Daily Archives: November 19, 2008
Daniel Murphy may have a knee sprain, and will have an MRI on Wednesday or Thursday > more.
The Mets are looking for a right-handed bat > more.
The Red Sox traded Coco Crisp to the Royals, and the Braves may not be done with trying to get Jake Peavy > more.
Derek Lowe is seeking a Zito-like Deal, but MetsBlog readers are only willing to give him three or four years > more.
The Mets will eventually sign Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes > more.
The Mets are likely to trade for a set-up man, who has experience as a closer > more.
According to a league source, Mets 2B Daniel Murphy suffered a right knee sprain in the Arizona Fall League, which is why he has not played since Nov. 10.
Murphy had been hitting .397 with 18 RBI in 15 games during the AFL.
He has played in 163 games this season, counting his time with the Mets, in the minors and in Arizona.
…Update…3:40 pm…
“Murphy is scheduled for a precautionary MRI in New York Wednesday or Thursday,” adds Toby Hyde on Mets Minor League Blog, who cites a team source.
According to Ken Davidoff in Newsday, ‘the Mets continue to maintain communication with free agent Raul Ibanez,’ who is 
also drawing interest from the Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs, Royals and Mariners.
However, in a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal says the Mets want to add ‘a right-handed bat, writing, ‘The Mets are not high on Pat Burrell, and Ibanez is not an ideal fit.’
…and that’s the thing, most of the best free-agent options all bat lefty, such as Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Garret Anderson, and Ken Griffey Jr.…
…yes, Manny Ramirez is a free agent, but i just can’t see any National League team, much less then Mets, signing him to a long-term deal, except maybe the Dodgers who need him as much as he needs Hollywood…
…Juan Rivera is a right-handed bat, who can also play first base, and the Mets reportedly expressed interest in him around the trade deadline, so it would stand to reason they have at least minimal interest in him now…however, he is two years removed from his one good season, in his eight-year career, so to rely on him would be a huge mistake…though, to his credit, he did not get many at bats last season…
…to me, the most effective solution would be to acquire Jermaine Dye from the White Sox…
“On Tuesday, Nov. 11, several White Sox officials watched Mets pitching prospects Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch in the Arizona Fall League,’ reported Mark Gonzales in the Chicago Tribune.
According to Gonzales, citing two NL scouts, the Sox were scouting players for deals that include Dye, who hit .292 with 34 HR, 96 RBI and a .344 OBP in 154 games last season.
Dye will earn $11.5 million in 2009, after which he has a mutual option in 2010 for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout that could make him a free agent.
…either way, the Mets are not going to have enough minor-league talent or money to upgrade at both second base and left field…so, if the Mets are unable to trade for dye, and they decide ibanez is not ideal, then my suggestion would be to sign Orlando Hudson to play second, and start Daniel Murphy in left field with a substantial back-up, i.e., Jose Reyes, Orlando Hudson, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy would lack substantial power, but it would be sound and balanced, and the infield would be strong up the middle, which, to me, is more important…
Tagged Pat Burrell, Raul Ibanez |The Red Sox have traded OF Coco Crisp to the Royals for relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez, reports Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
“The Astros seem likely to trade Ty Wigginton and Jose Valverde,” according to the Houston Chronicle.
Wigginton, who bats right handed, and played third base and left field, hit .285 with 23 HR and a .350 OBP last season for the Astros, while batting .340 against lefties.
Meanwhile, MLB.com reports, “The Nationals are still players in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes,” according to a baseball source.
Speaking of the NL East, now that the Cubs signed Ryan Dempster, the Padres may re-start talks with the Braves regarding Jake Peavy, says the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In fact, at SI.com, Jon Heyman says Peavy will either play for the Padres or the Braves next season, while citing a league executive.
In a recent report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal says free-agent RHP Derek Lowe is seeking a ‘Zito-type contract,’ according to executives with two different teams.
In 2006, Barry Zito signed a seven-year, $126 million contract.
…well, if the real goal for lowe is to get $15 million per season, and five years, much like the Yankees could offer A.J. Burnett, according to the New York Post, then he should start in Zito Land…not that lowe is even worth that much, but he should start high…that said, if he believes he can match zito, in an era when CC Sabathia and Johan Santana will only get six, he’s crazy…especially since lowe is 35 years old…i mean, seriously, who would commit to lowe through his 42rd birthday…oh, right, Scott Boras would…
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In Newsday, Ken Davidoff explains why the Mets essentially have their choice of free-agent closers, flatly writing:
“They will sign either Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes to be their closer. Whom they sign will depend on the contract terms.”
…if this is the case, and i believe that it is, then i see no reason for the Mets to cave on a fourth year, which is obviously going to be the big issue in negotiations…the fourth-year issue will likely be less of an issue with Brian Fuentes, who i believe is the team’s second choice – despite what some reporters have written…
According to Davidoff, “The Mets expressed some interest in free agent Kerry Wood, and they asked in trade discussions about Bobby Jenks, J.J. Putz and Huston Street.”
…as i wrote yesterday, in the previous post, “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 Rodriguez, Fuentes or Wood.”…
…so, if things go the way the Mets are planning, they could end up with a free-agent closer and a set-up man from another organization…of course, a lot has to happen between now and then…so, stay tuned…
