Daily Archives: November 16, 2006
The Mets have signed free-agent infielder Damian Easley to a one-year, $850,000 contact, according to Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports.com.
In 189 at-bats for Arizona last season, the 37–year-old Easley hit .233 with nine home runs in 90 games while driving in 28 runs.
…an odd choice, but i have to tell you, i am starting to really trust Omar Minaya on these types of moves…so, good luck, damian, welcome aboard…
In his 15–year career, Easily has played every position except pitcher and catcher.
…it would stand to reason, given easley’s versatility, we have seen the last of Chris Woodward on the mets…
…the buzz around baseball notes that close to 20 teams are looking for starting pitching…
…of the 20, the blue jays, phillies, giants and cubs are not seeking an ace…instead, they are looking for a second- or third-tier starter, such as free-agents LHP Ted Lilly, RHP Gil Meche, RHP Tony Armas Jr, RHP Jeff Suppan, RHP Miguel Batista, RHP Greg Maddux, RHP Steve 
Trachsel and LHP Randy Wolf…
…as a gauge, lilly, who is 30 years old, is rumored to be seeking a four-year deal worth roughly $35 million…suppan is believed to be seeking slightly more, thanks to his strong post-season performance, which, as a mets fan, i am still not comfortable talking about…
…the market buzz continues to suggest that a collection of mid-range pitchers could be available by trade, such as Rockies RHP Jason Jennings, and White Sox RHP Javier Vazquez, RHP Freddy Garcia, RHP Jose Contreras and RHP Mark Buehrle, in exchange for offense, a pitching prospect, or reliable help in the bullpen…
In the Detroit News, Lynn Henning writes that the Tigers will certainly look to trade 21–year-old RHP Jeremy Bonderman for a young, power bat to slot 
in at either third base or first base.
…the deal most all baseball people feel is a natural fit would be Rangers 1B Mark Teixeria, or 3B Hank Blalock, for bonderman…
…in other words, if you’re a mets fan, who wants bonderman, be sure to include David Wright in your mock proposals – unless you can think of a scenario in which Omar Minaya can track down a player of this caliber for a three-way…
At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin posts an image file of the Mets official schedule for 2007.
According to the Denver Post, it is looking more and more likely that the Devil Rays may look to trade OF Rocco Baldelli.
Baldelli missed all of 2005 due to knee suregery. In 364 at-bats for Tampa Bay last season, at the age of 25, he hit .302 with 16 HR, 10 stolen bases and 57 RBI. Baldelli has only played center field during his three seasons in the major leagues.
…the buzz from florida paints a pretty steep price for baldelli, setting his value equal to pitchers like Phillies RHP Cole Hamels, or Mets RHP Mike Pelfrey, or Marlins RHP Anibel Sanchez…
The Devil Rays could keep Baldelli, and, instead, look to trade OF Carl Crawford, reports Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports.com.
According to Rosenthal the Rays will likely ask for a top-of-the-line, major-league ready, young starting pitcher, like Angels RHP Ervin Santana or Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley.
The 25–year-old Crawford, who plays left-field, and bats left-handed, hit .305 last season in 600 at-bats for Tampa Bay. He has put together back-to-back seasons hitting over .300, with roughly 50 stolen bases, 16 HR, 80 RBI and just 85 strike outs.
In September, Crawford had the following to say about Jose Reyes, in the St. Petersburg Times…
“Reyes is like everything to people right now, and I don’t see anything different that he’s doing and I’m doing. But nobody knows what I’m doing and he’s like a big megastar, the best player ever, the most exciting player and all that stuff. And I’m like, ‘Okay, what’s the difference?”
There has been some confusion today over a rumor that was said to have started on ESPN Radio.
Also, I swapped e-mails with Jerry Crasnick, who states he did not report any such information, as well.
Yesterday, I did a 30–minute interview with The Metropolitan Podcast of New York, a podcast about the Mets, available fr download at iTunes by clicking here.
To listen to the interview, check out the podcast’s website, The Metropolitan Podcast.
Also, you can subscribe to MetsBlog’s podcast, MetsBlog’s miniCasts, by either entering the following feed, 
, into your music download software, such as iTunes or Yahoo! Music, or by simply searching MetsBlog, or Mets…
Marlins LHP Dontrelle Willis will not be traded, reports the Florida Sun-Sentinel, citing two high ranking officials from rival clubs.
The paper quotes an American League source as saying…
“They’re going to keep him. They’re saving their money so they can sign Dontrelle and Cabrera.”.
…here they go again…
…we sit in our sewing circles, gossiping about how the marlins can’t do this, and can’t do that, and have to trade this guy and that guy because they can’t, can’t, can’t…and yet, twice now they have shown the ability to win a ring, cut bait, rebuild and win a ring again…and guess what, they cut bait, and are putting together a team that have the potential to win a ring again, especially if they re-sign willis and cabrera, which, if they do, would not shock me…
…with willis, cabrera and a collection of fantastic, young starting pitchers, the marlins are a team to worry about…again…and again…
The Tigers have re-signed 1B Sean Casey to a one-year deal, reports the Associated Press.
…seriously, what is up with that photo…look at the faces of the players featured in it…apparently the graphic-wizards at mlb super-imposed the bodies and faces of a variety of mets to create an star-studded mob scene at home plate…and, honestly, instead, it looks like you would be high-fiving Team Frankenstein…
…parents, do not buy this for your kids…they’ll have nightmares…
…i know i will…
…oh, and thanks to d.j. short for the link, i think…
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, sources suggest the Red Sox are set to sign free-agent OF J.D. Drew to a four-year, $48 million deal.
…drew and Manny Ramirez…nice…now that is bizarre collection of egos…good luck with all that…
