Daily Archives: January 30, 2008
MLB.com’s Marty Noble shares a story about the Mets assistant GM, Tony Bernazard, and Joe McIlvaine (former Mets GM and current Twins scout) being in the Dominican Republic and seemingly out of the loop during the final stages of the trade.
“When [McIlvaine] bumped into Bernazard at the airport in Santo Domingo, he learned that Bernazard was unsure how far the talks had gone.
As McIlvaine recounted the chance meeting, he quoted their conversation — in a whisper, as if the news still were secret: ‘I don’t know. Do you? Do you know what players are involved?’”
…with all of the technology in this world i find it crazy that two key people may have been left in the dark when it finally went down, but an amusing story nonetheless…
Noble goes on to discuss Johan Santana‘s contract demands and quotes an unnamed National League GM…
“I’m not saying it’s an easy number. He’s going to cost them more than they paid [Mike] Piazza or [Carlos] Beltran. But there’s no way they’ll let him get away now.
Santana’s so good, though, he’ll do so much for them. There’s not much chance of buyer’s regret.”
…agreed, and anxiously awaiting the ‘signed, sealed, and delivered’ announcement, whatever the final numbers may be…
…yes, things are quiet, but the two sides have been in talks for quite a while…regardless, the sense i get is that a deal between the Mets and Johan Santana will not be reached tonight…
…in other words, though people close to the team still seem confident that a deal will eventually be reached, it may take a bit longer than people connected to the player initially thought…
…Update…9:30 pm…
…from what i can gather, the guaranteed money and years is not what has held things up…the final hurdle most likely deals with final year of the deal, and whether it must also be guaranteed or be an easily attained option…
…my bet is it ends up being an option, but time will tell…
This morning in the Star-Tribune, citing ‘sources,’ La Velle E. Neal III wrote that the Mets are expected to give Santana a six-year deal that would pay him about $130 million.
…i have to believe that will be the framework – since it seems like common sense, frankly…so, i’m guessing that the two sides are haggling over how to get him that seventh year he had been seeking, and which Barry Zito got guaranteed a year ago…
John Donovan at SI.com says the Mets went from ‘non-factors’ to ‘an instant, and legitimate, World Series front-runner’ with the recent acquisition of Johan Santana.
Donovan writes…
“The Mets are giving away a potentially huge part of their future by trading four of their top seven prospects. But for what they stand to get in return — a durable, determined, soon-to-be 29-year-old lefty who has thrown at least 200 innings and struck out more than 200 batters in each of the past four years — this was nothing short of a hijacking by Minaya”
The Mets claimed RHP Ruddy Lugo off of waivers today.
Lugo was designated for assignment by the Oakland A’s on Friday.
He was 6-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 38 games for the A’s and Tampa Bay Rays in 2007.
…now back to your regularly scheduled santana programming…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Angels OF Torii Hunter, former teammate of Johan Santana, as quoted by Bob Nightengale of USAToday.com…
Tagged Torii Hunter |“The Mets are not only getting a Cy Young winner, but an absolute bulldog who’s great in the clubhouse. He’s going to dominate that league. They’re going to absolutely love him in New York…I know he’s happy, too, because he really wanted to go to the Mets. He’s always wanted to swing the wood. He can hit…So I don’t know who’s happier, Johan, the Mets, or everyone in the American League because they don’t have to face him anymore.”
In Baseball America’s Top 10 Mets Prospects List from last November, Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey and Philip Humber were ranked second, third, fourth and seventh.
…in other words, what was already considered a relatively weak farm system was weakened significantly…of 
course, a minor league system is there in part to help a team acquire star, big-league talent, and so no one will be writing this trade-off if Johan Santana can bring his dominance to the NL East…but, in order to continue to supply the team with young talent, or chips to acquire more veteran stars, the Mets will have to rebuild the farm…
With that in mind, here’s a revamped look at what the Mets Top 10 Prospect List might look like today, according to Baseball America’s Top 30, featured in their 2008 Prospect Handbook:
1. Fernando Martinez, OF
2. Eddie Kunz, RHP
3. Brant Rustich, RHP
4. Jon Niese, LHP
5. Nathan Vineyard, LHP
6. Bobby Parnell, RHP
…here’s where it gets interesting, and to be honest, difficult…
…over the last few months, i have talked with a variety of reporters and minor-league experts who have watched the Mets system rather closely…based on their input, and my own, here’s how i would rank the rest:
7. Scott Moviel, RHP
…drafted in the second round out of high school this past June he went 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA for the GCL Mets, tossing 40 innings and allowing 45 hits, but walking only 11 and striking out 37…he’s a power pitcher with a decent feel for his breaking stuff…his ceiling is considered to be among the highest of the Mets pitching prospects, and not just because he stands six foot eleven…
8. Joe Smith, RHP
…probably has a ceiling as a seventh or eighth inning guy, at best, but he spent basically no time in the minor leagues and still held his own for a long stretch in the bigs…he will be among the relievers looking to earn one of the last slots in the team’s major-league bullpen this spring…
9. Mike Carp, 1B
…after hitting 17 HR in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League as a 20-year old in 2006, this past season was a lost one for carp…he was decent early on for Double-A Binghamton, then hurt his hand, then struggled some more…of course, how much the hand injury has to do with those struggles remains to be seen, as those types of injuries are often the hardest for hitters to deal with, especially power hitters…he hit .251 for Binghamton, then .243 for Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League…still, he was named to the league’s top prospect team…
10. Nick Carr, RHP
…another right handed pitcher, carr is a hard thrower with a violent motion…the 21-year old made 14 starts for Brooklyn in 2007, putting together a 5-2 record with a 3.80 ERA…he struck out 74 hitters in 66.1 innings, holding hitters to a .224 average…there’s some question as to whether he will be able to stay a starter, but for now it’s all systems go as he makes his full season debut in either Savannah or St. Lucie…
…i’m not sure how they kept Fernando Martinez, but the farm would be that much more barren without him… that’s not to say that they can’t improve the situation, though, with a strong crop of arms in the last two drafts, a strong group of latin imports the past two years, and three first round picks this june…
Baseball America is now shipping its 2008 Prospect Handbook, which has their definitive answer as they include the Mets’ top 30 prospects, so this is mostly my own analysis.
According to Ted Berg, in a recent column for 
, “The Mets need a right-hand hitting backup outfielder with power.”
Berg lists a variety of options, ranging from Bobby Kielty to Terry Evans, as possible solutions.
…honestly, my brain is too fried to even think about this right now…which is why i am glad that ted is…
Tagged SNY |Braves LHP Tom Glavine, as quoted by MLB.com…
“I don’t think this makes [the Mets] the class of the division. I think it puts them in a position where there rotation is much better and that was their biggest need. Within the division, I think you have three teams that can now not only win the division, but also the World Series.”
…but, really, what did you expect him to say…
Phillies CF Shane Victorino, as quoted by Phillies reporter Ken Mandel, also at MLB.com…
“I’m game on. Did they become the team to beat because they got one pitcher? I’m not going to say that.
“It’s one significant move, but we made four moves to make our team better.”
…it should be noted that victorino is counting on himself moving to center as one of those four moves…apparently Aaron Rowand was insignificant…but, i digress, game on indeed, shane…
Lastly, Jim Molony at MLB.com thinks the trade for Santana will reshape more than just the N.L. East race.
Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia, as quoted by Moloney…
“I was working out, and I said to a bunch of the guys I was working out with, ‘I’m glad that guy is out of the American League’ and everyone started laughing except for the guys that are in the National League.”
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
…it must be the day of confusing quotes…
…i mean, what does I’m Game On mean…
…maybe it has something to do with that eggs and shoes quote from the Braves fan…it’s like the rest of the league is speaking in some strange code...
In a column for , Sunil Joshi takes a closer look Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra - the four prospects who were traded to the Twins for Johan Santana.
…added to by Jordan Zakarin…
…i spoke to Baseball Prospectus prospect guru Kevin Goldstein, who was just a week away from releasing his Mets Top 11 
Prospects List, to learn more about the players who will be leaving the Mets for Minnesota…
Kevin Goldstein: They’re giving up, like you say, four guys who were all among their top prospects. Then again, this is the Mets system we’re talking about, so their top prospects aren’t equal to other teams top prospects. There’s nobody on that list of four who is some kind of guaranteed stud — it’s a crazy great deal for New York.
Jordan Zakarin: Who will they miss the most of that lot?
Kevin Goldstein: I don’t think any of them had any sort of immediate impact potential with the Mets, as Gomez was blocked. After that, guys like Humber and Mulvey had fill-in chances, but they just added a starter to their mix — a pretty good one at that.
Jordan Zakarin: Given that you have to do a new top 11, and will be looking at some of the lower level guys, what are the chances the mets can replenish this prospect depth in-house, from recent draftees or international signings?
Kevin Goldstein: It was a bad system before, and it’s obviously a much worse, borderline horrible system now. But that’s okay.
A minor league system serves two purposes: One, create talent for the big league team. Two, create talent to get other players for the big league team.
The system just filled purpose No. 2 quite well.
Jordan Zakarin: I think the darkhorse here was Deolis Guerra, in terms of potential, and fans not knowing so much about him. He probably has the highest ceiling of the pitchers traded. But, the Mets have recently been bragging about a strong low minor league, recently drafted corps of pitchers. Do you see any potential top prospects there, that could replenish the farm and make up for these losses?
Kevin Goldstein: Not really. Every system has high upside guys at the lower levels who COULD become top prospects, but few do, and I was argue that the Mets actually have far fewer of that type of player than most teams. I like Guerra plenty, but he was no sure thing, either.
Jordan Zakarin: How lucky are the Mets to have kept Fernando Martinez? It’s seemingly a dumb question, but basically I’m asking how good of a prospect is he, and are you surprised they got Santana without him?
Kevin Goldstein: I don’t like ‘lucky’, it’s just a good trade. I’m not surprise Martinez isn’t in the deal — I’m downright shocked. To me here’s clearly the Mets’ best prospect, and I have no idea how the Twins can make that trade without getting him.
Jordan Zakarin: I’ll let your scouting report coming out soon speak for itself, but do you think there’s a clear gulf between Martinez and Gomez, and do you think Minnesota may have chosen Gomez because he can play center field?
Kevin Goldstein: I think Gomez’s CF ability definitely plays into that. The have a wide open hole there right now that needs to be filled, so Gomez will compete with Jason Pridie and Denard Span.
Jordan Zakarin: Does Mike Pelfrey not being in the deal reflect more on the Mets still liking him, or baseball people elsewhere being down on him?
Kevin Goldstein: We don’t know that, unfortunately. We don’t know if he was offered, and we don’t know how the Twins feel about him. In general, from talking to other people in the industry, Pelfrey’s stock was pretty down after 2007.
Jordan Zakarin: Do people see him more as a reliever now, and do you think he can still crack the Mets rotation?
Kevin Goldstein: People are mixed on that question. He’ll be given a shot in spring training, but he’ll have to earn it.
Jordan Zakarin: Finally, how do you think this offer compares to the Red Sox offer, and do you have any idea how the Mets were able to pull this off?
Kevin Goldstein: I think what we’ve learned here is that we probably never really knew what the Red Sox offer was. Because what was rumored is a far greater package than this. Same goes for the Yankees.
…big thanks to kevin, who did this interview at the spur of the moment…i forward to your new Mets Top 11 Prospects List at Baseball Prospectus, which should be interesting…though this trade probably make your life a lot harder…
Tagged Philip Humber, SNY |…i have talked with a few people today, people connected to all sides of the issue, and every person believes that a contract will eventually be reached between Johan Santana and the Mets…regardless of when an agreement is announced, i would not expect a formal press conference today or tomorrow…
The following is a clip from ESPN.com, in which Mets GM Omar Minaya and 3B David Wright comment, or avoid commenting, on trading for Santana…
…hey, someone get d’wright a towel…
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