Daily Archives: December 22, 2009
The Mets extended the deadline for season-ticket renewals from mid-December to December 31.
I keep hearing people tell me the Mets MUST make a big signing in order to get people to re-up.
The thing is, if you are on the fence – or, worse, you already decided not to buy a ticket plan, and instead will just role the dice like the rest of us in hopes of finding a seat on an as-needed basis – is Jason Bay or Bengie Molina, or, for that matter Matt Holliday, enough to motivate you to re-up?
I have live nearly two hours from Queens my entire life, so I’ve never owned a ticket plan. But, I’ve gone to roughly 20 games every season since the early 90s. So, it’s difficult for me to understand what motivates people to commit so much money up front.
This time around, following last year, knowing what we know of Citi Field, the NL East, etc., what is the driving force in either your decision to re-up or not re-up, and what would have to happen before December 31 to get you to commit this early to 2010? Is it about a commitment from Ownership? Players? Ticket prices? I’m curious, and trying to better understand how this decision is made.
Updated at 7:40 pm:
I initially had an e-mail box in this post, but I was sent more than 500 responses, which I will do my best to read through tonight, and provide a summary post tomorrow on the blog.
“The Nationals still have interest in free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson,” according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
…the market for second basemen is such that, though i am sure he doesn’t want to, hudson may be forced to yet again accept a one-year deal… the Nationals had interest in him last off season, but he signed the Dodgers… the Mets have been linked to hudson, but most people believe they first much trade Luis Castillo before making such a commitment… frankly, if the Mets are unable to find a starting pitcher, signing hudson, with or without castillo, might be the best thing they can do for their pitching staff…
…from what i understand, hudson is not going to wait around for the Mets to make an opening for him, like he did last winter… and, i think he’s been made aware that trading castillo is not likely to happen… and so, i wouldn’t be surprised if he locks in with a new team sooner than later…
…this off season, hudson has also been linked in rumor to the Mariners, Rockies and Red Sox…
…the early buzz today had been, with the Yankees getting Javier Vazquez from the Braves, it might have opened a spot for one of Jason Bay or Matt Holliday in Atlanta or the Bronx…
However, 
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says he has been assured the Braves will not pursue Bay or Holliday.
Similarly, Tyler Kepner of the New York Times quotes Yankees GM Brian Cashman as saying, “We’ll continue to look at any remaining pieces, but it’s not going to be a big piece.”
…with all due respect to cashman, as kepner later pointed out, when the Yankees have 17 players on the 40–man roster totaling almost $200 million, i have no idea what their definition of big piece is…
…that said, it still seems there are two teams (Cardinals and Mets) and two outfielders (Bay and Holliday), trying to find leverage some place to work the market in their favor, and it’s just not happening… the music stopped guys, grab a chair already…
According to the Associated Press, the Mets are close to signing free-agent RHP R.A Dickey to a minor league deal.
The 35-year-old knuckleballer was 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA in one start and 34 relief appearances for the Twins last season.
…i realize there is nothing wrong with these moves, especially a guy like this, who can start or pitch in the bullpen, and on short notice, but, man, given how the team has yet to make the bigger moves, these sorts of acquisitions only seem to highlight what isn’t happening…
In a post to Scouting the Sally, Mike Newman takes a closer look at minor leaguers Kyle Allen and Jeurys Familia, ‘who posted nearly identical numbers in the Sally League, solidifying both as top starting pitching prospects for the Mets.’
According to Newman, “Familia certainly deserves whatever prospect hype he has received, but the lack of love Allen has garnered is a real head scratcher. Both would rank in my Mets top 10, and would be no more than one slot apart.”
This season for the Low-A Savannah Sand Gnats, Allen was 9–6 with a 3.45 ERA in 125 innings, during which he struck out 111 batters and walked 51.
Meanwhile, the 20–year-old Familia was 10–6 with a 2.69 ERA in 24 games with the Sand Gnats, during which he struck out 109 batters and walked 46 in 134 innings pitched.
To see video of Allen from last summer, click here; to see video of Familia, click here.
Speaking of the farm system…
In a post to Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde explains why the best acquisition made by the Mets this off season might be new minor-league field coordinator Terry Collins.
Lastly, to look in to the future of third base for the Mets, beyond David Wright, check out Mack’s Mets.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Cubs are willing to trade RHP Carlos Zambrano, but, “his agent said he won’t waive no-trade clause.”
Zambrano, who has a full no-trade clause, will earn roughly $18 million each of the next three seasons, and has a vesting player-option for 2012.
…last summer, zambrano told Chicago reporters that he plans to retire at the end of his current deal, though most of the reporters did not seem to take his statement very seriously…
Last October, Zambrano told the Chicago Tribune, “Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said, ‘I’ll be back.’”
The 28–year-old Zambrano was just 9–7 in 28 starts this season for the Cubs, but with a 3.77 ERA in 169 innings, during which he struck out 152 batters.
Zambrano has not ended a season with an ERA over 4.00 since his rookie year in 2001.
…he’s been more injured and less consistent than he had been earlier in his career… but, he’s only 28 years old… he’s also seemingly crazy… which could be a bad thing, but it could also be a good thing… i mean, the Mets could benefit from his aggressiveness and win-no-matter-what mentality… or, he could be a huge distraction, especially to the New York media… he would be getting better than a four-year, $70 million contract if he was a free-agent right now, and that is what he is essentially signed to right now… but, in his case, like it essentially was with Johan Santana and Roy Halladay, the question is: a) does he want to leave Chicago, so much so that he’d waive his no-trade clause, and b) will he waive it to come to the Mets…
Free-agent OF-3B Mark DeRosa is at the top of the list of possible outfielders for the Yankees, according to Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record.
… the Mets, Cardinals, Giants, Yankees, Red Sox and Twins have all been linked to derosa this off season…
The 33–year-old DeRosa had surgery in late October to repair a torn tendon sheath on his left wrist. He hit .250 with 23 HR, 23 doubles and 78 RBI in 139 games for the Indians and Cardinals last season.
Updated at 10:43 am:
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the deal is official, sending Melky Cabrera to the Braves and Javier Vazquez to the Yankees; and, despite an opening in left field, this does not open a door for free-agent outfielders Johnny Damon, Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.
The Yankees say all three are still ‘too expensive,’ according to Sherman.
Last week, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports quoted a source who said a deal between the Dodgers and Reds involving RHP Aaron Harang is ‘not happening.’
However, today, according to Brown, the Dodgers and Reds are still discussing such a trade, which could send Harang to Los Angeles, who would send reliever George Sherrill to Cincinnati.
According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, the Reds are asking for one or two players from the Dodgers major league roster in return for Harang.
That said, Brown believes the Reds also want a prospect from the Dodgers, because they are willing to pay roughly $10 million of Harang’s $14 million salary, essentially making the deal a financial wash, since Sherrill will likely earn around $4 million next season through arbitration.
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Harang will earn $12.5 million next season, but if he is traded his 2011 option becomes a mutual option for $14 million, with a $2.5 million buy-out.
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.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
Brown also points out that free-agent starting pitchers Joel Pineiro, Jarrod Washburn, Justin Duchscherer, Pedro Martinez, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Brett Myers, Vicente Padilla, Chien-Ming Wang, Braden Looper, Aroldis Chapman, Ben Sheets and Erik Bedard all remain unsigned; all while Braves RHP Derek Lowe, Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo, Pirates pitchers Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, Padres RHP Kevin Correia, Giants LHP Jonathan Sanchez and a number of starting pitchers on the Tigers continue to be shopped in trades.
…from what i can gather, in addition to the Mets, there are at least six other teams actively seeking a mid-rotation starting pitcher… brown lists essentially 10 free-agent pitchers who meet that mark, not to mention the five or six options by trade that will impact the open market… in the world of supply and demand, it stands to reason the Mets will be able to get one of the above on a one-year deal…
According to Marty Noble of MLB.comm the Mets have not yet shown ‘any great interest’ in Pineiro.
The Mets and Whote Sox are the front-runners to sign 27–year-old Cuban RHP Yuniesky Maya, his agent told a reporter for Globedia.com.
…thanks to Andres M for the link and translation…
…from what i can gather, maya is major-league ready, mature, and has a low-90s fastball with a decent change-up and slurve… he is known for being a bit of a bulldog, pitching inside, challenging hitters, and so maybe he will be able to quickly adapt well to the big leagues…
According to the report, Maya is still waiting to be declared a free agent by MLB.
In one start and two relief appearances, during last spring’s World Baseball Classic, he allowed one earned run in seven innings, while walking two batters and striking out four.
To see video of Maya pitching against Ichiro Suzuki in last year’s WBC, click here; and to see him pitching to Kosuke Fukudome, also in the WBC, click here.
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald believes free-agent OF Jason Bay was in talks with a team yesterday about his next contract, which, in Silverman’s opinion, would suggest either a) the Mets are making progress, or b) another club is involved, besides the Mets and Red Sox.
…if there is another team, it has to be the Mariners, Angels, Giants or Braves… and, for those who actually want bay, here’s what should worry you, the Mariners, Angels and Braves all need to move a player before seriously negotiating with bay, and so, the silence from him in regards to the Mets, might give credence to the idea that he’s waiting on these other teams to free up room and money to get in on the bidding… which, of course, would keep Matt Holliday from signing as well, since he knows that would mean more leverage for him…
Original Post at 8:23 am:
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com warns the Mets not to assume they are the only team bidding on Bay, reminding us:
← Older posts“The Mariners never went public with their interest in third baseman Chone Figgins… The Red Sox barely were linked to right-hander John Lackey. Teams usually disguise their intentions in free agency… The Yankees were not even thought to even be pursuing Mark Teixeira until practically the moment they signed him.”
