Daily Archives: November 11, 2009
According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, “Orlando Hudson said he hasn’t had any contact with the Dodgers since their season ended.”
…the buzz from LA has long been that the Dodgers will not look to bring hudson back… i mean, they barely used him in the post season, and he essentially lost his starting job to Ronnie Belliard, who the team will likely bring back on a one-year deal…
Hudson hit .283 with a .357 OBP, 35 doubles, nine HR and 62 RBI in 149 games for the Dodgers in 2009.
In September, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets might try to trade Luis Castillo this winter, ‘and take a look at Hudson,’ who was just named the Glove Glove winner at second base for the National League.
Earlier today, in a post to Amazin Avenue, Sam Page asked, “Is Hudson the answer at second base?”
Similarly, in a post to his blog, Ted Quarters, SNY’s Ted Berg explains why free-agent 2B Felipe Lopez might be a better option than Hudson.
…by biggest fear is that the Mets will actually be able to trade castillo, but then turn around and make the same mistake with hudson, giving him a three-year deal that they’ll regret sooner than later…
…i like hudson, and would prefer him to castillo, no question… but i think there are some Mets fans out there who might be idealizing him… he’s good… but, he’s not that good… just ask the Dodgers…
Tagged News |
The Nationals have chosen Jim Riggleman over Bobby Valentine to be their manager today, according to MLB.com.
…i hope to see valentine manage the Mets again some day, which you can read more about here… but, i do find it interesting that he was not selected by the Indians, Nationals or Astros, all of whom hired new managers since he returned from Japan… i assume it is mostly because of money… nevertheless, he is still available… so, if the Mets get off to a rocky start, and Jerry Manuel is being questioned, i have to think the local drums will again begin to beat for valentine…
Tagged News |
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Tigers might also look to trade C-3B Brandon Inge, in addition to Jackson and Granderson.
…and with that, there is only one thing to say… i like inge… a lot…
Inge hit just .230, .205 and .236 each of the last three seasons, but hit 27 HR last season with 84 RBI, while striking out 170 times.
The 32–year-old Inge will earn $6.6 million next season, after which he can be a free agent.
… i don’t think he’s a catcher any more… he’s had a variety of knee issues over the last few seasons, leading him to play 161 games at third base last season, zero at catcher… also, he strikes out like he’s wearing a blind-fold at times… i’ve never seen anything like it, actually…
Original Post, 5:03 pm:
The New York Post and ESPN say the Tigers are shopping OF Curtis Granderson, who will earn $26 million over the next three seasons.
Tagged News |
Mark Bowman, in a post to his blog for MLB.com, feels that the Braves will end up trading either Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe.
Bowman says that the Braves are shopping these starters to make financial room for other needs, and a possible destination for Lowe could be the Yankees, but they will first make a run at the younger John Lackey.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports believes the Orioles and the Giants are showing the most interest in Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla.
Meanwhile, Joe Frisaro, in a post to his blog for MLB.com, says that the Nationals are also showing interest in Uggla.
Finally, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Phillies are one of eight teams interested in acquiring Mark De Rosa.
Jason Varitek exercised his $3 million option to remain with the Red Sox in 2010, meaning he will not be a free agent this winter.
Fortunately, Joel Sherman of the New York Post quoted two Mets officials earlier this week who said the team is looking for a catcher who can catch at least 100 games.
In a follow up report, Sherman said the Mets prefer free-agent C Benjie Molina, and are also interested in D’Backs C Chris Snyder and free-agent C Rod Barajas.
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.
…from what i can gather, molina is looking for around $6 million or so per season… the buzz from SF suggests the Giants want him back, but do not want to commit beyond one year… i don’t blame them… he’s going to be 36 years old next summer… but, for the Mets, it would be interesting to pick up 25 or so home runs from behind the plate, when factoring in Omir Santos as well…
Molina hit .265 with 20 HR, 25 doubles and 80 RBI in 132 games for the Giants last season, while batting mostly fourth in their lineup.
Tagged Twitter |
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Omar Minaya is extremely interested in free-agent OF Matt Holliday.”
However, Heyman believes the Mets are still unsure whether to spend so much money on one player, or if they should spread the money around in an effort to patch multiple holes.
…well, i guess that would depend on how much they have to spend… i mean, if they are only willing to spend $20 million, then, sure, i see the dilemma… however, if they have $40 million to spend, then i don’t understand why they can’t do both…
…frankly, i still believe this is just a lot of posturing and dancing around, so not to seem desperate to any one team or agent…
To read more from Heyman, including, among other things, Omar Minaya’s thoughts on Chone Figgins, the Mets interest in Joel Pineiro, and whether the Braves will trade Derek Lowe, click here.
Tagged News |The Boston Globe quotes Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos as saying he has no issue making a trade with a team in his division.
“We’re trying to worry about the Toronto Blue Jays and what makes us a better team,” Anthopoulos said.
Original Post, 10:17 am:
Jon Heyman of SI.com quotes a person with the Padres as saying, though he wouldn’t totally rule out Omar Minaya’s chances of trading for 1B Adrian Gonzalez, “it wouldn’t be easy.”
Tagged News |
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says, ‘The Mets are absolutely in on Chone Figgins,’ according to the words of an involved party.
…like sherman says, having Jose Reyes, figgins and Carlos Beltran at the top of the order would allow for a lot of creative baseball in Citi Field…
In the poll at the end of this post, 53 percent of people who voted said Figgins is not worth $10 million per season.
Original Post, 12:57 pm:
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Mets and Phillies will be competing for free-agent 3B Chone Figgins.
Heyman says the Mets feel Figgins can play left field and second base.
Tagged News |Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Blue Jays and Mariners have discussed sending 1B Lyle Overbay to Seattle.
Earlier this week, Rosenthal said the Mets approached the Blue Jays about acquiring Overbay as part of a three-way sending Luis Castillo to the Cubs.
According to MLB.com, last month, the D’Backs and Blue Jays discussed swapping Overbay for C Chris Snyder, who Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Mets tried to acquire this week in exchange for Castillo.
…jeez, it sounds like omar keeps busting up potential deals… he obviously has ideas… i look forward to seeing this all play out… in either case, i think it’s pretty clear the Mets are working hard to trade castillo, just like the Jays are trying to move overbay, the D’Backs want to move snyder, and the Cubs would like to move Milton Bradley… good luck, guys…
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.
He will earn $7 million in 2010, after which he can be a free agent.
Tagged News |In a post to his new Twitter feed, Buster Olney of ESPN.com says the Reds are preparing to unload players.
“They’ll probably have to tie valuable young players to expensive veterans in order to move salary,” he explains.
…hmmm… i wonder if there is a way for the Mets to acquire Brandon Phillips and one of those pitchers, while giving up prospects and a player like Luis Castillo, which would end up being a net-gain in terms of money on Cincinatti’s end…
Original Post, 2:02 pm:
Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse believes the Reds could look to trade 2B Brandon Phillips or pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, as they try to cut payroll for 2010, according to a major 
league source.
…i would love to see phillips starting at second base for the Mets… he’s a spray hitter, but will also hit 15 to 20 home runs… he’s a smart baserunner and he’s aggressive… and, though he is not the best defensive second baseman, he’s better than Luis Castillo…
Phillips will earn $6.75 million in 2010 and $11 million in 2011, after which he can be made a free agent, or the team can pick up a $12 million option for 2012.
…even at that money, in terms of production, defense and his position, i think phillips is bargain… more important, he is consistent… because of the way he handles the bat, and the fact that he hits left-handed pitching well, he tends to do the same thing, month after month, never dominant, rarely in a funk, he has never been on the disabled list, ever, and i think the Mets could benefit from that type of sound, balanced, reliable player…
In 2002, when he was GM of the Expos, and there was talk of Montreal being ‘contracted,’ Minaya traded Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Phillips, who were all prospects at the time, to the Indians for Bartolo Colon.
Speaking of second base, in a post to Amazin Avenue, Sam Page asks, “Is Orlando Hudson the answer at second base?”
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