Matsuzaka Expected To Make The Team

A day after frustrating their fan's by sending Wilmer Flores packing to the minors, the New York Mets are set for a repeat performance on Tuesday when its believed they will tap Daisuke Matsuzaka as the fifth starter in the rotation. Matsuzaka has spent the spring in a pseudo-competition with Jenrry Mejia, however the writing has been on the wall for most of the spring that it was Matsuzaka's position to lose.  According to ESPN's Adam Rubin, Daisuke's strong outing on yesterday should have locked up the role.

The Mets have until noon today to informed Matsuzaka whether or not his has made the team out of spring training.  If they choose instead to send him to the minors, they would be forced to pay him a $100,000 roster bonus for doing so.  I'd like to think that that sum of money has no bearing on the Mets decisions making process, but we can never tell nowadays.  As a result, it is believed the Jenrry Mejia will open the season in AAA Las Vegas where he will pitch out of the rotation and wait his turn with the big league team once again.

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This is one of those instances where I hate the outcome, but I understand the reasoning.  Jenrry Mejia isn't going anywhere, however if the Mets were to send Daisuke to the minors, not only would they have to pay him the $100,000 to do so, but he could also opt out of his contract and go elsewhere in late May.  As a result, the Mets rotation depth could suffer.  By having him throw in the majors, they put Matsuzaka on display for the rest of the league every fifth day.  If he pitches well, its likely that he could find himself on the trade block this summer in order to make way for the likes of Rafael Montero and/or Noah Syndergaard.  If he spends the season pitching in the minors, no such trade value exists.  It sucks... I get why fans will be upset, but it is what it is.