Monthly Archives: January 2009
Update, 3:10 pm:
Like I said below, close to 200 die-hard Mets fans went to Shea Stadium today to say one final goodbye.
For pictures, click here and here.
Also, hat tip to Chris and the guys from Baseball Fever for getting the ball rolling on this event, which you can read more about at Newsday and New York Times.
Original Post 12:52 pm:
In a post to his blog for the Hartford Examiner, Andrew Mees pens a letter to Shea Stadium, where he concludes by writing:
Tagged Shea Stadium |Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the 
Giants are the only other team, besides the Dodgers, talking with Manny Ramirez.
However, according to Olney, “Executives with other teams do not believe the Giants are serious players,” adding, “They think San Francisco’s real intent is to keep the Dodgers honest, to force them to give Ramirez at least a two-year deal.”
Olney, who feels the Dodgers may be the only team in baseball right now who has $20 million to spend on a hitter, quotes a high-ranking team official as saying, “Who the hell has $20 million to $25 million available this time of year?”
Olney adds, “Some rival executives believe that the Dodgers could offer a two-year, $30 million deal to Ramirez and still have the highest bid on the table.”
Speaking of outfielders…
In a recent report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal said the Twins are looking to trade 23-year-old OF Delmon Young, though he does not say for whom or what Minnesota would want in return.
In 344 career games, during his young three-year career, Young is hitting .292 with a .326 OBP, 26 HR and 26 stolen bases.
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Mariners are looking to cut payroll now, and may need to consider trading RHP Jarrod Washburn, 3B Adrian Beltre or Miguel Batista to do so.
The 34–year-old, left-handed Washburn was 5–14 with a 4.69 ERA in 153 innings for the M’s last season, during which opponents struck out just 87 times and hit .287 against him.
Washburn, who has a no-trade clause, will earn $10.3 million this season, after which he will be a free agent.
He has not had a winning record since 2004, and has not finished a season with an ERA under 4.30 since 2005.
…man, i didn’t realize how much washnburn has been struggling in seattle… i wonder if a switch to the National League would help him… if anything, he could provide leverage for a team negotiating with Randy Wolf, or Oliver Perez… however, to do so, the M’s would need to eat close to half that balance, to bring him down to around $5 million per season, and i’m not, at that point, why a team would trade a prospect to get him, when they could just sign wolf… though, he’s an interesting option…
Batista will earn $9 million in 2009, after which he is a free agent.
During the last three season, he has made 26 relief appearances and 85 starts, while going 31–33 with a 4.85 ERA, during which right-handed batters hit .266 against him, while lefties hit .305.
According Joe DeMayo of NY Baseball Digest, “If 
the Mets do not have Oliver Perez either locked up, or having made huge strides in negotiations by the end of this coming weekend, they are likely to move on to other options,” according to a league source with knowledge of the team’s plans.
…early last week i mentioned there had been a bit of buzz suggesting the Mets had given perez a weekend deadline… i was skeptical of this, because it’s not typically Omar Minaya’s style… either way, i am sure the Mets want an answer soon, because this is getting a little ridiculous now…
DeMayo believes the Mets prefer Randy Wolf to Ben Sheets, “by a small margin,” because of concerns about his medical records.
…for what it’s worth, the buzz from baseball suggests sheets will not get a two-year offer from any team, for exactly the reason demayo suggests, because of concerns about sheets back and elbow as much as his shoulder – and the fact that he pitched so many innings last season may actually be hurting his case…
The source tells DeMayo a deal with Perez will get done, because, “The Mets love Perez, and Perez loves the Mets. I doubt he would be happy anywhere else.”
DeMayo also provides information on whether the Mets will pursue another bat and a relief pitcher.
Speaking of pitchers…
Pedro Martinez told the Associated Press that he has received various formal offers from a number of clubs.
The Tigers could end up trading one of Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga, Edwin Jackson, Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis, Zach Miner during the season, according to the Detroit News.
Tagged Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf |
The following questions were all sent it to MetsBlog via e-mail…
Afros Supreme: “How come you haven’t talked about the Cole Hamels deal? Shouldn’t the World Series MVP signing for only $7 million cut into Oliver Perez‘s final contract? I’m a Mets fan, but I’ll be the first to admit Hamels is about 10 times the pitcher OP could ever be. How can he still command 14 million?”
Matthew Cerrone: Well, Perez can ask, but I’d be shocked if he gets $14 million per season, especially from the Mets. Also, Hamels’s contract was negotiated with one team and covers part of his arbitration years, so it’s understandable that the annual salary will be lower than if he were on the open market, with competition to help raise his price – if anything, Hamels’s deal will impact John Maine or Mike Pelfrey, who will likely seek new contracts from the Mets in the coming years.
Dr. Cashman: “I love how everyone forgets what Manny Ramirez has pulled in the past – faking injuries, refusing to pinch hit, refusing to back up teammates in a brawl, physically abusing a 60–year-old Red Sox official over tickets, and causing drama every year over showing up late to spring training… The Mets need to bring in ‘character guys,’ not more egos. Didn’t we learn anything from the Yankees when they over-paid free agents and won zero championship? No Manny, No way.”
Matthew Cerrone: Excellent points, Doc. Still, though, you can’t tell me it’s not exciting to think about what he would bring to the lineup – and, last I checked, his baggage, and all the things you cited, didn’t seem to keep the Red Sox from winning two World Championships and it didn’t stop the Dodgers from making the post-season.
J Stark: “Where is Orlando Hudson? How come we haven’t heard about 
him even entertaining offers from other clubs? Could he be waiting for the Mets?”
Matthew Cerrone: I think you’re right, I think he is waiting to see what the Mets do with Luis Castillo and what the Yankees do with Robinson Cano. The problem for Hudson is, it appears both Castillo and Cano are staying put. In the end, it’s looking like he may take a one-year deal with a team like the Nationals, and then re-approach the market next season.
Auliano: “Is there any chance that the Mets sign Garret Anderson to about a three-year deal and use Daniel Murphy as trade bait and wait for Fernando Martinez in a couple of years and ride Anderson until then?”
Matthew Cerrone: Dear Lord I hope not. If you try to ride Anderson for three years, you’ll be hitchhiking a long way. Also, if it takes Martinez three more years to make the major leagues, then something went horribly 
wrong and you’re gonna wish you still had Murphy. Yikes.
Kantonides: “Why don’t the Mets take a chance with Andruw Jones? If he could get back to form and play left field the Mets would have one of the best outfield in baseball.”
Matthew Cerrone: Jones is still looking for a major-league deal, which the Mets will not and better not give him. Once he’s willing to accept a minor-league deal, my bet is the Braves welcome him back, which is where he wants to be any way.
Adam W: “If George Bush becomes the commissioner of baseball, do you think we’ll go to war with the Mexican League?”
Matthew Cerrone: Like the kids say, “LMAO.”
Michael A: “I’ve noticed the Mets have been spending a million here, a half million there, on guys who realistically aren’t difference-makers – Casey Fossum, Cory Sullivan, Alex Cora – when you add it up, they could use that $4 or $5 million to sign Ben Sheets and Oliver Perez, instead of choosing one or the other. I feel that this isn’t a judicious use of a budget.”
Matthew Cerrone: I agree. I think most fans agree. Yet, the team doesn’t, which leads me to believe there is something in this equation we are not aware of. It’s seems simple to me, though. I realize the organziation needs players for Triple-A to fill in during times of injury at the major-league level, 
but with 75 remaining free agents and only 30 or so roster spots in the league, I have to imagine there will be plenty of people looking for work in a pinch.
C Sulli: “Why don’t the Mets Defer Luis Castillo’s contact like the Dodgers did with Andruw Jones?”
Matthew Cerrone: I get this question a lot in terms of Manny Ramirez, as well, wondering if the Mets can sign Ramirez to a two-year deal, paying him $10 million in 2009 and $40 million in 2010, etc. The thing is, to do this, you need four corners to turn their key, 1) the player, 2) the team, 3) the agent, and 4), and most importantly, the Players Union. Frankly, look at how extreme the scenario needed to be to jet the Union to allow Jones to do what he did. If the Union allows this to become a trend, where does it end? Point is, it’s not as easy as just telling the player, ‘Hey, deal with it.’
To watch my latest MetsBlog Mailbag for SNY, click here.
In his latest Rumblings & Grumblings column, for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark quotes a source familiar 
with the Mets thinking as saying, ‘signing Manny Ramirez is not going to happen.’
Stark says the Yankees have made it clear they will not be bidding on Ramirez either, and, according to a person familiar with their thinking, the Angels position to not pursue Ramirez is ‘etched in stone.’
Meanwhile, the Giants are only interested in Ramirez on a short-term deal, and talks with the Dodgers are in the same place they were in October, according to Stark.
In the end, Stark believes Ramirez may not sign a new deal until mid-March, allowing him to skip the majority of spring training.
By the way, Stark also believes Adam Dunn would prefer to play for the Dodgers, and so he may wait until Ramirez signs before choosing a new team.
Stark also writes about Ryan Howard’s arbitration case; five Winter League players worth noting; Jake Peavy, the Padres and Cubs, all of whom may resume talks during spring training; and Matt Holliday, who, according to a recent study, gets better on the road with every game he plays.
According to a report on MLB.com, the Mets have signed John Maine to a one-year, $2.6 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
Pedro Feliciano is the lone remaining Met facing arbitration.
Tagged Pedro Feliciano |According to Newsday, Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ted Poe (R-Texas) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asking that he force the Mets to ‘scrap’ 
their $400-million naming-rights deal with Citigroup, “because of the bank’s receipt of federal bailout money.”
The Associated Press talks with Ron Swoboda about his ‘two magical catches.’
Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest believes the Manny Ramirez Dream is Over for Mets fans.
Lastly, check out Andrew Marchand’s blog for 1050 ESPN Radio to hear clips of David Wells rip Joe Torre on the Michael Kay Show.
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Braves would prefer to first sign Bobby Abreu, or look to trade for Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher, or, lastly, sign Adam Dunn, who is seeking $14 million per season.
The Braves have between $5 and $9 million to spend, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Mark Bowman of MLB.com believes it is now doubtful the Braves bring back Andruw Jones, because he is still looking for a major league deal.
Speaking of outfielders…
Last night, the Mets signed OF Bobby Kielty to a minor-league deal.
In 2005, Kielty, and his bright red hair, dressed up as Ronald McDonald before an A’s game, which you can check out in more detail by clicking here.
Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 has new aerial photos of the Shea Stadium on WCBS880.com.
…you know, they should leave that one remaining section of Shea, just the wall, as a piece of art work in the parking lot… i think that’d be pretty cool…
By the way, just a reminder…
On Saturday, tomorrow, January 31, at 12:00 pm, a group of Mets fans are organizing a final farewell at Shea Stadium, ‘to share stories and take photographs of what is left of the ballpark… This is not for a funeral, but a celebration.’
According to an e-mail from one the event’s organizers, the group will be meeting on the north side of the demolition site near Gate A, or what is left of Gate A.
If you’re on Facebook, and plan on attending, you can get more details by clicking here.
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