Daily Archives: November 15, 2007
In a report for the San Diego Tribune, Tom Krasovic reports that the 
Padres will soon offer a contract extension to RHP Jake Peavy, which will aim to keep him in San Diego through at least 2011.
Currently, Peavy is signed through next season, during which he will earn $6 million, with an $8–million club option for 2009. However, as Krasovic points out, if Peavy is traded, the 2009 option is voided.
…do you feel it…i do…i can’t shake this annoying reality that in order to get a big-time pitcher, the Mets will have no choice but to trade away players who we do not want them to trade…it’s a reality, folks…no way around it…seriously, if you do not believe Mike Pelfrey or Phil Humber can win a Cy Young, and you want an ace, then a guy like Lastings Milledge, among many, many others, are going to have to go…there is just no way around it, because these other teams, no matter how many rumors we read, and no matter how badly we’d like to hope against it, these other teams are just not interested in letting go of guys like peavy, or Roy Oswalt, among others…
According to Ken Rosenthal, at FOXSports.com, free-agent RHP Mariano Rivera is seeking a four-year deal, despite being offered a three-year, $45 million contract by the Yankees.
In a recent interview, Rivera mentioned that he is intrigued by the idea of following his former manager, Joe Torre, to the Dodgers.
This past season for the Yankees, for the first time since his rookie year in 1995, the 37–year-old Rivera had an ERA higher than 3.00, while blowing four saves.
…he must really want that fourth year, because the Yankees have reportedly already offered three…so, it’s not like it’s a negotiating tactic…the thing is, four years…really…for a 37–year-old closer, who has not been nearly as sharp over the last few years as he once was…frankly, i can’t believe mo is not just jumping at the three-year deal, which makes me wonder if he knows he can get four from some other intriguing option…
…typically, i don’t waste time with these sorts of hypothetical trades, but i found this to be intriguing since it is coming from the other team’s fans - and not one of us, looking at things from only shea’s needs…
At Twinkie Town, a Twins blog from SB Nation, Jesse takes a look at the Mets to determine whether Omar Minaya has enough talent to acquire LHP Johan Santana from Minnesota.
According to Jason, speaking as a Twins fan, he would trade Santana for one of the following two packages…
1) David Wright and Fernando Martinez.
2) Milledge, Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey and Martinez.
…well, obviously, the first option is not an option…
…however, if i knew the Mets could sign santana, and i believe they can, especially if he spends a full season in new york, i would pull the trigger on option two…in fact, i would not even think twice about it…and i like milledge, and believe he will be a very good player; and while i expect f-mart to be a big-time bat, he’s many, many years away from even sniffing an all-star team, assuming he ever gets to that point in his career…as for pelfrey and gomez, who i know minaya likes, a lot, frankly, the Mets can find another gomez, and pelfrey is a mystery…santana, on the other hand, is already the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, he’s under 30 years old, and a CY-Young contender and an ace, especially in the National League…
…by the way, initially, i just assumed the Mets would have no shot at santana…the thing is, if the Yankees will not trade Phil Hughes, and the Dodgers end up acquiring Miguel Cabrera in exchange for their best prospects, then at least two of the Mets biggest competition for santana will have been instantly eliminated from the market…
…well, it’s certainly the Hot Stove Season, because this site has 
seen its standard, steady, rumor-fueled increase in readers during the last few weeks, as you can see in the featured chart…for a bigger version, click the image…yesterday, 63,000 people logged on to MetsBlog.com, yet no actual news occurred…
…i don’t yet know how i will eventually die, but i am starting to think it could end up being from a covert assassination attempt, orchestrated by your boss or school teacher…
…seriously, though, thank you so much for the continued support…the last four years have been an absolute adventure, none of which would be possibile without you…
By the way, if you have time, and have yet to do so, please complete the following four-minute, anonymous survey to help me improve MetsBlog.com, which you can access by clicking here.
According to Joe Frisaro at MLB.com, there is ‘growing speculation’ that the Marlins could trade 3B Miguel Cabrera before Thanksgiving.
Frisarso cites a ‘league source’ as saying the Dodgers and Angels are the front-runners to acquire Cabrera from Miami.
Yesterday in the Palm-Beach Post, Joe Capozzi wrote that the Marlins have asked the Angels for 2B Howie Kendrick and RHP Nick Adenhart, along with another pitcher and an outfielder. According to Frisaro, the Dodgers are expected to part with RHP Chad Billingsley, along with OF Matt Kemp, while 1B James Loney and 3B Andy LaRoche also have been mentioned.
…as i said yesterday, it’s sort of sad, not that i want the Mets to use their chips on cabrera, it’s just, even if i did want him, it’s sad to know the Mets would have zero chance to get him…that being said, go Angels…i’d like nothing more than to get cabrera’s bat out of the National League, and specifically the East…
…thanks to jason b for the link…
Tagged Miguel Cabrera |…if you’re looking to kill time before lunch, check out the following blog posts and articles from around the web…
At his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff writes, ‘Alex Rodriguez, you owe me a month of my life.’
…and lord knows he can afford it, ken…
Using a calculator, at Baseball Prospectus, Nate Silver breaks down how the Nationals new stadium will compare to RFK.
Lastly, at his blog, Dugout Central, Mike Pagliarulo offers a first-hand scouting report on free-agent RHP Carlos Silva, who he believes will sign a four-year, $32 million deal, though he should really be valued around $3 million per year.
According to the Baltimore Sun, citing a ‘club 
source,’ in addition to having interest in acquiring LHP Erik Bedard, the Mets have also expressed interest in C Ramon Hernandez, who will cost ‘a high-end prospect.’
…which is obviously why we are being inundated with Yorvit Torrealba rumors, and why it makes zero sense to trade for a catcher, at the same time the Mets are in dire need of trading for a pitcher…to part with a high-end prospect to get hernandez would be foolish…
By the way, the Sun also writes that the O’s intend to discuss a long-term contract with Bedard, who is eligible for free agency after 2009, before realistically exploring the trade market.
According to the report, while the Mets, Yankees and Angels have all expressed recent interest in trading for Bedard, the Dodgers are said to have been the most aggressive, with players such as Matt Kemp, Jonathan Broxton and Clayton Kershaw having all been discussed.
Tagged Ramon Hernandez |According to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, citing ‘an executive from a rival suitor,’ while the Mets are willing to ‘at least guarantee’ three years at $5 million per season for free-agent Yorvit Torrealba, the offer ‘could cover 2011 and possibly have some provision for 2012.’
…oh, my…i mean, i thought three years was excessive…now we’re being told there is a chance it could be a five-year deal, which i assume must be a series of incentives and options…i like torrealba, i do, but to put this in perspective, if he actually does get a five-year deal, that’s two years less than had been given to Mike Piazza, and one year more than Jorge Posada…i mean, it just makes no sense…frankly, at this point, i’m going to reserve judgment of this until it actually becomes official…because, as of now, i’m only reacting emotionally to a media report, not minaya’s actual actions and that’s not fair…but, wow, this is looking very, very odd…
Meanwhile, in Newsday, citing ‘a National League official,’ David Lennon and Ken Davidoff write that Torrealba has been offered a three-year contract from both the Mets and Marlins.
Last night in the Rocky Mountain News, Tracy Ringolsby wrote…
“The interested teams are all pressuring for a decision on their offers by the end of the week.”
According to Ringolsby, Torrealba’s agent said his client will likely make a final decision on Thursday.
…as i wrote last night, at this point, i think the tea leaves are pretty easy to read…he can essentially take $1 million or so more per year to play in the biggest city in the world, with a successful team, but split time with Ramon Castro…or, he can take a bit less money, and either play for the last-place Marlins, or remain in Colorado, and be the every-day catcher…or, if the Mets really want him that badly, they can tack on the rumored and desired third year, if not more, which i really hope they do not do…
…unless, the Mets look at it like, ‘we lock in yorvit long-term, castro is here for just two, if after castro leaves we can sign a new starting catcher, and yorvit can simply slide back to being a back up.’…
By the way, Rubin continues on to explain further details about the negotiations between Castro, the Mets and Torrealba, and how Jorge Posada factored in.
Tagged Ramon Castro, Yorvit Torrealba |During a conference call with reporters yesterday, Mets GM Omar Minaya said that Duaner Sanchez will begin pitching during winter ball in the Dominican Republic next month.
Last week, in a poll of more than 3,200 people at MetsBlog.com, when faced with a variety of options on how best to fix the team’s bullpen, the majority of fans agreed the best approach is to simply ‘pray for the health of Juan Padilla and Duaner Sanchez.”
According to the Daily News and Newsday, Ramon Castro is ‘close to’ and ‘wrapped up’ a two-year, $4 million deal with the Mets yesterday.
Castro, as quoted by Rubin, regarding his return to the Mets, and the potential of spliltting time with Yorvit Torrealba…
“Between me and him, I think we’re going to do good…I’ve been there for three years. We have a great bunch of guys. I love it.”
…Update…8:45 AM…
The Rocky Mountain News reports that the deal is done, pending a physical.
Tagged Ramon Castro | Newer posts →
