Daily Archives: January 19, 2009
Tonight on the MLB Network’s Hot Stove Show, which airs every night at 7 pm, SI.com’s Tom Verducci said:
“The Mets like Ben Sheets, but they want to make this heavily loaded with incentives based on starts or innings pitched… Sheets says, ‘Hey, I pitched 198 innings last year, I should be guaranteed more money.’”
Verducci believes the Mets want Sheets, but they need to ‘bridge that gap,’ and, right now, ‘they’re just not close.’
…from what i can gather, the Mets are thinking of a deal like Brad Penny signed in Boston, i.e., one-year, $5 million, lots of incentives including an option for the following season, while sheets is thinking of a two-year deal, worth roughly $9 million per season, with incentives and an option for a third season…so, verducci is correct, that is a pretty big gap…
The Mets have avoided arbitration with Duaner Sanchez, signing him to a one-year deal worth $1,687,500.
Sanchez, who made $950,000 last season, was 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 66 relief appearances in 2008.
John Maine, Pedro Feliciano, Ryan Church, Angel Pagan and Jeremy Reed remain in arbitration with the Mets.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |Yesterday, in Newsday, David Lennon says the Mets have recently begun showing interest in free-agent RHP Ben Sheets.
In the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo says, “Don’t be shocked if the Phillies have interest in Sheets as well,” as they continue to try to find an inexpensive, front-end starting pitcher.
By the way, Lennon adds, the Mets are not involved in talks with free-agent LHP Andy Pettitte, according to a person familiar with the club’s thinking.
Speaking of pitchers…
Free-agent LHP Tom Glavine is open to pitching for the Nationals, according to the Boston Globe.
Lastly, the Phillies may be looking in to trading Bret Myers, explains Braves reporter Mark Bowman at MLB.com.
In the Daily News, Bill Madden quotes a National GM as saying of Manny Ramirez:
“If you’re a betting person, you have to figure Manny winds up going back to the Dodgers and for the two years… At his age and without the DH, it makes no sense for a National League team to go out beyond two years for him.”
Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes Ramirez and his agent, Scott Boras, are waiting for another team to be ‘tempted by what Ramirez could do for them,’ and offer more than the Dodgers.
According to Madden, the Mets are not going to sign Ramirez, adding, “They are determined to keep payroll at or just below last year’s $143 million and just as determined to spend their remaining resources this winter on pitching.”
Madden also discusses whether Ramirez could end up on the Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, Tigers or Nationals.
Speaking of outfielders…
The Orioles traded Garret Olsen and Single-A RHP Henry Williamson to the Cubs for OF prospect Felix Pie, according to multiple reports.
