Daily Archives: January 2, 2008
According to Impacto Deportivo, the Royals may be close to signing free-agent RHP Bartolo Colon.
…thanks to Steve W for the link…
…from what i could gather, the Mets had 
interest in colon, and even checked in on him while he pitched in the Dominican Winter League, but there is no indication their interest went any further than that - even though colon was said to have been performing quite well this winter…
…assuming this link is accurate - and, frankly, i am always reluctant to totally bank on these google translations - then good for the Royals, because i think colon may be a nice gamble…
Colon, who has been battling shoulder and elbow problems since 2006, has a career record of 146-95 and a 4.10 ERA in 306 starts.
…however, if the Royals give him a guaranteed roster spot, i will understand why he did not end up on the Mets - because, frankly, i’m not sure the Mets need to lock in a spot with a guy like colon right now…if he ends up signing a multi-year deal, as MLB.com once suggested he is seeking, not bringing him to queens will make even more sense…
…he is worth inviting to camp, which is certainly his second choice, but i have no interest in getting more bogged down in players who are clearly on the back nine of a career…
…nevertheless, the buzz during the Winter Meetings had been that the Mets were the front runners for free-agent RHP Freddy Garcia, who will not be ready to pitch in a major-league game until mid-summer…
Garcia, 32, is rehabbing from shoulder surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff and should be ready to pitch by midseason.
During his nine-year career, he is 117-76 and has a 4.07 ERA – though he was just 1–5 last season for the Phillies.
…as i wrote last week, the i sense i got is that the Mets would end up signing one of these two starting pitchers to a one-year deal, or a similar pitcher like them, because it only makes sense from a risk-reward stand point…of course, that’s assuming they end up in a position in which they need to take that risk…
Mets C Ramon Castro is featured as the back-up catcher 
on this year’s Team 2007 by USA Today’s Sports Weekly, which aims to select the best player at every position, including manager, while only spending the median major league payroll of $84.6 million.
USA Today found a creative way to include Alex Rodriguez, and his $23 million price tag, but notes, “It’s difficult to ignore David Wright, who for $1.2 million hit .325 with 30 homers and 107 RBI.”
Team 2007 also includes Chase Utley starting at second base, Jimmy Rollins at short and Heath Bell in a set-up roll.
Tagged Ramon Castro |In a column for SI.com, John 
Donovan believes the Mets have had the ‘worst winter so far,’ writing…
“The Mets’ most important offseason move was spending $25 million on an old second baseman, Luis Castillo. They had better come up with more than that to compete for the NL East crown.”
…good thing there is still have 13 weeks until opening day…
…by the way, Winter is just two weeks old…
Additionally, Donovan discusses who is having the best winter, who has been the best and worst free-agent signing, and the most lop-sided trades, during which he includes Lastings Milledge going to DC for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church.
In his blog for the Star-Tribune, La Velle E. Neal III writes that the Mariners are not in the running for LHP Johan Santana, concluding, “It’s the Mets, Yanks and Red Sox.”
In the comment’s section, he adds that the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox are the only teams being ‘taken seriously’ at this point.
In a post to Seth Speaks, a popular Twins blog, mostly about minor leaguers, Seth Stohs writes…
“If the Mets would offer Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey OR Philip Humber, Kevin
Mulvey and one other prospect, I think that the Twins would have to consider it. If that prospect was Deolis Guerra, they would be silly to say no.”
…i have a feeling it will take one additional prospect, or maybe even a guy like Aaron Heilman as well…i mean, after all of that has been said and written, i just can’t see the Twins accepting a four-prospect package from the Mets, but that’s more opinion than fact…
…as of today, the only buzz i can pick up in new york is that the Red Sox, Mets and Yankees continue to take issue with dishing out a seven-year contract for any player, let alone santana, if for no other reason than the deal will never get insured…
…from the Sox and Yankees point of view, with insurance, plus the luxury tax and his salary, santana will technically cost roughly $30 million per season…
Similarly, at his blog for the Journal News, Peter Abraham writes, “There are no indications that the Yankees will suddenly get back into the mix for Johan Santana,” mostly because of financial reasons.
Lastly, In his recent article for SNY, Ted Berg argues against trading for Santana, while adding that any one of Pedro Martinez, John Maine or Oliver Perez could be the front-line starting pitcher the team is need of.
…sure, but santana will be that guy…and will be added to pedro, maine and perez…seriously, it’s hard to deny how significant the four of them could be…and while i’d miss a few of the youngsters needed in a deal, i’d get over it…
…again, the way i see it, unless the Mets are certain that one of pelfrey, humber or mulvey will eventually be as good as santana, who is not yet 30 years old, then, given how important this coming season is, minaya must pull the trigger…
In his recent mailbag for MLB.com, Marty Noble is asked, “Why not trade for Scott Kazmir,” to which he responds…
“Why would a team want to trade a proven ace of its staff?
“It’s not like Omar Minaya could just give the Rays
a shout and say, ‘We’re ready to take Kazmir off your hands because you want to help us.’ I’m certain you’d be surprised how few clubs are in a hurry to help the Mets make a big trade.”
…i can’t help but laugh whenever marty gets all snarky on his readers…
Noble also answers questions about the team’s schedule, using Aaron Heilman as a starter, Jerry Koosman and the Hall of Fame, and why he uses RBI per 1,000 at-bats as a way to compare offensive production.
The Rangers cut RHP Akinori Otsuka during December, making him a free agent.
In 236 career relief appearances, for Texas and San Diego, Otsuka had a 2.44 ERA 
having struck out 217 batters through 232 innings pitched.
He finished with an ERA under 3.00 during three of his four major-league seasons.
In a recent Q&A with the Dallas Morning News, Rangers reporter Evan Grant had the following to say, when asked if Otsuka’s ‘bad elbow’ is the reason the Rangers cut him…
“Bad isn’t the right word. Scary is probably better. It’s not like the ligament in the elbow is torn, but I’ve been told that there was a lot of concern over the wear and tear. Until the ligament tears, surgery is not prescribed, but a pitcher must be able to tolerate pain to pitch….The Rangers were concerned that either he wouldn’t be able to pitch through the pain or that if he did, he’d rip the ligament.”
Earlier this off-season, at his blog for MLB.com, T.R. Sullivan wrote that the Rangers initially tried to trade Otsuka to the White Sox, who rejected the deal after seeing the his medical reports.
…the buzz from philly suggests that the Phillies continue to have interest in otsuka, as do a few other teams…this worries me a tad, simply because an effective otsuka and an effective Brad Lidge could make for a pretty good bullpen for the Phillies…
…of course, that’s a lot of ‘what ifs,’ said Duaner Sanchez…
Tagged Phillies |Moises Alou ‘technically’ hit the furthest home run for the 
Mets last season with a 470–foot blast on September 3 - despite Ramon Castro being on record with a 458–foot home run on July 29 - according to Hit Tracker, a site that attempts to accurately measure the distance and precise trajectory of every home run.
…it’s a strange site that is fairly addictive…by the way, you can also watch video of each home run that is featured…
…the depth of the Internet never ceases to amaze me…
…thanks to our friend Bryan Hoch for the link…
Tagged Moises Alou, Stats |…from what i can tell, there has been little to no movement by the Twins of late, regarding Johan Santana…i suspect that will start to change, as Omar Minaya, Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman are going to want a resolution sooner than later…as i wrote last week, i sense that a lot of teams and free-agent 
pitchers are waiting to see who doesn’t end up with santana, before signing with a new team…
That said, at Prospect Insider, a reputable and popular M’s blog, Jason Churchill quotes an NL Executive as saying the Mets will eventually acquire Santana, though it will cost them Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez in addition to two pitching prospects.
Meanwhile, at Balls, Sticks & Stuff, Phillies fan Tom Goyne writes, “There’s no doubt that the Mets would be a better team in 2008 (if they acquire Santana), but their future would be severely mortgaged.”
…thanks to Peter Wade for the link…
As Goyne points out, Santana would be the ideal acquisition for the Mets since Philadelphia’s best hitters are more successful against right-handed pitchers, which Santana is not.
Nevertheless, while Chase Utley hit .318 against lefties last season, and Jimmy Rollins hit .321, Ryan Howard hit just .225 and Pat Burrell hit .255.
…in case you missed it, from early December…
The Mets will begin selling spring training tickets on Saturday, January 19 at 10 am.
Tickets for all home games can be purchased at Tradition Field, or by calling the team’s ticket office at 772.871.2115.
The Mets spring schedule begins Tuesday, Feb. 26 against the University of Michigan in Port St. Lucie at 12:00 pm.
For a complete schedule, click here.
