New York Mets added some depth to their starting rotation today when the team signed veteran right-hander Shaun Marcum to a one-year deal. The free agent will look to help fill the void left when the Mets traded knuckle-balling ace R.A. Dickey to Toronto earlier this winter.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the deal is worth $4 million with another $4 million possible through incentives. The one-year pact is contingent on Marcum passing a physical.

Marcum, 31, is coming off of a relatively solid season with the Brewers that was cut short due to issues with tightness in his elbow and shoulder discomfort. In his 21 starts, Marcum worked through 124 innings while posting a 7-4 record with a 3.70 ERA, 7.9 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.

With the signing, the Mets are expected to enter the upcoming season with a starting rotation featuring Johan Santana, Jonathan Niese, Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey and Marcum. Previously considered frontrunners for the fifth spot, Jenrry Mejia and Jeremy Hefner will most likely start the season at AAA Las Vegas and the bullpen, respectively.

As it stands right now, Marcum is an upgrade over Chris Young, whom the Mets were considering bringing back for a third season after he went 5-9 with a 3.76 ERA in just 139 innings pitched over two injury-riddled campaigns.

However, Marcum comes with plenty of question marks of his own. Marcum has seen a small dip in velocity since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009, resulting in a mid-80s fastball that National Leaguers have been eating up in recent years.

Boasting decent control and command of his pitches, Marcum will provide the Mets with a fairly strong option at the back end of the rotation if he can remain healthy and continue pitching to his strengths.