Omar Minaya said his work is “never done…”

The Mets announced the signings of Dominican Jorge Sosa Scott and Schoeneweis yesterday, and while GM Omar Minaya said his work is “never done,” he acknowledged that the two pitchers probable were the last major additions to his staff before spring training begins next month.

“Most likely, yeah,” Minaya said in a conference call with reporters. “We’re still going to be looking at guys out there. If there is a difference-maker, we at least have to look at it, which is why I say we're never done.

“But I don't see anybody, from a free-agent perspective, that's going to be a difference-maker. I think this is the group I'm going to go in with.”
Minaya added that a trade could still happen, but he also said, “I think teams are going to hold onto their guys.”

The Mets have had extensive conversations with other teams about deals for pitchers this winter, including the Athletics concerning Rich Harden, Dan Haren and Joe Blanton. But it appears talk in spring training will center on a wide-open competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, rather than welcoming a high-profile newcomer.

Sosa is a candidate, but Schoeneweis, a reliever, is not. Philip Humber, Mike Pelfrey, Dave Williams, Alay Soler and Jason Vargas also have a chance to be the No.5 starter, Minaya said. John Maine and Oliver Perez, coming off strong postseasons, seem closer to owning rotation spots behind Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez. “We have numbers and some young quality,” Minaya said. “It's going to be a fun camp.”

Sosa, who will be 30 years old in April and will make $1.25 million this year, was 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA for the Braves in 2005, leading the National League in wining percentage, but his ERA more than doubled last season, to 5.42, while he pitched for Atlanta and St. Louis. He went 3-10 for the Braves, 0-1 for the Cardinals.

“He had a bad year,” Minaya said. “We're hoping the stuff is still there. Saw him in winter ball and the stuff is good. We just needed to have another guy who can be versatile and that's what Sosa gives us. He can start or pitch in the middle. He's a power arm, and Rick (Peterson, the pitching coach) has done very well with guys like him.”

Schoeneweis played last season with the Blue Jays and Reds. He is signed for three years and $10.8-million and was also pursued by the Yankees, among other teams. The 33-year-old gives the Mets another lefthanded option in the bullpen and he throws harder than Pedro Feliciano, Minaya said. Schoeneweis traditionally has been difficult for lefthanded batters to handle - they have hit .231 against him in his eight-year career, including .209 over the past two seasons. Matt Stairs is the only lefty to homer off him in the last three years.
Minaya was asked if getting Schoeneweis had anything to do with having to face two giant lefties in Philadelphia 19 times per season - Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. “That's a good question,” Minaya said. “When you put a team together, you ask who you face the most. We're going to be seeing them for many years and they're very good players. Our righties can get lefties out, but it does help to have lefties on lefties.”