Daily Archives: November 18, 2008
From what I can gather, the Mets are likely to make a trade 
for a relief pitcher, who has experience as a closer, before they move to sign either Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood.
This would be smart, if for no other reason then it puts additional pressure on the current group of free agent closers.
If I had to make an educated guess, I would bet on a deal built around a current pitcher, such as Aaron Heilman, in exchange for pitcher like Rockies RHP Huston Street, who the Mets have reportedly expressed interest in.
This morning on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman predicted the Mets will sign at least two or three free agent pitchers this off-season, including a closer, a set-up man and a starting pitcher.
Frankly, if the Mets end up acquiring, say, Street, signing a closer like Rodriguez, as well as signing another set-up man, like Juan Cruz or Joe Beimel, it will be fair to call that an upgrade in the bullpen, to say the least.
To watch today’s edition of New York Baseball Today: Hot Stove Edition, during which I talk by phone with SI.com’s Jon Heyman about the starting pitcher’s market, as well whether the Yankees will acquire an outfielder, click play below:
To send in a question for next week’s New York Baseball Today, email it to baseball@sny.tv.
Last week, the Cubs offered free-agent Ryan Dempster a four-year deal worth roughly $40 million, which he turned down, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.
Today, at FoxSports.com, Rosenthal reports 
the two sides are discussing a new four-year deal, ‘now worth slightly more than $50 million.’
Similarly, at SI.com, Jon Heyman says the Cubs and Dempster are making progress in talks to keep the pitcher in Chicago.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are preparing a similar four-year, $54 million deal for free-agent A.J. Burnett, reports MLB.com.
However, the Yankees are prepared to offer Burnett a five-year deal, worth roughly $80 million, according to George King in the New York Post.
King also reports the Yankees may soon offer a contract to free-agent Derek Lowe, who will draw interest from the Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Rangers as well.
…Update…1:45 pm…
According to Dan Graziano of the Star Ledger, the Cubs and Dempster have agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal.
According to Marty Noble in a mailbag for MLB.com, although 
he did not spend more than 45 days in the big leagues, Daniel Murphy will not be eligible for Rookie of the Year next season, because he ended 2008 with 131 at bats.
The cut off is 130 at bats.
…in other words, had murphy not pinch hit in the season’s final game, or had he walked, as noble points out, murphy would be eligible for ROY next season…however, because of that at bat, he will not be…and that’s crazy…
Noble also answers questions regarding whether Oliver Perez is a ‘big-game pitcher,’ whether the Mets will look to sign Randy Johnson, the cost of a free agent, and whether the Mets should trade Jose Reyes for Jake Peavy.
In a recent post to his blog for SI.com, Jon Heyman writes, ‘The Mets are leaning towards Francisco Rodriguez,’ over Brian Fuentes.
According to Heyman, “The Mets would love to sign Rodriguez to a three-year deal, but with intense competition expected, may have to go to four years.”
Pedro Martinez will pitch in 2009, reports Jon Heyman at SI.com and Adam Rubin in the Daily News, both citing the player’s agent, Fern Cuza.
According to Heyman, ‘Multiple teams already have checked in about Martinez,’ says Cuza, who added:
“I think the Mets are a possibility. They know him better than most… They know the condition he’s in. They know about the personal problems that affected him last year. When Pedro’s healthy, he’s one of the best, and he’s healthy.”
However, Rubin writes, “A Mets official wouldn’t rule out Martinez returning, assuming his contract demands are modest.”
…i don’t know…i have a soft spot in my baseball mind for pedro…i do…it’s just, the Mets need to move on from the last two seasons some place, some how, and if not with players like martinez, then who…who will not be back, to differentiate next season from the last two…also, i’m tired of the Pedro Martinez Diagnostic Test…you know, after every single start he makes, it’s not about whether the team wins or loses, it’s about how pedro feels, how is his arm, his mental state, his stuff, was the mound high enough, did he prepare properly, etc…it never ends…
Tagged Pedro Martinez |This morning on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman predicted the Mets will sign at least two or three free agent pitchers this off-season, including a closer, a set-up man and a starting pitcher.
According to Heyman, the Mets will look to sign Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood; they’ll look at a set-up man, like Juan Cruz; and they’ll first aim for a starting pitcher, like Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez, followed by Jon Garland or Randy Wolf.
…i like garland, but not as a front-line starting pitcher…he’s reliable…he’ll be good for 200 innings and 30 starts, he’s still under 30, with a World Series ring on his finger, and he’s rarely injured, but he lets up a ton of hits, and flirts with disaster from time to time…if he is the team’s marquee signing, it means the Mets were spurned by lowe, and some time stepped up to give perez a four-year deal…and, personally, i would rather give garland a long-term contract than perez, as well as wolf, who has never impressed me…garland just seems more stable to me, for better or worse…
Heyman also discusses the Yankees, who may sign three free-agent starting pitchers as well; the future of Manny Ramirez; the Jake Peavy situation; and whether the Mets would ever consider signing Pat Burrell.
To listen to Heyman’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com, which you can also stream live all day from your computer.
So, assuming Lowe signs with another team, and…
[poll id="190"]
Tagged Oliver Perez |
In today’s Daily News, Adam Rubin reports Francisco Rodriguez has yet to receive a single offer because the Angels have yet to release the closer’s medical reports.
Yesterday, at 1050 ESPN Radio, Rick Coutinho wrote that Rodriguez would be in New York this week to get a physical.
However, according to Rubin, citing the player’s agent, as well as a team official, Rodriguez will not be visiting New York for a tour at any time this week.
In Newsday, David Lennon explains, “The Mets still are waiting on the medical reports for both K-Rod and Fuentes, and once they have a chance to examine that information, it then becomes a matter of talking to the players, either in New York or during an on-site visit by the front-office staff. That could happen by the end of this week, at the earliest, but there is also the possibility it may stretch past Thanksgiving, as well.”
Lennon also writes about the team’s current priority list, as well as when to expect Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe and others to sign this off-season.
