Daily Archives: January 7, 2009
Update, 9:15 pm:
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com says Minaya talked with Boras about Lowe, as well as Ramirez and Perez.
I was under the impression Ramirez and Perez were not discussed. I’m glad I was wrong about this.
However, unfortunately, I still sense there is little-to-no chance Ramirez ends up on the Mets.
Actually, the more people I talk with, the more I think a front-end starting pitcher could be Minaya’s last major move, i.e., no Manny, no Orlando Hudson, etc., unless something significant impacts the team’s current position.
Original Post:
From what I can gather, Scott Boras recently met with Omar Minaya in New York City – and things went well.
The two sides left feeling confident that an agreement could eventually be reached between the Mets and free-agent Derek Lowe, though Boras is likely to take more time to try and solicit additional offers.
I do not believe their talks extended to include Oliver Perez and Manny Ramirez.
Meanwhile, according to people connected to Lowe, the Mets will eventually need to grant a fourth-year option, and may need to pay more per season than they initially offered, but not $15 million – and the Mets are open to this.
In other words, like Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote earlier today, I’m thinking Lowe could eventually cost Minaya a three-year, $42 million deal, with a performance-based fourth-year option and a team buyout.
In the end, Minaya has a strong relationship with Boras, and Lowe is interested in pitching in Queens, especially since he has so few high-priced suitors, and so I like where the Mets stand – however, with Boras in the mix, you never know what might happen.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Denver Post was first to report that the Yankees may look to trade either 1B-OF Nick Swisher or OF Xavier Nady, with the Angels, Braves, Rangers and A’s all showing interest.
According to a recent post from Joel Sherman, for 
the New York Post, “The Mets and Braves were among the teams that were interested in Nick Swisher before he was traded from the White Sox to the Yankees.”
However, Sherman believes there is a better chance of the Yankees trading Nady because he is eligible for free agency after next season.
The 27–year-old Swisher, who hit just .219 last season, will earn $21 million over the next three seasons.
Nady, 30, hit .305 and 25 home runs in 555 at bats between the Yankees and Pirates last season.
Speaking of outfielders…
The Pirates and two American League teams are most interested in free-agent OF Rocco Baldelli, according to the Post-Gazette.
The A’s may soon look in to Bobby Abreu, and maybe Orlando Cabrera, reports Susan Slusser in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Henry Schulman, also in the Chronicle, believes the Giants and Manny Ramirez have discussed a contract.
The following video of New York Baseball Today: Hot Stove Edition, which you can watch by clicking play, features me, Bronx Banter’s Alex Belth, and SNY’s Ted Berg talking about the market for Ben Sheets and Andy Pettitte:
Tagged SNY |Yesterday, the New York Times said free-agent LHP Andy Pettitte rejected Brian Cashman’s one-year, $10 million offer, as the pitcher continues to seek a $16 million deal.
However, the Yankees are still open to negotiating with Pettitte, according to FoxSports.com and the Daily News.
Actually, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Yankees are more likely to lower their $10 million offer than they are to raise it.
In a report about Mark Teixeira for the Bergen Record, Bob Klapisch slips in the following about Pettitte:
“If Pettitte’s career in the Bronx is really over, Flushing would be the logical place for him to land… But the Mets’ hierarchy undoubtedly senses Pettitte and the Yankees are playing a garden-variety game of chicken. If Omar Minaya were to call Pettitte’s agents today, the result would be to give the left-hander the leverage to extract an extra $2 million out of the Yankees… Which is why the Mets aren’t about to pick up the phone - even though the thought has indeed crossed their minds.”
Pettitte in Queens would be painful to the Yankees, and so I can see why such a move might be enticing – for both the player and the Mets, not too mention he’d fit in nicely with, say, Johan Santana, Derek Lowe, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey. However, like Klapisch says, it seems to me that Pettitte and the Yankees will eventually work it out – they’re just going through a rough patch right now.
In mid-December, Jon Heyman of SI.com said Pettitte had a three-year offer on the table from an ‘unnamed team,’ though Heyman has not mentioned the offer since that initial report.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
The Cubs may soon re-open talks with the Padres about RHP Jake Peavy, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Toby Hyde and Christopher Guy at Mets Minor League Blog post some video of Fernando Martinez and discuss his swing.
George W. Bush named Mets GM Omar Minaya to his Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, reports MLB.com.
In their humurous predictions for 2009, the Olypmian, a newspaper from Washington state, believes the Mets will defeat the Yankees in the World Series, while El Duque will be elected Cuban president.
In a post to Amazin Avenue, Eric Simon tries to determine whether Citi Field will be a pitcher’s park, while speaking with Greg Rybarczyk of The Hardball Times, who recently wrote, “Citi Field is poised to become MLB’s new Grand Canyon.”
According to the Associated Press, Scott Boras will meet face-to-face with Mets executives today to discuss Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.
However, from what I can gather, Boras and Minaya met yesterday evening, in New York City – whether they are meeting again today, I am not sure.
Tagged Oliver Perez |
In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal explains why the Mets may be stuck with Luis Castillo, who is due $18 million over the next three seasons, in a market where Pat Burrell just signed a two-year, $16 million deal.
According to Rosenthal, “In theory, the Mets could assume enough of Castillo’s salary to make him, say, a $2 million a year player. However, they’re already paying two closers… and two managers… Paying two second basemen – say, with the signing of free agent Orlando Hudson - would be a stretch.”
Rosenthal believes the Mets will next sign a starting pitcher, followed by a utility infielder, such as Alex Cora, David Eckstein or Craig Counsell.
Last month, WEEI radio in Boston said the Mets are pursuing Cora to be their utility infielder.
In 75 games for the Red Sox in 2008, the 33–year-old Cora hit .270 with a .371 OBP, while playing second base and shortstop.
In his 11–year career, he has played short, second, 
left field, third base and first base.
I know people will look at Cora’s age, but it is difficult to find a young utility infielder. Also, I believe it is wise to have a veteran in this sort of role, because of the steady-hand and experience.
If the Mets end up with Cora, that’s fine. If not, I won’t lose sleep over it. That said, if the Mets are not going to sign Hudson, and are stuck with Castillo, I’d prefer they sign Eckstein over Cora, because he gets on base more frequently and he strikes out less, and I think his style of play and attitude would be good for the clubhouse.
By the way, Rosenthal also reports on Adam Dunn; the lack of action in St. Louis, and how it could impact Albert Pujols; the market for Jon Garland and 2B Brian Roberts; and the future of Kris Benson, who has not pitched in the majors since 2006.
Speaking of infielders…
The Padres have interest in Eckstein and free-agent Omar Vizquel, according to the team’s GM, reports MLB.com.
Lastly, the Phillies signed 2B Marcus Giles to a minor-league deal, worth $600,000, according to the Denver Post.
Mets pitchers and catchers will report to Port St. Lucie on Feb. 13, with on-field workouts beginning the next day.
The team’s position players will report the following week, on Feb. 17.
Their first exhibition game is scheduled for Feb. 25.
Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press believes the Mets have made an offer to free-agent RHP Tim Redding, who was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season.
In late December, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Mets were making an effort to sign Redding, who was also drawing interest from the Orioles, Rangers and Rockies.
Rosenthal believes Redding may require a two-year deal.
Redding is a decent option to compete for the final spot in the rotation, but so are a handfull of others – but not for two years.
Also in December, the Daily News quoted Redding’s agent as saying, “The Mets are very much in the mix for Tim, he’s a Northeast guy and loves the city.”
According to Rosenthal, “The Mets are trying to sign a more prominent free-agent starter such as Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez, but Redding could fit in the back of their rotation.”
In 33 starts, Redding was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA through 182 innings for the Nationals last season.
He underwent surgery on his left foot in November, but, reportedly, will be 100 percent by spring training.
Fitzpatrick also says the Mets are close to making an offer to free-agent LHP Randy Wolf, who is seeking a three-year, $30 million deal, according to Rosenthal.
Yesterday, Newsday’s Ken Davidoff reported the Mets and Wolf had recently been in negotiations, while MLB.com’s Marty Noble said an offer could be made this week.
The Brewers, Braves, Cardinals and Phillies have been linked in rumor to Wolf, who is also drawing interest from the Nationals, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
Personally, Wolf does nothing for me. I am always suspect of a pitcher who has been with four teams in three years, all while pitching with a high-4.00 ERA and missing a whole bunch of games due to injury. I mean, if Wolf is signed as a short-term guy to compete with Jon Niese, I’m cool with that, I guess. However, if Wolf is supposed to be a ‘front-end starting pitcher,’ that will be a problem.
