Daily Archives: January 12, 2009
During tonight’s Hot Stove show on the MLB Network, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets offered free-agent LHP Oliver Perez a three-year deal, ‘worth close to $30 million.’
Heyman says the Mets are discouraged by negotiations with Lowe, who is also being pursued by the Braves, ‘any maybe the Phillies, and maybe the Brewers.’
According to Heyman, Omar Minaya prefers Perez, but the rest of the front office prefers Lowe.
Earlier in the off-season, Heyman told WFAN that Perez had been seeking a five-year, $80 million deal.
Tagged Oliver Perez |The Mets today officially announced the signing of RHP Tim Redding to a one-year contract.
Tagged Tim Redding |
In a post to his blog for WFAN.com, Mets reporter Ed Coleman says Billy Wagner is ahead of schedule and aiming to return in August.
…wagner would be a great late-season addition, if he’s able to pull it off… forgive me for saying this, but, imagine entering the end of September with Francisco Rodriguez, J.J. Putz and wagner in the bullpen…
Coleman also weighs in on Omar Minaya’s off-season strategy, and the team’s potential starting rotation next season.
Last week, I put up a link and commented about the Citi Field 2009 Inaugural Season Patch from the Mets and MLB, of which I said, “This is one of the most basic, uninspiring designs I have seen in quite some time.”
Today, in a post about the new patch for Yankee Stadium, Peter Abraham writes the following to his blog for the Journal News:
“I’m tempted to arm my 3-year-old nephew Jason with his markers and see if he can do better. He certainly can’t do any worse… You have to love the Mets, the only team that would design a patch for their new stadium that doesn’t mention the stadium or show any images of it.”
What’s more, in a recent report for ESPN.com, Paul Lukas, author of Uni Watch, adds:
“Let’s skip the metaphors and jokes and just proceed straight to the simple, declarative truth: This is the worst sleeve patch in MLB history… As usual, the Mets don’t need to look far to see how they should have handled this. All it takes is a quick glance toward the Bronx… For the sake of fans everywhere, please get a clue already.”
…i’m speechless… seriously, i am without speech… thanks, guys…
In an interview with 790 AM Radio in Atlanta yesterday, Braves GM Frank Wren said he is not just focused on free-agent RHP Derek Lowe, but is also entertaining trade proposals for a starting pitcher, saying:
“There’s other guys out there that we like… I have trade proposals on my desk, as we speak, that would bring another pitcher to us… The trade proposal that I have on my desk, that was put in place six weeks ago.”
During the discussion, Wren said he does not see his team acquiring Jake Peavy from the Padres.
…hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors for the link and quote…
Mets 1B Carlos Delgado recently told ESPN Deportes that he would be happy to see the Mets sign free-agent C Ivan Rodriguez, adding:
“I’m a fan of Ivan. If we can get a catcher of that quality, fine, but
pitching is the priority.”
…carlos, have you met Brian Schneider… he’s the guy who wears the mask and the big puffy glove…
Delgado also discussed the team’s current pitching staff, acquiring Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, and his personal goal to be more consistent at the plate next season.
…thanks to Andres M for the link and translation…
Rodriguez had been hitting .295 for the Tigers last season, before being traded to the Yankees, with whom he hit just .219.
The Mets and A’s are among teams interested in free-agent LHP Dennys Reyes, according to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.
On Wednesday, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com said the Dodgers recently made an offer to Reyes, though he did not list terms of the deal.
In December, Reyes, 31, declined salary arbitration, through which he would likely have been rewarded a $4 million salary to remain with the Twins.
…the buzz from Minnesota is that reyes had been seeking a three-year, $12 million deal, but could be forced to accept a two-year, $8 million offer, much like Jeremy Affeldt signed…
In 75 relief appearances for the Twins last season, Reyes had a 2.33 ERA through 46 innings, during which opponents hit .235 against him and struck out 39 times.
He had a 3.99 ERA in 2007, but a whopping 0.89 ERA in 66 games during 2006 for Minnesota.
On Friday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the Braves meeting with Derek Lowe lasted five hours on Thursday, complete with a video presentation and a recorded message from country music artist Alan Jackson.
…last week, people connected to the Mets seemed very confident in Omar Minaya’s ability to sign lowe…i have no idea how they feel now, since news of Atlanta’s involvement hit the wires…so, i’d love to now how they feel now…
Later that night, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Mets are now pessimistic about their chances of signing Lowe, though they are reluctant to offer him a guaranteed fourth year.
Nevertheless, “The Mets remain confident that they’ll eventually land one of their top two choices to upgrade the starting rotation - either Lowe or Oliver Perez,” writes Ken Davidoff in Newsday.
…there had been conflicting reports last week about whether the Braves made lowe an offer…from what i understand, the two sides discussed basic parameters during their meeting, but the Braves are expected to make a formal offer early this week…
The Braves are considering a deal worth $14 million per season, Dan Graziano recently wrote to his new blog NY Baseball Hack, while citing people familiar with Atlanta’s thinking.
…in the end, as it always has been, this situation is going to come down to that fourth year, and getting as close to $16 million as possible…whomever blinks first, will get lowe…
…the thing is, if lowe signs in atlanta, Scott Boras will have the Mets in a corner with perez, who they’re going to feel a ton of pressure to sign…and so, i would not be surprised to see the Mets asked to give four years to perez, because i trust boras to show up with some mystery team in those negotiations as well…in other words, if the Mets are going to have to dish out a four-year deal, like it or not, i would just give it to lowe - get the better, more stable pitcher and be done with this…because, i just have a feeling that is where this is all going anyways…
Tagged Oliver Perez |Rangers SS Michael Young told Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com that he asked to be traded in December, after the team told him he’d be moving to third base to make room for 20–year-old prospect Elvis Andrus.
According to Rosenthal, ‘Young has given the Rangers a small list of teams for which he would waive his no-trade clause.’
The Angels and White Sox could match up well with Texas, Rosenthal says, adding, ‘the Mets and Dodgers have expressed interest in Young this offseason.’
In December, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets, 
Royals, Dodgers and Twins had discussed Young with the Rangers.
During the Winter Meetings, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports said the Rangers were ‘quietly shopping Young in exchange for young pitching.’
However, Rosenthal believes the Rangers are looking for a young third baseman.
In case you’re thinking it…
“Young would consider returning to second base, his previous position, for another team,” Rosenthal reports.
…young is gonna cost more than Mets 3B prospect Jefry Marte, who is just 17 years old with 150 career minor-league at bats…instead, if you want Michael Young, i bet he’d cost Daniel Murphy, who initially played third base in the minors…in addition, the Mets would probably have to part with a pitcher…
Young is due roughly $15 million each of the next five seasons.
The 32–year-old Young, who bats righty, is entering his ninth full season in the major leagues, during which he has a career .300 batting average, and a .346 OBP. He hit 22 and 24 home runs in 2004 and 2005, but is averaging just 11 HR and 90 RBI in each of the last three seasons.
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Last wek, Ken Davidoff said in Newsday that the 
Yankees prefer to trade OF Xavier Nady, instead of 1B-OF Nick Swisher.
“The Angels and possibly the Giants and Mets could be suitors,” Nick Cafardo simply writes in the Boston Globe.
However, Davidoff added, “The Mets are focused on their starting rotation and are not looking to acquire a bat either through free agency or through a trade.”
…actually, i wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets look to trade for a bat, but, if they do, it will not be until after they complete their overhaul of the pitching staff, like davidoff explains, and it will not involve any top prospects… the way i see it, once the rotation and bullpen are done being worked on, the team will reassess where it is financially… if they have the need, resources, etc., to consider a bat, they will…
…as for nady, i just can’t see the Mets and Yankees hooking up on such a deal…in Fantasy Land maybe, but in reality these two teams just never connect like this…
Tagged Xavier Nady | ← Older posts
