Daily Archives: February 2, 2009
The Dodgers have made a new, one-year, $25 million offer to Manny Ramirez, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti confirmed to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that the offer was presented in person, in Los Angeles, to Scott Boras on Monday.
According to Stark, “It’s believed that Ramirez and Boras were given a 48-hour deadline to accept the offer.”
The Times adds, in the comment’s section of the report, that the offer does not include a second-year option.
The Dodgers pulled their original two-year, $45 million offer to Ramirez earlier in the off-season, according to multiple reports.
Tonight on MLBN’s Hot Stove Show, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said he sees no evidence the Mets are making a play for Ramirez.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets are no longer 
an option for free-agent outfielders Manny Ramirez or Bobby Abreu, now that they have re-signed Oliver Perez.
Instead, Sherman explains, “The only items they are still perusing are low-cost alternatives among righty reserve bats and lefty set-up men.”
…from what i can gather, people within the team’s business operations are currently planning, selling ads, creating marketing campaigns, etc., under the directive that Manny Ramirez will not be part of the roster… this does not mean important people’s minds cannot change, of course, but it does suggest, as of now, the business is operating like he is not an option and they’re not shy in saying so…
…at any rate, i would think, now that Scott Boras is done with perez, he’ll turn his attention to ramirez… and, if the Mets are an option, we will know soon enough…
Update, 5:10 pm:
Oliver Perez chose to accept more money per season, according to Joel Sherman of the the New York Post, instead of taking less money and the fourth year.
“On a three-year contract,” Sherman explains, “Perez goes back into the free-agent market after the 2011 season at just 30 years old.”
Update, 2:05 pm:
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports the Mets and Perez have reached agreement on a three-year, $36 million deal.
According to Sherman, the deal does not include a fourth year option of any sorts.
Update, 1:38 pm:
According to an e-mail from Will Carroll, of Baseball Prospectus, the deal will be for three years and $36 million.
Update, 1:27 pm:
From what I can gather, the deal will be for three years, and the Mets did not need to go higher than the $12 million per season they set as a limit.
Update, 4:50 pm:
In a post to his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Andrew Marchand explains why, after signing Oliver Perez, “This probably means the Mets are out of the Manny Ramirez Sweepstakes.”
…whatever, i still hope WFAN’s Tony Paige is correct, from below…
…make a run, Omar, make a run… you know you want to…
Original Post:
The last day or so, several people have e-mailed me saying WFAN’s Tony Paige mentioned the Mets had interest in Manny Ramirez, while on a recent overnight broadcast for the New York sports radio station.
I did not hear his statements first hand.
However, Paige told me in an e-mail, “All I said was, someone, who deals with Mets management (and he’s credible), told me the Mets were interested in Manny Ramirez and something may happen this week.”
Paige added, “I didn’t say they were going to sign him,’ simply stating that the two sides could end up speaking soon.
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes that 
talks between the Rangers and free-agent RHP Ben Sheets have ‘‘less momentum’ than they did 10 days ago,’ according to a source.
According to Rosenthal, “The Rangers want Sheets only on their terms,” the source said.
…as i wrote over the weekend, the buzz from baseball suggests sheets will not get a two-year offer from any team, because of concerns about his back and elbow, as well as his shoulder – and the fact that he pitched so many innings last season may actually be hurting his case…
…if i thought i could sign sheets to a two-year deal, worth $8 million per season with all sorts of incentives, i would do it…
…look, if he made just 20 starts, and missed two months or so due to injury, with the way he pitches, those 20 starts would probably be worth the $8 million, especially when compared to the so-so starts people get from guys making more than that…
…between Freddy Garcia, Jon Niese and Tim Redding, the Mets can make up the those missing starts from sheets, but while healthy they would have a very strong rotation…
According to Kyodo News, the Blue Jays signed Japanese free-agent reliever Ken Takahashi to a minor-league deal.
In December, NPB Tracker said the Mets were the front-runners to sign Takahashi, who was was 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA last season for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
In a video for ESPN.com, Buster Olney says, “If the 
Mets do not sign Oliver Perez, if they sign a cheaper starting pitcher, they’ll have money available, and, at that point, they may go look at Bobby Abreu.”
According to Olney, GMs have told him they would not be surprised to see Abreu accept a one-year, worth less than $7 million deal.
…the buzz from around baseball suggests LHP Randy Wolf could end up accepting a deal similar to Jon Garland, i.e., one year and $8 million…
[poll id="218"]
Tagged Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf |
Today, at 12 pm EDT, I’ll be a guest during Mark Healy’s debut broadcast of Baseball Digest Live, from Foley’s NY in midtown Manhattan, which you can listen to by clicking here:
The show will air live every day at 11 am.
To call in with a question, dial (646) 727-2874.
on March 1, Healy will be re-launching Baseball Digest, “the oldest and only baseball magazine in the country.”
According to a list from MLB Trade Rumors, the following noteworthy players are out of options and could end up being traded or put on waivers before the start of the season:
Braves LHP Mike Gonzalez and RHP Rafael Soriano, Brewers OF Tony Gwynn Jr., Cubs RHP Chad Gaudin, Indians 3B Andy Marte and RHP Anthony Reyes, Rays RHP Jeff Niemann, Red Sox Manny Delcarmen and C George Kottaras, Twins RHP Phil Humber and Yankees OF Melky Cabrera, among others.
…a) wouldn’t be pretty crazy if the Mets ended up re-acquiring humber, after all of that… and b) if neimann is available, he should end up drawing a lot of interest, since, though he has struggled, he is a a former No. 1 draft pick who had a ton of hype and potential…
In a post to his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin does an outstanding job of estimating where the Mets 2009 payroll will end up, assuming the team re-signs free-agent Oliver Perez.
According to Rubin, with Perez, the Mets will likely total out around $135 million, which does not include the $2.5 million still owed to Willie Randolph, nor the $1.5 million due to Freddy Garcia, if he’s added to the 25–man roster – Garcia can also earn an additional $6.5 million in incentives.
…to see how rubin comes to this figure, read his blog…
The Mets had a $143 payroll last year, according to Rubin.
…i have heard, and it’s been reported a million times, that the Mets intend to be at or around last season’s total…
Last week, on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, Rubin said Fred Wilpon has been quite adamant in the past about not going beyond the Luxury Tax Threshold of $160 million in payroll.
…the thing is, the way a payroll is figured in terms of luxury tax is unique and confusing, and rubin explains it in great detail, so, again, read his blog…
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