Daily Archives: January 28, 2009
The Manny Ramirez-to-the-Mets Conspiracy Theorists were out in full effect today, to say the least.
I was sent 11 e-mails, from different people, suggesting Omar Minaya is waiting to sign Ramirez until the days before single-game tickets go on sale – a theory originally put forth on air today by WFAN’s Evan Roberts, who, while making the theoretical comment, added he does not think it will ever happen.
…of course, this would mean ramirez remains on the open market until March, which is a lot to ask…
The second rumor, sent in by a whopping 57 people, cite a message board thread claiming a local Los Angeles radio station has reported Minaya is working with Scott Boras to sign both Oliver Perez and Ramirez, with Perez accepting to sign at a discount so long as Ramirez is guaranteed a third year to his deal.
…of course, no person ever provided a link or audio of the report, and no LA news outlet has the information on their website…
…by the way, i wonder what the Player’s Union would do with such a transaction like this… yikes…
Meanwhile, four people e-mailed to say Minaya met with Boras in a hotel in Manhattan earlier in the week.
Lastly, according to a variety of message boards, there may be group of fans working to hold a Pro-Manny Rally outside the SNY studios tomorrow, live during Mets Hot Stove.
…if this is true, i may need to stick around and check it out…
Tonight at 6 pm EDT, I will be a guest on Speaking of Sports, a radio show on WRCR AM in Rockland County.
To listen live, click here.
Also, I will be be a guest of Kenrick Thomas later tonight on Real Sports Talk at 10 pm EDT, which you can listen to live by clicking here.
In exchange for roughly $100 million, you could buy up most of the best remaining free-agents and field the following team, right now, three weeks before pitchers and catchers:
1B: Adam Dunn
2B: Orlando Hudson
SS: Orlando Cabrera
3B: Joe Crede
OF: Manny Ramirez
OF: Garrett Anderson
OF: Bobby Abreu
C: Jason Varitek
SP: Ben Sheets
SP: Oliver Perez
SP: Braden Looper
SP: Randy Wolf
SP: Pedro Martinez
RP: Juan Cruz
The Mets have sold all 49 luxury suites for Citi Field, as well as roughly 25,000 seats per game in season tickets, reports the Associated Press.
According to the report, “Single-game tickets for the 42,000-seat ballpark will not go on sale until early March.”
Speaking of stadiums…
To see the most recent photos of Shea Stadium, which is close to being totally erased from Queens, click here and here.
Also, to see a mock-up of the proposed new stadium for the ‘Miami Marlins,’ go to Biz of Baseball.
Tagged Shea Stadium |In a report for SI.com, on Heyman looks at the 
current market for the 14 best remaining free agents, and writes the following about Oliver Perez:
“The Mets are in for more than $30 million over three years, but talks seem to have slowed a tad over the last couple days for the talented 27-year-old lefty… Despite the negotiating hiccup, the Mets, whose GM, Omar Minaya, loves Perez, still make the most sense.”
Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN Radio believes the Mets have no competition for Perez, according to a major-league GM, ‘leaving the Mets the clear-cut favorites.’
…well, Scott Boras is competition, or at least his methods are…
Marchand also blogs about Stephon Marbury’s future, Joba Chamberlain and the bullpen, and the Joe Torre book, among other topics.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
Heyman also believes Minaya will look to re-sign Pedro Martinez, ‘once the Perez situation is resolved.’
Howard Megdal and Konstantin Medvedovsky of the Perpetual Post discuss whether team’s are undervalueing Adam Dunn, while he may be overvalued by stat-savvy fans.
Alex Fagen of the Daily Stache asks, ‘What can a healthy Luis Castillo do for the Mets lineup,’ assuming 
he is healthy.
Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest brings us up to speed on Craig Brazell.
Former Phillies OF Doug Glanville pens an op-ed for the New York Times, in which he suggests that all free agents value the opportunity to win, not the extra dollar.
…hat tip to Metsmerized for the glanville link…
In a post to Mets Geek, Mike Newman picks apart the signings of Freddy Garcia, Alex Cora, Cory Sullivan, and others.
Lastly, Ken Davidoff is asking fans to contact him at Newsday about experiences involving ticket prices for Citi Field.
The Cubs are close to acquiring RHP Aaron Heilman from the M’s, in exchange for SS Ronny Cedeno and minor-league RHP Garrett Olsen, reports ESPN.com and 
FoxSports.com.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN Radio in Chicago first mention this trade earlier today.
…i cannot tell you the number of rumors from the last few seasons that connected heilman to the Cubs… so, they clearly like him, and see potential… good luck, aaron – expect when you face the Mets…
The Mets traded Heilman to Seattle during the winter meetings as part of a three-team deal that sent J.J. Putz to New York.
Update, 11:55 am:
The D’Backs and free-agent RHP Jon Garland have agreed on a one-year deal, according to the Arizona Republic.
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the deal is worth $8.5 million guarenteed money, while while Jon Heyman of SI.com says it is worth $6.25 million.
Original Post, 8:09 am:
Steve Gilbert of MLB.com believes the D’Backs may be closing in on a deal with free-agent RHP Jon Garland.
Tagged Tom Glavine |
Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes free-agent OF Bobby Abreu is now willing to accept a one-year deal.
Olney speculates that the Mets, Braves, Angels, Giants and Red Sox could have interest in Abreu.
…watch the Braves, actually, as there has been more and more buzz of late linking abreu to Atlanta… also, the Angels make a lot of sense as well…
…i am no fan of abreu, but for a one-year deal, worth less than $10 million, he has to be considered by the Mets, and i am sure he will be… however, i am not sure who would move to left, him or Ryan Church, and i have no idea what would happen to Daniel Murphy… unless, of course, the Mets traded Carlos Delgado, which is not likely to happen…
Meanwhile, the Washington Post quotes an agent who feels free-agent OF Adam Dunn may be forced to accept a one-year deal worth, at most, $5 million.
The agent is quoted as saying, ‘I feel comfortable saying that no big market team seems like a true, head-over-heels suitor.’
…ok, now this is getting ridiculous… i realize people have polarizing views of dunn, and that people in baseball are not very excited about him, but, folks, 40 HR, 100 RBI and a .380 OBP, regardless of his strike outs and defense, is border-line robbery for a team like the Mets… yet, there is still no indication he is on their radar…
Mike, from Planet of the Geeks, has created Lego versions of all sorts of professional athletes, including Carlos Delgado and David Wright, as you can see here:
…out…standing… well done, mike, well done indeed…
Update, 10:20 am:
Paulaecinc in the comment’s section writes:
“What is great about these lego peices is that you can play with them all year long, up until September, thats when they usually fall apart.”
…zing… well played, sir…
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