Daily Archives: November 13, 2007
In a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney writes that the Mets seem to prefer to land a catcher who is not Paul Lo Duca.
According to Olney, ‘the guy who makes the most sense’ is Orioles C Ramon Hernandez, ‘who is coming off a lousy year but could be revitalized playing for a contender, and in being reunited with former Oakland pitching coach Rick Peterson.’
Olney suggests the Mets engage the O’s in 
talks involving not only Hernandez, but also 2B Brian Roberts and RHP Chad Bradford.
…in reading olney, it’s sounding as though he feels a package from the Mets, which includes either Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez, could net them all three, considering that bradford and ramon make a good chuck of change, and roberts is a free agent after next season…
In 156 games for Baltimore last season, the 30–year-old Roberts hit .290 with 12 HR, 42 doubles, 57 RBI and stole 50 bases.
…like Luis Castillo, or David Eckstein, roberts would be a perfect fit batting behind Jose Reyes…hey, any shot Erik Bedard can drive them all to shea, and, you know, just stay for a start or two…
Tagged Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Hernandez |…please answer the following question, while considering the team’s ownership, current management, talent, minor-league system, and new stadium and network, etc…
[poll=20]
Tagged Poll |
Following his work writing the Mets Top 10 Prospects at Baseball America, John Manuel conducted a chat about the system, answering questions from readers for over an hour.
…i got three questions answered, so thanks, john… here are a few of his responses…
Regarding Francisco Pena, the 18–year-old catcher who the Mets signed out of the Dominican last summer for $750,000, Manuel writes:
“I decided to give him a mulligan but it was a brutal year. Ismael Cruz, the Mets’ int’l scouting director, told me that his father also signed Tony Pena and insists Tony Pena was build like Francisco at the same age, i.e., he had cankles and wasn’t looking like an athlete…He’s got to get in better shape to be a prospect though; I left him in the 11-20 range.”
On Fernado Martinez and possible overhyping, he writes:
“I don’t think we’re hyping him; we’re saying he has the highest ceiling of anyone in the system, but we consistently present his flaws as well…I thought he did very well offensively this year considering his age and league…Also, he had a hand problem. It sounds like I’m making excuses but I’m presenting the facts. Let’s see what he does healthy over a full year. I believe he’s going to resemble Carlos Lee more than anyone else; I know that’s an odd comp, but I saw Carlos in the Sally League in 1995, and he could run, he was a lithe athlete…now he’s a big league masher, and all his value is in his bat. F-Mart for me will be that kind of player.”
Lastly, on the system as a whole, Manuel writes:
“I’m a bit higher on the Mets than I thought I would be but that’s because I went hard after the younger Latin prospects in my research and reporting. They are probably in the 15-20 range because they have talent but it’s all quite far away.”
…a very, very informative chat… manuel covered the system top to bottom, discussing everyone from pelfrey and milledge to the new class of caribbean signings…
Tagged Minors |According to multiple reports, the agent for free-agent C Paul Lo Duca has e-mailed reporters saying that the Mets apparently do not see his client as a priority ‘at this time.’
Yesterday, at FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal wrote…
“The Mets are expected to re-sign Lo Duca if they fail to lure Jorge Posada from the Yankees.”
Last night, the Yankees and Posada reached agreement on a four-year, $52 million deal.
Of course, one week ago, during an appearance on SNY’s Daily News Live, Rosenthal told the show’s host that Lo Duca is as good as gone from the Mets.
…the thing is, i don’t know if lo duca’s agent’s comments take in to account that posada is now off the market, since that will obviously change up how the Mets approach their need at catcher…nevertheless, it’s not like the Mets are the only team with interest in lo duca…the open-market buzz continues to be that teams such as the Rockies and Marlins will look to lo duca, so if the Mets want him, they should just bring him in…now…
Tagged Paul Lo Duca |In a 400–word post to Hot Foot, Anthony De Rosa explains why the Mets are lucky to have David Wright, writing…
“Players like this do not grow on trees, especially
ones with the rare combination of being able to talk the talk and walk the walk. Amid mountains of Alex Rodriguez talk, David Wright might be the most valuable third baseman in baseball after all.
“When the Mets tanked in the final month of the season, many players ran for the hills, Wright stood in the clubhouse and accepted the slings and arrows that were thrown at him from the press, and assumed full responsibility even though his performance down the stretch was solid and not the decisive factor in the Mets collapse.”
…by the way, i’m noticing a lot of people goofing on wright about the white, tight, knit-cap he was sporting indoors and on-air last night during SNY’s Mets Hot Stove Report…
In the comment’s section, Shea Guevera writes…
“I think the hat had something to do with him visiting cancer patients at NYU medical center on Monday. It’s the same kind of cap that kids undergoing chemo were wearing in the cancer ward. ABC news had a brief segment on it yesterday. One of the patients’ mothers made note of it; she thought it was a nice touch, a bit of solidarity.”
…i hope this is the case…if so, that’s a nice touch and only support’s de rosa’s post…
By the way, The David Wright Foundation will be holding their third-annual Do the Right Thing Gala in New York City at the Hard Rock on Thursday, November 15.
To learn more about the Gala, click here.
According to Jim Moloney, at MLB.com, citing ‘multiple club sources,’ the Braves intend to offer free-agent LHP Tom Glavine 
a one-year, $8-9 million contract, which he is expected to sign in the next week or so.
At Amazin Avenue, Eric Simon explains…
“If he signs with the Braves and the Mets offer him arbitration they will collect the Braves’ first round pick…Should the Braves sign Glavine prior to December 1 (or prior to the Mets offering arbitration, whichever comes first), they automatically forfeit their first rounder next year, even if the Mets weren’t planning on offering Glavine arbitration.”
…this will be interesting to watch, because if the Mets take a risk, offer arbitration and glavine accepts, it means he will be pitching for them next season, like it or not…of course, if the Mets don’t offer arbitration to glavine, while they lose out on getting the draft pick, they also avoid any chance he will accept…
For what it’s worth, faced with a similar situation last off-season, the Mets did not offer salary arbitration to Glavine, though he eventually re-signed.
By the way, the Braves have the 18th pick in the first round.
Tagged Tom Glavine |The free-agent signing period begins today, meaning any team can negotiate openly with any player.
In a report for the New York Times, Ben Shpigel speculates that Omar Minaya may ‘seriously consider’ signing free-agent RHP Livan Hernandez, as he searches for an innings-eater.
The 32–year-old Hernandez has pitched in more than 200 innings during 
each of the last eight seasons. However, his total innings-pitched has dropped during each of the last four years.
Last year he was 11–11 with a 4.93 ERA in 33 starts for the D’Backs, during which opponents hit .308 against him.
…the buzz in baseball, for a while now, has been that livan and his brother, Orlando Hernandez, have been wanting to be on the same team for years now, hoping to reunite before one or both of them retire…
Orlando is a free agent after next season.
…i agree with ben, as it would not shock me at all if livan ends up pitching for the Mets…i keep getting a sense that the Mets are seeking one, maybe even two, durable, work-horse type starting pitchers, which, considering the cost of the league’s top options, leads me to believe they must be eying a trade for a guy like A’s RHP Joe Blanton and/or signing a free-agent like livan or Carlos Silva, because they all sort of meet that description, but that is all just logical speculation, of course…
For what it’s worth, in today’s Star-Ledger, in-the-know Dan Graziano lists the Mets as his ‘best guess’ for where Silva will sign.
…in short, i would be ‘comfortable’ entering next season with, say, blanton and livan, along with Pedro Martinez, John Maine and Oliver Perez, in the rotation, as it would also mean moving el duque to the bullpen…
…however, i hope minaya can score higher than this, though i fear that is up to the market more than him…
According to the Daily News, citing ‘a person familiar with the situation,’ GM Omar Minaya met yesterday with agents Sam and Seth Levinson, who represent free agents Luis Castillo and Ramon Castro.
“The Mets were said to be working on a two-year deal last night to retain Castro,” notes the report.
…from what i can gather, castro is seeking a two-year, $5 million deal, but would prefer to find a job as a starting catcher first…however, those options seem limited, and offer very little security, and so i would not be surprised to see him return to the Mets sooner than later…
Meanwhile, in the New York Post, Ben Shpigel writes that Castillo could command a four-year deal.
Last week, at FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal wrote that the market for Castillo could ‘intensify,’ noting that, in addition to the Mets, the Astros, Indians, Padres and Dodgers may also show interest.
According to today’s Houston Chronicle, the Astros will be making an offer to Castillo.
Tagged Ramon Castro | Newer posts →
