Daily Archives: November 9, 2009
Jon Heyman of SI.com feels the Mets will not pursue free-agent RHP John Lackey, due to health concerns 
regarding his arm.
…the way i understand it, like a lot of teams, the Mets have interest in lackey, but not if it means committing more than $60 million, or four years on a deal… lackey’s rumored to be seeking a five-year deal, much like A.J. Burnett got last off season from the Yankees… i heard from one person today who wondered if a team, like the Rangers, could give to lackey a deal like they gave to Kevin Millwood, i.e., a big signing bonus with and a front-loaded deal…
Minaya told reporters he will be very aggressive in the free-agent market this winter, while seeking a power bat and starting pitching.
To read direct quotes from Minaya, check out Barry Bloom’s report for MLB.com.
To read more from Heyman, including quotes from the Padres regarding Gonzalez, check out his Twitter page, here.
Tagged News |
According to the Chicago Tribune, “Toronto reportedly wants no part of Milton Bradley.”
In Rosenthal’s report, he said the the Cubs initially spoke to the Mets about swapping Bradley for Castillo, and it was the Mets who roped in the Jays and Overbay.
Original Post, 7:32 pm:
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Mets, Blue Jays and Cubs are discussing a three-way deal that would send Luis Castillo to Chicago, Milton Bradley to Toronto, and Lyle Overbay to the Mets.
According to major-league sources, Rosenthal writes, “The teams indeed have discussed the framework of such a deal,” however, it is a ‘longshot.’
The 32–year-old Overbay hit .265 with a .372 OBP, 16 HR and 35 doubles in 132 games for the Blue Jays in 2009.
Tagged Twitter |
According to NESN.com, Red Sox C Jason Varitek will exercise his $3 million player option for 2010, meaning he will not be a free agent.
Original Post, 3:37 pm:
Rob Bradford of WEEI Radio in Boston says the Red Sox will not pick up the $5 million option on Varitek’s contract.
Tagged News |In a report for ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick surveys 20 general managers, assistant GMs, personnel people and scouts, regarding eight off-season topics.
According to Crasnick, eight of the 20 insiders believe the Yankees will sign free-agent RHP John Lackey, 
while four believe he will sign with the Mets.
According to Crasnick, “Estimates on Lackey’s deal ranged from a low of three years, $36 million to highs of five years, $95 million and six years, $100 million,” and, “Most people figure he’s bound for the big stage in New York.”
…i know people have reported the Mets lack of interest in lackey… but, i don’t see it that way… i think they’re very much interested in him, and holliday… i don’t think the Mets have any interest in trading their top prospects… i think they feel, to get better, now and in the future, the best bet is to keep their youngest talent and sign free agents, knowing they will not lose their top draft picks if they do so… i’m not saying they’re going to go on a spending spree like the Yankees did last off season, but, if they did, i wouldn’t be totally shocked… i’m starting to think they’re willing to spend more money on new talent than people think…
Last year, also for ESPN.com, 10 of the 15 insiders he surveyed said Manny Ramirez would end up back on the Dodgers; 12 of 15 said CC Sabathia would sign with the Yankees; nine said the Rockies would trade Matt Holliday; and 13 thought Jake Peavy would be traded; all of which ended up happening.
This year, Crasnick also surveys the group on whether Matt Holliday is better than Jason Bay; where will Aroldis Chapman sign; where will Roy Halladay or Adrian Gonzalez be traded; and whether MLB should expand the use of Instant Replay.
Tagged News |
According to Joe Hamrahi of Baseball Digest Daily, the Rays have picked up the $10 million option on Carl Crawford’s contract, meaning he will not be eligible for free agency until next off season.
…now the question is, will they trade him…
Original Post, 2:25 pm:
Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times believes the Rays may decide, as soon as today, whether to pick up the $10 million opinion.
Tagged News |Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post believes there is a 50–50 chance the Marlins trade 1B Jorge Cantu, and, “Indications are 2B Dan Uggla will get traded by the winter meetings.”
To read more on the Marlins, and whether they intend to sign Josh Johnson to a 
long-term extension, check out Capozzi’s report, here.
Last month for the Daily News, Adam Rubin said he believes the Mets will likely trade for a righty-hitting first baseman with a short-term commitment to pair with Daniel Murphy in 2010, as they wait for 1B prospect Ike Davis to develop.
…as i said back then, cantu fits this description… he is eligible for arbitration next season, in which he will probably be paid around $4 million, after which he can be a free agent… so, there is motivation for the Marlins to trade him, and the price tag will limit demand… plus, he’s a short-term play, he’s showing signs of becoming a more disciplined hitter, he hits a ton of doubles, and he hit .322 against left-handed pitching this season…
Speaking of affordable, young hitters…
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, “The Rockies will listen to offers for OF Brad Hawpe.”
To learn why, and what the Rockies might be looking to get in return, check out Sherman’s report, here.
Tagged News |In a report from the GM Meetings in Chicago, Jon Heyman of SI.com says people believe the Mets prefer Matt Holliday to Jason Bay.
According to Heyman, “The Mets are desperate for a power-hitting outfielder,” and Holliday has the Mets and Yankees high on his list of preferred teams.
…the new buzz coming from Camp Boras suggests the bidding for holliday must 
start at eight years, and at least $17 million per season… yes, eight, 136… jeeez… also, it doesn’t sound like he has any limitations… i mean, i am sure there are places he would prefer to play… but, in the end, he’s going where the money is… this is his time to shine, it’s time to be a star, and boras is going to make it happen for him…
Heyman also says the Mets are expected to make a play for free-agent LHP Randy Wolf.
…the early word from Los Angeles is wolf is seeking a three-year deal, like Oliver Perez signed last off season, and the Dodgers have zero interest in giving him such a deal… i bet wolf is late to sign, and ends up getting a two-year, $16 million deal from someone… it would not surprise me to see it be the Mets…
To read more news, notes and rumors from Heyman, including the latest on Hideki Matsui, the market for Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, the future of Chone Figgins, Hank Blalock, Orlando Hudson, and Carlos Delgado, click here.
Tagged News |In a report for ESPN.com, Tim Kurkjian looks at 10 stories to watch this off season, including, “Will the Mets improve enough to get back into the race in the NL East?”
…that’s more like a 2010 story, answered one year from now, not just in a few months…
According to Kurkjian, the Mets need free-agent OF Matt Holliday, of whom he writes, “Given his age, his character and his incredible strength, you have to think he’s worth the risk, even at around, say, $18 million a year.”
…i have a feeling there are actually going to be a lot more trades this off season, than in previous years… i’m not saying blockbuster deals, but just a lot of rotation, like swapping headache for headache, swapping contracts, moving non-tender candidates like we saw last week, or arbitration-eligible, soon-to-be stars for prospects, and so on…
…i also believe the Mets may be serious about switching around their roster… i think they’re considering keeping the young, core guys in tact, from David Wright to Mike Pelfrey to Jose Reyes… but, i expect the fringes of the team to change a lot, be it two or three spots in the rotation, the back-end of the bullpen, the bench, etc., i have a feeling they know they need to shake up the team’s dynamic, but still have some very good, young, talented players to build upon…
To read Kurjian’s 10 stories to watch in 2010, from ‘How will the world champion Yankees rework their roster,’ to, ‘Where will Aroldis Chapman sign,’ click here.
Tagged News |
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Omar Minaya is telling friends he badly wants a run-producing bat for either first base or left field.
…really… you don’t say… hopefully, he’s telling other GMs and agents, as well…
Sherman, however, points out that Minaya is not alone in his quest, listing seven other teams who might have the same goal.
Tagged News |Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star believes the Mets are among 10 teams that come close to matching up with the Blue Jays, in a deal for Roy Halladay
…i wrote the following in early October, and i still feel the same…
…much like with the Johan Santana situation with the Twins a few years ago, because he has a full no-trade clause, if halladay flat-out rejects toronto’s efforts to sign him to an extension, the Halladay Derby might come down to the team capable of not only trading prospects to get him, but who also have the cash to sign him to what will most certainly be a Sabathia– or Santana-like long-term deal… and so, again, like with santana, if the Yankees do not plan to spend that money on pitching, or if the Red Sox decide to spend on a bat, etc., who knows how the market will break and shape out…
…in the end, at least as of right now, i have no clue if the Mets stand a chance of getting halladay, who of course they’ll have interest in… i mean, who wouldn’t have interest in him… maybe they get him, maybe they don’t, maybe they have a chance, maybe they don’t… time will tell… all i’m saying is, to frame his availability as one of just prospects and a straight-up trade is ignoring the realities of MLB… instead, it’s about who has just enough talent to get him, because they’re capable of signing him to a seven-year deal… it’s a two-part move…
…to me, the Mets need to decide if he’s worth that big-time contract… i have talked to plenty of people around the game, and they always express concerns about his health… he’s been on the disabled list with shoulder and forearm injuries… if he signs a seven-year deal, he’ll turn 40 years old in the middle of that final summer… think about that for a moment… the bulk of his time and money will come post 35 years old… and so, i can see the concern… that said, it’s hard to stop daydreaming about having santana and halladay in the same rotation…
Halladay has struck out 200 batters each of his last two seasons, all with a 2.78 ERA through 585 innings and 66 starts, 18 of which were complete games.
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