Daily Archives: November 10, 2009
According to one GM, if the Yankees offer John Lackey a five-year, $82 million deal, “they’ll get him,” writes Jon Heyman of SI.com.
Instead, Heyman feels the Mets like both free-agent starting pitchers Joel Pineiro and Randy Wolf.
…i like lackey, and i realize there are a lot of fans who think he’s a no brainer for the Mets… but, frankly, i think i’d rather see the Mets sign two of pineiro, wolf and Jon Garland, all of whom might end up accepting a two– or three-year deal worth around $10 million per season, than see them sign only lackey, who a) might require a five-year deal and roughly $16 million per season, and b) would involve a bidding war with the Yankees…
The 31–year-old Pineiro was 15–12 with a 3.49 ERA in 32 starts this season, including 214 innings, during which he walked just 27 batters and struck out 105.
…i have always been intrigued by pineiro… he has very good control, a wicked curve ball and good command… but, he’s had a very sporadic career… he’s been healthy, then injured, good, then bad, he gets hit hard, then he cruises, he’s a reliever, then he’s starter, and who knows what he’ll be next season…
…nevertheless, like i have said before, the days of Johan Santana, some random, washed-up, veteran fifth starter, and three guys named Hope, Maybe and Potential, has to be a thing of the past… from what i can gather, the Mets are serious about making significant changes to the rotation… i am not sure what that means yet… but, something needs to be switched around… and, adding two of pineiro, wolf and garland, to team up with johan, and two of John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez would be a good adjustment…
To read more from Heyman, including a ton of updates on the Cubs effort to trade Milton Bradley, and the market for Roy Halladay, Chone Figgins and Bengie Molina, check out his extensive report, here.
Tagged News |
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution says that the Braves are trying to workout an extension with Javier Vazquez.
The 33 year old Vazquez is entering the final year of a three year, $34.5 million deal he signed with the White Sox in 2007, and was 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA with the Braves this past season.
Lastly, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that Jim Riggleman and Bobby Valentine are finalists for the managerial job with the Nationals.
Valentine was a candidate or the opening in Cleveland before former Nationals manager Manny Acta was hired.
Riggleman served as interim manager in Washington and managed the Nationals to a 33-42 record after Acta was fired.
Tagged News |
Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets approached the D’Backs about swapping 2B Luis Castillo for C Chris Snyder, “but that initial foray proved unsuccessful.”
Snyder, who hit 16 HR in 2008, but missed 100 games due to back surgery in 2009, will earn at least $11.5 million over the next two seasons, after which he can be made a free agent.
Last night, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Cubs spoke to the Mets about swapping Castillo with OF Milton Bradley.
In September, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets might try to trade Castillo this winter, ‘and take a look at Orlando Hudson,’ who is about to win a Glove Glove at second base for the National League.
…in short, i think it’s pretty clear heyman was correct, in that the Mets are working to trade castillo… it’s going to be a difficult trick to turn, but it’s the right time to make the move… though, i am not 100 percent certain hudson is a smart replacement, assuming he wants a long-term deal…
Speaking of Snyder…
Last night, Rosenthal said the Mets later approached the Blue Jays about sending Lyle Overbay to Citi Field, with Castillo going to the Cubs, and Bradley going to Toronto, but the deal was dismissed by multiple sources today.
Interestingly, a potential swap of Snyder and Overbay was discussed last month, but put on hold last week, according to MLB.com.
Tagged News |
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Omar Minaya will meet with Scott Boras tonight to at least gauge the price on Matt Holliday.
…i don’t expect much to come out of this meeting right now, but talks have to start somewhere i guess…
Earlier today, both Sherman, here, and Adam Rubin of the Daily News, here, said that the price for both Holliday and Jason Bay could be too high for the Mets, and that they may pursue second-tier free agents.
Yesterday, NESN.com said Jason Varitek would exercise the option in his contract, keeping him on the Red Sox next season.
Last night, however, the Boston Globe reported Varitek had not yet made an official decision, as he is still discussing his options with his agent.
Nevertheless, Joel Sherman of the New York Post quotes two Mets officials who say the team is looking for a catcher who can catch at least 100 games, ‘and they are unsure if Varitek’s body can hold up to a regular grind.”
Last month, Marty Noble of MLB.com said free-agent catchers Bengie Molina and Rod Barajas are likely to be on Omar Minaya’s wish list, as he looks for a veteran catcher.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Molina is looking for a two-year deal from the Giants, and a team from the American League is interested.
Meanwhile, Barajas hit just .226, but with 19 HR and 71 RBI, in 125 games for the Blue Jays this season – he hit .267 against left-handed pitching, while Omir Santos hit .283 against righties.
…like sherman, i believe the Mets are looking for a veteran catcher who can split time with Omir Santos… i keep reading and hearing how the Mets see an oppprtunity to get 20 to 30 home runs from the catcher position next season, which i assume means, say, five to 10 from santos, and 15 or so from a free agent, which would have to be molina or barajas, because Ivan Rodriguez, Ramon Hernandez, and the rest of the free-agent catchers will not reach that total…
That said, in a post to MLB Trade Rumors, Tim Dierkes took a look at six catchers who could be available in trade, including Indians C Kelly Shoppach, Royals C John Buck and Pirates C Ryan Doumit.
Dave Cameron of Fan Graphs looks through a variety of statistics, and concludes, “If you want a right-handed hitting outfielder this winter, and you don’t want to pony up for Matt Holliday, Jason Bay is not the alternative. Call Mike Cameron instead.”
In his recent Hot Stove preview for MLB.com, Marty Noble listed Mike Cameron as a back-up plan for the Mets, should they be unable to sign Holliday as a free agent.
According to Cameron, “The odds are pretty good that Mike Cameron is going to outperform Bay next season, just as he’s done in most every season recently, and he’s going to do it for far less money.”
…i think dave is correct, cameron will probably end up accepting a one-year, $10 million deal… at best, he’ll get a two-year contract like Bobby Abreu got from the Angels… i have not heard of cameron being connected to the Yankees at all, but he makes a lot of sense for them…
Tagged News |Joel Sherman, in a post to his blog for the New York Post, says that the prices for Matt Holliday and Jason Bay could be too high for the Mets.
Instead, Sherman says that the Mets are exploring the idea of ‘sprinkling’ power around the field with players such as Jermaine Dye and Bengie Molina.
In 2009, the 35 year old Dye hit .250 with 27 home runs and 81 RBI for the White Sox, while the 35 year old Molina hit .265 with a career high 20 home runs and 80 RBI for the Giants.
Earlier today, Adam Rubin of the Daily News wrote something similar, which you can read here.
…i never like the idea of going after second tier players unless they are complimentary, and i certainly don’t feel comfortable with the Mets chasing aging superstars and hoping they can either catch lightening in a bottle or hoping that a player can sustain a prior level of productivity…
…there really is no way to know what the Mets are going to do, but i have to believe that they are going to be patient and wait the market out as long as they can, and if the price is right, they will strike…this strategy worked in acquiring Francisco Rodriguez and most notably, Johan Santana…i just think it’s too early to believe the Mets aren’t going to be bringing in the premier talent this winter…
For more on this, check out Sherman’s post here.
Ken Davidoff, in a post to his blog for Newsday, says that the Mets will speak with the Blue Jays about a deal for Roy Halladay.
According to Davidoff, the Mets know they are not the favorites.
…i’ve been saying all along that i believe the Mets have the prospects to deal for Halladay, but i wonder if he would waive his no-trade clause to come…they also have to see how the market plays out for Halladay, and i think the Mets will play their hand in this much like they did with the Twins and the Johan Santana deal in that they will wait and hope that the price comes down to the point that they can still retain some of their top prospects in such a deal…
In addition, Davidoff says the Mets will meet with Scott Boras before the end of the General Manager’s meetings tomorrow about Matt Holliday.
…a lot has been said about the Mets feeling that the prices for the premier free agents are too high for them, but as Matt said, it’s only the beginning November, and i’m the Mets have a number in mind and i am sure it is a high one, but the issue right now is probably the contract length, and not so much dollars, but as i said, it’s the beginning of November and i would never expect the Mets to dive head first into this…
…i think some key questions is whether or not the Mets could afford both of these players, and whether or not they would ultimately budge on the length of the contract…however i would be weary of paying either of these players the bulk of the money owed in these contracts after the age of 35…that said, much like the contract for Pedro Martinez, i think they should just deal with the back end of the contract when it comes…
For more on Halladay and Holliday, check out Davidoff’s post here.
Tagged Roy Halladay |This morning, Adam Rubin of the Daily News wrote, citing team insiders, “Omar Minaya expected the salary demands of Matt Holliday and Jason Bay to be too high for the Mets.”
In response, Anthony De Rosa of Hotfoot writes, “If Holliday and Bay are too expensive for the Mets, your tickets are too expensive for me.”
…oooh, zing…de rosa makes an important point… but, i think everyone should settle down… seriously… the Mets said the same thing about Francisco Rodriguez last season, when he was demanding a five-year deal; they said the same thing about Billy Wagner, when was asking for a five-year deal; and they said the same thing about Carlos Beltran… this is not to say rubin’s sources are wrong… they may very well be very right… today… right now… when holliday’s agent, Scott Boras, is talking about an eight-year deal… for what it’s worth, the Mets are not alone:
Last week, in a poll of 4,100 readers of MetsBlog.com, voters were split, 50–50, on whether Holliday is even worth a seven-year, $120 million deal.
…the point is, i plan to let this play out… no team, not even the Yankees, jump right out and say, ‘We’re in it, we’ll pay whatever you want,’ which would be the dumbest negotiating move in history, especially with boras at the switch…
…maybe it’s true, maybe under all circumstances, the Mets do not plan to sign holliday… maybe they will… it’s November, and i bet there will be two more months of this before he signs anywhere…
Tagged News |
On Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays picked up the 2010 option for Carl Crawford.
However, Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times wonders what’s in store for Crawford’s future beyond 2010.
According to Smith, both Crawford and the Rays are very interested in securing a long term contract, but Rays Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman told Smith that an extension is “going to take some creativity.”
…it’s hard to picture Crawford playing for the Rays beyond 2010 because what he can command on the open market, the Rays probably cannot pay him…and if they do find a way to pay him, they will likely commit too much to him to sign other free agents in the future…but of course they did clear salary by dealing Scott Kazmir to the Angels…it bears watching this winter as to what they do now that they picked up his option and i think they will try and feel out the market for Crawford, but they are contenders so i don’t see the Rays dealing him until the trade deadline…
For more on Crawford plus other Rays news, check out Smith’s article here.
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