Tag Archives: News

Bill Madden of the Daily News says the Mets will likely be focusing on second-tier free agents this winter.

According to Madden, the Mets were “right in the middle” of teams that made money this past season, but due to reduced revenue projections for 2010 and raises due for their returning players, they will have about $20 million to spend.

…if they have $20 million to spend it makes no sense for Omar to be speaking with the agents for John Lackey and Matt Holliday among others, which is why i believe that no matter what, the Mets recognize the need for a major improvement and will do what it takes to put a competitive team back on the field…

…keeping this in mind, one of the Mets biggest problems right now is that they have spent, but their money is in a lot of bad places at the moment…there have clearly been wiser and less costly investments in terms of dollars and years to make at certain positions over the past few years and that was evident even when these investments were made…

…it looks as though the Mets have been attempting to fix this by shopping Luis Castillo‘s bad contract and replace him with a better and less costly player, such as Orlando Hudson, which is a great example of how the team is trying to improve in a more economically sound fashion…it’s easier said than done, but the team can be better performance-wise while at the same time having greater flexibility in terms of years and dollars at the position, and i dont feel there is anything wrong with that approach…

Considering this, Madden feels the Mets should be focusing on players like Randy Wolf, Mark DeRosa, Marlon Byrd, and Jason Marquis.

…the only one from that list i wouldn’t consider is Byrd, and i am not totally sold on DeRosa for that matter…i think that an objective approach to filling a roster is to basically ask ‘can this player start on any major league team’ and if the answer is yes, the player can be considered…looking at their current roster it’s hard to say that about a few of their players which is why upgrades are necessary, but i don’t feel there is any point in acquiring a player if he can’t start on any team, because that puts them right back where they started…

…there is no way to know who the Mets will sign and who they won’t sign, but what they spend should not be the focus, rather the quality of the player or players should be considered…i know that quality players usually require a team to spend, but i’d rather the Mets acquire five or six solid players with their money rather than making a big splash and sending all of their prospects away and over-spending…

For more on this, check out Madden’s report here.

Tagged News |

This afternoon, I visited a Mets Clubhouse Shop and I spoke to the salesperson regarding the new Mets home jersey for 2010.

The new jerseys have arrived at the store and according to the salesperson, the Mets will be introducing a new, cream colored and pinstriped jersey for the 2010 season, and the jersey is expected to go on sale November 27.

As Matt said earlier this week, the new jersey resembles the one worn by the Mets in the 1960′s, and the team will be eliminating their current white pinstriped jersey with the black shadow.

…you can now get an authentic pinstriped jersey with the Citi Field Inaugural Season patch on sale for $90, which i don’t think is such a bad deal…

In addition, the jersey will have the players’ last name on the back and it will also be a “Cool Base” model, which is the new mesh jersey that teams have been wearing for the last few seasons, and the same material used for their batting practice jersey.

Tagged News |

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that former Indians manager Eric Wedge is a candidate for the Mets bench coach job.

In addition to Wedge, former Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin and former Orioles bench coach Dave Jauss are also candidates, but Rosenthal says that the Mets are not close to a decision.

For more on this plus other buzz from around the Major Leagues, check out Rosenthal’s blog here.

Tagged News |

In a post to Rumor Central, at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark explains why the Phillies are more likely to sign a free-agent like Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa or Placido Polanco to be their third baseman, than sign free-agent Chone Figgins.

Jon Heyman of SI.com said yesterday he believes the Mets and Phillies will be competing this off season for Figgins, who is also a top priority for the Angels.

Later, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said, ‘The Mets are absolutely in on Figgins,’ according to the words of an involved party.

Last month, Angels reporter Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times said Figgins will likely land a five-year, $50 million deal on the open market.

In 158 games this season for the Angels, Figgins hit .298 with a .395 OBP, 42 extra base hits and 42 stolen bases.

…to be honest, from what i can tell, there is little chance he signs a five-year deal… that just seems like a lot in this market… people seem to pay five years for power, not speed… in the end, though he might be asking for $50 million over five years, the buzz in baseball suggests he is likely to be offered deals in the three– to four-year range, worth around $10 million per year…

In a poll to MetsBlog.com yesterday, 52 percent of 2,200 voters said Figgins is not worth $10 million per season.

Tagged News |

Earlier this week at the GM Meetings, Scott Boras told reporters that his client, Matt Holliday, is a ‘franchise player,’ just like Mark Teixiera, who signed an eight-year, $180 million with the Yankees last off season.

“You have a franchise player at a young age and you have a chance to differentiate yourself from all others,” he said.

Dave Cameron of Fan Graphs explains, “Holliday’s dependence on a high BABIP for his offensive value makes him a greater risk (than Teixeira), and increases in risk drive down value.”

Cameron believes Holliday will end up signing for 10 to 15 percent less money than Teixeira got from the Yankees.

…so, say, $19 million per season, and, like, six or seven years, instead of eight… which, by the way, is roughly that same seven-year, $119 million deal i mentioned last week, or like Carlos Beltran signed with the Mets in 2004… the thing is, right now, i don’t think any team believes they need to offer that much money… i have heard interested teams intend to offer around $80 million over five years… this is not to say they refuse to pay more, i just don’t think they think they’ll have to… so, in the end, if a team steps up, guarantees a sixth year and pushes the total up above nine figures, that could be the final bid…

In a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman explains why he believes the battle for Holliday will come down to the Mets and Cardinals.

Speaking of statistical comparisons, check out James Kannengieser’s post to Amazin Avenue, where he explains why Holliday is a better defensive outfielder than free-agent Jason Bay.

Tagged News |

Aaron Yorke of the Daily Stache hopes the Mets look in to signing free-agent 3B-OF Mark De Rosa, who was born in Passaic, NJ.

In a post to My Summer Family, Coop explains what she believes the team’s philosophy should be.

According to James Esatto, of Fonzie Forever, ‘Everyone should learn to throw a cutter.’

‘Carlos Beltran is a true role model for kids,’ writes Mets Merized Online.

Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue is playing with pictures and puzzles.

According to the Brooklyn Met Fan, the Mets have bigger issues than trying to trade 2B Luis Castillo.

Bill Price of the Daily News believes the Mets need to do something drastic, such as trading David Wright for Roy Halladay, while signing Chone Figgins.

…umm, yeah, and i’m supposed to be the reason the newspaper business is falling apart… ok, guys, whatever you say…

Tagged News |

In July, the Daily News wrote, “Growing up in South Carolina, Orlando Hudson dreamed of playing for the Mets. Even though he grew up in Braves country, Hudson loved Darryl Strawberry and was a proud Mets fan.”

…i will not lie, things like that influence me… Nelson Figueroa has a similar story, about growing up a Mets fan idolizing doc, darryl and others… i don’t know, i just like the idea of people on my favorite team understanding my experience as a fan, specifically a Mets fan growing up in the 80s… that said, you also have to it, run and catch the ball…

In September, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets might try to trade Castillo this winter, ‘and take a look at Hudson,’ who was just named the Glove Glove winner at second base for the National League.

…as i wrote last night, the buzz from LA continues to suggest the Dodgers will not look to bring hudson back… i mean, they barely used him in the post season, and he essentially lost his starting job to Ronnie Belliard… but, from what i can gather, he was pretty exhausted, needed a day off, Joe Torre kept pushing him out there, and he fizzled a bit… of course, hudson didn’t say a word, which i  think speaks to his professionalism…

…like i said, i just don’t want to see the Mets trade Luis Castillo, but then turn around and make the same mistake with hudson, giving him a long-term deal that they eventually might regret… i am all for hudson at second base for the Mets, but let’s take it one year at a time… i still think i would prefer to acquire Reds 2B Brandon Phillips, but that might mean taking on a Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, as well… whereas, hudson would be a free agent… for more on phillips being available in trade, click here…

Hudson hit .283 with a .357 OBP, 35 doubles, nine HR and 62 RBI in 149 games for the Dodgers in 2009.

[poll id="311"]

Tagged News |

John Franco, Ed Hearn, and Jim Duquette will be at the Ceasars Club in Citi Field tonight for the NephCure Foundation’s annual Countdown to a Cure, helping to raise awareness and money to fight two potentially devastating kidney diseases.

Duquette’s daughter, Lindsay, suffers from kidney disease, while Hearn, who has had three kidney transplants, is an Ambassador for the Foundation.

For information on how to buy tickets, call 631-205-4306 or go here.

Speaking of former Mets, according to WFAN, Doc Gooden will be a guest on their mid-day radio show at some point today between now and 1 pm.

To listen to WFAN live online, click here.

Lastly, to see a hilarious video from Tirico Suave, featuring Mike Francesa and Jay-Z doing a duet of Empire State of Mind, click below:

(more…)

Tagged News |

Buster Olney of ESPN.com says some GMs left the GM Meetings in Chicago convinced the big-money market for players like Matt Holliday and John Lackey will be ‘very, very limited.’

…the talk around baseball is nearly every team will look to reduce their payroll from where it was last season, including the Yankees… i mentioned this last summer, noting how investors are putting pressure on the Yankees to start trimming their budget… so, without them tipping the scales, and no one team going on a massive spending spree, it’s hard to image a player getting paid like CC Sabathia or Mark Teixeira did just one year ago… and so, i bet there will be a lot more trading, swapping of contracts, etc., than in previous years…

To read a review of Omar Minaya’s work at the GM Meetings, check out this report from Adam Rubin the Daily News.

Tagged News |

Yesterday, Carlos Beltran was in New York being honored by Harlem RBI, a charity he supports that the helps encourage education and baseball for inner-city kids.

Beltran told reporters at the event that he is confident the Mets will work to bring in players who can help the team accomplish their goals.

“The Wilpons are committed,” he explained.  “They want to win.  They are also committed to the fans… I do believe they’re going to do anything they can to put a good team together. I have no doubt.”

To read more about Beltran’s day in Harlem, and his opinion about bringing back Carlos Delgado, check out Steve Popper’s report for the Bergen Record, here.

Tonight, Beltran will be a guest on the season premiere of Mets Hot Stove at 7 pm on SNY.  In addition to Beltran, host Kevin Burkhardt will be joined by Newsday’s David Lennon, WFAN’s Ed Coleman, and SNY’s MLB Insider Jon Heyman.

Following the premiere of Mets Hot Stove, SNY will debut Mets Yearbook, a review of the team’s 1971 season.

…i’m actually pretty excited to check these Yearbook shows out… from what i understand, they have a ton of footage from a handful of seasons… but, what i am most interested in is, it’s not just the classic years, the 1986, 1969, etc., they’re random seasons, years i probably never saw and know little about… and so, i look forward to all of this…

Tagged News | ← Older posts