December 19, 2008 at 3:42 pm
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128 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
According to the Associated Press, the Angels have signed free-agent OF-1B Juan Rivera to a three-year, $12.75 million deal.
Meanwhile, Tim Brown at Yahoo! Sports believes the Angels have also been in touch with free-agent outfielders Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell, and may also look to sign a closer.
…ok, so, if rivera is getting a three-year deal and for roughly $4 million per season, and ‘the great Raul Ibanez’ also signed a three-year deal, but for roughly $10 million per season, i’m thinking abreu could be looking at three-years, $25 million, which is a significant drop off from what he probably expected at the end of last season…
…i agree with what people are saying in the comments section, which is that, i wonder if dunn will end up signing a one-year deal and re-try the open market next off-season, in what will hopefully be a better economy with less competition…maybe the D’Backs anticipated this, and this is why they didn’t offer him arbitration…
December 19, 2008 at 3:20 pm
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57 comments
by Regis Courtemanche
MightyJoeOrsulak at Mets Geek thinks the Mets should sell high on Daniel Murphy and targets several players, writing:
“Murphy is most valuable as a 3rd baseman, which the Mets do not need, and he is at a high point in his value. The Mets have no solutions at 2nd base in the system and Fernando coming up in Left Field. There is thus no room for both Murphy, Evans, and Martinez on this team.”
…i understand that eventually, murphy might not fit in defensively, but he fits right now and that’s what the mets need to focus on…
The New York Post lists their top 10 Mets of 2008, and at The ‘Ropolitans, you can vote for Met Of The Year.
I got my Mets Holiday e-card today, which you can see here.
…not a big fan of the music, but a nice gesture…
Speaking of holidays, Riding with Rickey celebrates Festivus a little early this year, and lists his top 16 grievances of 2008.
…ah festivus, it truly is the holiday for the rest of us…and it falls on my birthday which makes the 23rd that much more fun…
December 19, 2008 at 1:20 pm
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45 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
The following video, courtesy of SNY.tv, is of my recent phone conversation with Tim Dierkes from MLB Trade Rumors, during which we talk about the market for Derek Lowe, and the rest of the starting pitcher’s market:
December 19, 2008 at 11:36 am
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74 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Baseball America released its Mets Top 10 Prospects List today, which 
looks as follows: 1) OF Fernando Martinez, 2) SS Wilmer Flores, 3) LHP Jon Niese, 4) RHP Brad Holt, 5) RHP Robert Parnell, 6) 3B Jefry Marte, 7) RHP Jenrry Mejia, 8) SS Reese Havens, 9) 1B-OF Nick Evans, and 10) RHP Eddie Kunz.
…the weirdest part about the list, actually, is that it is written by Adam Rubin, beat writer for the Daily News…which is not to knock rubin, whose work i enjoy, it’s just, when this list comes out, i find myself looking forward to hearing from Jim Callis, or John Manuel, Matt Meyers, J.J. Cooper, of whomever else from BA typically compiled the list…
…that said, i know rubin follows the minor-league system as well as any one, and keeps in contact with any one who’s any one involved in scouting such talent, so i have no doubt his work is solid…it’s just, if i want to read rubin, i’ll read the Daily News, you know what i mean…
…that said, i’m glad to see F-Mart still getting respect…because, at this point, i have lost count of people around the game who have expressed concern to me about his progress…
…for his sake, though, the Mets are not one of them…from what i understand, Omar Minaya and Tony Bernazard are still very excited and confident about martinez, so much so that it is factoring in to their plans for filling left-field this season…because, i truly believe they envision Fernando Martinez in left field and Daniel Murphy at first 
base when dreaming up the future…
By the way, on Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde answers a question about Mets prospects Jefry Marte and Wilmer Flores, who play SS and 3B, two positions that will hopefully be filled in Citi Field at least through the next few seasons.
Hyde also discusses Mets RHP Brad Holt, saying, among other things, “The chances of seeing Holt in the Big Leagues in 2009 are very, very low, bordering on nil, despite the fact I think he’s the Mets best pitching prospect.”
Also on his blog, Hyde conducts an exclusive Q&A with Kevin Goldstein, who recently released his much-anticipated Mets Top 11 Prospects list for Baseball Prospectus, during which they discuss Josh Thole and Dillon Gee, both of whom were left off of Goldestein’s list.
December 19, 2008 at 10:20 am
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61 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Mets RHP J.J. Putz was introduced to 
reporters yesterday during a Q&A and tour of Citi Field.
In case you missed it, click here to check out video the event.
Putz, speaking about Francisco Rodriguez, while talking with reporters, said:
“I’m just glad I don’t have to watch him on the other side anymore because he killed us… It’s going to be great. He’s a lot of fun to watch, I’ll tell you that. He’s been as dominant as anybody in this game the last few years. He’s not a bad guy to have to set up… I’m fine with the role. Like I said, bottom line, I just want to win.”
…frankly, the best news of the day came when putz told reporters his walk-on music will be Thunderstruck by AC/DC, which hasn’t graced a Mets game since the late 1990s…
To read more about Putz’s day in Citi Field, as well as quotes from his talk with reporters, check out the Associated Press, the Star-Ledger, the New York Post, and the Daily News.
By the way, to learn all you’ll need to know about his last name, where it comes from, how it’s pronounced, how it’s not pronounced, and so on, check out the New York Times.
December 19, 2008 at 9:23 am
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116 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Yesterday, Mark Teixeira and his agent, Scott Boras, met with executives from the Boston Red 
Sox, who offered the free-agent first baseman an eight-year deal, according to multiple reports.
However, late last night, the Boston Globe relayed an e-mail from Sox owner John Henry, which read:
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
…honestly, my first reaction to this e-mail was that boras tried to package Jason Varitek in to the deal, as he’s accused of doing from time to time, and that – not the specific dollars for teixeira – is what is keeping them from being a factor…or, the Sox feel they are now bidding against themselves, due to boras’s mind games…but, that’s all just speculation…though, it’s logical, because, going in to yesterday, the general buzz in baseball seemed to feel it was inevitable that he’d sign in boston…
…that said, i did speak with two people yesterday, who deal in the business side of the game, both of whom, though guessing, felt teixeira would end up back with the Angels…so, who knows…
The Red Sox, Angels, Yankees, Orioles and Nationals have all been pursuing Teixeira since the end of the regular season.
Why do you care…
…if the Red Sox lose teixeira, knowing they’re not signing Manny Ramirez, it seems there is a good chance they decide to focus on Derek Lowe, who the Mets are wishing to sign…inversely, if the sox do sign teixeira, i believe it strengthens Omar Minaya’s position to sign lowe…
…also, if the sox sign teixeira, the buzz in new york suggests the Yankees will push to sign ramirez, who the Angels will likely try for, but if manny goes to the Bronx, the Angels could end up reaching out to minaya about Carlos Delgado…
…by the way, i hate blogging about teixeira, because it pains me knowing the Mets are not involved…i understand why they’re not involved, i just don’t like it…if there is ever a player worth an eight-year deal, it’s this guy…that said, he doesn’t pitch, and i agree pitching should be their primary focus right now…
Speaking of hitters, so to speak…
The Angels are close to re-signing free-agent OF Juan Rivera to a three-year contract, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports.
…good…get him off the board…i don’t know, but i just had this bad feeling he would end up on the Mets, either in left field or at first…
December 19, 2008 at 8:54 am
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72 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
In his latest report for SI.com, Jon Heyman describes Omar Minaya’s chances of re-signing Oliver Perez as ‘remote.’
According to Heyman, ‘The Mets and Boras seem far apart,’ while the Brewers, Dodgers, Reds and Mariners are seen as ‘potential suitors for Perez.’
Heyman previously said on WFAN that Perez had been seeking a five-year, $70 million contract.
Meanwhile, free-agent LHP Randy Wolf is seeking a three-year, $30 million deal, reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.
That said, Heyman believes Derek Lowe has been – and continues to be – the Mets ‘first choice,’ noting that they ‘love his consistency and durability.’
However, Heyman explains, the Red Sox and Yankees remain an option for Lowe, who could also draw interest from the Cubs, and Braves, who offered A.J. Burnett a five-year deal.
By the way, Rosenthal says the Braves are not interested in Lowe.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
The Giants are working to sign free-agent LHP Randy Johnson to a one-year deal, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The New York Post believes Andy Pettitte wants to return to the Yankees, who offered him a one-year, $10 million contract.
Speaking of the Yankees, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes they have no interest in Ben Sheets.
…well, if pettitte goes back, how many starting pitchers do they need…i’m thinking pettitte, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain is probably enough…
…or, is it never enough in the Bronx…
Lastly, in case you’re interested, Heyman also reports on the messy situation between the Dodgers, Braves and Rafael Furcal; whether Zack Grienke is available; the outfield market, including Jermaine Dye; teams who like Brian Fuentes; and the state of the Mike Cameron deal.
December 19, 2008 at 8:30 am
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41 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Last night on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, Mike Pelfrey had the following to say, when asked about the day things started to click for him last season:
“I think the biggest thing was believing in myself… Sometimes you go out there and try to do more than your capable of. Finally, in the LA game, and I kind of backed off and just tried to throw strikes and I learned there that, hey, I just need to be myself and I can be successful. I don’t need to do more than I am capable of. And once I learned that I started gaining more confidence, I started having better games, and it just took off from there.”
…i will be the first to admit that i thought pelfrey was destine to be a back-end starter, if not a reliever, but i think that speaks more to my impatience…
…i actually expect pelfrey to take a slight step back at some point next season, because i think that is only natural…this is why i am very much in favor of the Mets signing a guy like Derek Lowe, because i think the additional millions will be worth the consistency he delivers…being able to bank on essentially the same start, game in and game out, from lowe and Johan Santana, will be vital when given pelfrey’s understandable adjustment and John Maine’s recovery from shoulder surgery…
…at any rate, once pelfrey learns how to command an inning, and matures in that sense, be it next year or the subsequent years after, i believe he has the potential to be a Brandon Webb type, if for no other reason than he has a 95–mph fastball to compliment those pitches down in the zone…i look forward to continuing to watch him develop…
To watch all of Pelfrey’s interview with Kevin Burkhardt and Dan Graziano, courtesy of SNY, click here.
Lastly, to watch Burkhardt’s interview with Daniel Murphy from his home in Jacksonville, Fla., click here.
