Daily Archives: November 10, 2009
Ken Rosenthal, in a post to his blog for Fox Sports, says that J.J. Putz, under the right circumstances, would accept a setup role.
Putz’s agent, Craig Landis said:
“He has a preference to be a closer, but absolutely will not rule out an eighth-inning job depending upon many factors.”
…if he is willing to set-up and spot close, i think the Mets should at least guage his interest on returning on a lower base salary with incentives…assuming his elbow is healthy, and apparently he is throwing pain-free right now, he could be as valuable as the Mets thought he would be a year ago when they acquired him…
For more on this and the latest updates from the General Managers meetings, check out Rosenthal’s blog here.
In a report yesterday from the GM Meetings in Chicago, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets are expected to make a play for free-agent LHP Randy Wolf.
According to Heyman, ‘The Mets have interest in a do-over in their decision to go for Oliver Perez over Wolf last winter.’
Wolf has been ranked a Type A free 
agent, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
In a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney says of Wolf, ‘Being a Type A free agent could chase away possible suitors.’
The team that signs Wolf will be forced to surrender a first-round draft pick to the Dodgers, assuming he is offered salary arbitration.
The Mets, however, will not need to surrender a first-round pick, in any circumstance, because they finished with one of the worst records in 2009.
…and so, i wonder if this helps the team’s negotiating position, in that they can offer a bit less, knowing other teams might be scared off…
…from what i can gather, wolf will be seeking a three-year deal, similar to what perez signed last season… i am sure he will be offered a handful of one-year deals, but, in the end, i bet he accepts a two-year contract from someone, worth around $8 million per season… and, like i said yesterday, it would not shock me to see it come from the Mets…
To read Olney’s post, in which he looks at how the rankings will impact 10 other free agents, click here.
Tagged News |In a report for the New York Post, Joel Sherman writes, “The 
Yankees are much more focused on Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui than they are on Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey.”
Last month, in a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff said Holliday’s first choice is to sign with the Yankees, followed by the Mets. Similarly, in a report yesterday for SI.com, Jon Heyman said Holliday has the Mets and Yankees high on his list of preferred teams.
According to Sherman, the Yankees would prefer to give one-year deals to their own free agents, ‘than give another long-term contract to a thirty-something player such as Lackey.’
Holliday will be 30 years old in January.
Tagged News |Update, 12:15 pm:
According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, “There is no chance the Cubs and Blue Jays will make a deal involving Bradley.”
Original Post:
Last night, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Mets, Blue 
Jays and Cubs had been discussing a three-way deal that would send Luis Castillo to Chicago, Milton Bradley to Toronto, and Lyle Overbay to the Mets.
The Chicago Tribune later wrote, “Toronto reportedly wants no part of Bradley.”
Additionally, ‘Two officials at the GM meetings in Chicago downplayed the report,’ according to Rumor Central on ESPN.com, where Jerry Crasnick quotes a front office member of one of the three teams as saying, ‘the deal is a longshot at best.’
In his initial report, Rosenthal described the deal as ‘a longshot,’ as well.
…this is a shame, because i like this proposed deal… of course, i’m not the Blue Jays, who would then have not only bradley, his issues and contract, but also Vernon Wells, and his contract, and i am not sure how many Outfielders with Bad Contracts they need… plus, as some people were saying last night, does the Jays new GM really want to kick off his tenor by acquiring bradley… probably not…
…nevertheless, i think it’s quite clear, based on how this story evolved, that one of the sources is from the Mets, which would suggest, at the very least, the team is serious about making efforts to switch up the roster… which is good to see…
To check out ESPN’s Rumor Central, including information on Randy Winn’s status in San Francisco, Jason Bay and the Cardinals, click here.
Tagged News |“Johan Santana and Jose Reyes are on the mend,” writes Adam Rubin, in a post to his blog for the Daily News.
According to Rubin, “Reyes is now walking freely without crutches.?
The player’s representative told Rubin that Reyes is not yet 100 percent, but, “He looks great.”
In mid-October, Reyes had surgery to clean up scar tissue around the hamstring tendon behind his right knee.
To read more from Rubin, regarding the team’s plan for Carlos Delgado, Alex Cora, Gary Sheffield and their coaching staff, check out his post, here.
Tagged News |Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog posts video of Mets 20–year-old SS prospect Ruben Tejada, in which he points out a significant 
adjustment in a swing from July for Binghamton compared to an at bat this week in the Arizona Fall League.
According to Hyde, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a positive development.”
Tejada hit .289 with 24 doubles and 19 stolen bases in 134 games with Double-A Binghamton last season.
…i don’t understand why tejada isn’t playing second base… he is still at shortstop, which is occupied at the major league level by Jose Reyes… he’s a small kid… i have heard people compare him to Anderson Hernandez, or, at best, a Cesar Izturis type, i.e., not a starter, but a good, middle-infield reserve, or, as Ted Berg said to me yesterday, like one of the hundreds of guys the Angels always seem to have for their infield… which is a good thing, since, i’d like to see the team fill these sorts of needs from within, freeing up money to be used on other spots…
Keep an eye on Hyde’s blog, as he is in Arizona this week, checking out Mets prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
Speaking of the farm system…
Last week, Adam Rubin did not rank Jeurys Familia in his recent list of Top 10 Mets Prospects for Baseball America, even though he was named by the organization as their top minor-league pitcher.
Rubin described Familia as ‘raw,’ while quoting a scout as saying:
“He’s got arm strength, that’s it. Great kid. Arm strength. Bad delivery. No breaking ball… Everything in delivery messed up.”
The 20–year-old Familia was 10–6 with a 2.69 ERA in 24 games with Low-A Savannah 
last season, during which he struck out 109 batters and walked 46 in 134 innings pitched.
To read a scouting report and see video of Familia, check out Mike Newman’s post at Scouting the Sally.
Lastly, Mike Silva of New York Baseball Digest explains why, based on Rubin’s top 10 prospects, “you shouldn’t expect any impact players outside of Ike Davis in 2010.”
Tagged News |In a report for Newsday, Ken Davidoff quotes Omar Minaya as saying, “Some years are better than others,” with regards to the quality and quantity of players on the free-agent market.
That said, in a morning report for the New York Post, Joel Sherman believes the Mets are split on how to proceed this off season.
According to Sherman, one group wants to sign top-end free agents; while the other group wants only to 
upgrade ‘the supporting cast,’ while continuing to rely on their core players.
…i’m sorry, but, why can’t they do both…
Meanwhile, according to Adam Rubin, of the Daily News, team insiders say Omar Minaya expects Matt Holliday and Jason Bay to be too expensive for the Mets.
“Instead, they expect to sign a left fielder from the second tier of free agents, or acquire one via trade,” Rubin explains.
…i have heard this too… but, the way i understand it is: the Mets are not interested in paying holliday an eight-year contract, like Scott Boras is rumored to be seeking, just as they’re not interested in signing John Lackey to a five-year contract; especially if no other team is willing to meet that price tag… so, sure, they’re too expensive… but, they’re not alone in this thinking… and, that is all part of the dance, i think… frankly, it’s too early to take any report as gospel, since the market has yet to really take shape… that’s what these GM Meetings are for, basically…
To learn of specific players they are interested in, read Sherman’s report, here; as well as Rubin’s report, here; and Davidoff’s, here.
Tagged Twitter |
Jim Salisbury, in a report for the Philadelphia Inquirer, says that while Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. is focused on strengthening the bullpen, they are also looking to upgrade their starting rotation.
Yesterday, at the GM Meetings in Chicago, Amaro told reporters his priorities are third base, bullpen and bench.
However, Salisbury says the Phillies are ‘very much in the picture to make a run at Roy Halladay,’ though there isn’t a lot of room for the Phillies to take his salary on.
…needless to say, if the Phillies acquire halladay, that’s bad news for the Mets…i would like to see the Metscdo whatever it takes to keep halladay out of Philadelphia… the Mets certainly have the financial advantage over the Phillies, but the question is: can they match their package talent wise…
For more on the Phillies and Halladay, check out Salisbury’s report, here.
Meanwhile, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution says that the Braves are trying to work out a contract extension with Javier Vazquez.
Joe Capozzi, in a post to his blog for the Palm Beach Post feels that Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla will get traded by the winter meetings in December.
Capozzi also says that the Marlins are not going to be spending that much as they are preparing a multi-year offer for ace Josh Johnson.
Finally, Bill Ladson, in a post to his blog All Nats All the Time, says that according to Interim Manager Jim Riggleman, the club will decide on their manager after the General Manager’s Meetings.
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