Daily Archives: December 5, 2007
According to Joel Sherman in a report for the New York Post, 
the Blue Jays were very close to signing a one-year contract with Paul Lo Duca to be the backup catcher to Gregg Zaun.
The Nationals are also looking at Lo Duca to serve as a back-up, reports Jerry Crasnick in an update for ESPN.com.
…yikes…sorry, paulie…for what it’s worth, from what i can gather out of lo duca’s situation with the Mets, the team’s lack of interest may actually have had less to do with his off-field identity, and mostly everything to do with a) his initial contract demands, b) the Mets urgency to fill the position, and c) the team wanting to find the best possible defensive catcher it could get…and so lo duca was dismissed…
Tagged Paul Lo Duca |
…if the Angels, Dodgers or Mariners turn their attention from Erik Bedard, and decide to compete with the Mets for Johan Santana, the Mets will lose…
…as i wrote earlier, there is more and more buzz coming from Nashville suggesting that the Twins are feeling a ton of pressure, from their fans, from ownership, from the media, etc, to get a big-time return for santana, and for more than is being offered…if this is the case, i do not see how the Mets can convince them that Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Mulvey will satisfy their fans and help their new general manager’s potential legacy…
…on the other hand, from what i recall, Johan Santana wants to play for the Mets or Red Sox, followed by the Yankees, and he has a no-trade clause and can essentially dictate his fate…by the way, he is still very good friends with Luis Castillo, and has the same agent as Jose Reyes…
…the Red Sox will not up their offer, and Yankees are hampered by payroll, reports the Daily News, as hard as that is to believe…however, the Mets are not only willing to overpay in talent to wrangle santana from the Twins, they’re also willing to overpay in dollars to convince him to stay in queens…
According to Joel Sherman in the New York Post, the Mets were among among six teams that asked for - and received - the medical report on free-agent RHP Freddy Garcia, who underwent shoulder surgery last August and is not expected back before June.
…as i wrote the other day, i recall hearing a day or so ago that the Mets may be the front runners for garcia…
Sherman also provides information on Hiroki Kuroda, Dan Haren, Erik Bedard, and Billy Beane’s lack of interest in Melky Cabrera.
At MLB Trade Rumors, citing ‘a trusted New York sportswriter,’ the always-informative Tim Dierkes writes that the Mets, A’s and Twins are discussing a three-way trade that could send Johan Santana, Dan Johnson and Bobby Crosby to the Mets, who would part with Jose Reyes, Kevin Mulvey, and Hector Pellot, who would all end up in Oakland, who would send Dan Haren to the Twins.
…well, it’s officially that time of the week, i guess…
…my first problem with this is, why on earth would an anonymous new york sports writer leak this to a blog, when he could just break the story himself…that said, my guess is that the guy was simply thinking out loud, and playing mock-gm himself…nevertheless, wow…i mean, really wow…to be honest, i’m not even sure this deal would get approved in my fantasy league, let alone actually come to fruition in MLB…
In a report for Newsday, Ken Davidoff writes…
“The Twins are not high on nearly all of the Mets
prospects in the high minor leagues, a source close to the situation said.”
…i have read that comment four times now, and i still have no idea what the source is actually saying…does this mean the Twins are in fact high on guys from single-a, like, say, Deolis Guerra…or does it mean they like some of the Mets top prospects, like Phil Humber, but not all of them, like Mike Pelfrey…or does it mean something else…anyway…
…as i wrote earlier, from what i can gather, the problem the Mets are having in these deals, including talks with the Twins, is not necessarily their upper-level prospects, all of whom actually hold fairly solid value on the trade market…the problem, as i understand it, is that to acquire a player like Johan Santana, the Mets must give up an established hitter, who is young and under control, i.e., Jose Reyes or Ryan Church, not minor-leaguers who are still in need of development, like gomez or martinez…the thing is, while most teams understand that David Wright and reyes are too much to give, church is not enough…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber |SNY’s Matt Yalloff talked to Mets GM 
Omar Minaya last night while in Nashville, which you can watch by clicking here.
During the quick interview, Minaya had the following to say, among other things, when asked…
…if the list of players he would like to acquire is narrowing as the meetings move on…
“No, not much has changed…I think we’re getting more of a feeling for the agents, more of a feeling with the clubs, and whether you have a chance to make a deal.”
…the super-high cost of pitching in the trade market…
“These teams don’t have to trade these players, and I would not be surprised if some of these guys who are being mentioned to be on the block do not get traded at all…Usually what teams try to do is, what they call, being ‘blown away.’ You know, being offered deals that they can’t turn down. The problem is, what’s going on right now, that you are trying to hold on to your prospects as much as you can. Teams are willing to give up prospects, but the question is: who are the prospects and how many of those prospects.”
…if he has ‘refreshed an offer’ for any top-line pitcher, who he was likely intrigued by in the past…
“Well, I’m not going to comment on details of what’s going on with the club. All I can tell you is we are talking to clubs, continuing dialogue with clubs and we had a busy day today talking with agents.”
…nice try, yalloff…omar even cracked a grin while that last question was being asking…
Tagged Omar Minaya, SNY |In an update to ESPN.com, Jayson Stark says that the Giants 
continue to balk at trading RHP Tim Lincecum to the Blue Jays for OF Alex Rios.
According to Stark, the Jays are trying to ‘stockpile as many power arms as possible,’ meaning there is ‘little chance’ that they’d trade RHP A.J. Burnett to the Mets, even ‘for a hot young outfield prospect like Carlos Gomez.’
…first off, who in baseball isn’t trying to stockpile as many power arms as possible…i mean, i hope it’s not just the Blue Jays…second, ‘hot young prospect,’ to describe gomez…very nice…
In an update to ESPN.com, Peter Gammons says he is sensing that the Twins will not trade Johan Santana.
However, during a recent appearance on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the following…
“I’m hearing that the Mets have jumped back in on the Santana sweepstakes. Boston is still the favorite,
they’re still talking, but they’re not agreeing on players. Most people feel their offer is fairly underwhelming, and I can understand why Minnesota is listening to other teams, including the Mets.
The Mets are steadfast in not including Jose Reyes, but I have been told by a Minnesota person that the Mets have no shot without Reyes. But, I think the Twins were expecting to get two of three from Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buccholz or Jon Lester, or two of three of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, and they were not able to do it.
“I think the Twins are committed to trading him, I think they’re gonna trade him. I’m not convinced that it will happen here. I still think Boston is leading, until I hear otherwise…but, the Mets are in it, they’ve talked to the Twins and they’re trying. They do have some good prospects.
“I just think the Twins felt they could get what they wanted from the Yankees and Red Sox, but once the Yankees dropped out, Boston had no urgency to do more. I still say that Boston is talking to the Twins, and it could happen today, but the Mets are hopeful I believe.
“They don’t have any one to match Lester or Ellsbury, but if you give them Kevin Mulvey, Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez, you’ve given them the second, third and fourth best pieces they can get. So, they have a chance.”
To listen to Heyman’s entire interview, during which he also discusses rumored deals for Dan Haren and Erik Bedard, who will not sign an extension with the O’s, go to WFAN.com.
Speaking of Heyman, in his latest column for SI.com, he lists three reasons why it will be very, very difficult for a team to acquire Bedard from the O’s.
…Update…2:40 pm…
According to Ken Rosenthal, at FOXSports.com, the Mariners will resume their effort to trade for Santana, especially if they do not sign Hiroki Kuroda.
…from what i can gather, the Cubs and M’s are the front-runners to land kuroda…
Yesterday, at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote that the Mets have 
inquired about Blue Jays RHP A.J. Burnett.
However, today at ESPN.com, Stark says the Blue Jays are not going to trade Burnett or Alex Rios, ‘for now,’ adding that Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi will ‘probably head home today.’
Burnett, who is certainly talented, but often injured, can opt out of his five-year, $55 million contract after the 2008 season.
In 25 starts for Toronto in 2007, he was 10-8 with a 3.75 ERA.
…there is more and more buzz coming from Nashville suggesting that the Twins are feeling a ton of pressure, from their fans, from ownership, from the media, etc, to get a big-time return for Johan Santana, more than is being offered by the Red Sox, and they are now questioning whether such a deal is even possible…it doesn’t help that a team in their own division, the Tigers, are about to acquire Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis…
…also, from what i can gather, the problem the Mets are having in these deals is not necessarily Carlos Gomez or Mike Pelfrey or Phil Humber or Fernando Martinez, all of whom hold fairly solid value on the trade market for their level of prospect…the problem, as i understand it, is that to acquire a player like Joe Blanton or Johan Santana or Erik Bedard, the Mets must give up a proven, major-league hitter, who is young and under control, like Dodgers OF Matt Kemp, or D’Backs 1B Conor Jackson…which means, the Mets must part with a player like Jose Reyes or Ryan Church, not minor-leaguers who are still in need of development, like gomez or martinez…the thing is, the Mets will not trade reyes or David Wright…and at the same time, church isn’t turning heads, and neither was Lastings Milledge for that matter…
…which is why, as i have said before, in order to pull off a deal for this caliber of pitcher, the Mets may need to involve a third team, who can help deliver the young bat needed in such a trade…otherwise, the Reds, D’Backs, Angels, Dodgers and especially the Mariners will remain far more appealing to teams like the Orioles, Twins and A’s…
…so, yes, it’s going to be tough to trade for a pitcher…not impossible…but very, very tough…which, by the way, is very, very disappointing…
…Update…1:32 pm…
…most people in Nashville with whom i have talked with all seem to think it’s still the Red Sox or bust, with the Mets and Angels expected to make a last ditch effort before a final decision is made by the Twins…
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