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.
{ 19 comments }
no one but Omar knows what the Mets want to do so we can be smart human beings and realize that this “news” is all lalalalalalalalallaalla
why the he** don’t we have a PLAN yet!?!
Come on with this Omar guy!
I smell another long winter of all talk
no action!
I’m sorry, since when is anyone too expensive for a NY team? This is exactly why the Mets will always be the “second team” in NY. Because of their unwillingness to do whatever it takes to win.
The team doesn’t want to spend money. They don’t want to trade prospects. They truely believe that the current make up is okay and that only the ’supporting cast’ needs to be upgraded.
I’m so tired of this drama and unwillingness to commit to make this franchise better and take us to that next level.
Every single hole that needs ot be filled is available via Free Agency. Why not patch those holes and make a run at it. Heck, this is Omar (and Jerry’s) last run. Either we make the playoffs this year or they’re both fired.
Sign Holliday. Sign Lackey and go after either Wolf, Harden or Marquis. Who cares how much they’ll cost – and yes, I realize our payroll will be second to only the Yankees. But if that’s what it takes, then do it.
Obviously what we’ve been doing hasn’t worked out, we need to take a different approach.
Relax Nicky Noodles, this is all part of the free agent process. You spent all that time writing that post on Omar saying the top free agents are too expensive. What do you expect him to say, that Boras’ offer is a steal in fact I want to pay more.
It’s negotiations, Boras shoots high, we shoot low. We play the pauper, oh the economy, oh the Madof Ponzi scheme. We had a rough season, we can’t get fired up over this.
Omar’s track record would say he has no problem making the free agent acquisition, Beltran, Pedro, K-Rod.
Oh, I’m well aware of the process. Omar’s track record for signing the big FA’s isn’t bad but his abiltiy to see the ‘big picture’ has been.
Our bench, no depth. Bad contracts, where should I start? Perez? Castillo?
I’m not overly impressed with Omar’s ability as a GM. You can throw out all the names you want but, bottom line, this club isn’t winning. The Core has been the only constant and therefore, you must either a) blame the core and make a change from that route or b) supply a better supporting case than what’s currently provided.
If you look at the Phillies, for instance. They’ve got a Core: Howard, Utley, Rollins and Hamels. But, their supporting cast are above average players: Ibanez, Worth, Victorino and now Lee. That team is built correctly. Speed. Power. Grit. A line up, and a rotation, that has few holes.
After Reyes, Wright and Beltran who do we have? Murphy? Frenchy? Thole/Santos? Delgado? Maine? Perez? Pelfrey? All affore mentioned are average or below aferage players.
Get ready for Jermaine Dye. Matt you mention the Mets dont want to over pay for Holliday or Lackey when no one else is willing to. That is the right thing to do but where was that thinking with Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo? I just don’t get how this front office can go out and blow away total garbage dud players like that but they cant pony up for all star/mvp type players.
Exactly my point. We’ll overpay for two mid level guys but we can’t bring ourselves to overpay for high quality players? Where is the logic in that?
I understand the concept of not wanting to overpay but, the bottom line is that someone will overpay. Would you rather us keep the money or overpay for talent that can help bring this franchise a World Series Championship.
Those types of contracts add up too. Its so frustrating 6 mill (castillo) + 12 mill (perez) + 2 mill (redding) + 2 mill (tatis) + 5 mill (schneider)= 27 million dollars of complete trash. Granted 3 of those contracts are up now but how could you contend for a title in 2009 when you have almost 30 million dollars basically being flushed down the toilet.
Exactly. Omar can’t see the big picture and tends to put all his eggs in one basket. Hence the bad contracts; because he had no other choice at the time those contracts were signed.
Frustrating.
If the Mets aren’t going to go after any of the high end FA’s, how do they expect to improve this off season? Is the plan to empty the farm system for short term upgrades then?
These reports are so annoying… One guy says one thing. Another says something different. Holliday want to play in NY, no he doesn’t… Mets are in on Holliday, no they aren’t.
It’s all a game. An annoying game. I hate Scott Boras. I hate the reporters who are just part of the game.
This is all just annoying.
The Mets should sign a 2nd tier LF (like Dye, Damon, Ankiel, Nady), as well as a couple of 2nd tier SP (like Sheets, Harden, Bedard, Wolf, Pineiro, Marquis)… (READ…NOT Holliday, Bay, or Lackey).
They should do all in their power to trade Oliver Perez.
And they should go gung-ho after Adrian Gonzalez.
I’m not that smart. If we would be bidding by ourselves at 5 years for Lackey, then one would asume that a four year deal is the most that anyone will offer him. Can’t we start there?
I’m still on the Micah Owings bandwagon. His value would incrtease dramatically as a position player
Seriously people. WeSeriously people. This is all rumors and probably talk. There is no way Omar or any GM is going to say they are willing
to go 8 year on Holliday. Forget the fact that its stupid, but why give away your hand??
Fact is, unless this guy somehow gets a 8 year 144 million contract, or something outragoeous like that, then the mets will
be in the hunt. This is where teams get themselves in trouble by just paying for the sake of paying. Holliday is good but
he aint no 8 year 144 million good.
Fact is, he will not be a met not because the mets didnt want to pay but because he either wants to stay in St louis, play
for the yankees or gets some bloated contract. same thing with lackey. My guess? We get neither. Its not the end of the
world, its only the end of the world if Omar cant make up for it in trades.
You guys do realize teams do win without having to pay 18 for LF, 17 million for CF, 25 million #1 starter, 15 million #2.
Yeah, they also win through players that come up within their system. I don’t see Martinez, nor Davis coming up next year to make a difference.
I am also puzzled as to how the front office is not on the same page with regard to their off-season plan. It seems weird since they should have been preparing since late August.
If Holliday falls through, I would like the idea of bringing in Mike Cameron for LF. He could be a stop gap until next year, then bring in Carl Crawford. If Crawford signs an extension with the Rays, then re-up Cameron for one more year until Martinez is ready.
Normally I wouldn’t overreact to this type of article, but in the back of my mind, the front office is still filled with incompetent morons, so really…anything is possible.
I agree, let’ s not freak out, i think omar has to be aggresive but he’s not going to say that, once boras gets wind that we want holliday he’ll up what he thinks he’s worth and squeeze us
boras says holliday is worth 8/180 (obviously not worth that) thinking we are one of the 3-4 teams that can pony that up… we say we are not in the running (obviously not true) …. its early, and thats pretty genius if u ask me
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