Daily Archives: December 10, 2008
Omar Minaya is expected to speak with reporters from the Bellagio some time in the next hour or so.
…my guess is he will announce Francisco Rodriguez passed his physical and is officially the newest member of the Mets…
Rodriguez toured Citi Field today following his physical, while wearing a Mets cap and jacket, alongside the team’s COO Jeff Wilpon.
SNY will air exclusive video of Rodriguez’s tour of Citi Field during tonight’s Mets Hot Stove show at 7 pm.
By the way, the Mets apparently told reporters this morning that Rodriguez would like to wear No. 17.
Update, 4:58 PM:
According to Adam Rubin, in a report for the Daily News, the Mets are expected to hold a news conference next Wednesday to introduce Rodriguez.
However, adds Rubin, “With Citi Field not ready to host press conferences, the location of next week’s event is unclear.”
The Mets are still considering Oliver Perez, ‘but they are still far apart on the dollars,’ said SI.com’s Jon Heyman, during an on-air appearance with WFAN in New York.
According to Heyman, Perez is seeking a five-year deal worth roughly $70 million.
Heyman believes Omar Minaya’s other two choices are either free-agent starter Randy Wolf or Jon Garland.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
Free-agent RHP John Smoltz is considering the Mets, Red Sox and Tigers, as well as a return to the Braves, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
The Boston Herald reports the Red Sox have requested Smoltz’s medical records.
Tagged Oliver Perez |In a post to Newsday, David Lennon provides incredible details from the Mets negotiations with Francisco Rodriguez.
Lennon relays a collection of interesting anecdotes, the best of which reads as follows:
“When K-Rod and his agent, Paul Kinzer, had dinner with the Mets on Sunday night, they were pleasantly surprised when the team executives got a call from Johan Santana, who had no idea they were meeting with Rodriguez. K-Rod, a fellow Venezuelan, idolizes Santana and was thrilled that he called. The Mets handed the phone to K-Rod and the two talked. In retrospect, it was a turning point as Santana expressed his excitement that K-Rod could be closing games for him.”
…oh, come on…there is no way that was a coincidence…
…if not, it would suggest santana regularly calls team executives, which i have an equally difficult time believing…
…the thing is, who cares…it’s freaking awesome either way…
In an on-air report for ESPN News, Buster Olney said he cannot find a GM, outside of the Dodgers, who will say they have interest in signing Manny Ramirez.
However, according to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, while speaking to WFAN, ‘the Yankees are in on Ramirez.’
Speaking of hitters…
Jon Heyman of SI.com talked to two high-
ranking officials who believe Mark Teixeira will end up signing a 10–year, $200 million deal.
That said, the Nationals have made a seven-year, $150 million offer to Teixeira, reports Yahoo! Sports.
The Washington Post believes the Angels, Red Sox, Nationals and Orioles will compete for Teixeira, while Heyman seems to feel the Red Sox will eventually sign him.
According to FoxSports.com, Teixeira would prefer to sign with a team on the East Coast, to be closer to his family.
In an on-air report for WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Yankees are now targeting both Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett.
Heyman estimates the Yankees will offer Lowe a four-year, $68 million deal.
If the Yankees cannot sign Burnett, they will move on to Ben Sheets, on a two-year deal, and will likely pursue free-agent Andy Pettitte as well.
…so, the Yankees could be looking at a rotation of CC Sabathia, Chien Ming Wang, A.J. Burnett or Ben Sheets, Derek Lowe and either Andy Pettitte or Joba Chamberlain…almighty then…
According to Heyman, ‘The Phillies are still in the mix for Lowe,’ but he is ‘not an option for the Mets.’
Speaking of starting pitchers…
According to the East Valley Tribune, the Brewers, Rangers and Cubs are all interested in free-agent pitcher Randy Johnson, as are the Rangers, said Nolan Ryan to MLB.com.
“The Mets are looking at Pirates RHP Matt Capps and a few others, in addition to Rockies RHP Huston Street, as they begin to focus on a set-up man,” reports Jon Heyman on his live blog for SI.com.
Heyman also believes the Mets have talked to the Cubs and Mariners about ‘relief help.’
In 214 appearances in his four-year career, Capps, 25, is 15–11 with a 3.06 ERA through 217 innings, during which opponents are hitting .243 against while striking out 162 times.
Capps is eligible for arbitration in 2010 and 2011, after which he is eligible to be a free agent.
As I wrote last night, Francisco Rodriguez will fly to New York City today to take his physical – in advance of completing a three-year deal with the Mets.
I keep hearing the team will make an official announcement tonight, assuming Rodriguez passes his physical – and that there will not be a big press conference to announce the signing, like the team did for Johan Santana last off-season.
Instead, they may do a conference call Thursday with reporters.
‘The Mets have shown interest in trading for Dodgers OF Juan Pierre,’ reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.
According to Rosenthal, the Dodgers would need to assume a large chunk Pierre’s remaining salary.”
Pierre is due to earn $10 million in 2009, $10 million in 2010 and $8.5 million in 2011.
Rosenthal believes the Dodgers will not seriously enterian trading Pierre until they know the future of Manny Ramirez, and the status of Andruw Jones.
The 31–year-old Pierre hit .283 with a .327 OBP with 40 stolen bases for the Dodgers last season, while playing mostly left field, and hitting first in the batting order.
…the Dodgers are said to be seeking a second baseman, which would beg the question: Could the Mets trade Luis Castillo, and his three-year, $18 million deal, for Pierre…
…i am re-posting this from last night, in case you missed it…
“I think we’re going to have to continue (to improve the bullpen),” Mets GM Omar Minaya said yesterday, according to Newsday.
“I don’t feel we should just tell ourselves the only thing we need is one guy.”
In the Bergen Record, Bob Klapisch explains, “K-Rod didn’t enter a game before the ninth inning in 2008, and never pitched more than one inning during the regular season.”
In other words, Minaya still needs to acquire a set-up man.
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 D’Backs reliever Jon Rauch, who Minaya has had 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 Tigers and be a closer.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes Yankee boss Hank Steinbrenner wants Manny Ramirez, ‘and could give a hoot about his hair.’
…how much do you think manny would like to sign with the Yankees, just to stick it to Boston…and vice-a-versa…
…also, speaking of steinbrenner, i’m starting to think i could get $1 million to pitch for him, since they’re just flinging money from the rafters…
Anyway, from what I can gather, there is not much of a market for Ramirez, beyond a one– or two-year deal, and so he will likely wait until January to make a decision.
For now, as far as I can tell, the Mets have no intention of signing Ramirez. The standard line in New York is as follows, ‘The Wilpons wouldn’t let Minaya trade for Ramirez in July, so why would they let him sign Ramirez now.”
Personally, I have no interest in Ramirez. Yes, he’s hilarious, entertaining, and a dangerous hitter. However, he would dominate the clubhouse, distract from Jerry Manuel’s philosophy, he’s a terrible defensive player, and should be a DH.
Instead, I believe the Mets are looking for a strong defensive player, who is a well-rounded, right-handed hitter, though I have no idea who that could be.
In the end, I still feel Ramirez will end up back with the Dodgers, since he needs Hollywood just like Hollywood needs him.
← Older postsNewer posts →
