Daily Archives: November 7, 2007
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports the Phillies have acquired RHP Brad Lidge and IF Eric Bruntlett from the Astros in exchange for OF Michael Bourn, RHP Geoff Geary and minor league 3B Mike Costanzo.
Lidge was 5-3 with 19 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 66 appearances for the Astros in 2007.
…well, if the Phillies get the lidge of 2004 – 2005, they certainly upgraded…regardless the move may allow them to move Brett Myers back into the rotation next season…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Phillies |
…over the next few days, i will be running a series of polls that aim to gauge the collective conscience of this site’s readers with regards to how best to approach this off-season…i will run a new poll every hour or so, so please check back often…
…this is the third poll…scroll down for previous polls…
[poll=14]
Tagged Poll |…well, i’m off to Las Vegas, to speak at Blog World & New Media Expo along side Will Leitch from Deadspin, 
Tyler Bleszinski from Athletics Nation, Rob Neyer from ESPN.com, and Chris Ballard from Sports Illustrated, among others…
Sponsored by Fast Company, Yahoo! and others, Blog World is the only trade show and conference created for the industry of blogging and new media.
To learn more, or register to attend the conference, click here.
…i have a whole bunch of polls set to run over the next few days…plus, my interview with David Wright will air at 11 AM tomorrow, which will be followed with a written transcript an hour later…otherwise, my associate writers will be at the wheel until i return over the weekend…
Today in the Bergen Record, citing ‘Mets insiders,’ Steve Popper writes that the Mets can afford a $30–million-per year player, like free-agent 3B Alex Rodriguez.
…however, i’m starting to get the sense, having talked with people connected to the team, from media to employees, that a) Omar Minaya does not think it is wise to sign a-rod, due to the impact it could have on other needs, but b) he must meet with Scott Boras so he can c) give a well-researched recommendation to ownership, who will have the ultimate call, because if ever there is a decision that could impact this team as a business it is this…
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.’
Earlier today on WFAN in New York, talk-show host Mike Francesa, who speaks regularly, off air, with Omar Minaya, had the following to say about Cabrera…
“I know the Mets love him. I know Omar is in love with him. But, again, it’s gonna be hard for the Mets to put together a package…Plus, the Mets need pitching, and the Mets don’t have any pitching to give up…I think Cabrera will be on the Yankees, the Mets or Red Sox. I think he’ll be a north-eastern player, this year, on one of those teams…
“The only reason I say the Mets is because I know how much he loves him, I’ve had these conversations with him. Omar is in love with this guy. Again, he doesn’t want him for third base, he wants him in right field…He’s in love with him. We’ve had conversations many times about this kid, and he loves him. He’s in love with him.”
…so, wait, i just wanna be clear, mike, you’re saying he’s in love with him…i just want to be sure i heard that correctly…
Tagged Miguel Cabrera |According to Baseball America, the following players from within the Mets minor-league system will be free agents this off-season, thus they can leave and sign with a different organization:
- Pitchers: Joe Hietpas, Clint Nageotte, Marcelo Perez, Corey Ragsdale, Jose Santiago, Ricardo Morales, Raul Valdes
- First baseman: Andy Tracy, Brett Harper
- Second basemen: J.E. Cruz, Jake Gautreau
- Third basemen: Vince Harrison, Fernando Tatis
- Shortstops: Jason Alfaro, Wilson Batista, Mark Kiger
- Outfielders: Ender Chavez, Ambiorix Concepcion, Elvis Cruz, Chad Hermansen, Luis Matos, Miguel Negron
The 28–year-old Hietpas had been a catcher, but converted to a knuckle-balling relief pitcher this past season, during which he was 4–3 with a 2.47 ERA in 27 appearances for Single-A St. Lucie.
Tagged Minors |Tomorrow, at 11 AM EDT, Mets 3B David Wright will 
be a guest on The MetsBlog Podcast.
To listen to the 15–minute discussion, click here tomorrow at 11 AM, or use the audio player a few moments later in this site’s left-hand column.
…i will have a written transcript up roughly one hour later, fort those of you who are unable to check out the podcast…
To subscribe to The MetsBlog Podcast, and receive new and old editions directly to your portable music device, use this url, or simply search MetsBlog on iTunes and click subscribe.
Wright will be hosting the David Wright Foundation’s Third Annual Do the Wright Thing Gala on November 15 in New York City.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go here.
…over the next few days, i will be running a series of polls that aim to gauge the collective conscience of this site’s readers with regards to how best to approach this off-season…i will run a new poll every hour or so, so please check back often…
…this is the second poll…scroll down for previous polls…
[poll=13]
Tagged Poll |According to the Denver Post, the Rockies have offered 
free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba a two-year deal worth around $2 million per season.
Last week, Renck wrote that the Mets and Marlins have interest in Torrealba, who hit .256 during the World Series for the Rockies.
In 113 games for the Rockies this past season, Torrealba hit .255 with eight home runs and 47 RBI, while striking out 73 times in 396 at-bats.
…as i said this morning, i sense the Mets are not nearly as interested in torrealba as most reports have suggested…my money is on them either bringing back Paul Lo Duca, or trading for a guy like Ramon Hernandez…
Tagged Yorvit Torrealba |If a player has not negotiated a contract and is in the fourth, fifth or sixth season of his career, he will either be offered a one-year salary by his team, or, depending on his salary demands, he will be offered salary arbitration, or he’ll be non-tendered, meaning he immediately becomes a free agent.
MLB teams have until December 12 to make these decisions regarding these specific type of players.
For the Mets, they must decide on the futures 
of Endy Chavez, Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman, Oliver Perez, Duaner Sanchez and Jorge Sosa.
…though i am not totally sure of how they’ll handle sosa, i think it’s a pretty safe bet they’ll offer contracts to the other five…
If a player agrees to arbitration, it means he will be on the team the following season - all that is in question is how much money he will receive.
The player is not eligible to be a free agent unless he is non-tendered, or plays through his sixth season.
For instance, through the first three seasons of his career, Heilman received the league minimum. He is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time during this off season. So, since the Mets will not cut him and make him a free agent, they will likely offer him a one-year salary, which he can either accept or decline, opting to have a court determine his salary instead. This process will repeat the following off season, and the one after that, making Heilman a free agent after 2010 - unless of course the Mets reach a long-term agreement that will keep him under contract before that.
Tagged Oliver Perez, Pedro Feliciano | ← Older posts
