Note: Free Agents on Friday, ‘Cheap,’ & Spending
Tonight at midnight, free agents are able to negotiate and sign new contracts with any team.
According to Marty Noble, of MLB.com, the Mets needs are, in order of importance, “power, at least one starting pitcher, a catcher and a set-up reliever.”
…i still believe the plan is to sign a catcher and a mid-level pitcher, but not until the non-tendered free agents hit the market… in the meantime, they will explore the trade market, either in an effort to bring in impactful talent, or, at minimum, to just switch out parts of the roster… i like i said a few weeks ago, i don’t think they’ll go bananas, like the Yankees did last off season season, and i hope they don’t, because i actually think that’s unwise… but, i do believe they intend to make some moves… i think change is in the air, but to what extent, i have no idea…
In Newsday, David Lennon reminds us that the Mets have vowed to spend on free agents this off season, ‘but how much,’ and on whom?
…i keep hearing on radio, from some reporters and from lots of fans, the idea that the Mets WILL NOT spend money this off season, as if any of us can know that… maybe they won’t… maybe the will… the reality is, they have money to spend, they have holes and they know they have a restless fanbase, on the fence about re-ordering season-ticket plans… so, again, who knows…
…the reality is, two years ago, when omar needed an ace, he got Johan Santana, then signed him to a $137.5 million extension… last year, he wanted a closer, and he committed $36 million to get Francisco Rodriguez, the best on the market… when he wanted to re-shape the franchise a few years ago, he recruited and signed Pedro Martinez, Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltran… when he needed a first baseman, he traded for Carlos Delgado… all of whom cost the team close to $500 million… so, this idea that the Mets are ‘cheap,’ or don’t spend, is crazy, especially when you consider no team won more games from 2006 to 2008 than they did…
…the issue is, was it the best way to spend that money… could it have been spent better, more wisely, to maybe have won a ring and put the team in better position for the future… that, and not the amount, is the argument people should be having…
For instance, on Twitter, ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons pointed out that, in the last seven years, the Marlins have 12 more wins, five more post-season wins and one more World Series ring than the Mets, and all for $600 million less.
…in other words, it’s about quality, not quantity…
…and, starting tonight, at midnight, we can start getting answers…
