Monthly Archives: December 2008
Marty Noble of MLB.com believes the Mets will make offers this week to at 
least two starting pitchers, if not three, from a group consisting of Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf.
According to Noble, ‘the Mets still view Wolf as a fall back alternate to the other two,’ with Lowe still the team’s top priority.
Noble also reports on the team’s plan for the bullpen, which does not include Joe Beimel, and may not include an additional left-handed reliever, according to Omar Minaya.
Tagged Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf |In his latest post to ESPN.com, Buster Olney takes a closer look at the dwindling market for free-agent OF Manny Ramirez.
According to Olney, the Angels, Mets and Yankees have all said they are out of the bidding on Ramirez, who is unlikely to draw interest from the Phillies, Blue Jays, Cubs, Tigers, Cardinals, Braves and others.
Olney adds that some GMs are concerned that if Ramirez signs a short-term deal that he believes is worth less than he thinks he deserves, he could end up being ‘unhappy,’ and, ‘As the Red Sox can attest, that didn’t work out so well in the end.’
Omar Minaya has been unable to convince ownership to sign Ramirez, Dan Graziano recently wrote in the Star-Ledger, and so he will not be on the Mets, according to people familiar with the team’s thinking.
…i actually believe ramirez will end up returning to the Dodgers, because, as i have said before, he needs Hollywood as much as Hollywood needs him…however, while i agree with graziano, if this continues to drag out, and there is a chance of ramirez signing a one-year deal, the Mets have to get involved…they have to…
Last week, in a poll on MetsBlog.com, only nine percent of more than 7,500 voters said they did not want Ramirez on the Mets, while 49 percent would go so far as to guarantee him a two-year deal and 29 percent would give him a three-year deal.
Last week, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times said the Mets could ask Johan Santana to sit out of the World Baseball Classic.
“He should be O.K., but we’re going to be conservative,” Omar Minaya told Shpigel. “If we have a little bit of doubt or concern, we’d rather have him not play. We’re pro-Classic, but we always have to be mindful and protective of our players.”
Santana underwent surgery in October to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. In December, he told reporters he will be ready for spring training.
[poll id="199"]
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe believes the Mets are the front-runners to sign free-agent RHP Derek Lowe, over the Phillies and Red Sox.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox and free-agent RHP Brad Penny agreed to a one-year deal that could be worth up to $8 million.
Penny joins Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester in Boston’s starting rotation, shifting Justin Masterson back to the bullpen.
…penny’s deal is guaranteed, and for decent money, and so i have to think this means they do not have the same serious interest in lowe as the Mets…which is not to say the Sox will not sign him, but i take this as a good sign for the Mets…
Penny missed the end of last season with a sore right shoulder.
In November, the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Several club officials have questioned the severity of the shoulder problems… and blamed his 6-9 record and 6.27 earned-run average on what they called a poor work ethic.”
Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes, “The Mets have quietly continued to gauge the market for Luis Castillo, and if they find a taker for at least some of his salary, that would leave them in position to pursue Orlando 
Hudson.”
…i believe, having talked with people connected to the team, the Mets would like to trade castillo, and feel there is a 50–50 shot they can do so, but it may take in to spring training to make such a move happen…which, as you can figure out, causes problems when considering hudson, who will want to sign a new deal some place long before march, obviously…
…in other words, if you start seeing a lot of rumors connecting hudson to another team, it may mean the Mets have determined it is impossible to trade castillo…the buzz around hudson suggests he is willing to wait for a deal from the Mets or Yankees, but he will not wait forever…
Tagged Orlando Hudson |
The Yankees are looking to trade either Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher or Hideki Matsui, with the Angels, Braves, Rangers and A’s all showing interest, reports the Rocky Mountain News.
…if you recall, rumor had it that the Mets were trying to re-acquire nady from the Pirates last summer, but the asking price was too much…as i have said before, it seems like every year for the rest of my life i will be writing about the possible return of nady to queens, though no rumors have appeared in print thus far…in the end, i am sure the Yankees will first try to trade matsui, with nady being a last option…nevertheless, nady still would be a good short-term solution for the Mets in left field…
Speaking of outfielders…
Buster Olney of ESPN.com explains why Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell could end up signing a deal worth roughly $4 million and $9 million per season with the A’s and Rays.
The Reds signed free-agent OF Wily Tavares to a two-year deal, according to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News.
Also, they have been in contact with the Yankees regarding Nady and the other outfielders, reports 1530 AM in Cincinnati.
Tagged Xavier Nady |
Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the Cardinals, Brewers, Dodgers and Braves are no longer in the market for Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez.
Olney adds, “So the Mets can sit back and pluck the best of the starting pitchers, at their price… Heck, the Mets might find themselves in a position to take advantage of a two-for-one sale.”
According to the New York Post, “It seems clear the Mets want to get the situation resolved by New Year’s or shortly thereafter so they can begin filling in other cracks.”
Speaking of starting pitchers…
The Padres are no longer working to trade Jake Peavy, though they continue to listen to offers, reports the Union Tribune.
Lastly, the Giants and free-agent LHP Randy Johnson agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal, according to the Associated Press.
As such, reporter Chris Haft of MLB.com believes the Giants may now listen to offers for LHP Jonathan Sanchez, who will cost a young, major-league hitter who is not eligible to be a free agent until after 2009.
Sanchez, 26, is 13–18 with a 5.18 ERA in 89 games in his career.
Tagged Oliver Perez |Last month, NPB Tracker said the Mets are the front-runners to sign Japanese free-agent LHP Ken Takahashi, who was 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 21 games last season for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
According to the report, Takahashi hopes to 
sign with a new team by the end of the year.
Today, also on NPB Tracker, Patrick takes a closer look at Takahashi, detailing his ‘mechanics and stuff,’ and what’s next for the relief pitcher.
In the end, Patrick writes, “Given that Takahashi will be 40 next April and will have to adjust to a full-time relief role in the America, I think he’s in for a little bit of an uphill battle. Still, he had a nice string of successful starts at the beginning of last season, is left handed and seems to have a couple of decent breaking pitches, so if he’s in the right role and environment I could see him being a useful pitcher.”
In the New York Post, Mike Vaccaro says, “The Mets should start acting like they belong in the varsity league by addressing their lingering needs with the most tried-and-true method possible… By spending their money.”
I dislike this argument. Yes, i agree with it. But, I think it’s very easy and presumptuous to haphazardly spend some one else’s money, from a check book we do not have access to.
I mean, sure, I would love for the Mets to just cut Luis Castillo, eat his $18 million, trade for Jason Marquis, sign Orlando Hudson, Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez, and be done with it.
However, like it or not, I know this will not be happening. I wish it would, but it isn’t, for whatever reason – whether because of roster space, logistics, character issues, or available cash, it just isn’t in the cards.
So, instead of writing easy, emotional op-eds about what the Mets should do, I am far more interested in why the Mets do what they do. Why are they opposed to spending like the Yankees?
I understand why they had to spend less 10 years ago. But, now the Mets also have a successful regional sports network, they also have a new stadium, they also play in New York City, and also charge a fortune for tickets and hot dogs.
So, what is it? What’s the difference? Is it a lack of capital, is it outside forces we are unaware of, is it the team’s minority owners, is it personal preference?
The thing is, I’m fine with any answer, because it’s their answer, their money and their decision. I won’t argue against it, judge or criticize it, because what do i know.
However, as a fan, as a customer, who spends a ton of time and money helping to support their business, spending money on tickets and TV time, popcorn, pretzels and parking, only to drive myself crazy every fall, I believe you and I have earned some sort of response.
SNY will replace Matt Yalloff with Chris Carlin as host of the Mets Pre– and Post-Game Show, 
reports Neil Best of Newsday, who adds that Bobby Ojeda will likely replace Lee Mazzilli, who the network has already decided not to re-sign.
…ojeda…really…i actually know nothing about him, in terms of on-air skills, but am interested to see what he’s all about…
…as for yalloff and mazz, i wish them well…they were always supportive of me and MetsBlog.com, and did their best to make me look more competent on air…
Speaking of television…
Best also reports that SI.com’s Jon Heyman will join the MLB Network as a ‘baseball insider.’
…i hope this doesn’t impact his role on SNY and WFAN, since i enjoy hearing his take locally on the Mets, as opposed to only news about the entire league…
So far, Barry Larkin, Dan Plesac, Al Leiter, and Harold Reynolds, among other former players, have already been announced as part of the MLB Network team.
…it’s funny, every time i put the MLB Network on, it’s some in-depth retrospect about the 2004 Red Sox, which inevitably makes my Yankee-fan wife sigh, shake her head and walk out of the room…
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