Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that people who know Matt Holliday say he prefers not to play in New York.
In addition, Rosenthal says that Holliday’s power to right-center field make him a poor candidate for Citi Field.
…i feel that if the Mets offer Holliday more money than anyone else does, he will be a Met in 2010…and i think that the Mets should do whatever it takes to get him…
…one thing that Rosenthal doesn’t mention, as has been noted here and on other sites over the past month is that it is not terribly difficult to hit home runs anywhere at Citi Field…besides, Holliday pulled 20 of his 24 home runs in 2009, and 33 of his 39 doubles were in the same direction, which tells me that his power is to either left field or in the left center field gap…
For more on this and other news from around the league, check out Rosenthal’s column on Fox Sports.
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Besides Ken Rosenthal being completely clueless about the true comparative homerun stats for Citifield (I mean, jeez, itsn’t this HIS industry–check your facts idiot), seeing him interviewing players during the World Series confirms he’s arguably THE most horrendous interviewer I ever seen.
they said the same thing about Texeira, Beltran, Sabathia, Santana, etc.
They go where the money is.
sure Citi isn’t a hitter’s delight, but it’s not going to hurt his chances to hit home runs in any direction, except to maybe straight away center …..
it’s all a bunch of bunk …. but certainly something other teams will use when trying to negotiate with him.
now, if he doesn’t want to play in the pressure packed city of NY … i could buy that ….
I don’t think that it has anything to do with the preasure or Citi Field. I think this is all Boras and his games to drive up the price. He knows that both the Mets and the Yankees would love to sign him this offseason and if its out there that he doesn’t really want to come here they will have to bid that much more than everyone else to get him.
If he really doesn’t want to be here…then signing and overpaying him would be a huge mistake.
I agree that if he really doesn’t want to play here than the Mets should move on and not offer him anything but I really don’t think thats the case. I think he wants to play for the team that Boras can squeeze the most money out of and this is all a game Boras is playing to drive up the price
CC didn’t want to play in NY either.
That one worked out pretty well.
So first we hear that Holliday prefers the Yankees or the Mets, and now Rosenthal is saying he prefers not to play in New York. This is the same guy who predicted Beltran and Santana would be Yankees. I think he’s another Bora$ shill.
I almost wish the Mets would just blow away Holliday with an offer just to put all this nonsense to rest.
I know I’m in the minority, but I’d rather see the Mets spend the money on Lackey and a host of other players like Bedard, Ankiel, Harden, Freel or Hairston, Molina, and another reliever. I just feel if they blow their wad on Holliday, there’s not going to be enough money to patch up their other holes.
There not gonna blow there money a way. Holliday solves the LF prob and another power bat in the line-up. I figure the MEts would give him 17-17.5 mill for 6 years. The MEts can still get LAckey. I’d give LAckey 5 years. Then sign Molina/BArajas/Olivo for 2 years. Sign Wolf or MArquis for a number 3. Not BEdard, Sheets or HArden because they are injury prone and OMar said he wants to stay away from them. Then boost the bench and bullpen. MAybe trade CAstillo and sign Hudson.
If the Cards offered 6 for $16 per, something tells me it would take more than $17-17.5 per year to get him at only 6 years. Of course it would depend on whether those reports are true.
You really think the Mets are going to be able to land all those players, and be willing to spend $40 million? I don’t. Omar really has no idea what he’s doing anyway.
Here’s what I think the Mets should be doing but I know that it won’t happen.
They had about 30 million come off the books. Wilpon said on the fan that he was going to make the payroll about 10 million more than what it was this year, so now they are around 40 million available. They got 48 milliion back from the Bernie Madoff scandal, so in my eyes they should have almost 90 million to spend this year which will never happen.
You have to account for raises to Santana, K-Rod, Wright and Reyes, which account for 9.75 million. Now factor in arbitration for Francoeur, Maine, Feliciano, Green and Stokes, and you’re talking maybe another $3-5 million. So now you’ve cut into that $40 million by about 30% right off the bat. Now you’ve got, lets say be generous and say $27 million, do you really think they can sign Holliday, Lackey, Wolf, etc?
No I don’t which is why I don’t want both Halliday and Lackey. They take up way too much money that they need to fill other spots if they do that. Personally I don’t want Halliday if I have my choice. He is a very good player but he is not worth 17 million a year and it will take at least that to lock him up.
Ah my mistake, thought you were the poster above who thought they could sign them all.
One thing that I have said a couple of times over the past two days is they need to work out a deal and get Adrian Gonzalez. He fills many needs for them. Huge upgrade at first, major power bat in the lineup, great protection for Beltran and Wright in the lineup and all for almost no money. He is being paid very little right now. I know that he will cost them a lot down the road but at least for this year he answers a lot of problems for little money
Yeah, sorry. Now that you mention it and I say it out loud, it seems VERY unrealistic. We canget both Gonzo ang Crawford for under Holliday’s contract. Thx for your opinion.
If there is one big contract this winter, I’d hope for it to be Matt Holliday. John Lackey just seems like one of those contracts that is going to end up saying “oo well it was right at the time, but never worked out”.
If Omar makes a big trade, Id rather it be for a big pitcher like Roy Halladay because no matter how many prospects you have waiting, you can always use an ace stud like him as long as we dont give up Ike Davis.
Adrian Gonzalez is a great player, but trading everybody for him doesn’t make sense considering we do have future solutions there unlike a sure ace like Halladay waiting to come up. Of course you have to pay them both eventually, but I can just see a big trade and sign for Holliday and Halladay. It looks good for the back page.
I wouldn’t have a problem with your ideas on what the Mets should do I just don’t see them paying both Holliday and Halliday on top of Santana, Beltran and having both Wright and Reyes getting more money in the near future. Don’t forget about the wonderful contract to Ollie.
If the Wilpons open their little purse and shell out that kind of money than I am on board but if signing Matt Halliday for 17+million limits them with other moves, I don’t want him cause he’s not worth that much and we have too many wholes to fill
They will over pay for sure to get Holliday and it is stupid. I think Bay can be had for less money and years ,and will not cry about the size of the ball park. Bay would still be a huge impact on this team.
I agree about Bay. I think that him and Halliday will put up similar numbers and Bay will cost a little less. The other option that I really like is Crawford. I think that he is a better fit for this team if they can find a way to add some power to first base.
I know Crawford has a 10 million dollar team option or a 1 million dollar buy out. Does anyone know whats going on with that? Is he going to get the buyout or are they going to pick up the option?
Is Crawford a free agent or would we make a trasde to get him. I would be happy if we can get either one of BAy or Holliday. For pitching we can make a major trade for like Beckett or HAlladay. Or we can make a major trade for like Fieder or Gonzo
I like Crawford as well but where do we get the power bat we need. Crawford would be a trade not a FA. I think he is signed through 2010.
Thankyou. I just googled it bc I was confused. Do you think we can land both Agon and CArl and still get pitching?
No. We will not add enough payroll to address the offense and pitching.
Witht the emphasis being placed on a LF and 1B, we will ignore what we really need: 2 very good starters
If we don’t get Holliday or BAy for LF, were will not do good at all. We just can’t have CArl in Lf and Murph at 1B. If we were the YAnkees we could pull off the impossible. The Agon and Holliday! Oh. WOW!
good hitting teams can be outpitched. ask the Phillies. With out two significant upgrades to our rotation (Lackey & Wolf would work) we will not win enough. We may score a bunch of runs and may get out to a good start in April and May, but with Perez, Pelfrey and Maine working to 100 pitches by the 5th inning, we will tire a decent bullpen by June and the losses will start to pile up. It is not desirable to have relievers in the top 10 in games pitched.
Like I said, I think signing a guy like Ankiel to play LF could provide an upgrade at the spot, while not blocking the position for Martinez. It wouldn’t tie up a ton of money, allowing the Mets to upgrade their rotation.
I think we should resign ourselves to a 2-year recovery plan, one which brings in one or two choice free agents in each year, and allows us time to evaluate and maximize what we have.
For example, we know Parnell is not a starter, but we need to know what he brings from the pen. We know Murphy is not a left fielder, but we need to know what he can bring over a full season at one position. We know Thole can hit, but he’ll definitely need another year of seasoning behind the dish before being ML-ready.
So, if we can land Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, that’s great. If we don’t, its not the end of the world. We could do worse than a full year of Pagan, Beltran & Francouer. If we remain patient, guys such as Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzales could fall on our laps during the following off-seasons, if it made sense.
I see no reason to deplete our farm system, as it’s shortcomings was over-exposed by last season’s health debacle. We need to consolidate and allow guys like F-Mart, Ike Davis, Tejada, Thole, Flores, Neuwenhuis, Holt, Mejia, Familia, Niese & Eric Beaulac to develop at their own pace.
Further, Wright needs to regain his stroke and Reyes’ legs need to heal. In other words, I’d rather rebuild our organization than lop on free agents for the sake of making a mad dash toward the playoffs. That strategy has proved fraught with peril.
Yeah, I have a Christmas wish list that includes Chone Figgins (2b base) and Matt Holliday. Lackey would be nice, too, and I’d be happy with Joel Pineiro. But the reality is that we may get none of them. I just don’t want Omar to freak out and empty the farm for Halladay and Carl Crawford, because when the injury bug bites us next, again there will be no one to pick up the slack. And that’s poor policy.
What I’m saying is that there’s no rush. We’ve got some outstanding ballplayers, but after last season, we need to settle down and take stock of our assets and take a realistic look in the mirror before we go hunting for the next big signing.
No rush. It kind is a rush. Mets fans can’t wait another season. In another season everything can be different. That is why we need it now. We can get LAckey or Wolf and MArquis. We can get a catcher. It is possible. Why wait another season when you can possibly win a WS in 2010.
Because dynasties are not bought and sold in one year. They are built from within and supplemented as needed on an annual basis. A strong organization requires cultivation, not compilation.
Please don’t sell me on Jason Marquis. We have five of him already. Lackey and Wolf may make more sense.
As for whether we are in a rush, I’m not in a rush to watch our organization crash and burn as it has fantastically over the 3 past seasons. Omar recognizes talent, but his thought process isn’t very organized – if he was in your college dorm, would you want him into your study group?
Listen, I really don’t want to bash Omar, but his short-term thinking is twisting our ML roster into a knot. Indeed, the ramifications of short-term thinking – the Kazmir trade – is organizational defect he was brought in to cure. Yet, within the past 3 years he’s sent Heath Bell, Brian Bannister, Matt Lindstrom, Darren O’Day, Jesus Flores, Mike Carp & Co. with absolutely nothing to show for it. Losing Flores to the rule 5 draft was unmitigated brain-lock.
Yeah, I’m not in a rush to fix this mess. I’d rather get the bad news straight, jettison the players that are inhibiting the development of our legitimate prospects, and begin the process of developing a baseball organization. My advice? Think like Frank Cashen or Donnie Walsh.
Wow. Where did you get Ankiel from. Not that he isn’t a good player because he is great with a great arm but that is so random. So your saying we can get Agon too?
Ankiel’s a FA, and I doubt it would cost a fortune.
You are definately right there buddy! But that is only if we don’t land BAy or Holliday right. I think I am confused again? Ugh!
Honestly, I’m not worried greatly about the offense. I think the pitching staff needs more work, and the team needs better bench depth. I’d rather see the Mets spend money on Lackey, Ankiel, Bedard, Jennings, Hairston or Freel(Hairston preferable since he can play more infield positions), and perhaps Blalock to split time at 1B with Murphy. Not a conventional platoon, but one designed to keep Blalock on the field, since he has some injury concerns.
I could go with LAckey and Wolf or LAckey and MArquis for piyching. Who wouldn’t? We can boost
We can boost our bench and bullpen a little. Not that much
Note Bien: One firm rule – NO RETREADS!
Como?
SEE above reply…
Bay has more power and will be cheaper if he doesn’t go back to Boston he is def. work a look, especially if we can’t get Holliday. We should try for Adrian because of his really cheap contract. We should see what Halladay will cost, in terms of prospects and money, what Lackey will cost, ,Harden, Sheets etc, and I don’t want to wait, we need to know the organization is serious and I hope that’s what this off-season shows us.
I doubt we’ll get HArden or Sheets or BEdard because they are injury prone and Omar said he’ll stay away from them. Wolf and MArquis should be in the mix. If we can’t get either BAy or Holliday we can get Ankiel. We can still trade for Gonzo and upgrade other positions too.
yeah I am not sure if we will go after an injury risk, although Harden had a decent enough year so maybe we’ll go after him I am just pointing out there are options out there if Omar is aggressive and wants to put the best team he can out on the field.
Jermaine Dye will be playing Left Field at Citi in 2010. Matt Holliday will be the next Vlad/Arod. PS Ken Rosenthal may be the worst journalist in any sport. Matt Holliday is a DEAD pull hitter, you honestly dont have to watch more than 10 games he plays in to figure that out he would not be hurt by citifield he would just have a few would be HRs turn into 2Bs.
What do you mean Holliday will be the next Holliday/ Vlad? IS Dye a FA?
He means that we’ll pass on him b/c of the money and give a stupid reason – at least that’s what i think he means
Thx and LOL
Doing “whatever it takes to get a player” is what you do when you think you are on the verge. The Mets are not on the verge of anything but uncertainty. Matt Holliday is a nice ballplayer but hardly the second coming of a franchise game changer. He is Carlos Beltran sans the big playoff performance to drive up his value.
Now I am not saying I wouldn’t want Holliday. But it is time for Mets fans to be honest. Look in the mirror. Do you really think the Mets have a shot in 2010? If you say yes, after two months of introspective Mets thought I say you are high as a kite.
So should the Mets be trying to get better? Yes. Should they be in the market to get players like Holliday? Yes. But I think it is Bobby Bonilla gold to think Holliday is the tonic to the Mets ailment.
MAybe i am looking at it in a different perspective but I absoulutelt think the MEts have a chance. If they get Agon, or BAy or Holliday or Ankiel etc they have a chance. Ypur right that one off-season won’t change everything but it will sure help them get into the play-offs
I believed we had a great chance at the beginning of last year and with the year we’ve had the team can’t do anything but be better next year, i hope that the Wilpon’s and Omar are angry and frustrated and they put a lot of effort into this off-season. There are players to be had, holes to be filled but it’s not impossible.
I like Ken Rosenthal, but did anyone else think his interviews after games were attrocious? Every time…. “Arod…how did it feel to hit that homer??”
Wow! Hard hitting journalism.
Holliday would be a bad signing. I do believe Holliday or the Mets will not benefit. I’d rather sign Bay being you know what your getting. Bay is a legit power threat at clean up. The real priority is Adrian Gonzalez! Keep this in mind.. Boras will not let Holliday sign any deal until Bay is signed and Boras is seeking $ 20 – $23 Million. Holliday is no Tex and overated. He’s a good ball player but not great and long as there’s issues and doubts of citi field it would be wise to pass on him. If they sign Holliday ? The Bobby Bonilla saga will continue!
matt holliday will be a met
And we will lose 8-7 instead of 8-5
i think that dye for a year with an option will be a reasonable deal for the mets…his salary was 11.5 million last year andi we can get him for like 7 million or so a change of scenery might do him some good…then go for pitching…and more pitching…and see how the kids grow….
The report on here is that Holliday doesn’t want to play in NY. mlbtraderumors.com has the top 50 free agent list for 2010 and they think he will land with the Mets.
Who are you going to over pay? The guy who gets to the plate 670 times a season, or the guy who faces 750 batters a season?
As a Steeler fan, I will tell you that defense wins. (did anyone notice our two losses were when Troy was out?). Give me the guy on defense: give me Lackey.
Holliday will go where the money is at. The Mets are stupid enough to offer the entire bank out of desperation. If they do it would probably be the biggest bust since Bobby Bonilla. Holliday hit the lowest in citi field batting 100 with 1 hit in 10 at bats. He is a pull hitter but right center is his power. Holliday didn’t fare to well in Oakland. I am still not sold Holliday can put up the same numbers leaving coors. Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder should be priority and Lackey! Lf candidates Bay, Damon, Crawford, Dye and not Holliday.
Thought this was a blog for Mets fans. Didn’t know a reference to past free agents Vlad Guerrero and Alex Rodriguez needed explaining but yes it means theyll pass and spend money on someone else much worse.
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