Monthly Archives: October 2003
The News
The Newark Star Ledger reports the Mets will make a heavy push to acquire Japanese free agent shortstop Kazuo Matsui. The 27-year-old defensive wizard will become eligible for free agency Nov. 7.
The Star Ledger also suggests that due to informal discussions between friends of Matsui’s and the Wilpon family, the former Japanese All-Star is very interested in New York, would be a Met if the price is right and if he is guaranteed to play shortstop and not second base.
MetsBlog.com’s Take
It would be a shame to waste Jose Reyes‘ awe inspiring arm at second base, however, Matsui is more of an Ichiro type than a imported-home run hitter as the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui was assumed to be. Little Godzilla, as Kazuo Matsui is known in Japan, is a prototypical #2 hitter, controlling the bat as well as anyone in Japan. He is also labeled a doubles machine, and although his stolen base numbers have declined over the last few seasons, this is strictly a result of batting further down in the lineup as opposed to the leadoff spot he held a few years ago.
Having Reyes move to second so that Matsui can play short stop would be a lot to ask of the Mets franchise player, however, at a raw 20-years-old, if making the position change is the best move for the organization as whole, Reyes should make the switch.
The News
In the event Omar Minaya accepts a position with a team other than the Mets, the NY Daily News reports Jim Duquette will have the word “interim” removed from his general manager title and the organization will begin to hire two or three baseball-savvy executives who would answer to ownership and support Duquette.
The NY Daily News suggests that Marlins senior VP Fred Ferreira, who like Minaya has extensive connections in Latin America, and has been credited with the cultivation of players such as Miguel Cabrera and Josh Beckett, appears to be atop the Mets’ list of of candidates. Ferreira has been cut from the inner-loop of the Marlins executive circle over the last season and is believed to have interest in a position with New York. The Mets are prohibited from negotiating with Ferreira during the World Series.
Cincinnati’s Al Goldis, Boston’s Bill Lajoie, Toronto’s Bill Livesey and Atlanta’s Jim Fregosi are all candidates for the position, according to the NY Post.
MetsBlog.com’s Take
Of the bunch, Livesey of Toronto and Goldis of Cincinnati have fantastic track records acquiring players such as Roy Halladay, Bobby Kielty, Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns.
The most notable name on the list is Bill Lajoie, current special assistant to Boston GM Theo Epstein. Lajoie, 68, spent 23 years with the Tigers organization from 1968-91, including eight seasons as GM, followed by 10 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, where he was a scout and special assistant to the general manager. Lajoie is heralded around baseball as a master of talent evaluation credited with the cultivation of players such as Alan Trammel, Lou Whittaker, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Marcus Giles.
Today is MetsBlog’s first day…
