Daily Archives: November 21, 2006
The Mets are among four or five teams who have expressed interest in free-agent RHP Vicente Padilla, reports Michael Morrisey in the New York 
Post.
In 33 starts for Texas last season, Padilla was 15–10 with a 4.50 ERA sporting 156 strikeouts in 200 innings. He has posted an ERA below 4.50 only twice during his eight-year career, during which he is 66–61.
…the buzz around padilla suggests he can expect to land a four-year deal worth at least $32 million…the same can be said for free-agent Ted Lilly and Gil Meche…
…of the group, padilla probably has the best ‘stuff.’…however, some legal, off-the-field issues, such as nearly killing himself in an alleged drunk-driving accident, will likely drive his price down to the lilly-meche level…
…the word around baseball is that padilla will likely be among the last free-agent pitchers to sign, since the market for his services will likely be dictated by guys such as lilly and meche…also, while the rangers, his former team, appear to have limited interest, should the price drop they will almost certainly make an offer…
…it’s hard to deny his talent…his fastball sits in the low-90s, his slider, or cutter, is not far off that mark, and he has a pretty solid curve ball…however, regardless of whether or not he may or may not have a drinking problem, i hope he is not pitching for the mets, because i just have a bad feeling with this guy…i don’t know why…it’s just a feeling…
but he just seems like that pitcher who will get a long-term deal and come back to bite a team like the mets…chalk it up to wisdom, if you want…
…assuming the Mets lose out on Barry Zito, and cannot acquire a pitcher via trade, i would just as soon sign a player like lilly, who is essentially like zito, but without the hardware and reputation…the thing with lilly is that he will throw a gem against the Cardinals, shut-out the Phillies, get our hopes up, and then get bombed against the Nationals…he’s a two-steps forward, one-step back kind of starting pitcher…
The Mets purchased the contract of OF Carlos Gomez, thus adding him to the team’s 40–man roster.
Gomez was signed as an undrafted free agent by Mets in 2002, while under the age of 19, meaning he needed to be added to the team’s 40–man roster within four years of his signing date, according to MLB rules, otherwise he would be exposed to the coming Rule V Draft.
…in other words, by adding gomez, the kid will not be exposed to the rule v draft, and will remain with the mets…
The Phillies are scrambling for offense, having lost out to the Cubs for Alfonso Soriano, reports Jim Salisbury in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
…man, it must be tough not having Omar Minaya as your team’s general manager…oh well…
As a Plan B, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phillies may turn to free-agent OF Carlos Lee, who they never intended to pursue.
Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Astros had offered Lee a five-year deal worth $75 million. However, today’s Chronicle suggests that this may not be enough to lock in Lee, thanks to the high price set by Soriano.
…the buzz throughout baseball had long been that lee would eventually sign in houston…however, if a bidding war begins, at it appears it already has, there is no telling where lee could wind up…
The Washington Post reports that the Orioles have interest in Lee, as well.
…one of my favorite off-season moves is when the o’s say they have interest, only to offer a player like lee a three-year deal, which the player inevitably laughs at…this was standard practice in queens just a few years ago it seems…i’m glad those days are gone…
…the buzz from baseball suggests that, in addition to the Phillies, Astros and Orioles, the Dodgers, Angels, Giants and Rangers will pursue lee, as well…
During his conference call with reporters yesterday, Mets GM Omar Minaya was asked whether acquiring Moises Alou was an indication that 
his team would not be bringing back Cliff Floyd.
Minaya responded…
“I think it’s fair to say that we feel Moises will be our left fielder this year.”
…i love when omar uses the, “i think it’s fair to say,” line, which obviously means, ‘yes.’…
At MLB.com, Marty Noble speaks to David Wright about Floyd, who will almost certainly be playing elsewhere next season.
“I’m so close to Cliff, it won’t feel right without him. He and I have text-messaged a few times. Not about baseball. I guess he had an idea this could happen. That doesn’t make it easy. We have such a special bond. I hate to see him go.”
Noble also quotes Floyd, who, among other comments, says, “I’ll move on like they’ll move on. But I’ll miss the people. I’ll miss D-Wright.”
…we’ll miss you, too, cliff…good luck…as for wright, it’s time to step up and be this team’s leader kid…age is just a number…be the captain…it’s yours for the taking…
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have ‘set their sights’ on Floyd, who grew up in Chicago.
The Mets have claimed RHP Jason Standridge on waivers. He has been added to the team’s 40–man roster and invited to spring training, according to a team press release.
Standridge, a former first-round pick for the Devil Rays in 1997, was 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA in 21 games with the Reds last year.
In 76 major league appearances, the 28–year-old Standridge is 3-4 with a 5.64 ERA sporting 69 walks and 74 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched.
Last night, the Mets traded Double-A RHP Matt Lindstrom and Triple-A RHP Henry Owens to the Marlins for LHP Jason Vargas and LHP Adam Bostick…
At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin gets a bit off feedback on Vargas and Bostick courtesy of Kevin Baxter, Marlins beat writer for the Miami Herald.
In short, Baxter describes Vargas as a hard worker, with potential, who is in need of some mental guidance. Baxter has little to say about Bostick, other than he struggled in Triple-A last season.
The Mets will pay $7.5 million to Moises Alou in 2007, with a $1 million buyout on a $7.5 million team option in 2008, reports Peter Botte in the Daily News.
Botte also provides a few quotes from Mets GM Omar Minaya and Alou, courtesy of a conference call with reporters yesterday.
In a report at FOXSports.com a few days ago, Ken Rosenthal noted that Alou turned down a two-year deal from the Indians and Rangers in favor of a one-year deal, with an option, from the Mets.
Talking with reporters, Alou explained…
“I felt like this was the team that had the better chance to win and to go to the World Series…I wasn’t worried about making sure I was going to get two years. I wanted to come here because I wanted to win this year. I wanted to be on a good team. If things work out the way I think they’re going to work out, it’s probably going to be a two-year stay in New York.”
…nice…confidence is good…i have no problem with that…
Alou has hit at least 20 HR with 90 RBI in seven of his last 10 seasons. He appeared in just 98 games last year due to ankle and back injuries.
In 83 at-bats against left-handed pitching last season, Alou hit .349. In 2005 he hit .372 against lefties, and .298 against lefties in 2004. For his career against lefties, through 1,571 at-bats, he’s batting .330.
