Daily Archives: December 9, 2008
“Yankees GM Brian Cashman is meeting with CC Sabathia for the third consecutive day, this time in San Francisco,” reports Ken Davidoff in a report for Newsday.
According to Davidoff, “It is believed to be a good sign for the Yankees that Sabathia is seeing them for a third straight day.”
During an appearance on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said there are currently no teams from California in the bidding for Sabathia.
Heyman believes Mark Teixeira remains the Angels top target, and they will not target Sabathia.
Giants GM Brian Sabean told reporters that Sabathia is a ‘fall-back position,’ for the Giants, according to Mercury News.
…umm, how is a pitcher who will require a six-year, $140 million deal a fall-back…unless, of course, sabean is investing that money in a time machine, which he will use to bring back Christy Mathewson…then, i understand what he means…
Francisco 
Rodriguez will fly to New York City tomorrow to take his physical – in advance of completing a three-year deal with the Mets.
I have no idea when the team will hold a press conference, but it stands to reason it will be in New York, since it makes no sense, and there is no time, to go back to Vegas.
Plus, the team has the Rule V Draft on Thursday, after which the Winter Meetings will be over.
…man, i hope it’s at Citi Field…i am eager to get inside that place, and see what it’s all about…
Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters earlier today that he has checked in with a variety of free-agent starting pitchers, and he has talked with other teams about potential trades.
That said, from what I understand, though they have been in contact with his office, the Mets have yet to sit down with Scott Boras while in Vegas.
According to people connected to the team, the Mets are unwilling to give Oliver Perez a 
four-year deal; they prefer Derek Lowe, but only to a point; and they have only ‘limited interest in Jon Garland.’
I believe the team would prefer to do better than Garland, frankly – though I personally feel he’d be a good addition, even on a two-year deal.
According to previous reports, the Mets have shown interest in free-agent Randy Wolf, but I have never heard his name mentioned by people familiar with the team’s strategy.
Also, for what it’s worth, I never hear Ben Sheets mentioned, which I hope is just coincidence – since he, too, would be worth signing on a shorter-term deal.
The sense I get is Boras will hold off on serious talks for Perez, who is said to be seeking a four-
year deal, until late December. To me, it makes sense for him to work on deals for Lowe, and other top clients, while then pitching Perez to teams who were ‘left at the alter,’ so to speak.
This is why I feel the Mets must hold on to their prospects, and not use them in a deal for a bat or a set-up man, because my hunch is they’re going to need them when trying to upgrade their starting rotation.
Ultimately, as has been suggested in multiple reports, I believe the Mets will be forced to sign a free-agent starting pitcher, Garland if necessary, then trade for a younger pitcher who we didn’t see coming, to compete with Jon Niese.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
Jon Heyman at SI.com believes the Yankees could make a five-year offer to free-agent A.J. Burnett.
The Cubs need to trade Jason Marquis, in order to get Jake Peavy from the Padres, reports Jeff Passan at Yahoo! Sports – for the tedious blow-by-blow, go to MLB Trade Rumors.
The Journal-Sentinel says the Brewers have not increased their offer to CC Sabathia, according to the team’s GM.
Lastly, Danny Knobler from CBS Sports believes the Angels are still a serious suitor for Sabathia.
Tagged Oliver Perez |
The Mets are still working with the Rockies on a deal that could bring Huston Street to Queens, according to people connected to the team, as Omar Minaya works to find a set-up man for Francisco Rodriguez.
Though they have not have substantive talks in Vegas, the Rockies and Mets have been in talks for nearly a month, as the two sides continue to discuss Aaron Heilman.
Meanwhile, during his appearance on SNY’s Hot Stove show, SI.com’s Jon Heyman suggested the Mets could also show interest in free-agent Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz, as well as Jon Rauch, who Minaya has expressed interest in before.
According to Heyman, Minaya would prefer not to trade prospects in his attempt to acquire a set-up man, and so he is more likely to deal in the free-agent market.
I believe the the Mets communicated to Trevor Hoffman the possibility of pitching in a set-up role, but he will first look to sign with another team, like the Angels or Indians, and be a closer.
“The Mets are increasing their efforts to sign free-agent OF Raul Ibanez,” reports Ken Rosenthal on his live blog for FoxSports.com.
According to Rosenthal, members of the team’s front office were spotted meeting with Ibanez’s agents at a restaurant inside the Bellagio hotel on Tuesday afternoon.
Rosenthal believes the Angels, Phillies, Braves and Nationals are among the other teams interested in Ibanez.
Tagged Raul Ibanez |
Earlier, Jerry Manuel answered questions from reporters at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Manuel would not mention Francisco Rodriguez by name, only saying, ‘theortically,’ he could be the team’s closer, ‘according to the word on the street.’
That said, Manuel loves Rodriguez’s energy, adding that the pitcher raises the energy level of the entire team, much like Johan Santana.
When asked if Rodriguez’s level of excitement could be a problem, given recent statements from other players about his team’s behavior, Manuel said he doesn’t mind emotion and excitement, ‘as long as it’s done in a respectful way.’
Manuel said he is confident that Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis will be able to handle sharing the starting job in left field.
According to Manuel, “It’s critical for Luis Castillo to get off to a good start, more so than any one else.”
Manuel even said he would consider using Castillo in the lead-off spot, if it meant it would get him going.
Lastly, Manuel said he is confident Jon Niese can team’s fifth starter, “The experience he gained last year was valuable.”
According to Mets GM Omar Minaya, ‘The Mets are interested in retaining Pedro Martinez and plan to meet with his agent,’ reports Enrique Rojas on the blog for ESPN.com.
…from what i can gather, he is a last resort for the Mets, and will not become an option until later in the off-season…
…personally, i do not see a scenario in which he returns…
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
Mets GM Omar Minaya recently spoke to reporters in the team’s suite at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Minaya spoke later with SNY’s Matt Yalloff, which you can watch on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove airing at 7 pm.
Minaya again reiterated to Yalloff that the deal with Francisco Rodriguez is not complete, adding, ‘Like all deals, there are things that need to be worked out.’
When pressed on whether an agreement was in place, Minaya would only say, ‘We are continuing to have dialogue.’
Minaya said his focus continues to be improving the team’s pitching staff, as he looks at trades and free agents.
…by the way, though it has not been reported, nor did minaya say so in his briefing, from what i can gather, the Mets team doctor is in Las Vegas, meaning rodriguez will have his phsyical today or tomorrow – after which the team is likely to make an official announcement…so, figure on something official later tonight, or tomorrow morning…
…the way i heard it, the Mets very much want to make real news in Las Vegas, on the big stage, so i expect some sort of announcement, at a podium, tomorrow…
Tagged Omar Minaya |Tonight at 7 pm, SNY will again air a special Winter Meetings 
Edition of Mets Hot Stove, including guest appearances by Jon Heyman of SI.com, as well as other reporters from the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Also, if you’re at your computer later today, consider checking out the following online radio shows:
Live at 9 pm, Joey DeMayo, Mike Silva and others will recap the day’s event on New York Baseball Digest.
Lastly, at 10 pm, Joe McDonald files live reports from the Winter Meetings on Pro Baseball Central, with co-host Steve Keane.
“The Reds have reached preliminary agreement with the Orioles 
on a trade that will send C Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati for OF Ryan Freel and two prospects,” reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.
Re-signing Rafael Furcal is now the Dodgers top priority, according to Tom Verducci of SI.com. That said, MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays met with Furcal’s agent today.
Earlier today, the Boston Globe said the Royals and Braves were close to swapping Jeff Francoeur and Zack Grienke.
However, on Steve Phillips said at ESPN the rumor is false; as did Joe Hamrahi from Baseball Digest Daily; as did Royals GM Dayton Moore, according to MLB.com.
Tagged Rafael Furcal, Ramon Hernandez | ← Older posts
