Daily Archives: November 7, 2007
…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 first poll…
[poll=12]
Tagged Poll |Omar Minaya, talking to reporters yesterday from Orlando…
“We’re always looking for a frontline starter, and that’s difficult to do…Teams aren’t willing to give them up unless you really blow them away and give them a lot of players.”
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi recently told ESPN.com that he is willing to entertain trade offers for RHP A.J. Burnett, who may opt out of his contract with Toronto after next season.
In his nine-year career, the frequently-injured Burnett has started at least 30 games in a season just once. Yet, in 177 career starts, he is 69–66 with a 3.76 ERA, having struck out nearly one batter per inning.
…i could see the Mets being interested…burnett will likely cost a pitcher in return, but as long as the jays are freed of his money i am not sure the price in talent will be all that much…
Burnett, 30, will earn $12 million this coming season, but has o-trade protection against 15 teams.
Meanwhile, according to Mark Hale in the New York Post, the Mets have talked to the Devil Rays during the GM Meetings, but not about LHP Scott Kazmir.
…my guess is on talks involving either Dan Wheeler, Al Reyes or Edwin Jackson…jackson is 24, a fallen prospect with a quick arm and arbitration eligible this off season…while wheeler and reyers are two relief pitchers who were of interest to many teams, including the Mets, during last year’s trade deadline…
Meanwhile, in Newsday, Ken Davidoff reports that Minaya had dinner last night with Indians GM Mark Shapiro.
According to Davidoff, citing ‘a person familiar with the team’s thinking,’ Minaya and Shapiro intended to speak about potential matches in a deal for pitching.
Davidoff rules out the Mets acquiring C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona or Jake Westbrook, meaning a likely option could be LHP Cliff Lee.
Lee, 29, will earn $3.75 million next year and $5.75 million in 2009. His team will hold an $8 million option for 2010.
Last season, Lee got bumped from Cleveland’s starting rotation, then was demoted to Triple-A after starting the season 5–8 with a 6.38 ERA. However, he won 14, 18 and 14 games in each of the previous three seasons, while compiling a 4.50 ERA.
Tagged Scott Kazmir |In the New York Post, Mark Hale pens a fascinating and detailed column about how the Mets may approach this off season.
According to Hale, the agent for Paul Lo Duca has said that while he and 
the Mets continue to talk, “I think there’s a lot of work to do to get a deal done.”
Hale suggests that the Rangers could look to trade 27–year-old C Gerald Laird, who could be expendable since Texas acquired C Jarrod Saltalamacchia last season.
…laird is interesting, but, from what i can gather, he’d likely cost Lastings Milledge or Carlos Gomez, which is a lot to ask for a guy who hit just .224 with nine homers in 407 at-bats last season…
…nevertheless, as i have said before, i still think the Mets will first look in to acquiring a catcher via trade, such as laird or Ramon Hernandez, all while stalling on lo duca and monitoring the availability and interest level of Jorge Posada and Yorvit Toreallba…by the way, i sense the Mets are not nearly as interested in torrealba as most reports lead on…my money is on either lo duca or a guy like hernandez…
Tagged Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Hernandez, Yorvit Torrealba |
Yesterday, Phillies GM Pat Gillick told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he is likely to only acquire one pitcher this off-season, due to budget restraints.
…from what i understand, they really wanted Curt Schilling, who signed a one-year deal to return to the Red Sox yesterday…so, the buzz in philly suggests they could look heavily to the international market, with a large crop of Japanese pitchers available, as well as potentially use Michael Bourne in an effort to trade for a young starting pitcher…
Tagged Phillies |According to a MetsBlog.com poll from yesterday of more than 4,300 people, 49 percent of those polled want Alex Rodriguez on the Mets, up two points from the week before and up three points from late October.
According to the poll, 40 percent of people do not want Rodriguez on the Mets, leaving 12 percent undecided.
…so bizarre, to me…i guess i just expected people’s opinion to drop, yet it’s going in the other direction…i mean, if MetsBlog.com is indicative of the overall fan base, this suggests that nearly half of the team’s fans want a-rod, with a good chunk, like me, yet to make up their mind…
Meanwhile, in the New York Times, Murray Chass did a bit of research, talking to representatives from a variety of teams, and determined that while the Angels, Giants and Dodgers may have interest in Rodriguez, the Red Sox, O’s, M’s, Tigers, Cubs, Jays, Padres, Marlins and Mets do not.
By the way, according to multiple reports, as of last night, the Mets had yet to meet with Scott Boras, who also represents Kyle Lohse and Eric Gagne.
Lastly, Marlins GM Larry Beinfest told the New York Post that he has no plans to ‘speak with’ or ‘engage’ in contract negotiations with Rodriguez.
Tagged Poll |At the Happy Recap message board, Newday’s David Lennon sat in for a ‘Hot Stove Chat,’ and discussed with the board’s participants what he feels the Mets will do this off season.
Next week, Happy Recap will welcome Mark Healey from Gotham Baseball Magazine.
…for what it’s worth, i’ll be their featured guest on November 20…
At MetsGeek, Zubin Mehta takes a look at Mets RHP Philip Humber, while using statistics and insight to break down what we should expect the young pitcher next season.
Lastly, speaking of prospects, at SNY.tv, Michael Salfino pens a great column about the life of a major-league scout, as he shadows a scout from an AL East team during a game in the Arizona Fall League.
Regarding Humber and Mike Pelfrey, the scout tells Salfino…
“Pelfrey has that great pitcher’s body and I firmly believe he will throw 97 MPH in a short role and can be a dominant reliever. The tell with Pelfrey was when the Mets said he was working on another breaking ball. When you have a breaking ball, you don’t need to work on another one. So, that signaled he didn’t have any breaking stuff at all…
“I worry if Humber is ever going to stay healthy. If he does, the Humber I’ve seen is a No. 3 big league starter, which isn’t bad. He challenged hitters even right after he came back from the elbow surgery and seemed to have a good feel for how to set up hitters.”
…this idea of pelfrey moving to the bullpen started last season, and i sense it is going to pick up steam the closer we get to opening day…assuming he is still on the Mets, of course…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber |
Last week, Omar Minaya told reporters that he is in the process of talking with free-agent 2B Luis Castillo about returning to the Mets.
Minaya, talking to reporters yesterday, as quoted by the Daily News…
“We’re going to do the best we can to sign Castillo.”
…well, there you have it…you can’t get any more direct than that…as i said yesterday, 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…
The Mets declined options on 2B José ValentÃn and RHP Brian Lawrence, making them free agents.
…so long, stache…don’t ever shave, buddy…if all else fails, i’d like to at least see the Mets invite him to spring training, assuming he does not get a contract offer from another team, which i doubt he will since he’s coming off knee surgery…
Also, they demoted infielder David Newhan and RHP Dave Williams to Triple-A New Orleans, both of whom rejected the assignment making each a free agent.
According to the Associated Press, the Mets signed Marlon Anderson to a two-year, $2.2 million contract on Tuesday.
Anderson, who will receive $1.05 million next year and $1.15 million in 2009, batted .345 with one homer and 14 RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season.
…although this signing didn’t receive much buzz, it was an essential move by the Mets…welcome back, Marlon…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche | Newer posts →
