Daily Archives: January 21, 2010
Update, 8:40 pm,
by Michael Baron:
In a post to Twitter, Joe DeMayo says the Mets are very serious contenders for Ben Sheets, and expects them to make a serious run at him.
Original Post, 6:09 pm,
by Matthew Cerrone:
Buster Olney of ESPN.com has heard agents in baseball question whether the Dodgers and Rangers will have the necessary money to sign free-agent RHP Ben Sheets.
As such, according to Olney, “The Mets and A’s might be in the best position to be aggressive, based on the agents’ perception of who has money this late in the winter.”
…i’ll tell you, it’s been a bizarre day in my inbox and on my cell phone, as i have heard all sorts of plausable and unrealstic rumors involving the Mets… unfortunatly, i have been working on transcribing interviews, editing video, graphics, etc., for the blog, and have not had time to check in with people and see what’s what… but, for the sake of caution, but for the fun of conversation, the Reds are still be pursuing trades; John Smoltz is open to pitching in the bullpen, but would still prefer to be a starting pitcher; and the Mets can still have Gary Matthews Jr., in return for Luis Castillo…
In a report for MLB.com, Jim Street profiles Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who has done an amazing job in just two years, turning his team from 100 losses to legit contenders for the AL West.
“I think Jack and manager Don Wakamatsu have done a tremendous job changing the culture in Seattle,” Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Street. “They’ve got a pretty clear plan and everything they have done has fallen into place. They are going to be a tough team to score upon, especially in that ballpark. They’re emphasizing pitching and defense and are doing everything they can towards that.”
...hmm, i feel like i’ve heard that plan before… but where, and from whom… hmm...
…in talking with people around baseball, about the Mets situation, they all seem to use the Mariners as an example, pointing out how a team, so as long as it makes smart choices, especially one in New York, can turn itself around on a dime… but, again, it’s all about making smart choices…
By the way, the 59–year-old Zduriencik started his professional baseball career in 1980 as an area scout for the Mets, with whom he eventually served as Director of Minor League Operations from 1995 to 1998, during which he was also a special asisstant to Mets GM Steve Phillips.
The Dodgers have signed free-agent Vicente Padilla to a one-year, $4 million contract, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
…this probably means the Dodgers are no longer an option for free-agent RHP Jon Garland, by the way…
The 32–year-old Padilla was 12–6 with a 4.46 ERA in 26 games for the Rangers and Dodgers last season, during which he struck out 97 batters, while walking 54, in 147 innings pitched.
…he is not what the Mets need, not by a long shot… frankly, i feel like he’s getting closer and closer to a guy who should be a relief pitcher, especially with that sinking slider…
Padilla missed time in Spring Training last season, then again in May, then again in June, and again in July, all with injuries connected to his throwing shoulder.
Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse believes the Mets offered a two-year deal, worth around $15 million to Joel Pineiro.
Instead, he signed a two-year deal, worth about $16 million, with the Angels last night.
This week’s MetsBlog poll, presented by McFadden’s, which will soon be opening a new bar in Citi Field, accessible from the street and from inside the ballpark, is as follows:
[poll id="338"]
In a must-read post, Fire Jerry Manuel rips in to MLB.com’s Marty Noble, in response to the veteran reporter’s explanation of his Hall of Fame ballot.
To see recent pictures from Citi Field, including images of the orange stairwells, check out Shannon’s post at Mets Police.
Partick Flood from Exile on 126th Street looks back on Darry Strawberry’s best seasons, including 1987, when he hit .284 with a .398 OBP, 39 HR, 32 stolen bases and 104 RBI.
In a post for Amazin Avenue, Eric Simon looks at some statistics to determine whether it is possible for Luis Castillo ever be better on defense than he is.
Lastly, to hear from Ed Kranepool, check out this interview he did with Jimmy Scott’s High and Tight.
In a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney says free-agent RHP Jon Garland might be the best fit left for the Mets, “unless the they are willing to step out and be very aggressive on Ben Sheets.”
…from what i recall, garland has been looking for a three-year deal back during the Winter Meetings, but Joel Pineiro and Jason Marquis getting two-year deals probably killed that dream…
Similarly, Olney believes free-agent Vicente Padilla will most likely end up on the Dodgers.
The 30 year old Garland went a combined 11-13 with a 4.01 ERA for the D-Backs and Dodgers last season, allowing 225 hits and 24 home runs in 204 innings pitched.
He’s has made at least 32 starts each of the last nine seasons, during which he averaged a Quality Start more than 50 percent of the time.
According to Nick Piecoro, from the Arizona Republic, “As of this afternoon, there hadn’t been any new discussions between the D-Back and the Mets regarding C Chris Snyder,” who is due $10.5 million the next two seasons.
…in reading nick’s post, it sounds like the D-Backs would need to get a ‘decent return in talent,’ and would probably want a pitcher… from what i recall, the Mets pushed Luis Castillo on Arizona earlier in the off season, with regards to snyder, and the D-Backs were not interested… i can’t imagine that has changed…
To learn how Snyder is recovering from back surgery, check out Piecoro’s post, here.
Now that Randy Wolf and Doug Davis signed new contracts to pitch for the Brewers, and since Joel Pineiro signed a two-year deal with the Angels, and John Lackey will be a number three starter in Boston, now what should the Mets do?
Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest feels the Mets should sign free-agents Jon Garland and John Smoltz.
Aaron Yorke from the Daily Stache believes free-agent Jarrod Washburn is the best pitcher left on the open market.
Matthew Artus from Always Amazin, Dom Pinto from Pessimets, and 1050 ESPN Radio’s Brandon Tierny, on SNY, all prefer the Mets go after free-agent RHP Ben Sheets.
Personally, I agree with WFAN’s Mike Francesa, who has been saying the best fit for the Mets is Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo, who can earn $11 million each of the next two seasons, or can be made a free agent following 2010.
However, from what I understand, the Reds intend to do everything possible to move Aaron Harang instead, and they’re ask for your team’s best prospect in return for paying a portion of the $27 million due to Harang the next two seasons. Then, if a deal for Harang can’t be found, then and only then, will they entertain trading Arroyo, which is far from a requirement before the season begins.
It’s a not a perfect world, I guess.
The worst-case scenario will be for the Mets to panic and overspend to get Sheets, who, let’s be honest, is a risk, though his upside cannot be argued. Or, is that the worst-case scenario?
I mean, maybe just a few months of Sheets, for, say, essentially $500,000 per start, is actually worth more than six, boring, consistent months from a pitcher like Garland? Frankly, teaming Garland up with the Mets infield defense is a concern for me – the same was the case with Pineiro. Plus, the idea of Johan Santana and Sheets, for even just two or three months, is enticing. That said, with question marks surrounding John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez, and remember Santana is returning from surgery as well, perhaps the Mets do need consistency, even if it is boring, more than they need significant upside?
I like Arroyo, but that is not realistic. Washburn might be the best compromise, but I’m not sold on him either. I need to noodle with this more. I am not sure which way I want the team to go.
[poll id="337"]
In a report for Newsday, Ken Davidoff said, now that Joel Pineiro signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Angels, “I believe that the Mets are considering free-agent RHP Ben Sheets more seriously,” based on his impressive workout Tuesday.
Original Post at 7:34 am:
According to Matt Pignataro from Seven Train to Shea, the Rangers are set to make a very strong push to sign Sheets.
Pignataro points out that Sheets’s pitching coach from Milwaukee, Mike Maddux, is now the pitching coach for the Rangers; Maddux was also in attendance for Sheets’s audition last Tuesday.
In his opinion, “It seems more and more likely that the Rangers are the favorites to land Sheets, at this point and time.”
The Rangers and Sheets reached agreement on a two-year deal last off season. However, as MLB.com wrote at the time, “Everything changed once it was determined that Sheets had a torn flexor tendon that might require surgery.”
…i trust pignataro, specifically when it comes to the Rangers, since, from what i can gather, he has strong contacts in their organization…
…in talking with people around the league today, most people told me they expect sheets to try and get a big-time deal, all in his favor, though he has a list of teams he would prefer to sign with…
…here’s the thing with sheets, though, from what i understand, he wants a player-option for 2011… if this is the case, for him to pick up that option, it probably will mean he had a bad 2010, or he was injured again… that said, if he has a terrific year, he’ll probably opt out and hit free agency in search of a long-term deal… and so, that’s actually a pretty crappy deal for the team in 2010… i mean, it makes perfect sense for him, but to make it fair he cannot demand more than, say, $7.5 million in guaranteed salary… however, i believe he’s seeking around $10 million, plus incentives…
By the way, according to Tim Brown from Yahoo! Sports, though the Dodgers are still looking for a starting pitcher, they won’t bid heavily on Sheets.
According to the New York Times, the Mets have been in contact with the agents for the Japanese LHP Hisanori Takahashi.
The 34-year-old Takahashi had a 2.94 ERA in 25 games last year in Japan, while striking out 126 batters in 144 innings.
Takahashi said he has been offered a major-league contract, reports Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports.
So far this off season, Takahashi has been linked in rumor to the Giants and Orioles…
Kubatko provides the following scouting report of Takahashi:
- His best pitch is a screwball.
- He won’t eat up a lot of innings, which is why he’s better suited for the bullpen.
- Lefties hit .300 against him last season.
To see video from of Takahashi pitching to former Mets prospect Craig Brazell, click here.
