Daily Archives: December 10, 2009
Mets GM Omar Minaya talked to MLB Home Plate and said there has been no change to the team’s budget and ability to spend from the time he joined the team as GM to now, and that he is capable of exceeding the current budget if the right player is available, while adding:
“In Montreal, I can tell you, we had a hard number. But, one of the good things about working in New York is that you do have some wiggle room… Every year I have been here I’ve been given the opportunity to go out and get the better players, whether it was a trade
for Johan Santana, or signing Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, and I expect that to happen again. That being said, you want to be able to get a player and feel what you are paying is fair for the quality of that player. I think, at some point in time, we’ll be able to get our players, it just takes a little longer sometimes.”
…people are way too obsessed about the team’s budget… also, i don’t understand why people are so convinced the Mets will not spend this off season… yes, they have not yet spent… but, who has… last i checked, the big-money free agents are all still available…
…the thing is, who cares… seriously… the Mets spent more money than any other team in the National League the last four years, and, despite that, look what it got them, as fans are more frustrated and restless than ever… so, money is not the issue…
…instead, the issue is the decisions they have been making, and how they’ve been spending that money, and the type of performance they are getting in return… i mean, i’d take a smart, effective, inexpensive acquisition over a stupid, ineffective, expensive move any day… why… because it was smart and effective… that’s the goal…
…there is no trophy for biggest payroll… it’s about talent… yes, money can help get the best talent… but, the best talent doesn’t always cost the most money…
Minaya also said Jose Reyes is ‘coming along very well,’ and should be ready for Spring Training, as should Beltran and Santana.
…one other thing, it is amazing to me how much more comfortable and coherent omar is when talking to, say, ESPN or MLB Home Plate, etc., and not addressing his home-town reporters… i have no idea what that means, but it must mean something…
According to David Lennon of Newsday, a scout said teams had been trying to move up to select RHP Carlos Monasterios, who the Mets drafted then immediatly traded to the Dodgers.
…by the way, the Mets just announced the trade in a press release…
Updated at 10:32 am:
The major-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft is over.
…i will do a recap of the minor-league phase later in the day…
Updated at 10:01 am:
The Mets have traded Monasterios, who they selected this morning in the Rule 5 Draft, to the Dodgers for cash considerations.
…ok… well, that was quick… i suspect this had little to do with money, and more to do with the Dodgers wanting this specific player…
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times said the Mets had asked the Dodgers about relievers Ronald Belisario and Cory Wade.
…also, there has been all that buzz between the Dodgers, Mets, Luis Castillo and Juan Pierre… or, i’m just getting antsy, and hoping for action, and this is just as simple as it all sounds… time will tell…
This morning, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Phillies and Angels are now the front-runners to acquire RHP Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays.
However, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told the News Journal, “I don’t think there’s any likeliness,” in regards to him trading for Halladay. “None,” he added.
Nevertheless, Rosenthal believes the Phillies are willing to trade J.A. Happ, and either prospect Michael Taylor or Domonic Brown, while the Angels have offered RHP Joe Saunders, infielder Erick Aybar and prospect Peter Bourjos.
Mark Feinsand of the Daily News believes the Phillies might be willing to include Cole Hamels, as well.
The Mets had interest, but the Nationals told them they intend to keep OF Josh Willingham, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
That said, on Monday, I wrote:
“The Mets are not very interested in Willingham and Juan Rivera, and neither is a first choice… in other words, it sounds like they’re on a last-resort type of back-up list, at best.”
Earlier this week, Buster Olney of ESPN.com, said, “The Mets have checked in on available corner outfielders in possible trades, but are not close to making a deal for any of them.”
Willingham hit .260 with 24 HR and 61 RBI in 144 games for the Nationals last season.
The Royals have released 1B Mike Jacobs in advance of the Rule 5 Draft, freeing up a roster spot and making him a free agent, according to the Kansas City Star.
The 28–year-old Jacobs hit just .226 with 18 HR, but he 32 HR with 92 RBI the season before that.
…he could be a considered a buy-low guy… in the end, i think the Mets will look to get more of a sure-thing, when trying to acquire a bat this off season… plus, if they want a platoon partner for Daniel Murphy, i’m thinking the player will be a right handed bat, instead…
The Mets and C Henry Blanco renegotiated his contract to be one-year, $775,000, instead of $1.5 million, due to concerns about his shoulder, reports Ken Davidoff in Newsday.
According to Davidoff, in return for lowering the guaranteed dollar amount, Blanco can now earn more than $1.5 million in incentives, based on games started and awards won.
…fair enough… i mean, like davidoff says, if blanco starts 100 games for the Mets next season, it will mean 2009 was a picnic… and so, the Mets protect themselves against injury, knowing they still have Omir Santos and Chris Coste in house to fill in as the team’s back-up catcher… that said, it is not comforting to know, following all the medical issues from last season, that the Mets are now acquiring players who are hurt before they get to Citi Field…
For details on Blanco’s incentive clause, read Davidoff’s report, here.
Adam Rubin of the Daily News believes the Mets intend to offer a contract to free-agent C Bengie Molina today, before leaving the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis.
According to Rubin, the two sides are expected to eventually reach agreement on a two-year deal.
Yesterday, on FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal said the Mets were unsure of the market for Molina, and didn’t want to end up bidding against themselves.
Speaking of catchers…
“The negotiations between the Rockies and free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba are on hold,” explains Tracy Ringsolby of FoxSports.com, as the two sides appear to be haggling over $1 million.
However, Steve Henson of Yahoo! Sports believes it is only a matter of time before they agree.
Alex Speier of WEEI Radio in Boston believes that if a team ups it offer to five years, they will be able to sign free-agent OF Jason Bay.
The Mets are ‘entering the fray,’ writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, joining the Mariners, Red Sox and Angels, as teams who are showing interest in Bay.
According to Silverman, though it appears signing Bay is Boston’s top priority, they are in a holding pattern until he makes a decision.
…like i said yesterday, a person very familiar with his negotiations recently told me that if bay re-signs with the Red Sox, the Mets will be in good position to strike a deal with Matt Holliday, so long as he gets at least five years and roughly $16 million per season… if the price drops any lower, other teams will again get involved…
Earlier this week, in an interview with 1050 ESPN Radio, former GM Jim Duquette, said the Mets would prefer to sign Bay, or Holliday, to a three– or four-year deal, worth around $15 million per season. However, in Duquette’s opinion, there will be enough big-market teams interested in Bay to get him at least a deal worth $75 million, with Holliday signing for slightly more.
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