As the days tick down to Spring Training, we finally move into the 40 man roster with Manuel Alvarez, a 25-year old, right-handed pitcher.
Manuel started his career in the Washington Nationals organization. After missing the entire 2005 season due to injury, he pitched in 14 games in the Nationals Gulf Coast Rookie Team. The Mets then signed him in 2007 and assigned him to the VSL. He has bouncing around the Rookie level and A until last season where he pitched in A+, AA and AAA before the end of the season:
2010 Total – 56 G, 78.2 IP, 2.17 ERA, 12 BB, 84 K, 9.6 K/9, 7.00 K/BB
Alvarez has always had a good K/9 (career 7.4) but last year he just took off. He landed himself on the radar in a big way when in St. Lucie he didn't allow any runs in 25.2 innings over 18 games and 9 saves. He was then promoted to AA where he had a “human” 2.87 ERA.
While he remains an outside chance to make the roster coming out of Spring Training, you have to think with the performance he had last year there will be a lot of eyes on him in Buffalo (I'm expecting him to start the season there), especially for the inevitable bullpen shuffle. If he can duplicate what he did in the lower leagues and what he did all last year in AAA, then he could be a big deal. In some ways, I'm hoping for him to be this years “Joe Smith” as a surprise out of camp that makes a significant impact on the team.
There are two things working against him. He is already 25, so some degree the clock is starting to tick on him. If he is going to make a move into the majors, it should really happen soon. The main thing against him is the amount of pitchers the Mets need to keep on their roster (other wise they would lose them), like Beato who is also 25. He needs to cross over that hurdle, but at least he is on the 40 man, which is one major hurdle crossed.
