New York Mets Believe Jon Rauch Will Make a Great Reliever, Hand Him $3.5 Million

When there are players demanding upwards of $200 million for a decade of service, it's hard to take tiny deals like the one the New York Mets just made with Jon Rauch seriously. In fact, it's hard to take the Mets seriously at all.

In a move meant to "bolster" their bullpen Tuesday evening, the team signed Rauch to a $3.5 million, one-year deal. This is the Mets' first move of the winter meetings, and for their sake, it's hopefully not their last. Nothing against the 6'-11" pitcher other than the fact that he's absolutely terrible and looks exactly like a crackhead.

The 33-year-old right-hander, who began last season as the Toronto Blue Jays closer, posted a 4.85 ERA in 53 relief appearances with five blown saves in 16 opportunities.

Nationals Get Down To Business

Outfielder Ryan Church and right-handed reliever Jon Rauch were among 12 players on Tuesday that the Washington Nationals struck deals with for the 2007 season.

Church, 28, appeared in 71 games with the Nationals last season, hitting .276 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. In three seasons with the Montreal Expos, he is a .269 hitter with 83 RBI in 203 career games.

Making 85 appearances last season, the 28-year-old Rauch became one of Washington's top relievers, going 4-5 with a 3.35 ERA and two saves. Since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a midseason trade in 2004, Rauch is 9-9 with two saves in 109 games and a 3.11 ERA.