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In yesterday’s Daily News, John Harper writes, “The Mets aren’t conceding anything yet, but privately they admit 
they didn’t expect Derek Lowe to be in such high demand, and they worry that with the Yankees and Red Sox in the hunt, they may have to lower their sights for a starting pitcher.”
…wait, what…why…i can accept not wanting to give lowe a five-year deal, assuming that is what it will take to get him…but to be bullied out of the bidding, because the big, bad Red Sox and Yankees are in the mix, well that’s just sad…and i hope it is not true…
…as i wrote last week, the way i understand it, lowe is more concerned with the dollar amount than the years…he is far more likely to accept a four-year, $70 million deal, than he is to accept a five– or six-year deal worth less per season…the buzz around lowe suggests he would like to retire at or around his 40th birthday, and would prefer to sign with a team who has a spring training facility near his home in Florida…
According to Harper, the Mets do not expect to out-bid the Sox and Yankees for Lowe, ‘and they think Scott Boras will price Oliver Perez too high as well.
Harper reports the Mets have interest in free-agent Jon Garland, ‘and they would 
consider trading for Javier Vazquez.’
…i like the idea of garland and vazquez being teamed up with John Maine, Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey…that is more than fine by me, especially if the Mets can trade for a set-up man and sign Francisco Rodriguez…however, while that rotation is stable, and will limit how much the bullpen will be needed, the team’s offense will need an upgrade at that point as well…
…however, the buzz around garland is that he too is seeking the standard four-year, $50 million deal, so at that point i am not sure why the Mets wouldn’t just pay more per season and get lowe, regardless of who is interested in Boston and the Bronx…
Lastly, Harper believes the Mets would need to trade Ryan Church, not Aaron Heilman, to get Edwin Jackson from Tampa.
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yea i’ll believe it when i see it
if thats our rotation going into the year then we’re in big trouble
garland and vasquez teamed with the other three is better than ollie and (pedro, stokes, figueroa, yada yada yada). thats a solid young rotation. with an upgrade in left and at second thats a pretty dangerous team. dont forget mr. k-rod
No way on Church for Jackson..
I would def do church for jackson…the guy is only 25 and was vastly improved last year than the years prior and pitched to 14 wins and a 4.42 era in the al east…not to mention church is replaceable and don’t get me wrong i do like him a lot but i think that first version we saw of him wasn’t the real church…i think over a full season hw would hit 280ish 25 90…which is good but replaceable…and the pickings are either expensive or slim for pitching these days
jackson is terrible.
Garland is awful, 50 million for him would be the worst contract since Mo Vaughn
This is terrible. I have a feeling this offseason is going to be a huge disappointment.
I can’t imagine settling for Javier Vasquez and/or John Garland. Vasquez proved he cannot pitch in New York with the Yankees. He was reminiscent of Ed Whitson. His performance has been declining for years. John Garland is also another starter in decline. His stuff is mediocre. These would be two overpriced arms that teams like the Phillies and Braves would rake over the coals. We need to outbid the Yanks/Red Sox for Derek Lowe (give him an inflated four-year contract), and resign Ollie or Pedro. Pedro is not washed up. I predict he’ll win 12-15 games for someone.
it time to cut ties with pedro.
All spin maybe? I take it to mean that Omar has budget parameters, and has set a worth on Lowe, and if the price goes way beyond that, he will pa-ss. Not the same as being chased off the playground by the bullies!
Frankly, Lowe is not that good he deserves a hug chunk of payroll, especially if it means going cheap elsewhere. If they are going to spend 17+ million a year o one guy, might as well get Teix for a few more, and make the team better overall.
That said, garland is pretty much mediocre now, and not worth the commitment. Ollie would be better than him.
A trade for Vazquez, giving up B level talent 9since the sox supposedly want him gone) would be a great filler for the back of the rotation.
And no, jackson isn’t worth trading your cheap contract starting RF. Especially since they have no real replacement on hand for him. Would do you end up with, signing Ibanez (Gee, a 37 YO LF! always a good idea!) and using tatis/murphy in RF?
I can hear Beltrans knees screaming in protest from here!
So if they trade for Vazquez, get a s/t guy for the last spot. Randy J would be interesting for 1 year. Even Wolf is darned near the equal of Lowe.
If you are going to get average to mediocre “innings eaters” like Garland, might as well be cheaper and shorter deals.
I tend to agree with you. Lowe at big time free agent money is over the top. He is 36 and not getting younger.
I would consider spending more money and less years on a guy like Sheets (2 years with a player option for 3rd year based on # of starts or innings pitched trigger), Sheets when healthy is way better than Lowe anyway.
I do not feel like bowing out of the Lowe sweepstakes is bad. There are a lot of very good pitchers this year that are free agents and a few available through trade that I like.
I’d definitely consider the Vasquez deal to shore up the rotation also. Getting Vasquez and possibly sheets along with Krod and one more 8th inning guy would be alot of very good talent coming in and shoring up what we need to be successful next year
I dislike how we have to settle for garland and Vasquez. I would sign Perez and try to make a pitch to sign Sheets. Signing sheets would at least show that this organization is trying to take a shot at winning the whole thing. If sheets gets injured at least we know the organization attempted to go for it. Grrrrrrrr.
Vasquez and Garland makes the rotation much more stable than Perez the 5 inning wonder and Sheets the 5 game wonder.
I can see what they mean. Lowe is not good enough to get in a bidding war with the Sox and Yankee’s. Lowe is worth maybe 4/56 and that’s risky in terms of years. He is looking for 4/70 at least and most likley 5/80. If the Yankee’s and Sox’s are after him he will get close to that and that’s too much.
Garland, I can live with or with out. He’s young and could do well switching leagues. He pitches a lot of innings and would give us a solid #5. However, if we do that then Vasquez is a must. Adding just Garland to the rotation and then going with Niese would be a disaster.
The good thing is I think we can wait around on Garland. After the Yankee’s get theirs there are going to be some good leftovers at much cheaper prices.
There is no doubt that right now Lowe is better than Garland. But will he be better in 2 years when he is 39? How about 4 years when he is 41?
If the Mets are unwilling to increase payroll by more than $30 million next year, I’m really not sure how we can meet all our needs, even if we aren’t able to sign a guy like Lowe.
Trading for Vazquez is $11.5M right there, signing Garland will be at least that, getting K-Rod would be well over $10M as well. Not enough space to upgrade the offense or get another set-up guy.
I’d wager money that Niese is the #5 starter next year, if only because I don’t think we’d be able to get 2 starters, a closer, more bullpen help, another bat, etc.
Some of that bullpen help can come through trade.
Also I expect us to spend 35 million. The Mets won’t let 3-5 million get in the way of getting another bullpen arm.
You have to take into account the money being saved by players not returning. Pedro and Alou alone will save around 20 million.
This is included in the origional 30 million that Omar stated.
I don’t know why everyone is so up in arms over saying Lowe isn’t worth the money. Omar said it last year with Silva and he was right on that one. Lowe isn’t this GREAT pitcher. He’s a solid innings eater, who had his best season last year in 5 years. He will get his big contract and go back to the guy who will hover around a 500 record, high 3 ERA(higher if he goes back to the AL) and a WHIP around a 1.27 WHIP.
If you can get Lowe at a 3-4 year deal at 11-12 million, He’s younger, very Durable, and though his numbers have gone up the last 3 years, he would be switching leagues, Getting out of the AL where he had been his whole career. I have said i wouldn’t mind garland as the Mets 5th starter. He isn’t spectacular, but he’s gutty and a innings eater.
guys look at this:
Furcal said he has also received a substantial offer from the New York Mets, who want him as a second baseman.
“The offers made by the Athletics and the Mets of New York are tempting, but we’ll make a decision after I meet with my lawyer because there are various factors that we have to evaluate,” he said. “But my general feeling is that every offer that’s been made is important, which is why we want to make a decision that’s well thought out.”
we are getting rid of castillo, this is the proof!!
the mets will have a new 2B in 2009!!
Where did you read that??
Where did you read this? I hope there is some truth to it but who knows what to believe. If Furcal is playing 2nd base for the Mets on opening day I would be very happy with that.
where’s the link??
put “mets furcal” on google news”.
Its in the LA Times
yes
Very Interesting, i would not mind that at all, i hope its true.
furcal would be an awesome upgrade for this team…just picture him and reyes at the top of the lineup..followed by wright gado and beltran…i think this is the perfect move for the mets….
as for lowe, i would forget him and go after garland…garland is young and very talented…he would be switching from the al to nl which always is a good thing. then just sign krod and trade for sheets to set up and we are good!
i mean street
it would be great to have furcal but not counting on it.
Furcal would be a huge huge upgrade over Castillo. Him and Reyes would combine for a very nifty double play combo, and I bet their handshake dances would be so detailed and intricate, it will drive the Phillies nuts.
nifty handshake as in “the double steal!”. this is a powerful story this morning. where is Cerrone? Did he oversleep.
lol idk but the article is lower on in the thread if you want to read.
“he is far more likely to accept a four-year, $70 million deal”
for Derek Lowe? 35 year old Derek Lowe? $17.5 million a year for four years for a 35 year old Derek Lowe?
Are you friggin’ kidding me?
Have you learned NOTHING from Pedro and El Duque?
“lowe is more concerned with the dollar amount than the years”
So you’ll give him five year money over 4 years? That’s your big negotiating tactic? And how are you related to Scott Boras?
I don’t think it is “settling”. more like making cost/benefit decisions. And only (in theory) the Yankees can just sign “the best” at every position, regardless of cost!
If the market for a postion is out of whack (like SP this year), shop elsewhere to fill holes.
I do love the idea of Sheets though, especially if he can be snagged for 2 + options, or 3 years at the most. Other than the injury risk, he is way better than Lowe! And just because Lowe hasn’t been hurt in the past, he is going on 36, so who knows what you end up getting.
Sheets + vazquez looks good. Even Wolf would be OK. Just make sure to keep Neise in reserve, and sign at least one “project” guy to stash in AAA.
I really don’t want to see garland clogging up a rotation spot for the next 4 years.
totall agree with you here!
It’s been obvious for weeks that theMets would get shut-out of Lowe, CC and Burnett (not that i want Burnett).
No we’re starting to see confirmation with with the trickle of rumours away from top tier targets, or keeping Perez diminishing, while we see talk of trash like JV and Garland (solid #5 pitchers) being the height of the Mets ambition.
It’s frankly pathetic they think Perez is too expensive while they spend money on sign junk like Garland instead – a false economy if ever there was one.
Adding bott these trash options whilst keeping hold of Niese mighyt just be enough – IF he goes out and gets KROD and beefs up the BP with REAL BP arms not trash like SS et al.
But, a solid, reliable # 5 is really what they need. Sure, adding 3 more ‘aces” is nice, but it ain’t gonna happen.
Not having to suffer through Lima time, etc. (constant black hole in the rotation) would make the team better, and relieve a ton of stress on the pen.
other than that, the rotaton isn’t really the problem, and for sure Omar will beef up the pen.
Exactly, and Vasquez is so much better than Perez at a cheaper price and less years.
Yes this is the Point half this board has been making. Outside CC, and Maybe Sheets for his 25 starts, all the pitchers are about even. While Ollie has been dominate against the Braves, Phillies and Yankees, he has been horribly inconsistent against everyone else. Outside the K’s Garland’s WHIP was only .1 higher, and his ERA was only .5 higher. And he was pitching in the AL.
Vasquez would be a Solid #3 or #4 guy.
The Mets wouldn’t have a a Set in Stone #2. The player who you could see stepping up to that would be Pelfrey. He has a Bandon Webb build and stuff about him.
But a rotation of Johan, Pelfrey, Vasquez, Maine, Garland. Would leave the mets with a 2-5 of great inning eating, Starting Pitching. And then they would in theory still have Neise and Vargas to call up for spot starts/injured pitcher.
That is what I’ve been avocation all along.
NO TO LOWE!! and furcal and reyes will be an awesome 1-2 tandom, that means more rbi situations for beltran & co.. trade for vasquez and sign garland i guess will be fine, but i have a hunch that the mets really want putz from seattle, that way that can save up even more…
The writing is on the wall. The Mets will bring in one other Starter, hopefully Vasquez and give the 5 spot to Pedro with Niese to fill in.
I’m fine with that as long as we can bring in a big bat, preferably Tex.
Add a set-up guy trade and a FA closer and Omar’s done for the Winter.
Can’t see teix, but it would be sweet. Helps out the line up in many ways. Also frees up some guys for trades.
furcal is an interesting idea. Not sure what he would cost, but if he came cheaper than Hudson, do it. better offensive player (isn’t he?) and probably gonna give you better D at this point.
Reyes
Furcal
Wright
Delgado
beltran
Murphy/tatis
Church
C (please upgrade!)
That line up can do some damage.
I don’t care if he came cheaper than Hudson or not. He is plain old better than Hudson in every way.
the mets need good pitchers not mediocre ones and what happens if Pelfrey doesnt have a great year then Vasquez and Garland are our #2 and #3??
We have been through this. Which is a better rotation because it’s clear it will be one of these type options
A) Johan, Lowe, Pelfrey, Maine, Niese
B) Johan, Pelfrey, Vaquez, Garland, Maine, Niese as a backup.
I will take B 10-1.
guys, as long as we have a good bullpen we’ll be fine, our offense will bail us out more often than not, althought it will be a huge upgrade to have tex but the bullpen is and it should be the #1 priority…
Wonder what happens to Luis if they do ink Furcal? Maybe he does have smoe marginal trade value after all!
I could still live with the Andru for Luis swap. Does make sense for both teams..
Andru will hopefully “rededicate” himself, shooting for another contract.
An OF rotation of Jones/murphy/Church/tatis looks good. For a 4th OF, Jones is a good defender, just can he hit? Not that Lusi can! Plus he can give Beltran some rest. And Tatis gets to be the bat off the bench he needs to be. Church can also get some time off.
Bench would be a touch unbalanced though.
IF
Reyes
Furcal
Wright
Delgado
OF
Murphy
Beltran
Church
bench: C, Jones,. Tatis,
Fill out the bech with a lefty bat that can ideally play middle IF, and a 5th guy that can play some 1B (another lefty).
Endy gets squeezed out, but Jones can replace him as a defensive replacement.
And if he stinks, it’s a 1 year deal. Cut him and move on, and you are rid of Luis too!
Andru Jones is eating himself out of major league baseball. He is not the same guy he was a few years back and nowhere near the guy who slammed 40 plus hrs and played unbelievable defense in CF.
Jones has become a terrible player through poor training. If you google a picture of him last year and google a picture of him on the braves…it is not even the same guy. It looks like he ate one of his teammates
yeah, but that’s why 9and the contract) yo might get him for Castillo!
The hope is he realizes how far he has fallen, and decides (or the Mets convince him) to hire a FT personal trainer to get back into playing shape.
His deal is up after 2009. Maybe the thought of getting nothing but ST invite or minor league deal (vs. many millions) will be enough to get his butt off the couch?
Anyway, it is like Mota last year. A way to get rid of someone that has to go but no one wants, and a ST deal they can get out from under.
And I look at him as a 4th OF. Just a wildly overpriced one!
I believe the economy is going to affect offseason spending in a big way. Only a team like the Yankees can be considered recession proof.
I honestly think you’re going to see teams independently decide that they can’t go nuts with contracts in the current financial atmosphere. I also think that teams have come around to the idea that spending boatloads of cash and years on 35+ year olds like Derek Lowe makes little sense.
As a result, I see lots of big money FA’s signing for a lot less than we thought they would (except for maybe the cream of the crop like CC).
no more economy stuff. Go on cnn or something with that stuff. People will pay to see the mets…either regular families and fans or business persons. The economy will have nothing to do with and how the mets spend in the offseason.
When the bank that bought the naming rights to the Mets’ new stadium just had to go hat in hand to the government for a $20 billion bailout, I think the economy will have some effect on the Mets. And all teams, for that matter.
Being a big market team, the Mets will probably be able to weather the storm better than most. But to say it won’t have any effect at all is ludicrous.
You think people won’t think twice before buying season tickets, or a ticket plan next year? You think major corporations won’t think twice about buying a luxury box? You think advertisers won’t cry poverty and try to get ad space for less money than they did before?
nope. People will go to see the games. Like i said either the average fan or the CEO. They are getting bailed out but still riding in private jets and expensive getaways…what are season tix to them. People will go my friend.
didnt furcal have a back injury that cost him half the season?
Ya he is coming off back surgery
ah ok. He was tearing it up on my fantasy team before he had an injury. Didnt know what kind.
did not know that. Still OK, if the medical checks out, and the deal reflects the risk.
well it looks like hes not going to us anyway. But if this proves one thing more than anything..omar is working behind the scenes more than we know. I have not seen anybody point to furcal for a upgrade at 2b. Maybe those who question omars work eithic should recognize that
Well you can all relax people, because we are not getting both Vasquez AND Garland. One or the other is probable at this point, but not both, because both are RHP and we need at least 1 LHP. Don’t forget to balance the rotation, because Omar will not forget.
Vazquez + wolf maybe.
Hey, it is way better than 2008 Pedro, Duque, and whoever lese they trotted out there for the back end of the rotation!
I really like that one. I prefer Vasquez and Johnson but Wolf would do. I just wonder how long we would have to commit to him? Johnson would be a 1 year deal.
This is going to be a disappointing off-season. Garland AND Vazquez? Garland sounds like an Appier-esque signing. Meh. Might as well let Niese get a shot.
rather have pedro for 1 year or 2, than Garland for 4.
I would take a risk on Pedro for 1 and an option before Garland, true. It’s the innings that bother me. Pedro’s not going to give you much more than 150. Niese, who knows but most likely more of the same. Garland gives you 200+. That’s a big deal.
Oh, for the pitching, get vazquez and sign sheets. that’s your innings eater #5, and a 2nd ace 9when healthy!). Or you may just see Pedro again to be the #5.
Best thing about these moves (vazquez, Furcal, Jones?) They don’t require much prospect outlay (as-suming Vazquez comes fairly cheap). Leaving the chips to play, or move for BP help.
Who knows, maybe the Sox take a heilmann/carp – ish package?
Jones for Luis is addition by subtraciton.
Sheets and furcal are FAs.
As-sume they sign Krod or Fuentes.
And trade some other chips for someone ike Street 9or putz, that would be sweet!)
The rest of the pen will be carry over 9but deployed better) or some low level FA signings or minor trades.
No problem, get ‘er done!
He will start playing in the domincan league in january, plus he will play in the WBC so he, beltran, reyes and wright will all start training earlier to play there.. that can be a PLUS for us if we get him
Referancing Dominicanboy08’s article
-LA times blog
Rafael Furcal’s tenure with the Dodgers could be over.
The free agent shortstop told El Caribe that he would return from his native Dominican Republic to the United States on Monday to sign a contract –- and judging by what he said, it sounds like he could be joining the Oakland Athletics.
Furcal revealed that he has been offered a four-year, $48-million contract by the A’s that includes incentives that could push its value to more than $50 million.
Furcal said he has also received a substantial offer from the New York Mets, who want him as a second baseman.
“The offers made by the Athletics and the Mets of New York are tempting, but we’ll make a decision after I meet with my lawyer because there are various factors that we have to evaluate,” he said. “But my general feeling is that every offer that’s been made is important, which is why we want to make a decision that’s well thought out.”
Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer, said last week that he thought his client would sign a four-year deal.
Due to concerns about the condition of Furcal’s surgically repaired back, the Dodgers have been hesitant to extend him an offer of four years.
4/48 is a lot for a dude coming off back surgery. But who knows what is real and what is fantasy until the contract is signed.
I wonder what the contract offer from the mets was???
yep. But it shows that omar is working out there..perhaps more than alot of people give him credit for.
I don’t think any one doubts that Omar is working. I just think poeple do ot have faith in his “workings”.
Now you’re giving Omar just because he’s “working”
WOW
Some of us care about results. The rest of you are called homers who are already getting your excuses ready for Omar
i did not say the right or wrong moves but i was just acknowledging those who say omar does nothing for this team. At least he is trying to improve the team….would you rather have castillo or furcal im curious…
I wonder if this is just a scam by Frucal’s agent to get more money for his client? Get NY involved and the money goes up.
Javier Vazquez is not good. I still do not understand this infatuation with him.
Garland sux also
Look at his innings, Krate and WHIP, all better than Perez, Maine, or any of the garbage that was not Johan and Pelfrey.
Let’s sign every free agent!!!111!!!! We’ll be super good then!
Can you imagine how weird that will be if/when Furcal goes to the A’s, that we got outbid by them for a FA?
I dont think you can call it getting outbid. I think the mets just gave him a take it or leave it offer.
“They didn’t expect Derek Lowe to be in such high demand”
Sure.
Because a clutch, effective and durable starter is something that only 1 or 2 teams need.
Holy cr@p – are these f**king idiots actually telling us they royally f**ked up their plans to fill out the rotation already!??!?!
If you couldn’t figure Lowe would be in demand, you should be working in the food service sector
scared of the yanks and red sox again. nice job wilpons.
at least make a run at lowe to pitch at corporate welfare field
I should qualify this by reminding everyone to believe absolutely nothing these teams are saying during the free agent sweepstakes, but . . . .
. . . .frankly, I don’t think the Mets are “intimidated” as much as they don’t value Lowe that much, and have other needs. This is not a game, as entertaining as it might be to think about. Outbidding and overpaying is not “winning.” Derek Lowe is old — too old for the amount of money he wants. There’s nothing cowardly about shying away from 35 year-old Boras clients. Some might call it wise. “NO ZITOS” should be the slogan. Pedro was bad enough (blah, blah, blah “legitimacy,” etc.)
I still think the rotation has a strong front end with Santana and an improving Pelfrey, though Maine is an enigma. Adding a Garland or Wolf (or both) would be fine . . . and we don’t know how CitiField will play, anyway.
i don’t want to over pay for lowe either, but don’t just forfeit out of fear.
i’d like to see a deep rotation. i wouldn’t sign anyone who doesn’t pitch into the 7th regularly.
no rookies. no lima. no pedro.
I would sign Garland……….he is my fave option right now………some people will think I am nuts but he is a reliable innings eater and would be the 4th starter which would be real solid
Remember the bullpen was rough and a innings eater would be good especially if they can go 8 and then have Krod signed
They could sign Furcal and deal Castillo for Vazquez too………….will be interesting
Wolf would be a much much better option than Garland IMO.
I don’t agree with this for a couple reasons. The main one is that in ‘05, ‘06 & ‘07 Wolf never started more than 18 games. In those three years combined, he had 43 starts. I know Wolf had a good season last year, but he’s injury prone. He could be another Pedro Martinez for us to deal with. If he were willing to sign to a one or two year deal he’d be more worth it. But he’ll probably get a three year deal somewhere.
Wolf is also 3 years older than Garland. Garland on the other hand has never started less than 32 games or had less than 191 IP’s since 2002. The truth is both pitchers are average to slightly above average. But you know what you’re getting from more in one than the other. If Garland were willing to sign to like a 3 year/39 million contract, I think he’d be worth it. I still think the best option regarding average pitchers would be to trade for Vazquez though.
I’d be open to the idea of trading Ryan Church to Tampa Bay for some sort of package of Edwin Jackson and a reliever like Chad Bradford. Or a mid-level prospect. With Baldelli out of the picture there, they’ll need a RF. Signing Ibanez, Dunn or Abreu would become a probability than.
Lowe is not worth 5 years/80 million. He’s too old. I know he’s a healthy pitcher, but his talent slowly dwindling is an inevitability. They can’t give him more than 4 years. It’s not so much the salary that is the issue though. I’d be willing to climb as high as like 60-64 million. He’s become way too expensive though. Trading for Vazquez is a better option than signing Garland because of the draft picks situation. Plus Vazquez is signed through two years where as Garland will want 3 or 4.
The Furcal offering was suprising. Omar keeps playing this game. The other day he says it’s realistic to see Castillo as the 2B for next season. Now he makes a formal offer to Furcal? This is just like he said he was a ”Willie Guy” on May 31st and fired him 17 days later at 3 in the morning. Furcal was offered 4 years/48 million from Oakland. He’ll get nice offers from the Giants and Dodgers too. The Mets probably won’t bid for that. If they’re going to sign a 2B in that price neighborhood, just sign a natural second basemen in Orlando Hudson who’s 5 years younger.
Woops. I got Furcal’s age wrong. But his injuries are not appealing. They’re not weird injuries like the ones Hudson obtained either. If there has been plenty more teams making offers at Furcal, it’ll mean he will cost more than Hudson. The Mets were interested in Furcal a few years ago but winded up doing nothing. This is how it’ll likely end again.
We heard the same kind of talk about getting into the bidding war with the Yanks and Bosox over Santana, and looked what happened.
That said, I really like the thought of getting Edwin Jackson from Tampa Bay, who seems to have a lot of upside and is much younger than Lowe. However, I don’t want us to get baited and switched by Tampa from Jackson to Sonnenstein, who I see as very mediocre.
The problem with that argument is both the Yankees and Bosox backed out of the Santana sweepstakes because neither wanted to give up their highly regarded prospects, basically letting The Mets take Santana.If the Bosox had given the Twins Jacoby & Buchholz or the Yankees had given up Philip Hughes, Santana would be wearing one of those teams jersey right now.In this situation, neither the Saux or the Yanks have to give up anything but money, which both have plenty of,esp the Yanks.
Here are some do not do’s for the Mets:
Trade Ryan Church
Trade any prospects of significance (Martinez, Niese, Murphy, Flores, Holt, Davis, Havens, Marte, Mejia)
Re-sign Oliver Perez
Sign Brian Fuentes to a deal worth more than $9 million a year and/or more than 3 years
Sign Juan Cruz
Sign Manny Ramirez
Sign a starting pitcher named Burnett, Sabathia or Lowe
In reality, any Mets off-season where we don’t do any of the afforementioned and acquire 2 relievers, K-rod and an outfielder than we’re in good.
My personal plan:
1. Sign Randy Johnson to a 1 year contract
2. Sign K-rod to 4 year, $52 million deal over time.
3. Sign Junichi Tazawa
4. Sign Joe Beimelto 2 year contract
5. Sign Juan Rivera to 2 year contract
6. Shop Scott Schoeneweis. Possible targets include Brandon Inge, Jonny Gomes, Erick Aybar, Reggie Willits, and Scott Elbert
7. Trade Eddie Kunz, Aaron Heilman, Nick Evans, Mike Carp, Shawn Bowman and Dylan Owen to the White Sox for Javy Vazquez
Lineup: Reyes SS, Murphy 2B, Wright 3B, Beltran CF, Delgado 1B, Church RF, Rivera LF, Schneider/Castro C
Others: Tatis IF/OF, Castillo 2B, Chavez OF, Inge/Gomes/Aybar/Willits IF/OF/C
Rotation: Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Vazquez, Johnson
(Niese in AAA, Tazawa in AA)
Bullpen: Rodriguez CL, Parnell SU, Sanchez SU, Stokes MRP, Beimel MRP, Smith MRP, Feliciano mRP
too many prospects for vasquez.
You’ve got a 1-pitch reliever, a homer prone SU with weak command, a probable platoon player, a possible Mike Jacobs and two thow-ins for a legit middle of the rotation starter. If anything it’s too little.
unless we get good prospect in return.
i would suggest the mets ask for jason childers along with vasquez /4-2 1.22 era 17 saves and aaa batters hit for a167 avg against him.
It could be possible to take out Evans or Carp, but it’d be better to remove Owen if anyone.