I disagree that FA SP is a bad place to spend money. Don’t spend a ton of money there, I agree, and at least 2/5 of the rotation should probably be young, home grown, and cheap, but I see no problem with signing a great FA pitcher if he’s available. Think about when the D’Backs signed Randy Johnson for a then-huge $55 million/4 year deal. He won the Cy each year. He was an expensive FA SP but without him the D’Backs wouldn’t have been good. Having one of those guys in the rotation isn’t an awful idea. I agree, it shouldn’t be more than that (see Yankees, last year: Clemens, Pettitte, Mussina), but to get a truly top flight pitcher, even if he takes a ton of money to get, isn’t a bad idea. I think there are only a few guys worth that these days: Sabathia, Halladay, Webb, Santana, maybe Peavy, maybe Beckett. A few more years and the likes of Verlander and Lincecum will likely be in that group.

However, I would take issue with your characterization of Santana. I think he is a bit more than an “expensive innings eater.”

And DET followed this approach….but they traded away Jurrjens, Miller, Trahern, etc. I think the bullpen is looking solid for the future, but I am worried about the rotation.

I sure hope not.

Teams like the As and the Twins show us time and time again that you build effective pitching staffs from within or with trades for young prospects. Both of these franchises load up with young talent in their farm systems, and they then let the law of averages do the rest. And when they do get their guy, they ride him until the contract is up, trade him for more prospects, or simply let them go. And then they let one of those other sucker teams spend tons of money and prospects doing it. It is absolutely brilliant for the little guy. David is making Goliath small before kicking his ass.

For any GM to feel that they can get their ace with a big time, expensive veteran signing, I have only two words: Barry Zito. …..And even Johan Santana is nothing more than an expensive innings eater. The Mets can only hope that those innings are as good as the ones he provided on the cheap. Santana is still pretty good, but we are seeing a lot of young guys recently brought up in the past year or two who are performing as good or better than Santana, and for much cheaper.

does anyone think that DD may use the Pudge/Sheffield/Rogers money (assuming they are not re-signed) and go after a top free agent SP (among other needs…1B/3B, C, etc)?

they will have JV and hopefully a healthy Bonderman…Galarraga has looked good. nate is Nate…a #4-5 at best. Porcello…who knows when he will arrive?

the Jurrjens trade obviously looks worse in the rear view mirror, but no sense crying over spilt milk.