Steve Trachsel

Steve Trachel had his option for 2005 picked up and a new option for 2006 added (the option vests if he pitches 150 innings in 2005). The two years are worth $12 million to the career 106-118 pitcher. The Red Sox are letting their best players play out the year - risking losing them to free agency while the Mets not only pick up the option on a player who should easily be replaceable - they added another year!

For what it's worth - the 10 players most similar to Trachsel (according to Baseball-Reference.com) went a combined 95-168 (a 36% winning percentage) after age 32. Trachsel has a career ERA+ of just 102 (meaning that he has just barely been better than the league average for his career). I know Mets fans will point to his ERA from last year and the year before to say that Trachsel is trending upward but I think this was a bad move by the Mets.