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Soler released.

metirish Mar 13 2007 08:22 AM

] Soler waived as strange trip ends Tuesday, March 13th 2007, 4:00 AM VIERA, Fla. - Alay Soler's difficult journey to Flushing has reached a dead end. The Mets released the Cuban defector last night, the Daily News has learned. Soler, pitching in relief of Chan Ho Park yesterday, allowed two runs on three hits, including a Ryan Zimmerman homer, in 1-2/3 innings against the Nationals to lift his spring ERA to 8.22. The Mets originally signed Soler, 27, to a $2.8 million contract in August 2004 after he fled Cuba. But Soler had visa difficulties. He also had major trouble with an agent, who was eventually suspended by the Players Association for withholding documents while trying to get an exorbitant cut of the deal. Soler couldn't even enter the U.S. for the '05 season. He pitched 45 innings for the Mets last year. His highlights came in June, when he picked up his first major-league win by limiting the Dodgers to one run in seven innings. He then tossed a two-hit shutout five days later in Arizona. He went 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA. Soler would have been due $826,000 at the major-league level and $620,000 at Triple-A. Adam Rubin

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 09:04 AM

I suspect it's a case of him not being in peak condition. Yipey. Freaking Mets holding people accountable and shit.

Frayed Knot Mar 13 2007 09:11 AM

Supposedly he had lost weight this year (although not a lot from what I could tell) but, yeah, I suspect this has to do either with conditioning or with some other similar butting-of-heads type of issue. For a guy who looked good at least on occasion and was easily and fairly cheaply store-able at AAA for fill-in duty this would be an odd move if it were just due to several shakey ST outings.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 13 2007 09:31 AM

Geez. You'd think they coulda traded him to Baltimore, tho I wouldn't doubt that's where he ends up anywhoo. If he could only get them to swing and miss, he wouldn't be so bad. This costs Soler a chance to become the first Met ever to wear two different numbers in the 50s (59 & 58).

seawolf17 Mar 13 2007 09:43 AM Re: Soler released.

="metirish"] ] Soler waived as strange trip ends Tuesday, March 13th 2007, 4:00 AM It would be funny if they actually released him at 4:00 am. "Get up, bitch! Get out of here!" Too bad, considering the hype; I guess there were just too many other guys who they thought they could get more from. No sense blocking Chan Ho Park.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 09:49 AM

Funniest thing seawolf ever wrote. Unless it really went down like that, then shame on you, seawolf. There's always the possiblity that Soler didn't see his opportunities now or in the future looking too good, and asked for his release.

Nymr83 Mar 13 2007 11:24 AM

damn, i liked him. not sure why they'd release him when he was only gauranteed 600-800k, unless he asked and they agreed. even if he was a malcontent i'd think there would be some trade value?

Johnny Dickshot Mar 13 2007 11:56 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 13 2007 12:12 PM

x (moved to proper memories thread)

soupcan Mar 13 2007 11:58 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Funniest thing seawolf ever wrote. Yup, very funny - I'm still laughing.

metirish Mar 13 2007 12:02 PM

If the Mets got Burgos for Bannister then surely they could have gotten something for Soler.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 12:08 PM

Maybe, but I don't think Soler is very analogous to Bannister. People get released every day. I'm sure we'll learn more about this today around gametime when the press gets a crack at Willie and maybe Omar.

smg58 Mar 13 2007 12:34 PM

I can't help thinking there's more to this than meets the eye. I just don't see the benefits to releasing him.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 05:36 PM

Rubin writes a little more and re-prints Christian Red's profile from last winter: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2007/03/solers_hard_work_not_enough_as.php#more

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 08:03 PM

Seriously, how is this going to come out when it comes out? Possiblitites: Things weren't looking too opportune for him and he asked for freedom at this agent's advice. The Mets, being decent, obliged. They've lost faith in his stuff, lacking an out pitch, and have been trying to deal him all spring, with all possible takers just as unimpressed. Big transaction coming down; had to make room on the 40; no time to wheel and deal, and, um, something kept them from using the DFA loophole. Conditioning concerns. Gross insubordination. Drugs, performance enhancing. Drugs, recreational. Cruel pranks (maybe fucking with Duaner's alarm clock). Hates gays (or espousing some other intolerable intolerance). Felonious behavior not covered above (hanging out with Ricardo Jordan or something). Get your money on the table, 'cause you know Adam Rubin is on this.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 08:24 PM

Initial comment is drama-free, though still less than satisfying: "He just didn't perform,'' pitching coach Rick Peterson said. "Look, you don't let guys go if they're getting batters out 1-2-3, right? What we've seen since he's been here is a lack of consistency. He just wasn't consistent with his performance.''

Nymr83 Mar 13 2007 09:01 PM

so then i take it Oliver Perez (mr inconsistency) will be next out the door? no? then come up with a better excuse.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 10:26 PM

]Perez, Adkins, and Humber waived as strange trip ends Wednesday, March 14th 2007, 4:00 AM VIERA, Fla. - Oliver Perez's, John Adkins's and Phil Humber's difficult journeys to Flushing have reached a dead end. The Mets released the natives of Culiacan, Mexico, Huntington, West Virginia, and Nacadoches, Texas last night, the Daily News has learned. The players were struggling to find themselves, with ERAs of 6.00, 11.57, and 16.20, respectively. "They just didn't perform,'' pitching coach Rick Peterson said. "Look, you don't let guys go if they're getting batters out 1-2-3, right? What we've seen since they've been here is a lack of consistency. They just weren't consistent with their performance. Hummie got through his first inning today, and I though, 'Well, that gets his ERA down to 18.00.' Then he gives up a run in his second inning and his ERA still drops. How lame is that?''

seawolf17 Mar 13 2007 10:38 PM

You actually had me until I remembered that there's no "h" in "Jon Adkins." Although if that was the case, I wouldn't sleep any more if I was a player in camp.

Nymr83 Mar 13 2007 11:13 PM

didn't have me for a second, but only because i know humber is held in way too a high a regard by the organization in general and perez by minaya specifically. had you used Adkins, Vargas, and Sele i'd have been fooled.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 11:18 PM

Well, Jeesh, since I was punching directly off of your setup, and copying the prior Rubin release, plus Peterson's statement directly above, I hope I didn't have you for a second. When was the last time three pitchers were simultaneously given an unconditional release? Or four in two days? All at 4:00 AM?

metirish Mar 13 2007 11:34 PM

You had me at waived....

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 11:59 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 14 2007 12:30 AM

]As star thirdbaseman David Wright expressed his surprise with the multiple releases, manager Willie Randolph entered the clubhouse and belligerently interrupted the interview. "You don't like it Mr. Happy, you can join them." As jaws silently dropped around the locker room, Randolph continued. "That's right, get the fuck out! This is my clubhouse. Anybody else want to stand up for the downtrodden? ... didn't think so. Wright, if that locker isn't empty in five minutes, I swear I'll kick your ass so hard you'll wish you never heard of baseball. I'll.. . GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME, HOJO I'M NOT DONE...!"

Nymr83 Mar 14 2007 12:25 AM

4 AM is a great time to release people, they're too tired and shocked to yell.

Edgy DC Mar 14 2007 08:32 AM

Newsday: The Mets finally reached their breaking point with Alay Soler yesterday morning and released the Cuban defector less than three years after signing him for $2.8 million. While it is unusual to cut loose a player with two weeks remaining in spring training, one Mets official referred to Soler as a "lost cause" and indicated that the front office was fed up with him after a lackluster performance Monday in Viera. Soler allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings, including a solo homer to the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman. Asked about the move this morning, pitching coach Rick Peterson said, "The inconsistencies were consistent." Still, it was only a week earlier that manager Willie Randolph praised Soler for showing up at camp in better shape than previous years. But Soler had an 8.22 ERA this spring, and the Mets came to the conclusion that his performance no longer merited a spot on the their staff - at any level.

86-Dreamer Mar 14 2007 10:25 AM

Correct me if I am wrong, but assuming that 2007 would be year three of his contract, the Mets are on the hook for $620,000. I don't think Omar, Willie and Peterson are vindictive sorts, nor especially eager to pay something for nothing. Therefore the decision seems like it was based purely on their belief that he was less deserving of a AAA spot than other pitchers in camp. And that sounds like a good way to make decisions.

soupcan Mar 14 2007 10:28 AM

The Times reported that he had a 3-year deal that covered '04, '05 and '06. He had a one year deal for I don't know how much for '07.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 14 2007 10:30 AM

I saw the highlight of the meatball he served Ryan Zimmerman. Zim absolutely crushed it.

Edgy DC Mar 14 2007 10:48 AM

86-Dreamer wrote: Correct me if I am wrong, but assuming that 2007 would be year three of his contract, the Mets are on the hook for $620,000. I don't think Omar, Willie and Peterson are vindictive sorts, nor especially eager to pay something for nothing. Therefore the decision seems like it was based purely on their belief that he was less deserving of a AAA spot than other pitchers in camp. And that sounds like a good way to make decisions. Sure, sure, and sure. It's just that the decision to pay someone for nothing would more typically come late in camp when the decision is forced.

Edgy DC Mar 14 2007 11:47 AM

No scandal. Marty Noble spells out that they save a hundred Gs by acting now. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Almost every time general manager Omar Minaya ran through the names of the candidates for the Mets' rotation during the offseason, he either omitted Alay Soler or mentioned him as an afterthought. It didn't mean anything or it meant everything. Either way, Soler never loomed large in the Mets' plans. And now he doesn't loom at all. The Mets released the 27-year-old right-hander on Tuesday, making a move that cost them a pitcher who once had impressed and one that would have cost them had they retained him. By making the move when they did, before 15 days remained prior to Opening Day, the club saved about $100,000. Had the Mets waited, they would have owed Soler 45 days of Major League severance pay. As it was, they were obligated to pay him 30 days of Minor League severance. His split contract called for him to be paid at annual rates of $620,000, for days on a Minor League roster, or $820,000 for days on the Major League roster. But while the decision was based mostly on baseball, the timing of it was affected by the rules. Soler was responsible for two of the best starts by a Met last season -- a complete game, two-hit shutout of the D-backs, one of three Mets shutouts, and a seven-inning, one-run, six-hit performance against the Dodgers in the previous start. But he was mostly ineffective thereafter and finished his Major League tour in July with a 2-3 record and 6.00 ERA in eight starts. His spring ERA in four appearances, spanning 7 2/3 innings, was 8.22. Ten Cranedollars to Dreamer.

duan Mar 14 2007 09:12 PM

you do have to hope for a guy like Soler that he gets an Major League whirl somewhere. You'd think 2.4 million'd be enough to set you up for life, but it only buys you a nice house in Dublin and it ain't like there's a great market for has been Cuban pitchers in the standard labour market. Don't get me wrong, he's had the privilege of getting paid very well to be a sportsman and that's something that i'll never have, but when you're expected to support your family fundamentally on your body of work from 25-40 it's a scary game, scary, scary scary game.