Daily Archives: November 17, 2006
According to the Associated Press, Japanese LHP Kei Igawa has been posted by the Hanshin Tigers.
…the buzz from japan suggests teams will most likely submit bids in the area of $10 million, with the Mets, Cubs, Padres, D’backs, Yankees, Braves and Dodgers have all been rumored to have interest in igawa…
In his blog for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dave O’Brien reports that a 
major sticking point between Tom Glavine and the Braves may be his request for a no-trade clause.
O’Brien sincerely believes that Glavine will consider signing on with Atlanta, even for significantly less money than the Mets have offered him. However, according to O’Brien, Glavine does not want to sign with Atlanta, only to be traded mid-season should the Braves have a second-consecutive poor season.
The problem, however, is that Atlanta has never given a no-trade clause in a contract, not to Andruw Jones, not to Chipper Jones, not to John Smoltz or Greg Maddux, and, as far as O’Brien is concerned, they will not give one to Tom Glavine either.
…the mets will, though…at least, they did in his last contract, so it is safe to assume he will get one from the mets again…
…if o’brien is correct, this is good news for those of us who hope glavine remains with the mets…
…i mean, how on earth does he turn down more money, an option for the following season, a no-trade clause and a team on the rise, to return to atlanta, who may or may not do well next season and whose fans wrote him off as a traitor years ago…
Yesterday at SI.com, Jon Heyman reported that the Red Sox appear open to trading OF Manny Ramirez, but will want ‘equal value back,’ given that his salary is quite ‘palatable’ in the current market.
Today, at ESPN.com’s Rumor Central, Buster Olney reports that the Sox and Rangers have discussed Ramirez, who is owed $17 million in each of the next two seasons, along with $6 million in deferred salary.
…unless, of course, he demands a contract extension in exchange for accepting a trade, since he has total veto power with boston…
Ramirez’s contract holds an option for 2009 and 2010 at roughly $18 million per season, meaning a team acquiring him would essentially be signing him to a deal worth potentially four-years at $70 million…
The Boston Herald categorizes the chance of Ramirez being traded as, “slim,” though, “it did increase at the general managers meetings, which concluded yesterday.”
Heyman provides a series of direct quotes by Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, which give the impression that talks involving Ramirez will occur, but a deal is a long-shot.
The Mets Triple-A affiliate will re-locate from Norfolk, VA, to New Orleans next season, taking over the New Orleans Zephyrs.
Zephyrs GM Mike Schline talked with MetsZone about his club’s new affiliation with the Mets, and the new talent he will take on, as well as New York’s plan to help in the re-construction of his city.
…i visited new orleans four times in three years during the early part of 
this decade, for the final four and a collection of bachelor parties, which were all very fun, but so exhausting and debilitating that i banned myself from going there for at least another decade…i mean, it was beating me down…i came back feeling ten-years older each time…
…knowing the mets minor league facility will be there could make me reconsider going back sooner…plus i miss razzoo’s…
The Blue Jays and free-agent DH Frank Thomas have agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal, reports the Associated Press. The deal includes a $10 million option for 2009.
Following 16 seasons with the White Sox, Thomas hit 39 homers and 114 RBI while batting .270 for Oakland last year.
…the buzz from toronto suggests that this has zero impact on whether or not the blue jays will entertain trading OF Vernon Wells, a decision which strictly comes down to whether or not wells and the blue jays can agree on a long-term contract before the end of next season…
…i will say this, last week it sounded like wells would never be traded…earlier this week, it sounded like he could be traded…today, a few newspapers floated a rumor or two offering up a value for wells, so clearly the word is out that he could be had…if he can be, it will cost a pretty-penny, in fact, so much so that i am not even sure the mets could contend in acquiring him, such as with something like Ervin Santana, and an infield prospect, from the Angels…
…the word from colorado is that if the Mets have an interest in trading for Rockies RHP Jason Jennings, they should expect to part with some combination of Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber and Ben Johnson or Lastings Milledge…
The 28–year-old Jennings was 9–13 through 31 starts with a 3.78 ERA for Colorado last season. His ERA ended above 5.00 in each his previous two seasons.
…the consenus around baseball seems to be that this kid has turned a corner, and is ready to become a top pitcher…
He allowed three runs or less, while lasting at least six innings, in 56 percent of his starts.
In their careers, Marlins 3B Miguel Cabrera is 2–for-4 against Jennings, Phillies 1B Ryan Howard is 1–for-5, as is 2B Chase Utley, while Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman is 1–for-4.
Johnson is eligible for free-agency after next season, and is reported to be seeking a long-term deal from the Rockies.
…i don’t know how i feel about this kid…it’s so hard to gauge pitchers from coors field…i mean, maybe he’s good, maybe he isn’t, how can you tell…there is a part of me that just wants to ignore him, and hope he signs his deal with colorado so i don’t have to comment any further…
…regardless, again, like with Javier Vazquez, i think i’d just as soon start pelfrey, than trade for jennings…
Mets.Style.com, the online home of the magazines GQ and Details, calls David Wright and Jose Reys “the most dynamic athletes of the year,” describing them as, “a combo that made all of Gotham forget about Jeter and 
A-Rod.”
The brief article, which features a flashy photo shoot of Wright and Reyes, concludes by saying…
“If you’re not the tiniest bit stirred, in this era of cynicism, steroids, and sullenness, by the sight of two 23-year-olds, one from the Dominican Republic, one from Virginia, united by an obvious love for the game…well, then, perhaps you should be rooting for a certain other New York team that plays across town.
“Over there, in the Bronx, Reyes and Wright’s combined 2006 salary of $775,500 would have bought you a whopping twenty-four innings of play from Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.”
…the best part is how uncomfortable they look in the photos…yet, they’re perfect at the same time…i assume that is why they are so charming, in terms of marketing…the mets have totally struck gold with these two…congratulations, omar…
At SI.com, Jon Heyman reports that the Angels are set to offer up to $90 million to free-agent OF Alfonso Soriano to play left or center field.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the Astros have made a similar offer to Soriano, and have also made an offer to free-agent OF Carlos Lee.
…jeez, wait, they want both?…wow…i have to assume they put an offer out to each, hoping one of the two will sign…how can they possible afford both…
The Phillies will meet with Soriano next Thursday, reports the Camden Courier-Post.
…so, soriano will be touring the nation…which means every copy editor will be forced to write the obligatory ‘sorianopalooza,’ as they do with all free-agent tours each off-season…
According to multiple reports, Soriano is demanding a no-trade clause, which the Phillies say they’ll refuse to grant.
……the more likely scenario is that soriano nets a deal much like the one recently signed by 3B Aramis Ramirez and the Cubs, in which the player has no-trade protection over a set number of years, but can be traded later on in the deal while getting compensated for the move, either with an option, more money, etc…
At the SI column, Heyman also provides post-GM meeting commentary about suitors for Barry Bonds and Jason Schmidt, and Boston’s negotiating strategy for Daisuke Matsuzaka.
At Baseball Prospectus, Marc Normandin writes that in addition to a pitcher’s park and Rick Peterson, both of which the Mets can offer, free-agent LHP Barry Zito needs to go back to dating Alyssa Milano.
…hat tip to hot foot for the link…
Normandin insinuates that pitchers perform better while dating Milano.
…this is actually not correct…in fact, the opposite appears to be true…
Zito dated Milano at the start of the 2004 season, then broke up around the all-star break. Zito was 4–7 during his time with Milano, and 7–4 after.
She dated Carl Pavano immediately after Zito. Prior to dating Milano, opponents hit .238 against Pavano, who had a 2.85 ERA, with her opponents hit .272 against him as he posted a 3.17 ERA.
She began dating Dodgers RHP Brad Penny last summer. Prior to dating Milano, Penny was 10–2 and cruising to a Cy Young award. With her, Penny was 6–7 with a 6.25 ERA, and he missed most of the post-season with a lower back injury.
…uhh, yeah, as much as am known for adoring this girl, and i do, keep her away from the mets, please…she got close here, but, fortunately, it was just Kaz Matsui…
…and thanks to wilma for all the stats and dates on milano, which, oddly enough, appear to be accurate…i don’t know how you knew all of this, but good work…i think…
Yesterday, the Philadelphia Daily News reported that the Red Sox were set to sign free-agent OF J.D. Drew to a four-year, $48 million deal.
Today, Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, writes the deal will be for two years at $30 million.
…interesting strategy…
