Matthew Cerrone

News: Manuel yet to Sign, Bobby V on Horizon
By Matthew Cerrone - Oct 3, 2008 8:55 am

According to the New York Post, the Mets have offered Jerry Manuel a two-year contract worth roughly $2 million, ‘but he has yet to sign it.’

In Newsday, David Lennon reports that the two-year offer is actually worth $1.5 million, ‘but he has yet to accept the deal.’

…yikes, because, the buzz in new york suggests that manuel is seeking at least $2 million per season, yet the Mets are only offering roughly half of that, plus i would have think he wants more than two years – since any other experienced manager, who the team would turn to, would want the same…and i can’t say that i blame him…

Also in Newsday, Johnette Howard explains why the Mets cannot afford to lose Manuel, while at Bugs & Cranks, Brad Bortone lists 10 reasons why Manuel will leave. 

According to Lennon, “If negotiations do fall through, one of the names that could surface again is Bobby Valentine.”

Who would you rather see as manager of the Mets in 2009:


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96 Responses to “News: Manuel yet to Sign, Bobby V on Horizon”

  1. stilltheEWM says:

    Our idiot GM gets 3 years… but our successful manager twists in the wind…

    Can’t imagine why we cant win a division more then once every 20 years…

    • rustysribs says:

      And a player like Castillo gets 4 years for no apparent reason for how many millions?? It’s like bazaaro world in Flushing.

      • Kevin Elster says:

        And the best part is the Newsday article blames it on their past contracts to Howe and Randolph. I mean what does that have to do with it? So if Pinella came knocking on your door you would low ball him because of what you did in the past? With that rationale the next 2nd baseman should get half of what Castillo did no matter what his skill level is.

        Jerry - get out while you can!!!!

        • patrick says:

          Lou Pinella might come knocking on a lot of doors come Sunday morning.

        • BiggieSmalls says:

          $2 mil per puts him in the top five compensation for managers. Jim Leyland Mike Scoscia territory

          Granted Girardi makes 2.5 but the Yanks are stupid overpayers.

          3 years and 4.5 mil total with some escalator clauses to get him to 2 Mil per seems reasonable.

          If he’s not down with that we can get Acta back. Since the Nats just fired his whole staff they may be interested in going in another direction.

        • patrick says:

          Acta does not impress me in the least. Frankly anyone willing to TAKE that job wreaks of desperation.

    • Cubby McPherson says:

      Matt,

      Why no poll on Omar’s extension? Let’s put it to the fans.

    • Ceetar says:

      our…unsuccessful manager you mean. The manager that failed as a bench coach in ‘07, and failed as a manager in ‘08.

  2. Nate W. says:

    Typical Mets lowballing the market for managers…

    They never pay the big bucks for the top guys when they are available, but hey it worked with Willie in 2006.

    The Cubs not being competetive in the first two games isnt making the whole ‘collapse take two’ any easier to take.

    • Nate W. says:

      I should add…

      it must be tough when you are paying your old manager and pitching coach for the next two years as well. And more than they should have been given in the first place…

  3. thrill5one6 says:

    Now David Wright can focus on his Fantasy Football Team.

  4. aaronweil says:

    i know ive said this before but one other name the mets should consider is that of Kieth Hernandez

    he knows the game like the back of his hand

    if he said something than people would listen

    he would be able to help anyone with their problems

  5. mouserdz says:

    Bobby V in a landslide

    • saltygary says:

      BOBBY V!!!!!!!

      I didn’t want to see him go in the first place but I understand why it happened. If the team was to raise my confidence Bobby V is where to start.

      That guy has the balls that the team needs. He got to the WS with an outfield of Payton, Agbayani, and Timo. Now that is magic.

  6. hot stove chef says:

    Manuel has shown he can get the best out of Delgado. That’s enough for me.

    • mouserdz says:

      Bobby V showed that he could get the best out of a less talented team in 2000. That’s enough for me.

      • patrick says:

        Valentine was my favorite Met manager, but lets not go crazy he had Mike Piazza, Robin Ventura, Edgardo Alfonzo, Al Leiter, Mike Hampton

        He had three everyday players as star players and a deep veteran laden pitching staff.

        Bobby got a lot out of very little in 1997, but the Mets had talent setting in at the time and when Piazza was added to Leiter, Olerud, Alfonzo in 1998, they had a very good team.

        • BaltimoreMets says:

          There was certainly talent on the team - but the fact that he got the 2000 team to the World Series with only two quality hitters (Ventura did not have a good year that season) will always amaze me. Our starting OF for most of the season was Agbayani, Payton, and Derek Bell.

          Thank God for strong pitching.

        • patrick says:

          Baltimore, look at who has won the world series the last five years, it always comes down to pitching, does not hurt to have a good offense, but it has come down to who pitches the best.

          Even a crappy team like the Cardinals who saw a guy like Jeff Suppan and Jeff Weaver catch fire can do it.

      • Dr. Alan Lans says:

        Was it just me or did anybody else notice that Booby V’s name wasn’t even mentioned in the closing ceremonies? Not sure what that was all about but it makes me wonder if something is going on between the powers that be.

        I like Bobby V for this team but its a little presumptuous as we’re not even sure he’s under contractual obligations in Japan nor if he even wants to leave. I hope they know more about this than we do and have something in place with him before they burn the Manuel bridge.

  7. remaxajf says:

    BRING BACK BOBBY V! How great would it be to see him at the helm when opening Citifield!

  8. bkfitz says:

    I like Bobby and Jerry, but I think you need to keep Jerry. I don’t think Bobby would work well with guys like Beltran or Delgado.

  9. CitizenSnips says:

    If Bobby V can effectively utilize bullpen members (my biggest gripe with both Willie and Jerry) then I’m all for it.

    • Gland says:

      I totally agree with that. He has a bad rep among veterans. Remember how Cliff Floyd and Tom Glavine both said they wouldn’t have signed with the Mets if he had been the manager?

  10. patrick says:

    Ya know, it is not unheard of in New York and elsewhere for that matter for teams to let a manager or coach hang himself.

    People seem to forget that regardless of the nice turn around the Mets made, Manuel was here for the entire tenure of Willie Randolph.

    Perhaps they are looking at the aging core and saying it simply is not there, and the best excuse for cleaning house is having Manuel decline a fair extension for a guy, while he did a good job, ended in exactly the same spot as Willie Randolph, out of the playoffs.

    If Manuel chooses to say no, the Mets can then focus on a more structured rebuild, they can either renew and trade Delgado or simply let him go.

    One thing is certain. If Manuel goes, they need to get rid of Delgado because I question Delgado’s commitment to a new manager.

    If Delgado goes, you have to wonder might be the future of Carlos Beltran.

    Manuel perhaps is just the first pawn in a bigger game.

    • CaseStreet says:

      I like this game.

      Manuel then Delgado then Beltran then Reyes then Wright then Church then Schneider.

      Fun.

      • patrick says:

        I am not suggesting getting rid of Beltran, Reyes or Wright.

        Beltran you would have to be careful with though, hard to tell sometimes if his shell is not thick enough.

        • JINBK says:

          There’s nothing to suggest the Beltran’s ’shell might not be thick enough’. I have no reason to believe that Beltran wouldn’t like playing here or wouldn’t succeed here without Delgado.

          That is as long as Delgado hits next season. Remember how many walks Beltran was drawing in April and May, there was never a reason for a team to pitch to him. If Delgado goes we just need to get a solid bat behind him. Beltran will be just fine.

        • patrick says:

          I like Carlos Beltran a lot, but you can’t say that the possibility exists that sans Manuel and sans Delgado he might get the itch to be given the choice to wave his no trade clause.

    • Kevin Elster says:

      You are actually saying the Mets FO has a plan! That is the best joke I ahve heard in a while.

      I would not give them that much credit, Jerry could have just as easily accepted that offer.

      In any negotiation it is very rare you accept the first offer. Do any of us take the first number a car salesman says?

      I would be surprised as hell if Jerry is not back. Knowing Omar I can very easily see us keeping the main cogs and only changing some of the peripheral parts of the team - and keeping Jerry fits into this mold.

      Bringing in a new manager with this group is very dangerous and the results can get alot worse before they get better.

      • patrick says:

        If they bring in a new manager they are most certainly changing some of the existing parts.

        You can mock all you want. If the Mets really wanted Manuel back without any hesitation they would have made him an offer they know he could not have refused.

        Besides two years for a guy who was on Randolph’s staff and has only made the playoffs once and been trounced in the first round is a fair offer. Manuel did a nice job but we are not exactly talking about a guy with a resume of unfettered success.

  11. Prismo says:

    I won’t complain if Jerry signs a deal…

    But Bobby V is BOBBY V!

  12. patrick says:

    One thing though, not for nothing but Valentine is not going to come back to manager the Mets for anything less than a 4 year deal at over $3M per year.

    • amazinblock says:

      I’ll give Bobby V 4 years 3M no problem. This team lacks the energy that Bobby can bring to the table. Bring back Bobby!

      PS I live in Philly and have to deal with this horrible playoff madness all day everyday. Pray for me!!

      • patrick says:

        You are a wealthy man, let the Wilpons know, because I would be shocked if they made a bigger financial commitment to their manager than they do their GM.

    • Nightlife says:

      Has he said he even wants to manage in MLB again? The only thing I ever hear about him anymore is how much he loves managing in Japan. But of course I guess that could also mean the right amount money has yet to present itself to him by a MLB team yet.

  13. Xavier22 says:

    If Manuel goes, they’ll probably turn to Sandy Alomar Sr or Ken Oberkfell…maybe Ned Yost.

    I’ll never understand all this love for Bobby V. He was more style than substance.

    • npanzeca says:

      You are spot on!

      • LogeAtShea says:

        Exactly! He was also somewhat of a buffoon, and a know-it-all. The way he had Olerud play off the base to block the view of the baserunner was downright stupid, and there is a reason no one else has ever done this. He thinks he can outmanage anyone and all he does is piss people off. and, if anyone cares, he never won a world series. he teams played well down the stretch twice. if any current manager did what he did (for example, leaving Kenny Rogers in to walk in the final run of the 1999 season), he’d be hung up . . . but those were easier times. easy to romanticize the past. the guy was the way overrated as a manager.

    • Kevin Elster says:

      Yogi Berra will manage the Mets before Bobby V does again.

      As much as I like Bobby, we have already gone down that road. The only time I would even think of bringing him in is if we were in total rebuilding mode and going to be using a lot of rookies. The current core would be disasterous with him.

  14. npanzeca says:

    I want no part of Bobby V. Does everyone forget how he rubbed everyone so badly that the team totally quit on him? How many home losses in a row was it, 18? And for someone who is such a genius manager (just ask him), funny how he has never gotten another managing job in MLB.

    • amazinblock says:

      He’s never had another managing job because he went straight to Japan and is living the good life. Do you blame him? He’s a superstar over there and he’s successful. He brought us to the World Series, something no other manager in the last 22 years has been able to do, yet nobody wants him back? Please, Ned Yost? Talk about players quitting on someone.

    • BaltimoreMets says: