Michael Baron, Contributor

Jan. 15, 9:35 pm: Farnsworth has had a roller-coaster career, and now he is coming off an injury-shortened season with the Rays after struggling with an elbow problem in the first half of the season. He had a big year with the Rays in 2011, notching 25 saves, while walking just 12 in 51 innings with a 2.18 ERA. He’s a hard thrower with devastating sinker at times. But, while in some years he has dominated, he has also struggled to miss bats and throw quality strikes. He’s older now, and I question whether he can withstand a long season.

Michael Baron, Contributor

Webb hasn’t pitched in the Major Leagues since 2009 thanks to arm problems, but he is a former Cy Young Award winner and was a dominant sinkerballer prior to that season. He has historically been equally as effective against both left-handed and right-handed hitters and kept the ball in the yard thanks to his outstanding sinker. But how that effectiveness might translate today would largely depend on how healthy he is and how much he has left in the tank. If the Mets were to sign Webb, he certainly could not be depended on as a consistent presence in the rotation, let alone for the kind of innings and production he provided in the past.

Michael Baron, Contributor

Rauch was generally very good for the Mets last year. He battled bone chips in his elbow and knee pain seemingly all year long, but he got through all of that and put together a terrific season. He did struggle at first – he was throwing a lot of breaking pitches and falling behind hitters as a result. But after May he got back to a fastball approach and was able to throw more strikes, get ahead of hitters, and be pretty dominant through the end of the season.

Rauch now knows the Mets and has a very good relationship with Sandy Alderson dating back to his Olympic days. In fact, Rauch told me last year his previous relationship with Alderson was a key for him joining the Mets before the 2012 season. With the Mets going with a lot of young internal options for the bullpen in 2013, Rauch’s veteran presence could prove very valuable once again.

Michael Baron, Contributor

Between what happened last year with Francisco and the status of his elbow, the Mets need reinforcements for the back-end of the bullpen. Francisco started off strong last year but began to falter almost immediately. He reached a low point in Miami in early May when he blew two saves in three days. He seemed to bounce back after that, but then he injured his oblique, missed six weeks, and never got on track. He was intended to solidify the back end of the bullpen, but he did anything but in 2012.

As far as options are concerned, Valverde could be an intriguing alternative for the Mets. After a dominant 2011 season, Valverde struggled in 2012 and ultimately lost his closer job late in the year. He began pitching to a lot more contact. His velocity dipped a little bit which might have contributed to his struggles, but he still throws hard, and has been both a colorful and intimidating closer in his career. I wonder if Valverde might be interested in taking a one-year deal from the Mets to rebuild his value; Valverde could have a pretty good shot at becoming the team’s closer almost immediately, especially if Francisco suffers any setbacks and isn’t ready to start the season.

Michael Baron, Contributor

Pavano has had one of the strangest pitching careers in recent memory. He has historically pitched to a lot of contact but is a control artist who limits bases on balls which in turn limits the damage allowed. When he’s right, Pavano can be one of the more solid and dependable right-handers in the game. But I’m not sure how he might fare back in New York, considering how badly his first go-around was in this city with the Yankees.

Michael Baron, Contributor

I agree with Davidoff, as I’ve been saying the Mets are not a match on paper since the rumors started about Upton. You never know, but there are better fits for Kevin Towers in Texas and possibly San Diego, who reportedly discussed trading 3B Chase Headley for Upton recently.

In regards to the pitching, Harang is especially intriguing. In fact, I thought he would have been a good signing for the Mets before he joined Los Angeles last winter. He has a consistent track record, and therefore would be among the safest bets for the Mets to take. He’s not an ace and would come at a cost of both money and players in trade, but he would be a very strong fifth starter in an already improving rotation. Harang pitches to contact, is prone to the home run and has seen his walk rate increase over the last couple of years, but he could thrive in Citi Field as he has in the big parks in southern California in recent years.

Michael Baron, Contributor

There is a lot of upside with Jurrjens. Last season was a total loss for him, but he’s still young and is just one year removed from a 13-6 season. He’s a four-pitch pitcher with a fastball which has historically sat in the low 90s and a sinker with heavy movement down and in to righties. He had offset that with a hard change-up and slider, but he has mostly relied on his two primary pitches for success. In the last two years, Jurrjens’ velocity has dipped, and he dealt with a shoulder problem in 2011 which might have contributed to that. He hasn’t made more than 23 starts since 2009, and he’s really struggled to re-establish himself as an up and coming pitching star as a result.

In listening to Sandy Alderson after he traded away R.A. Dickey, it sounded like he’s looking for more certainty than Jurrjens would provide. That’s not to say Jurrjens isn’t an option and can’t or won’t rebound and find his way again, but the Mets might be looking for a safer presence for the back of the rotation. Jurrjens is also represented by Scott Boras, and so he will look to get him a guaranteed Major League deal, something which could be scaring off a lot of teams right now.

Matthew Cerrone, Lead Writer

The little buzz I’ve heard from Citi Field, regarding this pitcher, is they’re looking to replace R.A. Dickey’s innings, not necessarily acquire an ace to replace his stature. Dickey pitched 233 innings last season. Young would probably give 150 innings, but only if he’s 100 percent healthy, making 30 starts and improving his stamina. So, who makes up those missing 80 innings or so? Worse, who makes up those 100 plus innings if Young (etc.) gets hurt? Zach Wheeler on a pitch count? Probably not. The rest of the rotation? That’s doubtful. More likely it will fall on the bullpen, which, let’s be honest, we didn’t want on the mound all that much last season even when they were pitching well. The thing is, of the pitchers on the free agent, there is no horse, which is probably why a guy like Harang must be in the mix, because at least he’d likely get up around 170 innings or so.

Michael Baron, Contributor

Young showed he was a six-inning pitcher with very little margin for error last year. He relies on commanding the top of the strike zone with a below average fastball; and when that pitch falls below the letters, he finds big trouble. But, when he’s above the letters, he induces soft contact in the air and can get quick outs. He admitted all year he was still in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery in May, 2011, so I wonder if his stamina might improve with a normal winter routine and a normal Spring Training.

Michael Baron, Contributor

Liriano’s deal with Pittsburgh could have set the barometer for this level of the starting pitching market. This is part of a trend which has lasted all winter, which are increased prices for starting pitching regardless of talent. It’s not to say these prices won’t come down, especially as the off-season continues and they remain unsigned with Spring Training approaching. But if they don’t come down, I don’t see the Mets handing out two-year deals to any of these pitchers; Zack Wheeler is close, and a two-year deal to one of these guys limits their rotation and roster flexibility when it comes time to promote him.

Michael Baron, Contributor

The K-Rod ship sailed last year – it’s time to move on. However, either Capps or Valverde could be interesting fits, either as insurance to Frank Francisco or as the Mets’ new closer altogether.

After a dominant 2011 season, Valverde struggled in 2012 and ultimately lost his job late in the year. He began pitching to a lot more contact. His velocity dipped a little bit which might have contributed to his struggles, but he still throws hard, and has been both a colorful and intimidating closer in his career. I wonder if Valverde might be interested in taking a one-year deal from the Mets to rebuild his value; Valverde could have a pretty good shot at closing games with the Mets considering Francisco’s elbow issues and overall struggles in 2012.

Capps missed most of the final three months of the 2012 season with a rotator cuff strain. He throws hard, but he doesn’t strikeout a lot of hitters, meaning the ball is put in play with regularity against him. He gives up a lot of hits and has seen his walk and home run totals go up over the last couple of years, which is not what I would expect from someone who has pitched a lot at Target Field. He appears to have the presence of a closer, and his bull-charge from the bullpen to the mound is always entertaining. A lot of his problems in 2011 could be attributed to bad luck, but considering that and his shoulder problems in 2012, I’d be concerned Capps is in the declining phase of his career.