Daily Archives: January 23, 2009
The Mets have signed free-agent OF Rob Mackowiak to a 
$600,000 minor-league contract, according to the New York Post.
…apparently, the Mets trying to corner the market in light, multi-purpose, left-handed hitting outfielders…
…mackowiak had been a decent hitter in Pittsburgh and Chicago, but once traded to San Diego and then on to the Nationals he has been unable to crack .200… through it all, though, he’s still considered a pretty good left-handed bat off the bench…
…he had a double hernia operation prior to last season, and struggled during all of 2008… if he’s healthy, he could be a nice pick up, especially on a minor-league deal…
In 38 games for the Nationals last season, the 32–year-old Mackowiak hit .132 with two extra base hits.
During his eight-year career, he has played every position but catcher and pitcher.
Tagged Rob Mackowiak |
For more pics of Shea Stadium being torn down, check out this slideshow on Webshots. It appears that most of the upper deck is almost gone.
Also, WCBS has aerial shots from Tom Kaminski’s chopper 880.
On that note, David Wright sends his greetings from Citi Field in this quick promotional video.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Shea Stadium |The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Phillies are pursuing free agent Moises Alou “pretty hard”.
GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said, “He’s in the mix. But ultimately his expectations might be a little too high as far as playing time goes. This is a limited playing role.”
The Phillies are also targeting Nomar Garciaparra if he decides not to retire.
…i don’t encourage pursuing nomar, but if he was interested in a utility/bench role, an incentive-laden and inexpensive deal could be interesting…with the recent signing of Alex Cora however, i doubt this will happen…
Tagged Moises Alou, Regis Courtemanche |
Continuing his yearly list making over at ESPN.com, Keith Law released his Top 100 prospects in baseball. He ranked two Mets in the top 100: OF Fernando Martinez at #16, and SS Wilmer Flores at #55.
Law remains high on Martinez, saying he has a “special bat” and writing:
…Martinez offers huge power potential, putting on a display in BP, but it has only briefly started to emerge in games. He has very quick and strong wrists, letting the ball travel on him before exploding quickly and making solid, hard contact. In the field, he’s looking more likely to end up in right field…
Law writes that the Mets face a tough decision with where to place Martinez to open ’09: back in Binghamton for a third season, or advancing him to AAA Buffalo at age 20, even if he may not be quite ready.
As for Flores, Law is high on his offensive potential, as well:
Flores’ calling card is his bat — he has quick wrists and is very short to the ball, squaring very well except on balls toward the bottom of the zone. Flores plays short now but is below-average already, and he’ll move to another position as he fills out, probably third base given his arm strength and the fact that his bat will play there.
Law believes that while it’s early in his career, the young Venezuelan could end up topping 30 homers a year.
These seem like fair enough rankings… it says a lot that despite years of injuries, Martinez is still this highly regarded, though perhaps his successful DWL season helps that… hopefully he’s healthy this year… as much as i’d like to see him at Citi Field next year, the most important thing is getting his development on track and not rushing him like they have…
…also pleased to see Flores so high, which means that with a big year in the Sally League, he could shoot up this list next year…
Tagged Minors, Wilmer Flores |According to Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN New York, “the Mets will eventually be willing to go to four years for Oliver Perez,” and that they are gaining interest in RHP Ben Sheets, whose arm they don’t think is “perfect, but not terrible either.”
Marchand writes that the Perez negotiations will not be finished anytime soon. Sheets, according to Ken Rosenthal, met with the Texas Rangers with his agent last night.
…one figured that once Derek Lowe went off the market for four years, the Mets would be forced to go four years for Perez, which seems to be the case now… still, if they think Sheets’ arm is okay, why not go in that direction for one or two years…
Tagged Oliver Perez |
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that ‘according to major league sources’, free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets and his agent met with the Texas Rangers yesterday.
Rosenthal recognizes the slowly developing market for Sheets, and only mentions the Mets as other possible suitors.
…so if the Mets are seriously targeting sheets and miss out on him as they did with Derek Lowe, i would have to think that an Oliver Perez signing would become much more likely…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Manny Ramirez is represented by Scott Boras, and so his ultimate decision will likely be based on the value of the contract, not with who is giving it to him.
Jon Heyman of SI.com recently said he believes the Dodgers will eventually need to guarantee a third year for Ramirez, adding to their current two-year, $45 million offer, even if they’re bidding against themselves.
Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSpots.com believes the Giants are still interested, though no offer has been made.
…by the way, though they’ve said publicly that they’re not interested, remember, the Angels are still lurking with money to spend and a need for a bat, all while having made no major acquisitions this off season…
Ramirez will obviously require at least $20 million per season.
[poll id="211"]
[poll id="212"]
Tagged Poll |
To vote in this week’s Fan Confidence Rating, click here.
Also, if you occasionally watch SNY.tv’s New York Baseball Today, and feel like providing feedback to help us improve for next season, click here.
As noted yesterday on MetsBlog, a Bloomberg.com report suggested the Mets are uninterested in acquiring free-agent OF Manny Ramirez. However, Mets 3B David Wright would welcome the addition, according to Anythony Reiber of Newsday.
Wright believes the clubhouse would be able to absorb a personality like Ramirez and that another bat in the lineup wouldn’t hurt, but knows the decision is up to Mets GM Omar Minaya, as quoted by Reiber:
“Omar knows what he’s doing. He knows what we need on the field and he knows what we need in the clubhouse. I do not know Manny very well at all. But I know what he’s done on the field, and that’s impressive. When you can single-handedly take a team and carry them into the postseason, and then once you get to the postseason, the numbers speak for themselves.”
…manny makes sense for the Mets on so manny levels, from a business perspective to an on field perspective, that’s why this notion that the Mets are uninterested makes zero sense…
…as i said yesterday, yes, the focus should be on pitching, but at some point, i would think, minaya needs to start addressing the other glaring holes on this team…then again, it’s only january 23…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
