Daily Archives: November 6, 2009
Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times says that Manny Ramirez is returning to the Dodgers in 2010.
…that squelches the “Manny to the Mets” rumors this winter…
Hernandez says that Ramirez’s agent, Scott Boras, informed Dodgers GM Ned Colletti that his client will not opt out of the final year of his contract.
…it’s probably a wise move for him to stay…there is no way, after the slump he was in after returning from his PED suspension that he would get anywhere close to the $20 million he is due next year from any other club…
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post says that Cuban Defector Aroldis Chapman is considering both the Yankees and Mets as possible landing spots.
Chapman’s agent, Edwin Mejia, told Bontemps that his client has met with both organizations, and that the dialogue will continue, but says his client likes New York.
In late October, Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post said that the Mets were bowing out of the Chapman sweepstakes as long as his price tag is in the $60 million range.
…i don’t really know what to make of this interview…i always like young, hard throwing lefities, but i said a couple of weeks ago that this is probably not the direction the Mets should go in no matter what considering Chapman is an unknown quantity…he is a good fit on a team that can afford to take such a risk, and with the Mets rotation being in the state that it’s in today, i question whether or not the Mets can take on a large contract with so many question marks…
Update, 8:35 am:
…from what i can gather, the Mets are still very much interested in chapman, and Omar Minaya has remained in contact with his agent… there seems to be a split around the game… some people i have talked with feel he can have an immediate impact next season, others think he’ll need at least a year or two of development, but most everyone thinks he has the potential to be a very special pitcher… i have no idea where the Mets fall in on that spectrum… he wants to be a star, and so it makes sense for him to pitch in New York, and, of course, the National League is better for pitchers… but, i have to think chapman’s asking price might impact how every team treats him… i mean, that’s a pretty serious bet to make on a 20-year-old kid who has not yet pitched in the big leagues…
Alex Cora and Ramon Martinez have filed for free agency.
Cora played in 82 games with the Mets and hit .251 with one home run and 18 RBI, missing a significant portion of the season due to a torn ligament in his thumb.
Martinez injured his hand sliding into home plate in early June after initially replacing Cora at shortstop, and hit just .167 with four RBI in 12 games.
Tagged Ramon Martinez |
Tim Dierkes, in a post to MLB Trade Rumors, examines both the trade and free agent market for right fielders.
Among the names Dierkes mentions are Jermaine Dye who’s option was not picked up by the White Sox, Vladimir Guerrero, and Brad Hawpe.
…i think all of these players would be considered as second options if the Mets are unable to land either Matt Holliday or Jason Bay in a free agent deal, or Carl Crawford in a trade…
…it’s easy to be enamored with Dye…he does hit for a lot of power and has been a good run producer throughout his career, but his skills are diminishing and will be 36 on opening day, and he is likely going to be seeking more than a one year deal…
…Guerrero was supposedly on his way to the Mets in December 2003 before he signed his deal with the Angels as the Mets thought his back would be bad, and it wasn’t…that said, he is intriguing because of his big time power to all fields…but he will be 35 on opening day, he only played in 100 games in 2009, and just seems to be better suited as a designated hitter at this point…
…Hawpe has been discussed here since the end of the regular season, and i still think he is interesting as he put up solid numbers this past season, but evidently is a poor outfielder and doesn’t hit left handed pitching well as he hit .243 against them this past season, which would mean the Mets would likely end up needing a platoon…
For the entire list plus Dierkes take on the market for right fielders, check out MLB Trade Rumors.
Tagged Vladimir Guerrero |
Adam Rubin, in a post to his blog for the Daily News, is reporting that the Mets have now officially declined the option for reliever J.J. Putz.
In addition, the Mets announced that they have exercised the $500,000 option on Mike Pelfrey.
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |
In a report for MLB.com, Todd Zolecki says that the Phillies have exercised their option on Cliff Lee.
The option will pay Lee $9 million in 2010, after which he can be a free agent if the two sides cannot work out an extension.
…this is obviously a no-brainer, as he has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball…
…that said, as i said earlier, it is going to be difficult for the Phillies to be able to pay what Lee will ultimately command, as they have to find a way to be able to afford him and both Ryan Howard and Chase Utley…and the situation surrounding Howard might an issue as early as 2010 with his contract expiring after 2011…
Tagged News |
Andy Martino, in a report for the Philadelphia Inquirer, says that the Phillies will not retain Brett Myers.
Myers told Martino:
“I officially won’t be a Phillie next year.”
In eight seasons with the Phillies, Myers went 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA in 240 games, and had numerous off-the-field issues including a verbal altercation with Cole Hamels earlier this week in the clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.
Tagged News |
In a poll to MetsBlog yesterday, here, roughly 4,000 people who voted were split, 50–50, when asked if Matt Holliday is worth a seven-year deal, which would pay him $17 million per season.
…i can certainly understand why people would not be comfortable giving that kind of cash to Holliday, but i have to agree with Matt in that Holliday is probably the only free agent i would spend whatever it takes to get him, even if it means overpaying him…it doesn’t mean i think he is worth what Carlos Beltran is worth because i don’t think he is the entire package, which is what Beltran is at this point, and i think that the team shouldn’t stop at Holliday when trying to upgrade the outfield either…
…that said, this is a Boras client, he is probably the best hitter on the market, he is a perfect fit in that he is a right handed hitter with power who would fill a black hole in left field, and much like what the Mets had to do to get Pedro Martinez back in 2004, i think the Mets simply should be over-agressive and go crazy, and like Pedro, worry about the back-end of the contract later because i believe if they can establish a commitment to premium talent, it will make the club more attractive for other free agents to join now as it will appear the Mets are committed to putting the best team possible back on the field…
…with the studies that have recently been put out, combined with the Mets braintrust’s analysis and perspective on offense at Citi Field, there should be no detracting factor in play when it comes to the Mets courting of Holliday…
Matt relayed a story from the St. Louis Post Dispatch here that said the Cardinals are discussing the parameters of a six year, $96 million contract with the Holliday camp, but as relayed earlier here, no official offer has been made yet, with the exclusive negotiating rights expiring on November 20 for St. Louis.
Tagged News |
Dan from the Mets Police remembers the ticker tape parade held for the Mets on October 28, 1986.
Meanwhile, Paul over at Mets Fans Forever dissects the Mets outfield, and feels Carlos Beltran is the “one sure thing.”
…without question Paul, provided his knee can hold up…even though i like Jeff Francoeur, Beltran is the only one out there right now that can be depended on for offensive and defensive production…
Check out the Happy Recap, where James performs a thorough analysis on offensive statistics at Citi Field, and the conclusion is that the statistics between Shea Stadium in 2008 and Citi Field in 2009 are remarkably similar.
Speaking of this topic, Ted Berg, in a post to his blog TedQuarters, says that there is “not much evidence to suggest Citi Field diminishes offense nearly as much as it is purported to.”
Tagged News |
Joe Posnanski has written a must-read report for SI.com, which focuses on money, the Yankees, ‘and the Wizard of Oz slight-of-hand game that MLB has been playing for a long time.’
…there is not much else to say about this article from joe… it’s brilliant, to the point, eye-opening, and something every non-Yankee fan should read, because, though we don’t talk about it, like he says, we all know it’s true…
Tagged News | ← Older posts
