Daily Archives: November 19, 2007
During his weekly appearance on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney said the Twins have not yet begun shopping Johan Santana.
According to Olney, while some executives believe the Twins will turn to the trade market if Santana cannot be re-signed, others, instead, believe Minnesota will hold on to him for opening day.
On the other hand, during his weekly appearance on WFAN in New York, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said, from what he understands, the Twins are already discussing Santana with other teams.
According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, citing ‘the word in baseball circles,’ the Twins have made a five-year, $93 million offer to LHP Johan Santana.
…as i said yesterday, that’s essentially the same deal that Carlos Zambrano agreed to with the Cubs…it’s also the same $18 million per year that was accepted by Barry Zito…the question is, does he want more than five years, does he think he can get more per year on the open market, and does he just flat-out want to leave Minnesota…
Regardless, Olney says Omar Minaya has been telling teams he intends to trade for a front-line starting pitcher.
However, given the above information about Santana, Olney believes A’s RHP Dan Haren will be Minaya’s second choice, though his team’s ‘weak prospects’ will make any acquisition quite difficult to pull off.
…for the Mets to have a chance at trading for santana, they have to hope that other teams, with more talent to trade, panic in fear of giving a great package only to watch santana leave on the open market after next season…what’s more, the Dodgers, who have a ton of talent, seem to be seeking a bat, not a pitcher; the Angels, despite talking a big game, never pull the trigger on a big deal, plus they also need a bat; and the Yankees seem to have zero interest in trading Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain…so, if that group is not serious, who besides the Mets is left that will overpay in talent, knowing they are totally capable of re-signing santana to the type of long-term deal he is seeking…
By the way, instead of appearing on ESPN 1050 as he had been doing, Heyman will now join WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog program twice a week throughout the year.
By the way, tonight, at 6:30 pm, and again at 11 pm, SNY will air The Mets Hot Stove Report hosted by Kevin Burkhardt, featuring Gary Cohen, among other guests and reporters who will discuss the team’s off-season plans.
Tagged SNY |…for the sake of this poll, assume the Mets do not acquire a top-line starting pitcher via trade, and must settle for signing a player like Livan Hernandez, or Carlos Silva, meaning their opening day rotation could be Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Hernandez/Silva and Mike Pelfrey…
[poll=24]
Tagged Poll, Tom Glavine |Since Tom Glavine is no longer on the Mets, Jose Reyes is now the longest tenured player on the Mets, followed by Aaron Heilman, both of whom made their debut in early 2003.
…thanks to DJ Short for pointing this out to me…
Pedro Feliciano made his major-league debut with the Mets in 2002, meaning he debuted before Reyes. However, Feliciano spent all of 2005 playing for the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, before re-signing with the Mets.
On June 10, 2003, Reyes made his major-league debut with the Mets, during an inter-league game in Texas, batting ninth in a lineup that included Roger Cedeno, Timo Perez, Roberto Alomar, Cliff Floyd, Jeromy Burnitz, Ty Wigginton, Jason Phillips and Vance Wilson with Steve Trachsel on the mound.
Tagged Pedro Feliciano |…in an effort to stay on top of what’s happening outside of queens, here’s a quick update from around the rest of league…
Though the Boston Herald writes that talks between the Red Sox and free-agent 3B Mike Lowell are ‘heading nowhere,’ ESPN.com’s Buster Olney told Mike and Mike this morning that he expects Lowell to re-sign with the Sox either today or tomorrow.
Free-agent OF Torii Hunter is scheduled have dinner with the Rangers tonight, writes the Dallas Morning News, though he also told Yahoo! Sports he is interested in the Dodgers, as well.
According to multiple reports, though Mariano Rivera is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Yankees, according to the Daily News, he is still trying to tack on an option year.
The Toronto Sun reports that the Blue Jays have talked with free-agent RHP Matt Clement, who has had a serious of arm trouble over the last few years.
Tagged Torii Hunter |On Saturday, Newsday was first to report that talks between the Mets and free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba ‘collapsed,’ concluding, ‘the talks are dead and Torrealba is not coming to the Mets.’
Today in Newsday, Ken Davidoff writes that the Mets are ‘not currently considering’ a return of free-agent C Paul Lo Duca.
…as i have written before, it’s clear that O’s C Ramon Hernandez is omar’s top choice, but, as has been reported, the asking-price for hernandez is going to be much higher than it should be…the same can be said for Rangers C Gerald Laird, another ideal fit, who the Mets have reportedly inquired about, as well…also, there is new buzz from miami that suggests Marlins C Miguel Olivo could soon be pitched to the Mets, as well…
Though he hit just .237 last season, Olivo hit 16 home runs each of the last two seasons, during which he also struck out 223 times.
…you know the story, though: the Mets prefer to sign a catcher, so to keep all of their prospects to package the best bunch for a starting pitcher…
Free-agent C Michael Barrett is a Type-A free agent, meaning he will likely cost the Mets a compensatory draft pick.
In 344 at-bats for the Cubs and Padres last season, the 31-year-old Barrett hit .244, drove in 30 runs, got in to a nationally-televised fist fight in a dugout with his teammate, Carlos Zambrano, and was then traded to San Diego.
Lastly, in 137 games between Oakland and Chicago, free-agent C Jason Kendall, 33, hit just .242 with three HR and 20 doubles.
…kendall and barrett should not be an option…nor should olivo, since he could soon be non-tendered…if omar’s sense is that he’ll need every bullet to trade for a pitcher, then laird and hernandez should not be options either…meaning, as so many of us have been saying for the last week, lo duca is the best choice…
Tagged Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Hernandez | Newer posts →
