Daily Archives: December 23, 2009
According to Enrique Rojas, in a report for ESPN Deportes, the Angels and free-agent relief pitcher Fernando Rodney have agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal, with incentives.
In his first season as a full-time closer, the 32–year-old Rodney had 37 saves in 38 chances with a 4.40 ERA, while striking out 61 batters in 75 innings for the Tigers last year.
Original Post at 2:17 pm:
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com believes the Angels are in serious talks with Rodney.
Last week, Arangure said the Mets and Phillies were among teams interested in Rodney, who had been seeking a three-year deal, according to reports during the Winter Meetings.
I do not understand how people can interpret the following proposal as ‘throwing in the towel,’ ‘giving up,’ and competing only for 2011.
The Plan B Scenario I am proposing builds around David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana, and K-Rod, John Maine and others, using experienced, proven role players to fill in holes, in an effort to win in 2010… as opposed to, yet again, only spending money on one or two free agents, and creating the very same top-heavy roster that so many people complained about the last three seasons, during which the Mets missed the post season.
I would like to see the Mets build out a more well-rounded roster, one capable of sustaining an entire season, while maintaining flexibility for the future… as opposed to simply trying to ‘make a splash, for the sake of making a splash,’ as Mike Francesa recently said on WFAN.
Original Post at 2:30 pm:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters on a conference call last week, “Next year’s free-agent class is incredibly more impressive than this one.”
I have been sent many e-mails over the last hour, all essentially saying, “You keep saying next year’s free-agent class will be better. Who is in it?,” and, “How can you say Jason Bay or Matt Holliday will not significantly improve the Mets chances in 2010, that’s ridiculous.”
For starters, it is difficult to definitively say who will be a free agent and who will not, because players often have options that could keep them where they are, or they can be re-signed, all while other players could join the market if they are non-tendered. So, at best, it’s a projected list, based on eligibility.
That said, as of now, Victor Martinez, Derrek Lee, Derek Jeter, Carlos Pena, Adam Dunn, Carl Crawford, Manny Ramirez, Jayson Werth, Josh Beckett, Cliff Lee, Ted Lilly, J.J. Hardy, Jorge Cantu, A.J. Pierzynski, Mariano Rivera, Javier Vazquez, Huston Street and Brandon Webb, among others, will all be able to file for free agency following next season; meanwhile, Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Lance Berkman, Jose Reyes, Brad Hawpe, Bronson Arroyo, Aramis Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins could all also be free agents, if their teams either do not sign them to an extension or pick up their option for the following season.
In regards my post earlier today, in which I said the Mets should ‘Turn Plan B in to Plan A,’ let’s say the Mets sign Bay and he hits 40 home runs. In either case, the Mets are still only going as far as Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Francisco Rodriguez and Johan Santana will take them… these men are the keys to next season. Not Bay. Not Holliday. And, definitely not Benjie Molina. Plus, Bay will be under contract for at least the next three years, if not more, limiting the team’s flexibility to make significant and meaningful changes to the roster.
So, what I’m suggesting is, instead of being bogged down with yet another long-term, super-expensive contract, I’d rather see the Mets sign three or four role players – such as Orlando Hudson, Rod Barajas, Randy Winn and Jarrod Washburn – for roughly $20 million, as they can fill in holes on a short-term basis, they are all known for doing their jobs well, they’d give the roster depth, and they’d support Wright, Reyes, Beltran, K-Rod and Santana, who are going to be counted on to carry the team anyway… with or without Bay or Holliday.
It’s looking like Carlos Delgado will not be back next season. And so, more than ever, it seems like next season will be the time for Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Santana to step up, and make this team their own.
The clock is ticking. Beltran has two years left. Reyes could be a free agent next winter. Wright just turned 27. I mean, this is their team, they are the Mets super stars, they are the big-name players, they are the core of the team, and the people who will determine success. And that’s the thing, the Mets have not been missing star talent the last few seasons, a lack of super-stars is not why they’ve been losing… they’ve been missing depth, they’ve been missing role players, guys who can be counted on to do a specific job, every day, every night, while the All Stars take it from there.
Plus, by acquiring a group of supporting characters on one-year deals, like Hudson, Winn or Washburn, the Mets can make a large-scale wave of changes next off season, and then an even bigger wave of changes following 2011, finally beginning a process of building a team best suited to play 82 games in Citi Field, and contend long-term in the NL East.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Giants offered a two-year, $12 million deal to free-agent Mark DeRosa, which he has yet to accept.
Heyman wonders if DeRosa is waiting to hear from the Mets, Yankees or Braves.
Last week, Buster Olney of ESPN.com said free-agent Mark DeRosa is seeking a three-year, $18 million deal.
However, DeRosa has reduced his asking price, Nick Cafardo reported yesterday in the Boston Globe.
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 the Cardinals.
Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue has started his look at the Mets All-Decade Team for the 2000s, beginning with catcher Mike Piazza, who played six seasons, stepped to the plate nearly 3,000 times and hit 157 home runs.
… i like to do these lists without looking at stats, just thinking about who were my favorite players of the decade, i.e., the guys i enjoyed watching most, even if they might not have been the best players… with that, here are my Favorite Players by position of the decade:
C Mike Piazza, who, like the cover said, was, ‘the Man,’ despite the most ridiculous-looking facial hair since the 70s.
1B Doug Mientkiewicz, who was not great – actually he was barely good – but I loved his defense, I worked real hard to memorize how to spell his name, and his post-game interviews were priceless.
2B Edgardo Alfonzo, who was like an old, reliable shoe… in a good way… and then in bad way… and then his back went out… but he’s still one of my favorite players ever
SS Jose Reyes, who makes me jump out of seat and love baseball more than any player since Darryl Strawberry, and I can’t wait for him to be back on the field this season.
3B David Wright, who is a face for the franchise, and, despite 2009, is one of the most consistent hitters the team has ever known, let alone at third base, and, in time, will probably break all of their records as well.
LF Cliff Floyd, who shouldered the weight of some pretty difficult seasons, and for whom I joined in a standing ovation for at Shea Stadium, when all he did was hobble off the field to go have season-ending surgery on his ankle.
CF Carlos Beltran, who, simply put, is one of the best, all-around baseball players I have seen, and someone who is very, very under-appreciated.
RF Derek Bell, who was not very good, and who wore his uniform about 10 sizes too big, but, in having to choose between him, Jeremy Burnitz, Ryan Church, Sean Green, Karim Garcia or Xavier Nady, Lee is as good as any.
SP Johan Santana, who is the best, most-intense pitcher to take the mound for the Mets since Doc.
RP Billy Wagner, who, though he didn’t have the shut-down run I hoped for, I still got goosebumps when he’d charge from the bullpen to Enter Sandman, even up to his last outing in 2009.
In a report for the Tribune Review, Joe Starkey looks at the last decade for the Pirates.
…yikes… wow, i guess it can always be worse… thanks to Brian E for the link…
Yesterday, on WFAN, Mike Francesa said, ‘The Mets need to make a splash, for the sake of making a splash, to let people know they’re relevant again.’
Thankfully, he isn’t running the Mets.
That is the last thing the Mets need to do; and, I think, they know this.
In talking with a variety of people in-the-know, over the last day or so, I believe the Mets chose to keep GM Omar Minaya, not because of popular belief that they are too cheap to waste the roughly $3 million due to him, but because bringing in a new administration would have been premature and totally ineffective this off season.
Frankly, I can’t find any one in baseball who does not feel this is a weak free-agent class. In other words, there are no players on the open market who will significantly improve the Mets chances in 2010, or at least not for what each free agent will be demanding.
What’s more, like a player-agent told me, “The Mets are also not getting an impact talent in trade this winter, considering Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran are all either coming off a poor season or injuries; and their minor-league system is not ready to build a significant deal around either.”
It’s an interesting point.
I mean, let’s say the Mets had fired Minaya last October. Then what?
What was a new administration going to do to truly change the direction of this franchise, without simultaneously getting in the way of the future? I mean, sure, he could have handed over a massive eight-year deal to Matt Holliday, but would that have been the smartest way to begin a rebuilding process? Probably not.
Additionally, it’s not like Reyes is at the peak of his value, nor are Wright, Beltran or Mike Pelfrey. And yes, there are plenty of people who like Ike Davis, but he played in just 55 games at Double-A, and so he is far from a known quantity. This is not to say these men have no value, because they do. It’s just, they’re not at a place in which they’ll return the type of talent needed to begin a major course correction… and so, a new GM’s ways to improve would have been very, very limited.
Therefore, it seems to me, Ownership made a calculated decision to keep a close eye on Minaya, instead of replacing him, all while playing a more active role in directing how he does his job.
In this scenario, Minaya is given just enough financial freedom to pursue free agents, like Jason Bay and Bengie Molina, but only to the extent that their contracts do not hurt the franchise going forward. Regardless of who is acquired from the outside, I believe the Mets see their biggest additions for next season as coming from Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Santana, Oliver Perez, John Maine and Francisco Rodriguez, all hopefully healthy and returning to form, and with Mike Pelfrey, Jeff Francoeur and Daniel Murphy continuing to get better.
Then in June, if the Mets get some breaks, and people are healthy and performing, great, the Minaya Administration gets more time to see things through… but will still be reviewed at season’s end.
However, if things are a bust, again, by mid-summer, Ownership can ‘pull the plug,’ and bring in new people, who will have the ability to make moves at the July 31 Trade Deadline, plus have four full months to figure out how best to approach what will be a very, very critical off season, sporting potential free agents such as pitchers Matt Cain, Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb, OF Jayson Werth, C Victor Martinez, 1B Carlos Pena and OF Carl Crawford… as well as maybe Jose Reyes, depending on whether the Mets pick up his $11 million option.
In addition, following the 2010 season, Beltran will have one year left on his contract, as will Oliver Perez, K-Rod, Luis Castillo and Maine… not to mention minor leaguers like Davis, Jenrry Mejia, Fernando Martinez, Brad Holt and Josh Thole, among others, will be better developed, one year older, and more valuable to other teams.
This is why I would prefer to see the Mets abandon signing Bay and Molina or Matt Holliday and Joel Pineiro, give up the idea of a pre-season ticket boom, and focus on building the best possible team for 2009, while allowing for as much flexibility for next winter and beyond.
I agree with Buster Olney, who wrote today on his blog for ESPN.com, that the Mets should try to:
- Sign free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson, and figure out what to do with Luis Castillo later.
- Sign a low-cost veteran outfielder, like Randy Winn.
- Consider a strong two-year offer to Mark DeRosa.
- Make solid one-year offers to the best ‘strike-throwing relief specialists on the market,’ such as Bob Howry and Chan Ho Park.
- Take a look at Jarrod Washburn, and, ‘If you like Joel Pineiro, make an offer that you’re comfortable with.’
For example, Hudson, Rod Barajas, Winn and Washburn, on short-term deals totaling around $20 million, added to Beltran, Reyes, Wright, Santana, K-Rod, and the rest of the roster returning from either a poor season or injury, will be enough to, at the very least, contend for the Wild Card, sell tickets, stay relevant through September, and then put the club in good position to make serious changes next off season, when players are healthier, prospects are more mature, and the free-agent class is significantly better.
Thankfully, all of the above additions are still available, and the Mets have yet to make any significant signings, and so there is still a chance to turn Plan B in to Plan A.
The Braves are close to signing free-agent Troy Glaus, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.
Yesterday, Braves GM Frank Wren told 790 the Zone in Atlanta, “We’re going to add a run producer that’s going to round out our offense.”
According to Rosenthal, the Braves will use Glaus at first base.
In his Hot Stove preview for MLB.com, back in early November, Marty Noble quoted people within the organization who said Glaus would be among players the Mets showed interest in this off season.
…that was the last time glaus’s name appeared next to the Mets this off season, which is not to say they didn’t show interest… but, if they did, nobody knew about it…
The 33–year-old Glaus missed nearly all of last season, suffering a setback or two in his recovery from shoulder surgery.
…if he can play 150 games, he will hit 35 home runs, and is probably a $10 million per season player… the thing is, can he play 150 games… can he even play in 100 games… in addition to the shoulder, there are concerns about a foot injury that has kept him out of play over the last two seasons as well… it’s a good gamble for the Braves… but, it’s a gamble nevertheless…
Earlier this week, the Royals signed free-agent OF Brian Anderson to a one-year contract.
As such, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Royals are open to trading OF David DeJesus or OF Scott Posednik.
In late-November, Rosenthal said the Royals had inquired about Mets OF Angel Pagan.
In addition, in early December, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Mets had been in contact with the Royals regarding RHP Gil Meche, who is due $12 million each of the next two seasons.
What’s more, during the Winter Meetings, the Kansas City Star said the Royals are open to trading a middle infielder, like 2B Alberto Callaspo.
According to Sherman, although the Mets are not interested in swapping Luis Castillo for Jose Guillen, they could engage the Royals in switching out Castillo for Meche, ‘possibly by taking another bad contract, such as those belonging to relievers Kyle Farnsworth or Juan Cruz.’
…much like with the Reds, it seems like there could be a match between the Mets and Royals, but it depends on what each team’s goals are… if the Mets want to shake up the roster, but keep the core in tact, and are willing to shoulder some of KC’s payroll, giving them a bit of relief while cutting a few bad contracts, these guys could certainly help one another out… the same could be said for the Mets and Reds… however, the Reds may not be as motivated to move money as they had been, now that they restructured Scott Rolen’s contract, which you can read more about here…
By the way, if you’re interested, you can also find me on Facebook, here; and on Twitter, here.
According to Marty Noble of MLB.com, free-agent 1B Carlos Delgado had to postpone his return to active baseball until the middle of next month, because, as one person told Noble, “he probably isn’t yet physically ready to play.”
…well, i do hear that is an important part of actually playing baseball… from what i can gather, he was scheduled to start playing again in Puerto Rico next Monday, but now it’s looking like the end of January, which will be just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training… so, do the math…
Delgado has not played in a game since May 10.
…like i said before, 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…
…i have heard delgado is most interested in the Mets… but, people close to him also say he just hopes to play in 2010, and would be more than happy to play for an American League team, so there is the option to DH… but, there are at least five or six other DHs on the free-agent market, it’s going to be tough for him to find a job, especially if he doesn’t get back on the field until late January…
The Orioles have been in contact with Delgado, according to a recent report in the Baltimore Sun.
Speaking of first basemen…
The Marlins are in need of a first baseman, but have plenty of in-house options, such as minor leaguers Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
I have added two more tabs to the content section of MetsBlog.com, the first is a tab that will feature only poll results from previous posts, and the second is a tab for the SNY Blog Network, which includes links to Ted Berg’s TedQuarters and Toby Hyde’s Mets Minor League Blog, among others.
