Daily Archives: December 10, 2009
Update, 9:55 pm, by Michael Baron:
According to Ian Browne from MLB.com, a source says the deal should be complete in two to three days as the teams review the medical records.
Original Post, 12:25 am:
According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox will send 3B Mike Lowell to the Rangers for C Max Ramirez.
Earlier tonight on ESPN News, Peter Gammons said he still believes free-agent OF Jason Bay will end up re-signing with the Red Sox, as the Mets will not be able to top their final offer.
ESPN’s Keith Law wrote to ESPN.com’s Rumor Central:
“Bay is the best overall hitter on the market this winter, with more offensive potential than Matt Holliday but less defensive value. Bay is extremely patient and has shown he can hit American League pitching.”
Updated at 4:33 pm:
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Mets offered a four-year, $65 million contract to Bay.
In an on-air appearance with WFAN, Heyman said he doesn’t see the Red Sox upping their offer to five years for Bay; meaning, if the Mets up it to five years, ‘they’ll be safely in front to get him.’
Additionally, Heyman said the Mets feel Bay is as good of a defensive outfielder as free-agent OF Matt Holliday, with whom they have no interest in being involved in a long, drawn-out negotiation.
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says the Phillies are considering whether to sign RHP John Smoltz, who they would use in the bullpen, not as a starting pitcher.
The 42–year-old Smoltz has pitched in just 21 games over the last two seasons, making 20 starts, during which he is 6–10 with a 5.34 ERA, while striking out 109 batters in 106 innings pitched.
The Cubs say they are close to trading OF Milton Bradley, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
…seriously, come on now… how many times can a trade be reported as being close… i get the feeling these guys are like snails, inching, inch, by inch, slowly, close, getting closer, close, and so on… do it, already…
However, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports says, if a deal is close, it is not with the Rays.
…as i am sure i do not need to tell you by now, the Cubs and Mets, and Luis Castillo and bradley, had been linked together in all sorts of three-team, even four-team deals earlier in the week…
Despite what was reported by ESPN.com below, Mets C Josh Thole has left his Winter League team in Venezuela, according to this report.
“It’s a shame but we made a mutual decision, because he wanted to rest in December,” team President Luis Avila said.
“The good thing is that he wants to comeback next season.”
…as always, thanks to Andres M for the links and translation…
Jon Heyman will be a guest of Mike Francesa on WFAN at 4 pm.
To listen live, online, click here.
Bob Nightegale of USA Today says the Mets have signed 25–year-old, minor-league free-agent RHP Clint Everts.
According to Nightegale, he was pursued by 15 teams at the Winter Meetings.
He was 5–1 with a 2.07 ERA in 31 relief appearances between Double– and Triple-A last year, during which he struck out 42 batters in 39 innings.
Everts was selected by Omar Minaya’s Expos with the fifth overall pick in 2002.
According to Baseball America, “Everts and Scott Kazmir became the first pair of pitchers from the same high school to go in the same first round.”
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News says the Rangers met twice this week with the agent for free-agent relief pitcher Darren Oliver.
According to Grant, the Rangers, Red Sox and Angels are still in on Oliver.
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times said the Mets, Mariners and will also compete for Oliver, who was not offered salary arbitration.
In his 177 relief appearances with the Angels since leaving the Mets in 2006, the 39–year-old Oliver is 15–3 with a 3.11 ERA, while striking out 164 batters in 205 innings.
In fact, his ERA dropped from 3.78 in 2007 to 2.88 in 2008 to 2.71 last year.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com says the Mets will be among teams in attendance when Cuban RHP Aroldis Chapman throws a bullpen session for interested teams in Houston next week.
… from what i recall, the Mets and Yankees both met with chapman and his agent back in October, but that was before he switched representative…
According to Buster Olney, of ESPN.com, “Some evaluators view Chapman as a left-handed Stephen Strasburg,” who was the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft last year.
This week, Jorge Arangure of ESPN.com said, despite talk of much larger figures just a few weeks ago, Chapman now might not get more than a $20 million contract.
Earlier this week, Tyler Kepner of the New York Times said the Yankees are not interested in paying Chapman more than $15 million.
To see a video interview with Chapman, including clips of him pitching, go here.
“The Yankees have begun contract negotiations with free agent OF Johnny Damon,” reports Buster Olney of ESPN.com.
…good… i expected we’d be forced to discuss rumors connecting the Mets to damon, but, so far, thankfully, this has not been the case…
Speaking of outfielders…
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com believes teams are intrigued by free-agent OF Rick Ankeil, who hit just .230 with 11 home runs last season, following a 25–HR season the year before.
Crasnick believes Ankiel is seeking a three-year deal.
…from what i can tell, the Mets are not very interested in ankeil, and he has zero interest in the Mets or in playing in New York City…
…hmmm, could it be: wild pitch (clap, clap), wild pitch (clap, clap)…
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