Daily Archives: December 7, 2009
Tonight, at 7 pm, SNY will air a special edition Hot Stove show, live from the Winter Meetings, hosted by Kevin Burkhardt and Bobby Ojeda, featuring an interview with Mets GM Omar Minaya, with guests including Adam Rubin from the Daily News, MLB Inside Jon Heyman and Newsday’s David Lennon.
Also at 7 pm, you can listen online to Mike Silva’s NY Baseball Digest, here, as he and his fellow hosts discuss the day’s happenings from the Winter Meetings.
SNY’s SportsNite will return live from the Winter Meetings at 10 pm featuring a roundtable with Carlin, Heyman and Murti, talking about the day’s events.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Mets SS Jose Reyes began light running a few days ago, and the team is confident he will be 100 percent by Spring Training.
…man, i can’t wait to see reyes out there, doing his thing, in St. Lucie… that, more than any one free-agent signing or trade will give me confidence for 2010…
Speaking of Mets infielders…
According to David Lennon of Newsday, Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters today that 2B Luis Castillo was his team’s MVP this season, “as far as playing for the whole year.”
…hahahaha, sorry, but that’s priceless… so, wait, he’s the MVP because he played the whole year…
…yep… that sounds about right… oh, 2009, thank you for going away…
Update, 5:03 pm:
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Mets will likely meet with the agent for Bengie Molina tonight.
In addition, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times says Omar Minaya will meet with the representatives for Joel Pineiro and Randy Wolf tonight as well.
Finally, according to Steve Popper of the Bergen Record, Minaya says trade talks have advanced, which will be the dominant theme during the Winter Meetings.
Original Post at 4:01 pm:
Buster Olney of ESPN.com says the Mets will meet with the agent for free-agent RHP John Lackey tonight.
…this is typical, as teams tend to meet with one another during the day, then get together in meetings with agents during the night time…
Last week, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports said a team negotiating with Lackey says he is seeking a deal worth more than the $82.5 million, five-year deal A.J. Burnett signed last off season with the Yankees.
Last week, on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said, as of now, ‘the Mets are not heavily involved in Lackey,’ who he believes will eventually sign a $100–million contract.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says the Brewers are making a strong push for Randy Wolf.
Rosenthal says the Brewers are looking for a couple of starting pitchers to slot in with Yovani Gallardo.
Last week, also on Fox Sports, Rosenthal said the Yankees will take a look at John Lackey, Rich Harden, Joel Pineiro, and possibly Wolf.
Later, in a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney said, at the very least, ‘the Mets appear to be well-positioned to grab the best of the B-listers,’ such as Wolf, Pineiro or Marquis.
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch says the money committed to a signing of Brad Penny could put the Cardinals at a “breaking point” with Matt Holliday.
…it’s kind of vague, and if this is true, i wonder why would they would commit their available funds to a guy like Penny who is a middle of the rotation starter for them and limit their ability to sign Holliday…
…i believe ultimately, it will be a two horse race in the Holliday sweepstakes with the Mets and Cardinals being the targets…of course, i do think the Red Sox could become serious contenders if they fail to sign Jason Bay…
Update, 4:19 pm:
Joe Strauss from the St. Louis Post Dispatch says the Giants are conceding that Penny is all but gone, and all he needs to do is pass a physical for the Cardinals.
update, 5:31 pm
According to Jeff Nelson from MLB on XM Radio, Penny signed a one year deal and can be worth up to $9 million.
…I think there will be a lot of deals signed like this, which in a way is good…it gives a team flexibility, and it gives the player a reason to perform and stay on the field…of course a team risks losing the player in the short term under this scenario…
Original Post, 3:00 pm:
Buster Olney of ESPN.com says the Cardinals and Brad Penny are in serious negotiations and that Penny is close to a decision.
In addition, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch says the Cardinals are “in heavy” on Penny but says here a deal hasn’t been finalized as of yet.
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says the Mets are one of seven teams interested in Nick Johnson.
…Johnson worries me…he was badly injured at Shea Stadium a couple of years ago when he broke his leg and it took him a real long time to come back, and he just seems a little slower out there……prior to the injury, Johnson was a great defensive first baseman and hit for decent power, but it just looks like the injury and the missed time has taken its toll on him…
Last week Jon Heyman of SI.com told Kevin Burkhardt on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove that the Mets aren’t interested in Johnson because of his limited range and lack of power.
For the Marlins and Nationals, Johnson hit .291 with eight home runs and 62 RBI in 133 games in 2009.
Posted at 3:55 pm:
“The Mets have intensified their pursuit of the Nationals OF Josh Willingham and the Angels OF Juan Rivera,” writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
For more on Rivera, see this post from earlier today, and for Willingham, go here.
Jon Heyman of SI.com feels Willingham could be worse in left field than Daniel Murphy and Gary Sheffield were. Similarly, Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN Radio wrote, “If Rivera is the Mets starting left fielder Opening Day 2010, Omar will be the Mets ex-GM Opening Day 2011.’
Nevertheless, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, “Mets have checked in on available corner outfielders in possible trades, but are not close to making a deal for any of them.”
To learn of other teams pursuing Willingham and Rivera, read Sherman’s report, here.
Buster Olney of ESPN.com says the Padres are are expected to non-tender Kevin Correia.
In addition, Corey Brock of MLB.com says Correia has had “minimal” talks with the Padres, and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that unless he is willing to accept a discounted contract by Saturday’s non-tender deadline, the Padres will likely not offer him a contract.
…i don’t really know much about Correia…he had a good year with San Diego this past season and it was the first year he has been a full time starter…
For the Padres in 2009, Correia was 12-11 with a 3.91 ERA in 198 innings, and average just over three walks per nine innings.
For the latest on the winter meetings, be sure to check out ESPN here and Fox Sports here.
Updated at 4: 10 pm:
David Lennon of Newsday quotes a Mets official as saying, “There is zero chance of Jackson going to the Mets. Zero.”
Updated at 3:36 pm:
The Mets and Tigers haven’t even talked today, reports Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.
What’s more, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, “The Tigers asking price on Jackson is said by other teams to be very, very high at this point.”
Updated at 3:13 pm:
According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, a Mets official denied the rumor that said the Mets had acquired RHP Edwin Jackson from the Tigers.
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