Daily Archives: December 16, 2009
Patrick Newman fom NPB Tracker believes the Mets have a basic agreement to sign 30–year-old free-agent RHP Ryota Igarashi; the New York Post has a source who says the have reached agreement with Igarashi, as well.
…this is good news… he’s far from a guarentee, not even close… but, any one i talked with about him was impressed, and felt he has a lot of potential…
…earlier this week, the New York Times said the Mets were close to signing him to a two-year deal, which i believe will end up being for around $1 or $2 million per season…
The 30–year-old Igarashi was 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 56 games with the Yakult Swallows last year.
…i am told he has a serious, mid-90s fastball, and a hard splitter, which sits in the upper 80s… he can throw a curve ball, but rarely uses it in short relief… the concern is how he will adjust to the smaller, major-league strike zone, as he tends to struggle with control from time to time…
Mets GM Omar Minaya had been in contact with Bobby Valentine, in an effort to learn more about Igarashi, according to a report in November from Hochi Sports.
…from what i can gather, he was being pursued most heavily by the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Pirates, Orioles and Padres, all of whom saw him as a major-league reliever…
According to the New York Post, Mets GM Omar Minaya said yesterday that he remains interested in re-signing free agent 1B Carlos Delgado, who the team will go see play in Puerto Rico in the next week or so.
The Orioles have been in contact with Delgado, as they search for a first baseman, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
…i have heard that delgado is most interested in the Mets, Orioles and Braves, though the Orioles are the only team to be linked to him in rumor this off season…
…i get the feeling the Mets look at delgado in much the same way they looked at Pedro Martinez last off season, in that they’ll take him back, at a discount, but they’d like to explore other options first, if for no other reason that it’s an opportunity to change up the roster… however, if it is determined that delgado can be had for a bargain, i think the Mets will bring him back… and that may happen, because i don’t see how any other team steps up for him, considering his hip, defense, and the number of better free-agent DHs on the market…
Earlier today, Mets SS Jose Reyes talked for roughly one hour with Mike Francesa on WFAN, which you can listen to at WFAN.com.
The following is a written recap of the discussion, during which Reyes talks about, among other things, his injury; his recovery; his goals for 2010; and his thoughts on Jerry Manuel; Willie Randolph; and the Phillies, who he believes do not like him.
Updated at 2:55 pm:
Reyes says he feels no pain, and will be ready by Opening Day.
He said this most recent injury is different from ones he suffered early in his career.
Reyes believes having surgery was the best decision he ever made.
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post points out that GM Theo Epstein referred to free-agent OF Jason Bay in the past tense today, “when asked if Bay still might return to the Red Sox.”
…the more people i talk with, the more it seems the Mets are confident they’ll end up with either bay or Matt Holliday, or can make a trade if need be… the point is, left field does not seem to be a big concern, from what i can tell…
Original Post at 9:57 am:
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Mets upped their offer to Bay to include a fifth-year option, but they are also scheduled to speak again with Scott Boras about Holliday.
Heyman writes, “Omar Minaya is thought to have signaled a willingness to go to a five-year deal, but with Bay still believed to be seeking a six-year deal from them, the Mets apparently have decided to dip back in on Holliday.”
‘The Red Sox are working hard to obtain Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez,’ writes FoxSports.com.
…the buzz from the Winter Meetings had been that the Red Sox would look to sign Mike Cameron and John Lackey, and trade Mike Lowell, so to be able to ship Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz to San Diego for gonzalez… well, they signed lackey, cameron and traded lowell… so…
…there is nothing the Mets have that will top buccholz and elsbury… also, from what i understand, the Padres want a center fielder and pitching, not a first baseman, since they feel they have the next Ryan Howard in Kyle Blanks… and so, who would you rather have, say, Fernando Martinez and Mike Pelfrey, or buccholz and elsbury…
According to Jorge Arangure of ESPN.com, “A source close to Gonzalez believes he’ll be traded to Red Sox within next 10 days.”
…i think it’s clear, because of his popularity in San Diego, and his inexpensive contract, that the Padres will listen to offers, but they’re going to be picky… because, at worst, they get another Opening Day gate from him, and can milk him for all he’s worth, not just for ticket sales, but at the Trade Deadline, when all teams, big– and small-market, in contention or not, can all bid on him…
Bob Elliott from the Toronto Sun believes a player involved in the three-team deal sending Roy Halladay to the Phillies has failed his physical.
…like Seinfeld used to say, ‘That’s a shame.’….
…i don’t think it’s halladay or Cliff Lee, as it was reported the other day that both passed… instead, i would think it’s one of the prospects, and so, i imagine they’ll resolve this…
Updated at 1:25 pm:
In a post to Twitter, SNY’s Ted Berg joked:
“In a bizarre twist, whoever failed the physical has been traded to the Mets.”
To follow Ted on Twitter, click here.
Updated at 12:52 pm:
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, if the Reds trade Aaron Harang, his 2011 option becomes a mutual option for $14 million, with a $2.5 million buy-out.
…thanks to Nathan W for the information…
Original Post:
In November, Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse said the Reds could look to trade Bronson Arroyo and Harang, as they try to cut payroll for 2010.
Today, Price says on Twitter that the Reds are still trying to trade Harang, who will earn $12.5 million next season, with a $12.7 million option for 2011.
The 31–year-old Harang has been 12–31 with a 4.52 ERA the last two seasons for the Reds, while missing time with a forearm injury, a neck injury and an appendectomy. However, he was 43–30 with a 3.77 ERA the previous three years, while striking out 597 batters, and walking just 159, in more than 670 innings.
…he has struggled the last two seasons, but it might have been due to the various ailments… prior, he was quite good, getting him that big contract… he’s a big guy, he can go deep in games, and can strike batters out with a big fastball… i don’t see him as an ace, but a second-level starter, much like the Mets are probably looking to acquire… he’d be interesting, if the team believe he is ready to rebound physically…
…i do believe the Mets are more likely to sign a pitcher like Jason Marquis, who they are only willing to give a two-year contract… marquis is looking for three years… but, i wonder just how badly he wants to return to New York, where he was born and raised… i believe the two sides can work out a deal, eventually, if they so choose… the thing is, i think i’d rather have harang for one year, than marquis for two or three… and i can’t think it would cost all that much to acquire harang in a trade…
Here is video, courtesy of SNY, from the Mets holiday party in Citi Field, featuring interviews with Mets GM Omar Minaya, Jose Reyes and Jeff Francoeur:
George King of the New York Post wonders if free-agent OF Johnny Damon could become a possible fit for the Mets, in the event Omar Minaya is unable to sign Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.
…from what i can gather, a whole lot of things will need to go wrong for the Mets to pursue damon… for instance, i believe there is a trade the Mets would turn to first, still on the table, long before damon is an option… i mean, if damon lowers his asking price from three years to one year, maybe he becomes more likely… but, so long as he’s seeking a three-year deal, worth roughly $10 million per year, i just don’t see him on the Mets radar… the Mets will get one of bay, holliday or someone else, i feel… or, i should say, i hope…
Earlier today, Mets OF Jeff Francoeur talked in studio with WFAN, and said he enjoys the high energy of New York City, where he can feed off the fans.
To listen to the entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
Francoeur had off-season surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. He said he is doing well; he expects to begin swinging a bat in January and should be be 100 percent by Spring Training.
He believes the Mets are three or four players away from being a playoff team, and two of those players are Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes. According to Francoeur, Reyes, Beltran, and one or two other acquisitions can get the Mets to where they want to go.
In his opinion, “Giving $100 million to just John Lackey would not have helped in the way we need help.”
Franoeur said it was not fun watching the Yankees and Phillies in the World Series.
He said he rooted for the Yankees, because he could never root for the Phillies.
Francoeur said, when he was with the Braves, he heard rumors that there was a divide in the Mets clubhouse between Hispanic players and American-born players; but, once he was traded to the Mets, he didn’t see that.
That said, he is trying to learn more Spanish; but, as of now, he only knows the ‘bad words.’
He said, “Citi Field was a graveyard in April,” in terms of hitting, when he played there on the Braves. However, he said it is signficantly better to hit their during the summer. He aknowledged, ‘It gets in your head a bit.’ This might factor in to a free-agent’s decision if it’s a one-year deal, he explained, but not if that player is singing a long-term contract. Francoeur feels the ballpark got in David Wright’s head, as well, but Wright was equally influenced by a lack of protection in the lineup.
Lastly, Francoeur said he feels Jason Bay would do well in Citi Field, because he is a pull hitter.
Again, to listen to the entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
He will also be a guest in studio on SNY’s Daily News Live at 5 pm.
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