Daily Archives: October 27, 2008
The Marlins were close to trading 1B Mike Jacobs to the Royals, but the deal fell through, reports Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald.
According to Jackson, the Marlins, who will raise their payroll this off-season by roughly $10 million, are expected to trade Jacobs, RHP Kevin Gregg and LHP Scott Olsen.
Last week, in a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman took a look at possible closer solutions for the Mets on the trade market, mentioning Gregg, Rockies RHP Manny Corpas and Brewers RHP Eric Gagne.
…as i wrote last week, i have been sent several e-mails from fans suggesting the Mets acquire gregg from the Marlins to be their closer…
According to a scout, quoted in the Sun Sentinel, “Gregg has those knee problems… He’s not a closer. Not for me. Maybe you stick him back in the seventh inning like he used to be for the Angels, but the arbitration number ($4 million or more) is too high for that role.”
In 72 appearances for the Marlins this season, Gregg was 7–8 with 29 saves and a 3.41 ERA.
My regularly-scheduled guest appearance on The Natural with Greg Marotta on WVNJ 1160 AM will be today at 4:20 pm.
To listen live, tune in to 1160 AM, or click here.
In report last wek in the New York Post, Joel Sherman wrote that the Mets will probably have to ‘take on another headache,’ if they want to trade Luis Castillo to another team.
According to Sherman, citing an executive familiar 
with the talks, “The Mets and Royals had discussions in July about swapping expensive malcontent outfielder Jose Guillen for Castillo.”
However, in a response to a reader in his mailbag for MLB.com, Royals beat reporter Dick Kaegel writes:
“The whole scenario doesn’t sound right because a) Castillo went on the disabled list last July 3, and who wants a player with a strained hip flexor? and b) Guillen has a no-trade clause in his contract that includes the Mets.
The Royals are looking for a productive middle infielder and Castillo, a second baseman, has a good career on-base record (.367), so there might some interest. And Guillen could waive the no-trade. But, no, I can’t see that happening.”
Guillen will earn $24 million for the next two seasons, while Castillo is due to make $18 million for the next three.
While on the subject, Sherman also wrote, ‘The D’Backs considered Eric Byrnes for Castillo, but determined they just don’t like Castillo at all.’
The Rockies have let teams know that Matt Holliday can be acquired in a trade, most likely for pitching, reports Troy E. Renck in the Denver Post, though they would prefer to trade infielder Garrett Atkins instead.
According to Renck, the Mets and Phillies are among six teams who could have interest in Holliday.
…if the Mets strike up talks with Rockies, and i have to think they will, the Rockies will most certainly want Jon Niese, who they expressed interest in last season at the trade deadline…
In 139 games for the Rockies, the 28–year-old Holliday hit .321 with 25 HR and 88 RBI, while hitting .308 away from Coors Field.
During the last three season, he has hit nearly twice as many home runs in Coors Field than he has hit on the road.
However, Holliday hit .301 with 22 doubles in 76 games on the road in 2007, while hitting .280 with 21 doubles in 77 games on the road in 2006.
In his five-year career, he is batting .281 in 16 games at Shea, .283 in 14 games in Philadelphia, .346 in 14 games in Miami, and .345 in 13 games in Atlanta.
…look, the kid can hit…period…there is no getting around that…yes, he is a better hitter in Coors Field…but, i’m pretty sure i would be a better hitter in Coors Field…the question is, what type of hitter will he be in Citi Field, and in the NL East, and what is that player worth…i know what Matt Holliday 82 Games in Colorado is worth, but what is Matt Holliday NL East Left-Fielder worth…
Fernando Tatis, who just won the MLBPA’s National League Comeback Player of the Year Award, was recently interviewed by David Brown at Yahoo!.
Tatis on why he came back, to build a church in his hometown:
“That’s true. I told my wife and sister in law that if we want to do this, I’m going to have to play baseball one more time. I started to practice and went to the minor leagues and it took me a couple years to make it to the big leagues. Now, our dream has come true. It’s a great feeling for us.”
On his shoulder:
“My shoulder feels a lot better. I feel pretty good. It’s becoming stronger. I’m going to start playing ball in the Dominican Republic. I played three practice games already, practice games, and it’s coming along really good so far.”
…there are so many stories about ballplayers and the negative things they do which makes tatis’s story even that much sweeter…i hope his success last year wasn’t a fluke because the Mets could really use his bat again…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |Last week at SI.com, citing a GM, Jon Heyman wrote that the Mets will make a ‘big play’ for Ramirez.
This weekend at SI.com, Heyman wrote that the Mets have shown ‘limited interest’ in Ramirez.
However, last Friday in Newsday, Ken Davidoff wrote, “The Mets have no intention of pursuing Ramirez at this point.”
Nevertheless, according to Heyman, only the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and Phillies can afford Ramirez, while also having room for him in the outfield.
Ramirez’s agent, Scott Boras, has said his client will command a five-year deal worth $85 million, according to Tracy Ringolsby in the Rocky Mountain News.
…i just can’t see the Mets signing manny to a five-year deal…of course, i don’t see any team signing him to a five-year deal…so, if the terms drop, and a three-year deal is realistic, the Mets have to at least be in the discussion…
…i’m not saying they have to sign him, nor am i even sure they should sign him, but, at 
that level, they have to consider it…at the very least, it’s a quick-and-easy solution to instantly propping up the lineup, and filling left field…
…again, whether it’s a wise decision can be debated, but you can’t argue its impact…also, he will only cost money, albeit a lot of money, as opposed to acquiring a similar bat with a trade, which will cost young talent…
In 53 games for the Dodgers this season, Ramirez batted .396 with 17 HR and 53 RBI.
Prior to being traded to the Dodgers, Ramirez hit .299 with 20 HR and 68 RBI in 100 games for the Red Sox.
For more on Ramirez, and ‘Manny being Manny,’ check out Bob Hohler’s article in the Boston Globe, where he quotes Nomar Garciaparra as saying the Red Sox unfairly tried to demonize Ramirez, like they did to him, Mo Vaughn and Pedro Martinez.
According to John Perrotto in a weekend report for Baseball Prospectus, the Mets will not pursue Francisco Rodriguez, instead they will target Brian Fuentes, as well as Derek Lowe.
Joel Sherman reported the same information in the New York Post on Thursday of last week, adding, “The Mets are promising to be creative and explore many avenues.”
Later in the day, Ken Davidoff wrote the following in Newsday, “The Mets have convinced themselves that Rodriguez just isn’t worth the money.”
…the early sense i get is that the Mets know they’ll need to make trades this off-season, to rotate talent and create a new mix…so, they will not have time to wait out K-Rod and Scott Boras, who will likely seek a four– or five-year contract…instead, i suspect the Mets will explore a trade for a closer, like a J.J. Putz, or B.J. Ryan, trusting Brian Fuentes will not sign a contract until after rodriguez’s sets the bar…
In 34 starts with the Dodgers this season, Lowe, who has 85 career saves, was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA.
In 67 appearances for the Rockies in 2008, Fuentes had 30 saves in 34 opportunities with a 2.71 ERA in 62 innings pitched.
Fuentes will likely seek a three-year, $38 million deal, similar to what Brad Lidge received from the Phillies, according to a report by Ken Rosenthal FoxSports.com.
