eMailbag: Quick Q’s, Quick A’s
The following questions were all sent it to MetsBlog via e-mail…
Afros Supreme: “How come you haven’t talked about the Cole Hamels deal? Shouldn’t the World Series MVP signing for only $7 million cut into Oliver Perez‘s final contract? I’m a Mets fan, but I’ll be the first to admit Hamels is about 10 times the pitcher OP could ever be. How can he still command 14 million?”
Matthew Cerrone: Well, Perez can ask, but I’d be shocked if he gets $14 million per season, especially from the Mets. Also, Hamels’s contract was negotiated with one team and covers part of his arbitration years, so it’s understandable that the annual salary will be lower than if he were on the open market, with competition to help raise his price – if anything, Hamels’s deal will impact John Maine or Mike Pelfrey, who will likely seek new contracts from the Mets in the coming years.
Dr. Cashman: “I love how everyone forgets what Manny Ramirez has pulled in the past – faking injuries, refusing to pinch hit, refusing to back up teammates in a brawl, physically abusing a 60–year-old Red Sox official over tickets, and causing drama every year over showing up late to spring training… The Mets need to bring in ‘character guys,’ not more egos. Didn’t we learn anything from the Yankees when they over-paid free agents and won zero championship? No Manny, No way.”
Matthew Cerrone: Excellent points, Doc. Still, though, you can’t tell me it’s not exciting to think about what he would bring to the lineup – and, last I checked, his baggage, and all the things you cited, didn’t seem to keep the Red Sox from winning two World Championships and it didn’t stop the Dodgers from making the post-season.
J Stark: “Where is Orlando Hudson? How come we haven’t heard about 
him even entertaining offers from other clubs? Could he be waiting for the Mets?”
Matthew Cerrone: I think you’re right, I think he is waiting to see what the Mets do with Luis Castillo and what the Yankees do with Robinson Cano. The problem for Hudson is, it appears both Castillo and Cano are staying put. In the end, it’s looking like he may take a one-year deal with a team like the Nationals, and then re-approach the market next season.
Auliano: “Is there any chance that the Mets sign Garret Anderson to about a three-year deal and use Daniel Murphy as trade bait and wait for Fernando Martinez in a couple of years and ride Anderson until then?”
Matthew Cerrone: Dear Lord I hope not. If you try to ride Anderson for three years, you’ll be hitchhiking a long way. Also, if it takes Martinez three more years to make the major leagues, then something went horribly 
wrong and you’re gonna wish you still had Murphy. Yikes.
Kantonides: “Why don’t the Mets take a chance with Andruw Jones? If he could get back to form and play left field the Mets would have one of the best outfield in baseball.”
Matthew Cerrone: Jones is still looking for a major-league deal, which the Mets will not and better not give him. Once he’s willing to accept a minor-league deal, my bet is the Braves welcome him back, which is where he wants to be any way.
Adam W: “If George Bush becomes the commissioner of baseball, do you think we’ll go to war with the Mexican League?”
Matthew Cerrone: Like the kids say, “LMAO.”
Michael A: “I’ve noticed the Mets have been spending a million here, a half million there, on guys who realistically aren’t difference-makers – Casey Fossum, Cory Sullivan, Alex Cora – when you add it up, they could use that $4 or $5 million to sign Ben Sheets and Oliver Perez, instead of choosing one or the other. I feel that this isn’t a judicious use of a budget.”
Matthew Cerrone: I agree. I think most fans agree. Yet, the team doesn’t, which leads me to believe there is something in this equation we are not aware of. It’s seems simple to me, though. I realize the organziation needs players for Triple-A to fill in during times of injury at the major-league level, 
but with 75 remaining free agents and only 30 or so roster spots in the league, I have to imagine there will be plenty of people looking for work in a pinch.
C Sulli: “Why don’t the Mets Defer Luis Castillo’s contact like the Dodgers did with Andruw Jones?”
Matthew Cerrone: I get this question a lot in terms of Manny Ramirez, as well, wondering if the Mets can sign Ramirez to a two-year deal, paying him $10 million in 2009 and $40 million in 2010, etc. The thing is, to do this, you need four corners to turn their key, 1) the player, 2) the team, 3) the agent, and 4), and most importantly, the Players Union. Frankly, look at how extreme the scenario needed to be to jet the Union to allow Jones to do what he did. If the Union allows this to become a trend, where does it end? Point is, it’s not as easy as just telling the player, ‘Hey, deal with it.’
To watch my latest MetsBlog Mailbag for SNY, click here.
