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In Newsday, citing ‘two people familiar with the situation,’ Ken Davidoff writes, “The Mets have touched base with the agents for outfielder Raul Ibanez.”
However, Davidoff adds, they have not been in contact with Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn or Orlando Hudson.
…i do not get the sense ibanez is minaya’s first choice, or, at least not a top priority…ideally, i believe he would prefer to get a younger, right-handed bat in the outfield, but i am not sure how that happens…so, it makes sense that he would quickly reach out to ibanez, to let the player and his agent know where the Mets stand…
The 37–year-old Ibanez has hit at least .280 and 20 HR with a .350 OBP during each of the last four seasons.
In a recent post to ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote of Ibanez, “His 338 RBIs the past three years are more than Ramirez, Teixeira, or Vladimir Guerrero; he is a leader, a tremendous person and a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat.”
Ibanez was born in Manhattan, Davidoff explains, adding, “He long has held an interest in playing in New York, according to a friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”
By the way, to read more from Davidoff, check out his Baseball Insider blog for Newsday, which he will clearly be updating through the off-season.
If for no other reason just to keep Ibanez thinking the Mets might come back to him later. Too bad Ibanez is getting older and you know Mets fans see that injury bug for him. He might not be the big star alot of the other guys are but he brings consistent production. I’d still look at other options first.
I still don’t get it. Unless they’re expecting him to sign for way less than other guys. Even then I’m not sure it’s worth it with his well below average defense. If they do sign him than it better either mean that Murphy is playing 2nd or he’s going back to the minors. It would be a waste to just leave him on the bench.
Given his injury in the AFL.. he’s barely getting anytime at 2nd.. I just can’t see him making the transistion.
Murphy homered and doubled and played second yesterday.
And Ibanez is a very, very good offensive player, and has been incredibly consistent all 7 years of his career as an everyday player.
Muprhy is probably going to be put in the outfield, as far as I’ve seen, he’s not turning heads. Maybe Muprh needs more time but for as long as I’ve heard his name even throughout his minor league career he hasn’t done much in terms of defense.
His hitting ability cannot be ignored and as long as he is in the Mets plans, they’ll find a position for him.
But what have our other second base options done in terms of defense? Other than be horrible, except A. Reyes with his anemic bat. Even if Murphy is as bad defensively as Castillo and Easley we’d still be much better off with him there because of his bat. Like you said he hasn’t been impressive anywhere on defense so we’d probably be better of with his below average defense and plus 2nd base bat than his below average defense and meh corner outfield bat.
I guess we’ll see what happens when winter ball comes.. if they leave him at 2nd for winter ball. then maybe their considering..
But what is that, his 10th game at 2nd?
More like 30+ counting minors and fall ball.
I thought we were about pitching, pitching and then pitching?
It’s pitching, pitching, hitting and more pitching. lol Mets are just getting a feel for the market, just because the Mets are intended to go after pitching doesn’t mean they are not looking around for other things too. It’s like window shopping, you go for one thing but you come back with more than one item. lol
Sorry if this was already posted but the nypost is reporting that the Mets and Rays have talked about a trade that would send either Sonnastine or Edwin Jackson to the Mets for Heilman and a top prospect like maybe Parnell or Niese.
I would want Sonnastine the most because I just don’t think Edwin Jackson is that good but I think Sonnastine has a lot of potiental.
Parnell is not a top prospect I don’t understand where people are getting this from.
That being said I agree. Iwould love Sonnastine but want nothing to do with Jackson.
Do we want to give up Niese? I’m of the belief that last year was an off year for Heilman and he will rebound in the set up or 5th starter role this year.
How does Minaya handle this? Stay conservative and see what Niese and Heilman can do this year? Or go for it and trade away those two?
Id be happy if we keep niese this off season…
GO to rotoworld lots of reports on the mets there. Does look like Heilman will be traded this offseason.
I’d give up Niese for Sonnanstine but I’m not sure the Rays would do that deal, but regardless what I want to do has nothing to do with whether Parnell is a top prospect. He’s 24 coming off a meh season in AA with a limited pitch reportaire, most teams have several of guys like him.
ughhhhhhh. jackson is awful. doesn’t strike people out, walks too many people, his HR/9 is over 1, his FIP this past season was 4.88…do i need to list any more reasons why edwin jackson is not good?
I’m all for getting a guy that can throw strikes and get outs.
“i believe he would prefer to get a younger, right-handed bat in the outfield, but i am not sure how that happens…”
Pat Burrell is younger than Ibanez and is a righty. That’s one way it could happen.
DO NOT WANT
i’ll take burrell. we’ve had terrible defense in LF the past few years and believe me, it’s not why we haven’t made the playoffs. so i really don’t care all that much about his D.
Yeah, but the problem with Burrell (other than most Mets fans hate him) is that half of his production comes against the Mets.
Now, if he could turn that around and point it towards the Phillies…
wow
This is how i think this off season should go
Start with bullpen
- Sign Lowe for closer, pick up 2 or three middle releivers such as Cruz, Lyon, Beimel. Keep Smith for righties and Feleciano against lefties. I expected Duaner to come back 100% from his injury in 2009.
- Trade Schneider Castillo Heilman for whatever you can get plus a good hitting cather (a Molina Type)
- Sign Orlando Hudson for second
-Resign Oliver and Sign Garland
SP – Santana
SP – Pelfrey
SP – Oliver
SP – Maine
SP – Garland
SS – Reyes
2B – Hudson
3B – Wright
CF – Beltran
1B – Delgado
LF – Tatis/Murphy
RF – Church
C – Molina
Bullpen
LS – Felicano
RS – Smith
MR – Sanchez
MR – Cruz
MR – Lyon
CL – Lowe
This gives you…
-A strong Starting Rotation without relying on a neise or parnell to step up.
-A completly new bullpen with a veteren presense and experiance in lowe.
- A lineup that consists of 3 switch hitters (Reyes, Hudson, Beltran) 2 power righties(Wright, Molina) a power lefty (Delgado) and then take whatever you can get between Church and Platoon of Tatis and Murphy.
-This allows David Wright and Carlos Beltran to just play with the leadership and outspoken Hudson, great infield defense (other then delgado) and great outfield defense (other then left).
What do you guys think?
i like it, but id rather murphy at 2b and milton bradley in LF!
Im a big believer of the intagibles that a player like hudson will bring i think its something that the mets have always lacked
Im not sure i want milton bradley in a NYC environment without happy pills and anger manegment.
I stopped at Lowe as a closer. His success as a starting pitcher is going to get much more money than if he was signed as a closer.
From some random mlbtraderumors post:
“McAdam believes Lowe will sign for $14-15MM a year over three or four years”
That’s K-Rod money. If you’re gonna spend 15 mil on a closer – why get Lowe and not K-Rod?
I wouldnt be against K-Rod but i would be nervouse with all of the innings he threw this year he is set to decline.
I’m not entirely sure I’m sold on signing Ollie again. I really am getting sick of his consistently inconsistent pitching. Not to mention his inability to consistently get out of the 6th inning.
Would Lowe really be interested in signing to become a closer? I admit it’s one of those creative ‘outside the box’ ideas that I prefer.
Exactly and if not dont pick up perez sign k-rod for the closer and lowe will fill where perez is now.
What makes you 100% confident that Dirty will recover in 2009? Heilman is in a much better position to be healthy, and return to form as a more consistent reliever than Sanchez was.
I know this is an off the wall idea…But what about Carl Pavano?
He’s obviously got the talent, and if can stay healthy I think it would be a great signing..give him an incentive laiden two year deal..
I have been thinking of that as well, there are rumors that Cashmen wants to retain him to prove he wasnt wrong in the initial signing.
i think pavano would be a great option as a #5 guy if we cant get anyone else. at the very least he adds depth to our SP by being able to keep niese in AAA. Plus we wont lose any picks by signing him
Invite him to spring training and watch him bruise a toe and be out for two years. It’s an interesting idea, but I’d want nothing to do with Pavano.
I would love to see him sign here and pitch like he did in Fla…..nothing would steam the Stankee’s more than seeing their $$ being wasted followed by the Mets reaping the benefits from the same guy !!
Minaya: Oh hi Raul, how are you?
Ibanez: I am getting old and may be on my last straw, but thanks for asking
Minaya: I just want to let you know that after I look into every other LF option out there, I may have a slight interest in you. I had great luck with Alou last year so I am looking forward to a repeat in 2009.
Ibanez: Wow, I believe I should be able to give you at least 40 games this year so you will definately be happy.
I believe that’s how the conversation went…
Yeah, that’s funny…..
Another person incapable of looking at Ibanez’s stats.
He is 36, has no history of injuries, and has been consistently very, very good his entire career as a starter, and in the last four years played 162, 149, 159, and 162 games. And he brings about 60 extra base hits and 100 RBI….which he did with rotten teams…..
Otherwise, you are right on the money.
So sorry Mr Kingman, the brain surgeon.
Another person incapable of removing his head from his rear end.
I didn’t realize his stats were so very different than to what Alou’s were prior to his last 3 years. Oh wait, they weren’t. That’s ok though, someone as brainless as yourself failed to realize I was exaggerating a little. Lighten up dude, season has only been officially over for a few weeks.
Am I still right on the money now?
Did you guys ever see Fleer’s 1990 major league prospect card with McElroy and Alou on it? Under Alou’s name on the back it says “Did not play”. Was that an omen or what?
This guy is gonna be a Met. Guaranteed. And his pluses (consistency/no injury history/leadership and professionalism) probably outweigh his negatives (age/left handed bat that the Mets don’t need more of/plays in a “quiet” market; has he really been tested in the clutch with the M’s?).
The age worries me a bit, but his consistency is fantastic. I’d give him two or three years at reasonable money.
My only probelm with having Ibanez for a year or to is the fact that it is another lefty bat. I think the Mets need a righty in LF and for the middle of that order.
I think he would be a nice player to have but it just makes us to way to lefty heavy in our lineup.
Unless they moved Church which I don’t see happening.
Can any of the “too many lefties” people actually cite a team/situation where a team did not win as much as they should have , or had a specific problem due to having 3 or 4 lefty bats in the lineup?
My guess would be no. Especially since 1. we hit lefties better last year, and 2. it’s not like the league is full of left pitchers even if we had hit them worse we’re talking about facing a lefty 1 out of every 4 or 5 at bats. It makes sense to build your bench thinking about lefty righties but when you’re looking at every day players or your every day line-up it makes zero sense to use lefty/righty as a determining factor.
Thank you! And as I mentioned yesterday, the late 90s Yanks, the 70s Red Sox and the Keith H Cardinals won a lot with a lot of lefty bats.
And I used to live in Seattle and am partial to Ibanez—if we sign him for 2 or 3 years, I really think you will like having him—very good and very consistent offense, an excellent clubhouse guy, and good clutch hitting….I think this all would offset his defense, which will indeed not be compared to Beltran’s….and he plays every day.
At one point late in the year didnt the Mets face like 5 or 6 lefties in a row that kept Murphy on the bench?
But that was also because Evans was good against LHP. If you have a lineup where Murphy plays everyday it won’t matter. I don’t think he will struggle that much against LHP.
No, I meant it as I thought they faced quite a number of lefties during the year. Especially at the beginning of the year where they were commenting on Beltran’s power improvement from the right-hand side, where he said it was because he and the Mets were seeing a lot of lefties. If that overhang in right at Citifield makes it easier for lefties to hit homeruns than righties to leftfield, I’d have no problem with a left-hand hitting lineup, but I’d also want to see the Mets put more lefties on the mound. The Yankees of the 70’s killed with that short porch in right, the lefty power hitting lineup, and those lefty starters. Steinbrenner shot himself in the foot by bringing in the fence in left, and balancing out the lineup, just to do a little better on the road. The Mets roster should be tailored to Citifield, whether that be lefty, righty, or balanced lineup.
Yes, the Yankee line-ups over the past 4 or 5 years have been full of too many LH bats which has really hurt them. Hence pitchers like Bedard in 2007, Ollie the last 2 years to name a few have dominated them.
Well, perhaps, but was offense the reason the Yanks struggled and didn’t do as well as expected the last couple of years, or was it pitching?
And the late 90s Yanks with far superior pitching did win with lots of lefty bats.
But thanks for coming up with a pretty good example.
I wouldnt mind Ibanez in left, if we could some how trade Delgado and bring in Texiera. otherwise the lineup has too many lefties…
Also my other problem with Ibanez is I’m tired of having a rotating left field, I know in theory they’re saving the spot for F-mart but I’d rather have some sort of long-term solution, or at least more than 1 year. Especially since I’m not convinced about the future health of consistency of Church yet.
simple solution…
keep Delgado for one more year and leave the Murphy/Tatis platoon in LF. Find a way to get Hudson in and Castillo out.
In 2010 look for Fernando Martinez in LF and Murphy at 1B.
pitching, pitching, pitching !!!
Delgado can very well become the Mets Frank Thomas next year. If his performance suffers, as it did in in late ‘07 and early ‘08, they won’t be able to sit him. It could become a huge distraction.
I, for one, don’t understand how an older player can go through a 12 month long slump, only to bust out of it to play the 2nd half of ‘08 with MVP-like numbers.
However, if the Mets do end up jettisoning him to ’09’s version of Oakland, that will leave an easy position for Danny Murphy to play.
Injury?
yet people want to sign players just as old to 2,3,4 year deals.
Delgado for one year is a much better option than Ibanez for three…
How many Raul Ibanez’s are there?
Everyday the Mets find a new one to be intersted in…
Lol it’s a slow point in the baseball year. And obviously the people, me included, keep coming back to discuss the same posts so why not keep posting them.
True. I’m here everyday reading what’s new. Even if it’s not ‘new’, I’m learning something new everyday from those of you who seem to be more up on players stats/history than I am….
Can’t the Mets please impose a rule where they don’t sign any free agents over the age of the 35? How many times in recent years have the Mets been burned by older, over-paid, injury-prone players? Omar just doesn’t seem to have any understand of aging curves*; all of which have become more steep as the prevalence of steroids has become less pronounced in the game.
*Are there any recent studies on the change in slope for aging curves? If so, can we laminate it to the top of Omar’s desk?
BUT… I think we can make exception for Ibanez.. He is older.. but he is NOT injury prone. 3 out of the last 4 years he has played in 159+ games! In that other year he played 149 games. Great hitter.. I like!!! He is also a FA, so no prospects to lose!
What if it was Ibanez to play….. 1B? He’s played 135 games there.
Then you trade Delgado for Putz, Street, Ryan or Sherrill?
Ibanez is a great offensive player. average defense. I have watched him for the last 3 years and he has constantly put on great numbers. the mets could only benefit from him