Daily Archives: January 6, 2008
During a recent appearance on XM’s MLB Live, free-agent RHP Kyle Lohse said the following…
“Obviously, you want more years, and more security. This is the first chance I have of
getting security, every year up until now has been year to year. Obviously, the more years the better now, for security reasons, but I’m just looking for a team that has a chance to win, and I just want to be a part of that…It’s right around probably 3 (teams). We’re a little ways off, but working towards getting something done. It’s just a matter of getting together, waiting for some other trades/deals to happen or not, which influences the market.”
According to a report by George King roughly three weeks ago in New York Post, “It’s believed the Mets have made an offer to the 29-year-old for four years, but it’s not known if it is for the $10 million per he is seeking.”
However, the following day, in a report for Newsday, Ken Davidoff wrote that the Mets ‘do not seem particularly interested’ in free-agent starting pitchers Livan Hernandez, Carlos Silva or Lohse, ‘unless their prices drop.’
In 34 starts for the Reds and Phillies last season, the 29–year-old Lohse was 9–12 with a 4.63 ERA, while striking out 122 batters through 192 innings.
…thanks to Peter Wade for the information…
According to Bill Madden, in a report for the Daily News, “Almost every pitcher bestowed with a contract of five or more years has broken down and disappointed,” starting 
with Wayne Garland in 1977 through Kevin Brown in 1999, and so many others in between.
…madden gives a lot of interesting information, in support of being very, very afraid of the long-term deal…however, and i can only speak for myself, but i have a feeling this logic is totally wasted on fans…
…anyway, from what i can gather, this is as much of a roadblock in any deal for Johan Santana as any other element, not just for the Mets, but for the Yankees and Red Sox as well…and understandably so…and it’s not like these three teams are short on cash, yet they’re all still hesitant…
Multiple reports have suggested that Santana’s agent has leaked to teams that he is seeking at least a seven-year deal worth more than $140 million.
…however, the sense i get, having talked with people connected to santana, is that while this is clearly the preferred contract, if it means putting johan in to a situation he is happy to be part of, he’s willing to be creative with how a deal is structured…
In the New York Times, Richard Sandomir reports that Keith Hernandez and Walt Frazier are back with a new Just for Men commercial, which also features Emmitt Smith.
In the report, Sandomir writes the following, while explaining what happens in the new ad…
“Just for Men prefers that Hernandez’s mustache be of a continually dark hue; the company does not mind if he keeps his hair dark, too, but his deal is strictly facial. Two executives have the additional corporate assignment of contacting him when they spot his color fading and suggest that it is time for a touch-up.
“‘During the season, I use it quite a bit,’ said Hernandez, the Mets’ former first baseman. ‘I can’t have gray.’”
…i have not yet seen the ad, but hopefully it pops up on YouTube sooner than later…
In the Star-Tribune, citing ‘several people with knowledge of the trade talks,’ La Velle E. Neal III reports that the Twins have recently ‘adjusted their demands’ for Johan Santana.
According to Neal, Jose Reyes no longer needs to be part of any deal for Santana, just as the Twins are willing to accept other players instead of Ian Kennedy when negotiating with the Yankees.
However, Neal concludes by writing…
“It’s still hard to view the Mets as a serious player in this game, because although they have good young players, they lack quality talent up front of the deal.”
Meanwhile, according to multiple reports, while in Boston to support the annual Hot Stove, Cool Music charity event put on by Red Sox and Peter Gammons, Yankees GM Brian Cashman essentially said he has less control under Hank and Hal Steinbrenner than he did under their father, George.
…this isn’t really news, in that reports have indicated how cashman wants to build from within, i.e., not trade prospects for Johan Santana, while hank wants to make the big splash, i.e., trade for santana…
…this report is unique because cashman is actually saying it all out loud, and he’s usually very, very quiet…
Cashman, as quoted by multiple reports…
“Mostly, especially in our big markets, you get challenged on the short-term stuff so much you can make a mistake if you get caught up in the winds of the pressure of making a trade…Like right now, the Red Sox and Yankees, at least, are in the middle of this Johan Santana stuff. What’s the right thing for the now? What’s the right thing for the future? These are the wrestling matches that go on in the organizations and you have very spirited conversations about what’s right and what’s wrong.”
…as a Mets fan, who would like to see santana in queens, this worries me, because cashman’s control clearly helps the Mets cause, while hank’s does not…
For more on a Yankees perspective, check out Steve Lombardi at Was Watching.
Tagged Yankees |
