Monthly Archives: November 2009
Tomorrow, Dec. 1, is the deadline for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their own free agents, thus making them eligible for draft-pick compensation should they sign with a new team.
…of course, the player could also accept, and thus force the old team to keep him and pay him next season…
For instance, last week, in a report about tomorrow’s deadline, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Dodgers are unlikely to offer arbitration to free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson as there is a chance he could accept it and be rewarded more than he might earn on the open market.
…this is good news for the Mets, who have been linked to hudson in rumors this winter, since he is a Type A free agent… and, although the Mets cannot lose their top draft pick under any circumstance, they can lose their second…
To read of other players who Rosenthal thinks might be, or might not be, offered arbitration, click here.
In a post to Amazin Avenue, Sam Page explains how the current markets could work to the Mets advantage.
According to Page, instead of signing pitchers like Jon Garland and Jason Marquis to multi-year deals, the Mets would better off trading for Reds RHP Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo, who, as he says, “are basically solid-role players with rip cords for 2011.”
… actually, i am not sure it is clear yet how well pitchers like garland and marquis will even do on the open market… the same can be said for Doug Davis, Randy Wolf, Joel Pineiro and Erik Bedard… i believe they’re each seeking a three-year deal, but i think there is a strong chance some from this group will be forced to sign one-year contracts, yet again…
…like i have said before, to me, the only player on the free-agent market worth dishing out a big-time contract to is Matt Holliday, because, a) he’s a terrific hitter, b) he has good range on defense, c) he’s young enough and well-rounded enough, and d) he’s the kind of player i feel a team can build around…
Speaking of the future…
Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors looks at the potential free-agent class to follow next season, a list that could feature Indians C Victor Martinez, Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins, Rays 1B Carlos Pena and OF Carl Crawford, Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett, Phillies LHP Cliff Lee, Giants RHP Matt Cain and Mets SS Jose Reyes.
…of course, the list will thin, and be less exciting, when player options are picked up and extensions are signed… but, for now, next season has a ton of potential…
According to NPB Tracker, the Mets are among eight teams who have interest in free-agent relief pitcher Takashi Saito.
In four seasons since leaving Japan for MLB, the 39–year-old Saito has a 2.05 ERA in 236 relief appearances, while pitching for the Dodgers and Red Sox, during which he has 297 strike outs and just 77 walks in 245 innings pitched.
…i know more of him from watching the Red Sox last season, than i do from his time with the Dodgers… however, i didn’t realize how strong he has been in all four seasons he has been pitching in MLB… he changes speeds so well, and keeps hitters off balance… he is very good control, but he is not a guy a team should go to for more than a few batters… the biggest concern with saito is a) he is striking out less and walking more hitters while giving up more home runs with each passing season, and b) his health, as he’s had some sort of arm issue every season, be it his elbow or shoulder… in fact, he missed 50 games in 2008 with an elbow injury, and so the Dodgers didn’t bother to tender him a contract… that said, when he’s healthy, and being used in the right situations, he can be outstanding… but, i am not sure he’s worth a long-term deal, which is what i assume he will be asking for…
According to Joe D of Mets Merized, the Mets would be better off signing free-agent Darren Oliver than Saito.
Andrew Beaton of Hot Foot takes a closer look at the Mets Fantasy Camp, the ulterior motives that could be behind it.
In a post to Brooklyn Met Fan, Adam writes a letter to Jeff Wilpon, asking him to consider how he is involved in the day-to-day operations of the Mets, and how he is viewed by fans.
The more reports he reads, says Steve from the Eddie Kranepool Society, the more pessimistic he becomes.
Dave Mills of Mike’s Mets lists a few ways the Mets can try to fill a variety of needs this off season.
Similarly, Mack, from Mack’s Mets, continues his look in to the Reconstruction of the Mets.
Lastly, in a post to Faith and Fear in Flushing, Greg Price writes about similarities between the Mets, Willie Randolph and the Nets.
In a must-read report for MLB.com, Tom Singer looks at the lack of quality, young 
free-agents, and explains how a change in how teams treat their young stars is ifluencing the market.
…this is the single-biggest worry i have for the Mets, in that they may have misread the market a few years ago, betting on the international signings instead, while signing big-time free agents and sacrificng top draft picks, then not spending over slot to make up for thier late-round selections… and, as a result, as teams began locking up their young players, like the Rays and Evan Longoria or the Brewers and Ryan Braun, the Mets ended up having little to show in their farm system and fewer and fewer impactful options to fill in with on the free agent market… it is this reason, more than any, that explains the situation the Mets are in today…
According to the Daily News, a bidding war may be on tap between the Yankees and Red Sox for Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay.
In a poll to MetsBlog.com last Friday, 91 percent of more than 6,600 people said they would trade Mike Pelfrey in a deal to bring Halladay to Citi Field.
Braves RHP Derek Lowe hasn’t been told he will be traded, which is fine by him, since he wants to stay in Atlanta, reports the Boston Globe.
The White Sox signed Andruw Jones to a one year contract for $500,000.
According to FoxSports.com, the Mets are close to re-signing RHP Elmer Dessens.
Ike Davis’s dad, former Major League 1B Ron Davis, believes his son will play 10 to 15 years in the big leagues, and, “he’ll do things to sacrifice for the team,” according to the New York Post.
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com disagrees with John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, regarding the future of Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson.
According to FoxSports.com, the Cubs are looking for a center fielder, but first must trade OF Milton Bradley to determine how much they can spend on the free-agent market.
Blue Jays reporter Jordan Bastian of MLB.com believes free-agent C Rod Barajas might have a multi-year offer to leave Toronto.
Lastly, the Marlins are not looking to trade SS Hanley Ramirez, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
In a report in today’s Daily News, Anthony McCarren and Bill Madden suggest that a bidding war is on tap between the Yankees and Red Sox for Roy Halladay.
…interesting how the Mets aren’t mentioned at all here, yet i think they have the money and the prospects to get a deal done for Doc, and they were the one’s that swooped in and landed Johan Santana two years ago over these two clubs…not that one has anything to do with the other, but it’s possible that the Mets are quietly pursuing Doc at the moment…
McCarren and Madden believe that for the Yankees to acquire Halladay, the centerpiece of the deal would have to be Jesus Montero, who scouts believe can hit 40 home runs in the Major Leagues, and would also likely have to part with another prospect such as Austin Jackson and either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.
…one thing that i do know is the Yankees do an outstanding job at hyping up their prospects…Montero did have a good season for single-A Tampa, but he is just 18 and has a long way to go…
On the flip side, McCarren and Madden wonder if the Yankees would be willing to part with such talent and then sign Halladay to a five year extension in the range that both Johan Santana and CC Sabathia signed for, and potentially be paying both Halladay and Sabathia $46 million when both are over 34 years of age.
…it’s the same reservation i have with the Mets acquiring him…it’s a scary proposition to be paying Halladay the bulk of the contract after age 36…if he would be willing to take a shorter term contract, say in the five year range with an option based on merit, i’d be somewhat more comfortable…
…the one thing that Boston and both New York teams need to consider is this very problem…the question isn’t how he will perform in the next three seasons, it’s how he will perform in the seasons that follow and whether or not he will be effective, let alone productive…when it comes to talent that Doc possesses, i’m not really concerned that he will flame out all of a sudden, but the risk, at that dollar amount, has to be considered for anyone that wants to acquire him…
For more on Halladay and the Red Sox and Yankees, take a look at the Daily News here.
Tagged Roy Halladay |
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says Derek Lowe wants to stay in Atlanta, and doesn’t want to be traded.
According to Cafardo, the Braves haven’t told Lowe anything regarding a trade, but he has heard to buzz in the media about the Braves looking to deal him for offense, telling Cafardo:
“I know they have holes they want to fill, and I know, from my perspective, when you pitch as poorly as I pitched, and given the caliber of the starting pitchers we have, I wouldn’t be surprised by something like that…But in terms of whether someone called me to tell me, ‘Would you be interested in being traded somewhere?’ No, I haven’t received that call.’’
…i like Lowe and believe he was the better choice than re-signing Oliver Perez a year ago, but his last two months worry me…i don’t see a scenario where the Braves would trade Lowe to the Mets or any team in the National League East…i’m not sure at this point, the commitment to dollars or the cost in talent is worth acquiring Lowe anyway…
Lowe, who does not have a no-trade clause in his current four year, $60 million contract, went 15-10 with a 4.67 ERA for Atlanta in 2009, but pitched poorly in August and September despite going 5-3.
Meanwhile, Cafardo says that while a lot of teams are interested in Carl Crawford, there may come a time when “Rays ownership bites the bullet and says this is one player they need to keep and works out a long-term commitment.”
…what this comes down to is how much Crawford will ultimately command and whether or not the Rays can afford him, so i’m not sure if Tampa has the ability to just ‘bite the bullet’ so to speak…it wouldn’t be wise to commit all available funds to Crawford if they intend to retain guys like Evan Longoria and Matt Garza for a long period of time, because then they will be handcuffed by a commitment to Crawford with no depth around him…
For more on Lowe, Crawford and other buzz from around the Majors, check out Cafardo’s article here.
In a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff says that free agent Yorvit Torrealba is keeping contact with the Rockies, but has also spoken to the Giants and Blue Jays.
In addition, Davidoff says both the Marlins and Rays “are on the periphery.”
…Torrealba would be a good fit for the Mets but given what happened a couple of years ago when they pulled their contract offer and Torrealba apparently still being upset over the ordeal, I would be amazed if the Mets jumped into these sweepstakes…
For more on Torrealba, check out Davidoff’s post here.
Tagged Yorvit Torrealba |
Roberto Alomar is eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, and despite his struggles after his arrival in New York, I think he was undoubtedly a Hall of Fame caliber player.
I thought the trade that brought Alomar to the Mets was a great move by Steve Phillips at the time, as I felt he would bring a combination of great defense and all around offense to a lineup that desperately needed it in 2002, but I never would have predicted his skills would diminish the way they did when he arrived in Flushing, even though he was 34 at the time of the trade.
I remember he had one standout game for the Mets and it came in April, 2002 against the Expos when he hit two home runs and I remember thinking that he had finally broken out of his early season haze and he would be fine the rest of the way.
I was wrong – Alomar was nothing more than mediocre at best both offensively and defensively for the Mets, and the trade proved to be a bust in the end.
None the less, I think Alomar was the standard of excellence at second base and he has ten gold gloves to prove it. He also was a 12 time All Star with four silver slugger awards, finished in the top ten for the batting crown five times, and despite not winning an MVP award, he finished in the top ten in voting five times.
He also finished with two World Championship rings and an even .300 career average with over 2700 hits and 1100 RBI, proving to me that he was an offensive force throughout his career.
Tagged Roberto Alomar | ← Older postsNewer posts →
