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Monday, April 20, 2009

Mets sign outfielder Wily Mo Pena to Minors deal

And find a helmet that fits!

The Mets signed outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a Minor League contract and have assigned him to extended Spring Training, the New York Post reported Monday.

After extended Spring Training, Pena, 27, will report to Triple-A Buffalo, the report said.

The right-handed-hitting Pena hit .205 in 64 games for the Nationals last season. For his career, Pena has a .253 batting average with 77 home runs and 225 RBIs in 560 games with the Reds, Red Sox and Nationals starting in 2002.

Last month, Pena refused a Minor League assignment from Washington and was granted his unconditional release. He originally signed with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1998.

Repoz Posted: April 20, 2009 at 11:14 PM | 19 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Minor Leagues, NY Mets

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1. Raskolnikov Posted: April 20, 2009 at 11:41 PM (#3146066)

I like it, but there's no room for Tatis, Sheffield, *and* Pena.

2. J in the Slope Posted: April 20, 2009 at 11:47 PM (#3146071)

I can't believe he's only hit 77 HRs. Seems the Mets already have this guy in Gary Sheffield, except Sheff can hit lefties better. And righties, too, probably. The heck happened to Wily Mo? It seemed like he would have a career as recently as 2006. He even hit well when he got to RFK in 2007 (.293/.352/.504). Harmless signing. I like it.

3. PreservedFish Posted: April 20, 2009 at 11:50 PM (#3146073)

The poor man's Sheffield.

4. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:02 AM (#3146083)

PF:

Poor man's? More like vagrant lying in an alley comatose with an emtpy bottle of Ripple lying nearby Sheffield.........

5. The District Attorney Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:03 AM (#3146084)

I prefer to think of him as the rich man's Wladimir Balentien.

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:03 AM (#3146085)

I think I predicted this like a year ago. WMP and Omar seem like a perfect fit.

7. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:30 AM (#3146092)

It's harmless but I doubt he gets any playing time for the Mets. Tatis is best suited for any everyday role and Sheffield is good as a pinch-hitter and platoon player.

And really, I'd prefer for Fernandomania or Nick Evans play before him anyways.

8. AJM Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:51 AM (#3146098)

Why not.

9. Famous Original Joe C Posted: April 21, 2009 at 02:50 AM (#3146163)

Tatis and/or Sheffield are bound to stink at some point in the near future - why not indeed.

10. Cowboy Popup Posted: April 21, 2009 at 02:52 AM (#3146166)

Here's hoping they call him up soon. And he hits 20 HRs.

11. Frank McCourt's Gold Stars are in bankruptcy court Posted: April 21, 2009 at 02:52 AM (#3146167)

He'll always have that homer he nearly sent through the Green Monster.

12. Lassus: Posted: April 21, 2009 at 03:06 AM (#3146176)

Honestly, I'm taking the under on all of you who think Sheffield is going to be useful this year.

13. bookbook Posted: April 21, 2009 at 03:17 AM (#3146181)

Sheffield doesn't have to be useful to be the rich man's Willy Mo. As a rule, castoffs from Bowden's Nationals don't help you win.

14. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: April 21, 2009 at 03:42 AM (#3146193)

Tatis and/or Sheffield are bound to stink at some point in the near future - why not indeed.

This is certainly reasonable considering their recent histories but even if that happens, Pena isn't going to get much playing time. There are too many people ahead of him on the depth chart. Church, Murphy, Tatis, and Sheffield at the very least, most likely Fernandomania, and possibly Nick Evans as well.

Pena probably gets less than 50 AB with the Mets this season.

15. Tripon Posted: April 21, 2009 at 03:45 AM (#3146196)

Sheffield doesn't have to be useful to be the rich man's Willy Mo. As a rule, castoffs from Bowden's Nationals don't help you win.

Unless his name is Emilio Bonifacio.

16. Walt Davis Posted: April 21, 2009 at 05:01 AM (#3146221)

The poor man's Sheffield.

I'll be less witty than HW but you'd have a hard time finding a less Sheffield-like hitter than Wily Mo.

I mean Sheffield Ks about once per 9 AB and has more walks than Ks in his career. He's a career 292 hitter with a 394 OBP and a 224 ISO.

Wily Mo Ks about once per 3 AB, has about a 5/1 K/BB. He's a career 253/307 hitter with a 194 ISO.

Even last year and so far this, Sheffield is at least Wily Mo with walks.

Wily Mo is the bad-fielding corner OF version of Jose Hernandez. That's not good.

Still, a perfectly OK signing by the Mets.

17. Joe Bivens, Schmoo from Massachoosetts Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:28 PM (#3146300)

Here's hoping they call him up soon. And he hits 20 HRs.

You're like the kid in the wheelchair on the Jimmy Fund billboard at Fenway: "I can dream, can't I?"

18. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: April 21, 2009 at 12:38 PM (#3146318)

I agree that he likely won't play, but he is worth a flyer.

19. zack Posted: April 21, 2009 at 01:38 PM (#3146390)

I'd like to see Wily Mo spend 3 years in Buffalo, then come up and rake for 30 - 33.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

Mets sign outfielder Wily Mo Pena to Minors deal

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