Daily Archives: December 28, 2009
Today on WFAN, Mike Francesa said he will give a ‘major, major update on the Mets,’ during tomorrow’s show.
…well, if it was a free-agent signing or trade, why would he wait for tomorrow… i mean, why tip off the rest of the media world, who will almost certainly track down the story before francesa goes on the air tomorrow…
…that said, i have heard from people close to Jason Bay that he is close to making a decision, and that it could be for a four-year contract, though i have no idea with whom he might sign… but, at this point, in the world of bay, close could mean 100 miles from away, or three months down the road, it seems… and so, i have doubts it a transaction-related item… instead, i’m betting it has something to do with Citi Field, maybe something in management… but, he does have me intrigued, i’ll say that…
Updated at 7:56 pm:
…actually, who says it has to be about signing a player… maybe it’s about a player, but about ‘not signing a player,’ i.e., we’re moving on from so-and-so… dammit, francesa, now i’m gonna be guessing all night…
…nice work, mike… nice work, indeed…
Updated at 9:52 pm:
…i listened to it again, and mike’s statement can also be interpreted to mean he will be speaking to someone in-the-know tonight, and, tomorrow, he’ll have a major update on what the Mets are up to… so, it may not mean news, but just what he says, an update…
Updated at 7:45 pm:
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, free-agent 3B-OF Mark DeRosa and the Giants agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal.
Updated at 3:05 pm:
Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes, “He’s really, really close to a deal with the Giants,” and Jon Heyman of SI.com agrees, while noting the Yankees will be very disappointed.
Original Post:
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes DeRosa is close to signing with the Giants.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com believes the Mets offered free-agent C Bengie Molina a one-year contract with an option for 2011.
According to Crasnick, though Molina has been ‘holding firm at three years,’ ‘there are indications he might be willing to consider a two-year deal.’
Pudge Rodriguez, Jason Kendall and Brian Schneider all signed two-year deals with new teams this off season.
Last week, the New York Post said the Mets could turn to free-agent C Rod Barajas instead, if talks with Molina don’t progress sooner than later.
…frankly, i still think barajas on a shorter, less-expensive deal than molina’s is the better move…
In addition to Barajas, C Miguel Olivo is still available on the free-agent market.
Last weekend, Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke at the 21 Days of Clemente benefit in New York, according to a report for NY SportsDay from Howard Goldin.
According to Goldin, Minaya said he is pursuing free-agent OF Matt Holliday, but, “It seems to be easier to make a deal for Jason Bay.”
…i guess, but, while the Mets sit idle and wait for bay, i read Cardinals fans and media who wound equally frustrated as they all wait for holliday… i wonder how long it will be before the two teams try to shake things up, with the Cardinals reaching out to bay and the Mets reaching out for holliday…
…i had heard omar initially preferred holliday to bay, seeing him as a more complete, long-term player, and i agree… but, they feel bay’s swing is more of a sure thing in Citi Field, and he can be had for a more realistic contract… but, if bay is insisting on five years, and if the Mets feel they must sign one of these two players, again, at that point, i’d rather them just up the years and go for holliday, who i feel is a better hitter, fielder and base runner, and a player i can live with for several years…
Later, according to Goldin, Minaya said his starting rotation would likely be Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Jon Niese, and possibly a free agent.
This past weekend, Buster Olney of ESPN said free-agent Joel Pineiro is the Mets top target.
To read more about Minaya’s night at 21 Days of Clement, read Goldin’s report, here.
Last weekend, Mets LHP Oliver Perez talked to Noroesta, an online Mexican newspaper.
…thanks, as always, to Andres M for the link and translation…
According to Perez, he did not feel any pressure last season, after signing a three-year, $36 million contract with the Mets last off season.
Instead, he said, “My knee started to bother me. I tried to follow my routine, but it got worse with time. Sometimes I pitched with pain, and definitely things didn’t work out for me.”
As such, this off-season, Perez has been training in Arizona at the Athletes Performance Institute, which is a high-tech fitness boot camp for professional athletes, with a focus on nutrition, metabolic testing, cardiovascular work, drills and media training.
In regards to API and 2010, he said:
“The Mets recommended this place. I wake up at 6 everyday. Right now. I’m making bullpens and following the program that they gave me, running a little and throwing. I have to follow my routine, because the team is coming to check me out soon, and I want to report to Spring Training in February… I want to be healthy, because it’s not easy coming from surgery, and having been trough that was very difficult; but it is what it is, I have to think positive for 2010.”
…like i said a few weeks ago, from what i can gather, Carlos Beltran played a hand in encouraging perez to go to Arizona… i like when i hear stories about players like ollie making this type of additional effort in the off-season… of course, i’m always skeptical… but, last off season, i read and heard a lot about how hard Luis Castillo had been working, at the team’s facility in the Dominican Republic, and, sure enough, he played in 142 games and hit .302… i would love to see a similar turn-around for perez, who obviously has the talent to be a tremendous pitcher… he just has no idea how to harness it… whether that is because of physical or mental instability, i have no idea, but hopefully the Athletes Performance Institute can figure it out… i would love to see him get it together and have a dominant season… he and the team could use it…
Perez was just 3–4 with a 6.82 ERA in 14 sporadic starts in 2009.
