Daily Archives: October 13, 2008
In the latest post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman takes a look at possible closer solutions for the Mets on trade market.
According to Sherman, Mets ownership has shown ‘indications’ they are uninterested in signing a high-priced closer while paying Billy Wagner‘s uninsured 2009 salary.
Sherman believes the Mets may need to explore the trade market for an undervalued closer, such as the Marlins RHP Kevin Gregg, Rockies RHP Manny Corpas and Brewers RHP Eric Gagne.
…this is where i believe Omar Minaya is at his very best…minaya and his staff are very slick at acquiring undervalued talent, a la Fernando Tatis…
…while most believe the Mets should break the bank for Francisco Rodriguez, i’m in the camp that believes the Mets should try and address the closer role via trade or from within, with a guy like Bobby Parnell, Eddie Kunz or John Maine…
…there are far too many holes on this team to give krod a blank check and expect him to be the solution to the team’s bullpen woes…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
Last Friday, I talked by phone for roughly 15 minutes with Mets GM Omar Minaya, using a variety of questions submitted to me for him by readers of MetsBlog.com.
I will post the audio and transcript of the interview on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, during which we talk about whether he would give another four-year deal to Luis Castillo, if he had to do it again; his plans for the bullpen; and how to be a win-now team in a weak free-agent market; among other things.
In the meantime, here is a quick excerpt…
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com:
“Fans were very excited about Daniel Murphy…I am sure you guys are probably excited as well…
“Ed from Melville, NY, asked, “How do you envision Murphy in the line up? What position do you see him playing? And how excited are you about this guy?”
Minaya, on Murphy, speaking to MetsBlog.com:
“Well, first of all, we are very excited. We rarely see a young player having that kind of plate discipline…
“I am comfortable that he is going to play the outfield if we need him to play the outfield. We are also comfortable that he would be able to play first base – if someday Carlos Delgado is not with us. So we’re excited about him, and we envision him that way…
“He is going to play second base in the Fall League, but that was something that was decided a while back before he actually came to the Major Leagues.”
Last week on MetsBlog, I wrote, “I sense the organization sees 
Murphy more as a potential solution at first base, not at second base, despite his time in the AFL.”
I’m glad to hear ‘first base,’ straight from Minaya’s mouth, because it puts Carlos Delgado’s future in play, as well as potential solutions for left-field.
The question is, though, if Delgado stays, and a left-fielder is acquired, what happens to Murphy.
That said, it’s always good to have options.
Tagged Omar Minaya |John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at the impending free agency of C.C. Sabathia and provides odds for several teams interested in landing the left-hander.
Shea lists the Dodgers as the favorite (5-to-2), noting Sabathia desire to play on the West Coast, while giving the Mets and Yankees 4-to-1 odds to acquire Sabathia.
Last week, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com gave the Mets a 6-to-1 chance of signing Sabathia, behind the Yankees and Angels.
Sabathia was 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA over 253.0 IP in 35 starts for the Brewers and Indians this season.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
Several Mets prospects are participating in this season’s Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Saguaros, who are 5-0 in their first week of action.
The following are stats for each Mets prospect playing in the AFL:
3B Shawn Bowman: .545 (6-for-11), 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
RHP Eddie Kunz: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 BB, 4 K, 3.0 IP
2B Daniel Murphy: .400 (4-for-10), 1 HR, 3 RBI
RHP Bobby Parnell: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 K, 1.0 IP
RHP Tobi Stoner: 1-0, 1.93, 2 BB, 5 K, 4.2 IP
C Josh Thole: 1.67 (1-for-6), 3 BB
LHP Jason Vargas: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 3 K, 4.0 IP
Meanwhile, Mets prospect Eddie Kunz is blogging his AFL experience for MLB.com. You can read it by clicking here.
For more detailed information and daily updates on the Arizona Fall and Hawaiian Baseball Leagues, check out Toby Hyde’s Mets Minor League Blog.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Robert Parnell |
