Daily Archives: November 2, 2007
In a Winter League Chat today at Baseball America, Chris Kline was asked about Wilmer Flores, a 16-year old shortstop that the Mets signed out of Venezuela this summer.
Kline wrote:
“The tools are for real. Sounded like some scouts questioned the bat a little bit, but profiles to be a plus defender that will hit for some power down the road… Flores is a guy who could move quickly–I wouldn’t drop the ‘project’ tag on him, though he is obviously raw in terms of learning the game in the States and facing advanced pitching.
…it’ll be interesting to see if the Mets put him on the fast track… they have done so recently with some of their latin big buys, to mixed results… while Fernando Martinez and Deolis Guerra have held their own, Francisco Pena struggled immensely as a 17-year old in low a savannah this year, and Jose Coronado has yet to impress, hitting .212 as a 21-year old in binghamton…
…the Mets made 14 international amateur free-agent signings this summer, which was most in the league…it seems that, along with a decent group of imports making their debuts this year, we are starting to see the fruit of omar’s labor, trying to put more and more emphasis on caribbean scouting and development…
…while flores is venezuela, 10 of the 14 players the Mets signed come from the dominican, where they have an academy and omar has deep roots… meanwhile, they went truly international in signing Marinus Vernooij, a third baseman out of the netherlands…
Tagged Minors |
In an update to ESPN.com, citing ‘sources,’ Buster Olney reports that in order for the Yankees to retain Alex Rodriguez the team had to present an offer of at least $350 million.
…jeez, this is getting crazy…so, basically, the Yankees rumored offer would have been $100 million short…say that a few times, and see if you don’t get dizzy and sick…
…so, what are we talking about here…if he wants $30 million a year, he must be seeking a 10–year, or 12–year deal…it’s really amazing, actually…i mean, it was only a few years ago that so many of us were lampooning the Rangers for having given him $250 million, thinking that would never happen again…yet, here we are reading reports that he wants more on his second deal…i don’t know if i am impressed or disgusted, frankly…
…by the way, thanks to andrew b for the link…
In a pre-GM meetings report for FOXSports.com, the always-informative Tracy Ringolsby writes that the Giants have let teams know that 23-year-old RHP Tim Lincecum can be had.
In 24 starts this season for the Giants, in his rookie season, Lincecum struck out 150 hitters through 146 innings while winning seven games with a 4.00 ERA, during which opponents hit .226 against him.
As noted earlier, during a discussion with reporters yesterday, Giants GM Brian Sabean said in order to acquire a young position player, who can help the team’s offense, he may have to trade a young pitcher.
…hat tip to Hot Foot for the link…
…as i noted earlier, the buzz from the bay area has long been that 27–year-old LHP Noah Lowry can be had for an under-contract, lead-off hitting, young center-field type…
Similarly, Ringolsby notes that the White Sox are looking to also acquire a young centerfielder for RHP Jon Garland.
…by the way, i am glad to see ringolsby writing a weekly column for foxsports, in addition to his day-job at the rocky mountain news…he and Ken Rosenthal are going to be an impressive team and will provide a ton of information…
Tagged Tim Lincecum |Earlier in the week, when asked during a conference call whether re-signing OF Moises Alou will impact how he approaches staffing right field, Mets GM Omar Minaya said…
“I feel that if we were to go with one of our young players in right field, be it a Lastings Milledge or a Carlos Gomez or Endy Chavez, who we control, I feel like if we need to go in that direction we could - or we could continue to look at the free-agent market. Right now, I think it’s safe to say, given our position, our outfield, with the people we have under control right now, if we needed to go with those guys, I would feel comfortable with the outfield right now…That being said, there is no doubt that we will consider adding another veteran to the mix, if we find a veteran who can fit in and play that role.”
…ok, so, what is that role…in looking at the team’s potential lineup, to me, it would be a strong, right-handed, defensive outfielder, who hits for average, and who will bat towards the bottom of the order…frankly, i trust milledge to fill these shoes…i think it’s his time, and i believe he will step up…
…however, the Mets need another, established, young starting pitcher, who ideally is or will be an ace, and who can bridge the time-gap between Pedro Martinez to John Maine and Oliver Perez to the team’s youngest talent…pedro will be gone soon, and then what…maine and perez will not be this team’s ace…neither will Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber…the next ace will have to come from the outside, and not from the free-agent market - at least not this off-season…and, the Mets cannot wait another season to address this need, which is why i would push hard to trade milledge and either pelfrey or humber, among others, to land another team’s top pitcher…
…as i have said before, i like milledge and believe he will be a very good player one day…i’d love for him to mature and succeed with the Mets, and believe he can…however, it is a lot easier to find a right-fielder on the open market than it is to find quality pitching…in fact, with the way teams are re-signing their own talent these days, it’s becoming nearly impossible to bring in new, young, top-quality arms…therefore, if a right-fielder can help net such a pitcher it has to be done…
…so far this off-season, a variety of young pitchers have been rumored to be potentially available, such as Twins LHP Johan Santana, Indians RHP C.C. Sabathia, A’s RHP Rich Harden and RHP Joe Blanton, Giants LHP Noah Lowry, O’s LHP Erik Bedard and White Sox RHP Jon Garland, among others…though i have my doubts that santana will ever be traded, frankly…
…on the other hand, the Mets could keep milledge, and pelfrey and humber, and gamble on a free-agent pitcher like Bartolo Colon or Carlos Silva, who will certainly net at least a three-year deal, while hoping they can also sign a pitcher like santana, harden or sabathia next off-season or after…however, in limited discussions with people connected to the team, my sense is that a) few people believe that pelfrey and humber will contribute regularly in the way the team needs over the next few years, and so b) it is not worth sitting tight, knowing full well that the current trend in baseball is to lock up top pitchers before they get to the open market…so, if one can be had now, it has to happen now, otherwise it may never happen…
…in other words, knowing the Mets must at least field a dominant team over the next two years, if milledge is replaceable, he should be traded for a pitcher better than pelfrey, because there is no guarantee a better pitcher will be available on the open market next off-season…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey, Rich Harden |Last week, at Mets.com, the Mets began selling engraved bricks to fans that will surround the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the main entrance of Citi Field.
…immediately after, i noticed a lot of illinformed criticism directed at the team claiming this to be just another way to make money from the team’s fans…
…however, several readers in the last day have e-mailed me a note similar to the following, which was sent to me by roger k, a long-time reader of metsblog:
“I received a confirmation and certificate of ownership on my Citi Field fanwalk brick yesterday. The confirmation apparently doubles as a donation receipt to various local charities in the amount of about $163 (of my $200). The holder of the receipt can claim it when doing a tax return.”
…in other words, all proceeds from the bricks will be directly distributed to local charities through the Mets Foundation…
Tonight, SNY will re-air the the June 11, 2005 game between the Mets and Angels, during which Marlon Anderson tied the game with a ninth-inning, inside-the-park home run, after which Cliff Floyd won the game with a home run in extra innings.
Tagged SNY |Earlier this week, according to a MetsBlog.com poll of more than 3,600 people, 47 percent of those polled did not want free-agent 3B Alex 
Rodriguez on the Mets, while 38 percent did want him, leaving 15 percent undecided.
In a similar poll yesterday at MetsBlog.com, also of more than 3,600 people, 46 percent of those polled now want Rodriguez on the Mets, while 40 percent do not want him, leaving 14 percent undecided.
…that’s a total switch…i’m surprised…so, five days ago, most of us did not want him, now most of us do…very, very interesting…
Earlier this week, on The MetsBlog Podcast, writers from MetsBlog.com discussed whether or not the Mets should pursue Rodriguez.
To read a transcript of our discussion, click here.
To listen to this 15–minute discussion, click here, or use the audio player in this site’s left-hand column.
Tagged Poll |During a discussion with reporters yesterday, Giants GM Brian Sabean said in order to acquire a young position player, who can help the team’s offense, he may have to trade a young pitcher.
…the buzz from the bay area has long been that 27–year-old LHP Noah Lowry can be had for an under-contract, lead-off hitting, young center-field type…
LHP Jonathan Sánchez is rumored to be available, as well…
For instance, in a recent post to McCovey Chronicles, a popular Giants blog, Grant suggested trading Lowry to the Brewers for OF Bill Hall, who will earn roughly $20 million over the next three seasons.
…as i have said in the past, lowry looks like he can be a Tom Glavine-style pitcher…he’s not an ace, of course, not by any means, and he’s been allowing more hits and less strike outs of late, but, nevertheless, he’s an intriguing pitcher…
In 26 starts this past season for the Giants, Lowry was 14–8 with a 3.92 ERA, during which opponents hit .265 against him.
However, he had been 9–6 with a 3.33 ERA at the All-Star break. He missed all of September with a sore elbow, on which an MRI revealed a mild strain and no structural damage.
Lowry will earn $2.25 million in 2008, and $4.5 million in 2009, after which he can be a free agent.
During his weekly appearance on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike, ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons had the following to say when asked about the future of Twins LHP Johan Santana…
“Even with a new ballpark (set to open in 2009), I don’t see them being able to keep him because it’s going to take $25 million and he’s not going to sign before he tests the market a year from now. So, I think you go out there and try to get a young pitcher and two position players…I understand (the idea of keeping him, and trading him at next year’s deadline), but history has shown that trade-deadline deals have not brought as much as winter deals, which is why I think they have to explore it now…The question is going to be, does anybody have two players to trade to get him. I can see Anaheim, I can see the Dodgers, but I’m not sure I see other teams having enough to get him.”
In a recent chat for Baseball America, the site’s all-things expert, Jim Callis, said he believes that for the Yankees to acquire Santana they would have to part with one of Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, along with Melky Cabrera and a prospect such as Ian Kennedy or Jose Tabata.
…in Mets terms, that reads like John Maine, Lastings Milledge and Fernando Martinez, and i’m not even sure that is a correct comparison, but it’s as close as the Mets can get…nevertheless, as i have written before, if the Mets want to trade milledge for a pitcher, i still think they are better suited aiming at the bay area…
According to Toby Hyde’s Mets Minor League Report, the Mets have signed free-agent, independent league C Luis Alen.
Earlier this month, Baseball America ranked the 22–year-old Alen as the third-best prospect in last year’s Independent Leagues, writing…
“The Goldeyes weren’t expecting much offensively, but they knew that he was a solid defensive catcher with an outstanding arm. The arm was just as good as advertised…while showing a quick release and accuracy…But what was surprising was Alen’s development as a hitter. He hit .333…He struck out 20 times in 285 at-bats. His swing is not particularly short, but he does have a plan at the plate and shortens up if he falls behind in the count.”
Alen was signed by the Marlins during 2002 out of Venezuela. He hit .221 in 331 at-bats within Florida’s minor leagues before being released in 2005.
To subscribe to the email newsletter of Hyde’s Mets Minor League Report, sign up via Google Groups.
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