Daily Archives: November 12, 2009
The San Diego Tribune is reporting that Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer will soon meet with the agent for Adrian Gonzalez to discuss his “future.”
Gonzalez won his second-consecutive Gold Glove yesterday and is entering the final year of a 
four year contract, with the Padres holding a $5.5 million option for 2011.
Hoyer told the Tribune, regarding the Gold Glove, “I’m happy for Adrian… I hope this puts the focus on how terrifically well-rounded he is as a player.”
…at this point, it’s safe to compare gonzalez to Mark Teixeira both offensively and defensively, which means he will likely command similar dollars to what tex got with the Yankees, if not more… ultimately, i think that will be too much for the Padres and his value is sky high right now as opposed to trading him at the trade deadline when he is in the middle of the final year of his contract, so i would bet they attempt to trade him now…
…of course, i am sure the cost will be through the roof for gonzalez, but i do think the Mets have the pieces to make a deal… however, i don’t see a way for the Mets to be in on both gonzalez and Roy Halladay…
…but if the Mets choose to go down the free-agent route for a number two starter, i hope the Mets get in on adrian… there is no better fit at first base for them, or really any team seeking a first baseman…
Asked whether or not he would like to sign an extension with the Padres, Gonzalez told the Tribune, “I haven’t thought about that… If they want to offer an extension, I’ll see where they are.”
Nevertheless, Gonzalez said is happy with the current direction of the Padres, but still thinks there is room for improvement.
Tonight on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, SNY Insider Jon Heyman, from SI.com, said the Mets would have enough minor-league talent to get Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays, ‘but they’ll have to be very aggressive and gut their system.’
Heyman believes the Mets will look in to acquiring Halladay. However, he said, “To do that twice, and have two pitchers making $46 million, I just don’t see them doing it.”
In regards to signing free-agent OF Matt Holliday, Heyman said, ‘They have a good shot,’ and will be competing against the Cubs, Giants, Braves and Cardinals. The Yankees, however, will not be involved.
In terms of pitching, Heyman said, ‘The Mets really like Joel Pineiro,’ though he is not sure they are willing to commit three-years and $30 million to sign him.
To see video from tonight’s Mets Hot Stove, keep an eye on SNY.TV.
Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe provides a recap of topics discussed during the GM Meetings, ranging from whether or 
not to add an eighth playoff team to a possible worldwide amateur draft.
… abraham is great… i’m happy to see him up at the Globe, and carrying on the traditional notes column made famous by that newspaper…
…however, he mentions two other items i found interesting:
1) It’s really comical to see the lengths agents will go to connect their clients to teams like the Red Sox and Yankees. If you see a name that doesn’t make sense, odds are it’s just an agent planting something.
…it is rare to see a newspaper guy reveal something from behind the scenes like this, and though i think we all assume this sort of thing goes on anyway, it’s interesting to see pete actually put it in print… he also writes:
2) The Reds are going to trade some players who will surprise you.
…i heard from someone in baseball today who believes the Reds are serious about cutting up to $10 million from their payroll, but do not feel it is necessary to bundle one of Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo to Brandon Phillips to make it happen… for instance, harang and phillips, in one deal, would ship out roughly $18 million in one shot, plus free up more than $20 million next season… but, there are enough teams looking for pitching that finding a taker for harang or arroyo on their own will not be too difficult, so this person thinks…
In a post to Rumor Central, at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark explains why the Phillies are more likely to sign a free-agent like Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa or Placido Polanco to be their third baseman, than sign free-agent Chone Figgins.
Jon Heyman of SI.com said yesterday he believes the Mets and Phillies will be competing this off season for Figgins, who is also a top priority for the Angels.
Later, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said, ‘The Mets are absolutely in on Figgins,’ according to the words of an involved party.
Last month, Angels reporter Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times said Figgins will likely land a five-year, $50 million deal on the open market.
In 158 games this season for the Angels, Figgins hit .298 with a .395 OBP, 42 extra base hits and 42 stolen bases.
…to be honest, from what i can tell, there is little chance he signs a five-year deal… that just seems like a lot in this market… people seem to pay five years for power, not speed… in the end, though he might be asking for $50 million over five years, the buzz in baseball suggests he is likely to be offered deals in the three– to four-year range, worth around $10 million per year…
In a poll to MetsBlog.com yesterday, 52 percent of 2,200 voters said Figgins is not worth $10 million per season.
Tagged News |In a post to Twitter today, Buster Olney of ESPN.com said, “The Dodgers aggressively seeking a second baseman.”
Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Dodgers have contacted the Mets about 2B Luis Castillo, as have other teams.
Heyman thinks the Mets should consider sending Castillo to the Dodgers for OF Juan Pierre.
The 32–year-old Pierre will earn $10 million next season and $8.5 million in 2011, after which he can become a free agent.
He hit .308 with a .365 OBP, 24 extra base hits, 30 stolen bases and 27 walks in 380 at bats in 2009.
…he started the year on fire, hit a slump, lost his job as a starter when Manny Ramirez returned from suspension, and that was pretty much that… so, it’s hard to say what he’s about…
…obviously, he is not going to solve the team’s lack of power problem… he is more or less the exact hitter that castillo is… so, in terms of offensive production, i’m not sure swapping the two makes sense… i mean, if the Mets are this dedicated to creating a hole to fill at second, well, this would do it… i would rather the Mets trade him for pierre than to the Cubs for Milton Bradley, though…
…by the way, last season, the Dodgers had Orlando Hudson at second base, and he hit .283 and won a Gold Glove… however:
According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Hudson hasn’t had any contact with the Dodgers since their season ended.
… if the Dodgers are ‘aggressively seeking a second baseman,’ as olney writes, why aren’t they looking to bring back hudson… hmmm…
Heyman also says the Mets and Red Sox might lead the list of teams looking to acquire 1B Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres.
For more news and notes from around MLB, including the market for free agents Mark De Rosa, Chone Figgins and Mike Gonzalez, among others, check out Heyman’s report for SI.com, here.
Earlier this week at the GM Meetings, Scott Boras told reporters that his client, Matt Holliday, is a ‘franchise player,’ just like Mark Teixiera, who signed an eight-year, $180 million with the Yankees last off season.
“You have a franchise player at a young age and you have a chance to differentiate yourself from all others,” he said.
Dave Cameron of Fan Graphs explains, “Holliday’s dependence on a high BABIP for his offensive value makes him a greater risk (than Teixeira), and increases in risk drive down value.”
Cameron believes Holliday will end up signing for 10 to 15 percent less money than Teixeira got from the Yankees.
…so, say, $19 million per season, and, like, six or seven years, instead of eight… which, by the way, is roughly that same seven-year, $119 million deal i mentioned last week, or like Carlos Beltran signed with the Mets in 2004… the thing is, right now, i don’t think any team believes they need to offer that much money… i have heard interested teams intend to offer around $80 million over five years… this is not to say they refuse to pay more, i just don’t think they think they’ll have to… so, in the end, if a team steps up, guarantees a sixth year and pushes the total up above nine figures, that could be the final bid…
In a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman explains why he believes the battle for Holliday will come down to the Mets and Cardinals.
Speaking of statistical comparisons, check out James Kannengieser’s post to Amazin Avenue, where he explains why Holliday is a better defensive outfielder than free-agent Jason Bay.
Tagged News |Aaron Yorke of the Daily Stache hopes the Mets look in to signing free-agent 3B-OF Mark De Rosa, who was born in Passaic, NJ.
In a post to My Summer Family, Coop explains what she believes the 
team’s philosophy should be.
According to James Esatto, of Fonzie Forever, ‘Everyone should learn to throw a cutter.’
‘Carlos Beltran is a true role model for kids,’ writes Mets Merized Online.
Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue is playing with pictures and puzzles.
According to the Brooklyn Met Fan, the Mets have bigger issues than trying to trade 2B Luis Castillo.
Bill Price of the Daily News believes the Mets need to do something drastic, such as trading David Wright for Roy Halladay, while signing Chone Figgins.
…umm, yeah, and i’m supposed to be the reason the newspaper business is falling apart… ok, guys, whatever you say…
Tagged News |
In July, the Daily News wrote, “Growing up in South Carolina, Orlando Hudson dreamed of playing for the Mets. Even though he grew up in Braves country, Hudson loved Darryl Strawberry and was a proud Mets fan.”
…i will not lie, things like that influence me… Nelson Figueroa has a similar story, about growing up a Mets fan idolizing doc, darryl and others… i don’t know, i just like the idea of people on my favorite team understanding my experience as a fan, specifically a Mets fan growing up in the 80s… that said, you also have to it, run and catch the ball…
In September, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets might try to trade Castillo this winter, ‘and take a look at Hudson,’ who was just named the Glove Glove winner at second base for the National League.
…as i wrote last night, the buzz from LA continues to suggest 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… but, from what i can gather, he was pretty exhausted, needed a day off, Joe Torre kept pushing him out there, and he fizzled a bit… of course, hudson didn’t say a word, which i think speaks to his professionalism…
…like i said, i just don’t want to see the Mets trade Luis Castillo, but then turn around and make the same mistake with hudson, giving him a long-term deal that they eventually might regret… i am all for hudson at second base for the Mets, but let’s take it one year at a time… i still think i would prefer to acquire Reds 2B Brandon Phillips, but that might mean taking on a Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, as well… whereas, hudson would be a free agent… for more on phillips being available in trade, click here…
Hudson hit .283 with a .357 OBP, 35 doubles, nine HR and 62 RBI in 149 games for the Dodgers in 2009.
[poll id="311"]
Tagged News |In the New York Post, Joel Sherman quotes an American League GM as 
saying, ‘The Mets minor league talent is way under the talent base of the Phillies, Braves and Marlins.’
…i have talked with a few agents who represent young talent, and keep a close eye on the minor leagues, and, basically, no one person would say one way or the other how they feel about the Mets prospects… in short, they all feel Ike Davis is the closest person the team has to a ‘sure-thing,’ and someone they would rush to represent, but he only played in 59 games with Double-A last season… so, basically, the jury is still out on everyone, from davis to Jenrry Mejia…
Speaking of prospects…
To check out video of Davis hitting a double and a 400 foot home run in the Arizona Fall League, go to Mets Minor League Blog.
…he drops his hands, which end up in a strong hitting position, but that will do him zero good against a high-in-the-zone, major-league fastball… nevertheless, he has a long, fluid swing… i look forward to watching him play in spring training…
To see video and read a scouting report of Mets 23-year-old pitcher Eric Beaulac, go to Mike Newman’s Scouting the Sally.
Beaulac was 7–7 with a 2.95 ERA in 116 innings, during which he struck out 133 batters, for Low-A Savannah.
Speaking of prospects, check out Ken Davidoff’s report in today’s Newsday, in which he explains how draft-pick compensation will work for the Mets next season, based on this year’s free-agent class.
John Franco, Ed Hearn, and Jim Duquette will be at the Ceasars Club in Citi Field tonight for the NephCure Foundation’s annual Countdown to a Cure, helping to raise awareness and money to fight two potentially devastating kidney diseases.
Duquette’s daughter, Lindsay, suffers from kidney disease, while Hearn, who has had three kidney transplants, is an Ambassador for the Foundation.
For information on how to buy tickets, call 631-205-4306 or go here.
Speaking of former Mets, according to WFAN, Doc Gooden will be a guest on their mid-day radio show at some point today between now and 1 pm.
To listen to WFAN live online, click here.
Lastly, to see a hilarious video from Tirico Suave, featuring Mike Francesa and Jay-Z doing a duet of Empire State of Mind, click below:
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