Daily Archives: December 10, 2008
The Mets just announced that Omar Minaya will address reporters from the podium at the Bellagio around 12:30 am EDT, where he is expected to announce the acquisition of J.J. Putz from the Mariners in a three-team deal with the Indians.
SNY will be airing live coverage of Minaya’s announcement, as will WFAN, which you can listen to live by clicking here.
The Mets will soon issue a press release that explains they have acquired J.J. Putz, pitcher Sean Green and OF Jeremy Reed in exchange for Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith, Endy Chavez, Maikel Cleto, Ezequiel Carera, Jason Vargas and Mike Carp.
To see the entire deal, including who is coming and going from Cleveland and Seattle, go to David Lennon’s blog for Newsday.
In 47 games for the Mariners in 2008, during which he was on the disabled list twice, once with a hyperextended right elbow, Putz was 6–5 with a 3.88 ERA with 15 saves in 23 opportunities.
The 31–year-old Putz had a 1.88 ERA in 2007 with 40 saves, and a 2.30 ERA in 2006 with 36 saves.
According to Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports, the Phillies and Yankees have made an offer to free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, who has also been in talks with the Red Sox and Mets.
However, earlier today at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark said the Phillies are not pursuing Lowe and have never made an offer.
According to our friend Joel Lipsky, Scott Boras told reporters that he will meet with Omar Minaya tonight – presumably to discuss his clients Lowe and Oliver Perez.
The Yankees offer to Lowe is worth roughly $67 million over four years, reports Jon Heyman at SI.com.
Edes believes Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated, adding, ‘While he would welcome a chance to pitch for the Red Sox, his primary interest is in signing with a club that he believes has a chance to win over the next five years.”
…as i have written before, the way i understand it, lowe is more concerned with the dollar amount than the years…in short, 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…
In a poll today on MetsBlog.com, only 72 percent of voters said they would not give Lowe a four-year, $67 million deal.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
The Yankees have made a five-year offer to free agent A.J. Burnett, reports Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com, who believes the pitcher is seeking a similar deal to what Carlos Zambrano signed with the Cubs, i.e., five-years, $90 million.
The Phillies are looking to trade Adam Eaton, reports FoxSports.com, and are willing to pay most of his salary.
Earlier today, at FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal wrote, ‘The Mets have shown interest in trading for Dodgers OF Juan Pierre.’
However, when asked about Pierre and Andruw 
Jones, Mets GM Omar Minaya told the Los Angeles Times, “Pierre doesn’t fit for us – and Andruw Jones, we’d have to create a spot for him.”
That said, tonight on SNY, SI.com’s Jon Heyman acknowledged that the Mets have been in talks with the Dodgers.
Speaking of outfielders…
The Marlins are apparently in talks with the Reds and Rays regarding OF Jeremy Hermida, the details of which you can follow at MLB Trade Rumors.
During tonight’s edition of Mets Hot Stove on SNY, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets are first interested in Derek Lowe, followed in order by Oliver Perez, then Randy Wolf, then Jon Garland.
Omar Minaya told reporters today that his team has a 50–50 chance of re-signing Perez, according to Newsday’s David Lennon, who also appeared on Mets Hot Stove.
Also, Heyman says, while the Mets are interested in trading for Huston Street, they are still talking to the M’s about J.J. Putz, and remain interested in Pirates RHP Matt Capps.
…speaking of capps, i wonder if the Pirates would be interested in Aaron Heilman, in a direct swap, much like the Rockies reportedly rejected for street…capps and heilman are making essentially the same money, with the same number of years left, and such a deal would basically flip a relief pitcher to the Mets, in capps, while sending an affordable starter to the Pirates…
According to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, “Heilman has drawn interest from more than a dozen clubs.”
According to Heyman, if the Mets trade for Putz, he could be put in as a set-up man, which would be more difficult to do with a current free-agent closer.
Today, Rosenthal also said the Cardinals offered OF Rick Ankiel to the Mariners for Putz.
…so, as i said at the time, are we to assume the cost of putz for the Mets will be Ryan Church…if so, no thanks…
Heyman says the Mets have been in touch with the Dodgers and Cubs, though every team they speak to requests Jon Niese.
…i see no way the Mets deal niese…1) Fred Wilpon loves the kid, and he’s not shy in saying so, and 2) it would mean the Mets have no choice but to acquire a second starting pitcher…
Tagged Oliver Perez |Tonight at 7 pm, SNY will again air a special Winter Meetings Edition of Mets Hot Stove, including guest appearances by Jon Heyman, footage of Francisco Rodriguez in Citi Field, and an exclusive one-on-one interview with Omar Minaya.
Also, if you’re at your computer later today, 
consider checking out the following online radio shows:
Paul Greco of Gotham Sports Radio will check in from the Winter Meetings, joined by Mark Healey, at 8 pm EDT.
…i will be calling in to paul’s show around 8:15, for any one interested…
Also at 8 pm EDT, Joe McDonald files live reports from the Winter Meetings on Pro Baseball Central, with co-host Steve Keane.
Lastly, live at 9 pm EDT, Mike Silva and Joe DeMayo will recap the day’s event on New York Baseball Digest.
…i will also be calling in to mike’s show around 9:30 pm…
According to Jayson Stark, on the blog for ESPN.com, the Mets had a meeting scheduled today with Scott Boras to discuss both Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.
“They also plan to meet with the agents for Randy Wolf and Jon Garland,” Stark reports.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
Stark also reports the Phillies are not pursuing Lowe, despite reports that suggest otherwise.
The Braves offered Burnett a five-year, $80 million contract, according to Gerry Fraley of FoxSports.com, however a report on MLB.com disagrees.
The Cubs and Padres continue to discuss Jake Peavy, while wrangling in the Phillies, Twins and Orioles, in an effort to get a deal done, explains MLB Trade Rumors.
Tagged Oliver Perez |“The Mets were rebuffed in their attempt to trade Aaron Heilman to the Rockies for Huston Street,” reports Ken Rosenthal in his live blog for FoxSports.com.
According to Rosenthal, “Heilman has drawn interest from more than a dozen clubs.”
Rosenthal agrees with reports that suggest the Mets turned down trading Heilman to the Cubs for Jason Marquis.
“Street has drawn interest from numerous clubs,” Rosenthal writes, however, “The Rockies have yet to receive a tempting offer.”
Rosenthal also blogs about John Smoltz’s future, the Yankees effort to re-build a pitching staff, the asking price for J.J. Putz and a team who is interested in Gary Sheffield.
Update, 6:10 PM:
In an on-air report for ESPN, Peter Gammons said Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd told him he is not inclined to trade Street right now.
According to Gammons, the Rockies may choose to keep Street, use him as a set-up man to Manny Corpas, then re-visit the trade market mid-season, if the Rockies are out of a pennant race.
Mets GM Omar Minaya officially announced the signing of Francisco Rodriguez from the podium in the Bellagio.
Minaya said he has filled his team’s top need this 
off-season by signing Rodriguez to a three-year deal with a vesting option for a fourth season.
“From day one, our goal was to improve the bullpen and I cannot think of a better reliever to sign than Francisco Rodriguez,” said Minaya, “and we are proud to have the man known as K-Rod join the Mets.”
According to Minaya, he intended on meeting with Trevor Hoffman, prior to signing Rodriguez, but the pitcher’s plans were delayed, ‘so the meeting never materliazed.’
Minaya says he and his staff did do research in to why Rodriguez’s fastball is down from where it was in 2002. However, according to hitters he has talked to, Minaya determined that Rodriguez’s change-up is as good as any chaneg up in the game.
SNY’s Matt Yalloff will have an exclusive one-on-one interview with Minaya on tonight’s Mets Hot Stove, airing live at 7 pm on SNY.
The Mets today announced that they have officially signed RHP Francisco Rodriguez, who will wear No. 75.
“I’m thrilled to join the Mets,” Rodriguez said in a press release.
“Mets fans are very passionate and playing in a new ballpark is going to be great. I’m going to do everything I can to help bring a championship to Citi Field.”
The following video is courtesy of SNY, and features Rodriguez on his tour of Citi Field from today:
The Nationals are willing to give Mark Teixeira a 10–year deal, while the O’s are willing to give a nine-year deal, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The Braves have offered A.J. Burnett a five-year, $80 million contract, according to Gerry Fraley of FoxSports.com.
The Cardinals offered OF Rick Ankiel to the Mariners for closer J.J. Putz, according to Ken Rosenthal on FoxSports.com.
…so, are we to assume the cost of putz for the Mets could have been, say, Ryan Church…
The Blue Jays have shown interest in free-agent RHP Matt Clement, reports the Toronto Star.
The A’s continue to meet with free-agent SS Rafael Furcal, according to ESPN.com, despite the player rejecting a four-year deal earlier in the month.
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