Daily Archives: November 6, 2007
According to Omar Minaya, ‘the bulk’ of his off-season efforts will be focused on ‘upgrading’ the team’s pitching staff, reports Ken Davidoff in Newsday.
According to Davidoff, Minaya will speak to the agents 
for free-agent RHP Carlos Silva this week at the GM meetings.
…the buzz from orlando continues to suggest that pitchers like silva and Kyle Lohse are seeking similar deals to what Ted Lilly and Gil Meche got last season, i.e., four years and $40 million…
…silva is interesting…the concern surrounding him is that he borders on allowing a home run at least once per start…otherwise, i will not be surprised to see him be a total bust, on a four-year deal, nor would i be shocked to see him pan out to be a huge bargain at $10 million per season…
In 259 career appearances, spanning six seasons, including 125 starts, the 28–year-old Silva is 55–46 with a 4.31 ERA, during which he has struck out two batters for every one he walked, while opponents are hitting .300 against him.
According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, the Red Sox and free-agent RHP Curt Schilling have reached a prelimiary agreement on a one-year, $8 million deal.
This past weekend, in a report for FOXSports.com, citing ‘major-league sources,’ Ken Rosenthal wrote that the Astros will make a ‘strong run’ at free-agent 2B Luis Castillo.
Today, the Houston Chronicle confirms that Houston has interest in Castillo, though they are still 
comfortable with Chris Burke as their starting second.
Last week, Omar Minaya told reporters that he is in the process of talking with Castillo about returning to the Mets.
In today’s Daily News, Adam Rubin writes that the Mets will not committ to Castillo until they investigate what else is available on the trade and free-agent market.
of course, the Chronicle notes it is likely that Castillo’s agents will meet with the Astros, as they’ll meet with most teams, including the Mets, at some point over the next few days while in Orlando for the GM Meetings.
…to me, castillo is simply trying to gauge his market value, as he should, so to sign the best possible deal with the Mets, where i believe he wants to stay…at the same time, the buzz in New York suggests that if the Mets are unable to sign castillo, they’ll set their aim on signing free-agent SS David Eckstein, while moving him from short to second, which is his original position…nevertheless, either castillo or eckstein is fine by me…they’re a similar player, and exactly the type of guy the team wants and needs batting second and playing next to Jose Reyes…
In the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes that free-agent C Ramon Castro ‘loves’ New York, and wants to remain with the Mets.
…be careful with this quote, though…i mean, if castro is offered a deal to be a starting catcher in another city, will he love the Mets so much that he’s willing to return as a back-up…i’m betting, despite his ‘love,’ he’d leave in a heartbeat…
According to Rubin, ‘Castro is expected to command a two-year deal somewhere.’
Meanwhile, according to Joel Sherman in the New York Post, the Rockies have interest in Castro, as well as free-agent C Paul Lo Duca and Jose Molina, in the event they lose free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba.
By the way, Rubin also provides a variety of other interesting notes from yesterday’s first day at the GM Meetings in Orlando, so check it out.
Tagged Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro, Yorvit Torrealba |Last week, in his blog for ESPN.com, citing ‘industry sources,’ Peter Gammons wrote that teams have been notified by the Marlins that 3B Miguel Cabrera can be had in a trade, and will cost at least ‘three significant young players.’
In a report today for FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal wonders if any team will meet 
Florida’s asking price on Cabrera, considering how much the Rangers got last season for 1B Mark Teixeira.
For instance, according to Gammons, assuming their interested, the Yankees will likely be asked to part with at least RHP Philip Hughes, while the Dodgers will likely be asked for at least LHP Clayton Kershaw or 3B Andy LaRoche, among others.
…from what i understand, though, that’s not how the Marlins initially do business…instead, they identify very specific prospects who they want, like Hanley Ramirez, and then use their best in-house players, like Josh Beckett, to go get them…the thing is, odds are good that laroche or hughes are their target…
However, according to Jon Heyman at SI.com, citing a ‘Marlins source,’ there is a better chance LHP Dontrelle Willis gets traded, not Cabrera.
…now, in the case of willis, because his value has most certainly dipped over the last few seasons, and considering the number of young pitchers on the trade market, unlike the cabrera situation, i suspect the Marlins will actually shop offers for willis - assuming they want to move him…
Tagged Miguel Cabrera |…well, here we go, folks…buckle up…
According to the Daily News, the Mets will meet with super-agent Scott Boras, who represents Alex Rodriguez, before the end of this week’s GM Meetings in Orlando.
In a recent report for SI.com, Jon Heyman leads a long column by writing…
“The Mets are rising from long-shot status in the Alex Rodriguez sweepstakes, and a lot of folks around baseball are saying they expect the team from Queens to make a significant run at the superstar free agent.”
According to Heyman, though Omar Minaya has yet to recommend signing Rodriguez to ownership, eventually he will, while using a ‘walkaway number,’ so to not get bogged down in a bidding war.
A high-ranking Mets executive, as quoted by Heyman…
“We’ve got to go for this guy.”
Heyman continues on to list nine reasons why a marriage between the Mets and Rodriguez will make perfect sense, such as, “The Mets already have done significant polling of fans to gauge their reaction to an A-Rod signing. They don’t do that just for kicks.”
According to a MetsBlog.com poll from last week, of more than 3,600 people, 46 percent of those polled wanted Rodriguez on the Mets, while 40 percent did not want him, leaving 14 percent undecided.
In a previous poll from late October, oddly enough, it was the other way around, meaning fans had changed their mind in less than one week, switching from not wanting A-Rod to wanting him.
…i will post the poll again later today to see where we’re all at…
Meanwhile, in today’s New York Post, Mark Hale explains why the feeling among executives in Orlando is that it wouldn’t be sensible to move David Wright, in favor of A-Rod.
An MLB team official, as quoted by Hale…
“Depending on David Wright‘s true desire to move, I kind of wouldn’t mess with him.”
…that’s up to wright, though, i guess…the thing is, from what i can gather, whomever needs to be moved would like to know sooner than later, so the person can begin preparing now…it’s a lot to ask of a player to pick up a new position, on the other side of the infield, in the span of a few weeks in March, especially if the team intends to win a World Series…the problem, though, is that nobody expects a-rod to sign before the new year…
At FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes that free-agent C Jorge Posada can expect a ‘monster offer’ from the Mets.
Of course, last night, upon arriving in Orlando for the GM Meetings, Mets GM Omar Minaya told the Associated Press that he 
is ‘optimistic’ about the possibility of re-signing free-agent C Paul Lo Duca, adding, “The fact that we’re having dialogue is good.”
If the Mets are to offer a five-year, $70 million deal, compared to the Yankees, who have reportedly offered three years, $40 million, Rosenthal wonders if Posada is capable of leaving $30 million on the table.
According to Mark Feinsand in the Daily News, Posada is seeking a four-year deal, with his major concern being the length of the deal.
…omar clearly believes that the Mets need posada’s pride, focus, leadership and experience, because physically it just makes no sense to sign a 37–year-old catcher to a five-year deal, in the national league…zero sense…zero…unless, of course, you feel he can solve this team’s emotional and psychological problems, you know, keep them focused, help communicate between cultures, experiences, etc, and be a model of success that the club is aiming at…in that case, i can understand, i suppose…
Ultimately, Rosenthal writes, “The best guess is that Posada will remain with the Yankees, increasing his Hall of Fame chances rather than entering the unknown in the National League.”
By the way, during his appearances on SNY’s Daily News Live, Bill Madden noted that Yankees GM Brian Cashman flew down to the GM Meetings sitting next to Posada’s agent, Seth Levinson.
Meanwhile, in her blog, Coppolla Sisters, Trey Coppolla does a great job breaking down the catcher’s market, while concluding that the Mets should target Posada, but not if it means giving the fifth year on his deal.
…my sense is that, given last year’s failure, and all that is riding financially on the next two seasons, the Mets are not all that concerned with life next decade…next year is what matters most…and if posada can help this club win, and win in october, then they’ll the cross the 2010, broken-down catcher bridge when they get to it…the thing is, at $14 million a year, that’s a pretty expensive bridge…
In a post to his blog, 38 Pitches, free-agent RHP Curt Schilling says talks with the Red Sox are “moving,” adding, “I am feeling very confident that we 
will be able to finalize a 1 year contract.”
According to the Associated Press, citing ‘a person familiar with the talks,’ an agreement could be reached within a few days.
Last week, in a post to his blog, Schilling put the Mets and Phillies among 12 teams he would be interested in signing with, while stating that the Red Sox remain his first choice.
Over the weekend, in an online column for Newsday, Jim Baumbach made a case for the Mets to sign Schilling by writing a letter to Pedro Martinez, who is rumored to have had a prickly relationship with Schilling while both pitched for the Red Sox.
Baumbach details six reasons why the Mets should go after Schilling, including: 1) He wants only a one-year deal, 2) The National League factor, 3) He’s a big-game pitcher, 4) He wants to pitch for the Mets, 5) He can’t hurt this clubhouse, and 6) He can’t hurt this clubhouse.
Schilling, 41, is 26–15 with a 3.92 ERA in his last 55 starts, spanning two seasons while pitching for the Red Sox in the American League.
Newer posts →
