The old guys want out.
The Mets that filed for free agency: Moises Alou (42), Pedro Martinez (37), Tony Armas, Jr. (30), Luis Ayala (30), Ramon Martinez (36) and Ricardo Rincon (38).
These six players ages add up to 213 years, for a mean age of 35.5.
No way Alou comes back. No chance. He can still hit, but he can't stay healthy at all. R. Martinez and Rincon are as good as gone, too.
I took a long look at Pedro and don't expect him to come back, but he might. It's a toss-up. (There are some great comments on that article. Worth a look.)
Ayala could return, but I doubt it. I think the Mets would rather shed the old bullpen and bring in new players instead of re-signing the players that made it terrible. Armas could end up in AAA with a minor league deal, as he wasn't half bad when the Mets needed him.
Don't be surprised when none of these players return in 2009.
11/1/08
10/31/08
Delgado coming back -- officially
As The 'Ropolitans reported way back on Oct. 2, Carlos Delgado will be the first baseman in 2009.
Today, it was made official.
Delgado could still be traded, but he does have a full no-trade clause. I highly doubt it will happen, but you never know. Unless Mike Carp busts out big time within the next few months, Delgado will be a the bag for the next year.
Today, it was made official.
Delgado could still be traded, but he does have a full no-trade clause. I highly doubt it will happen, but you never know. Unless Mike Carp busts out big time within the next few months, Delgado will be a the bag for the next year.
Who will stick in the bullpen?
The Mets 2009 bullpen will look radically different.
According to David Lennon, an overhaul is most likely in the works to fix the Mets Achilles heel over the past few seasons. From today's Daily News:
Smith and Feliciano are the opposites of each other, which means they are delegated mostly to a specific batter, either LH hitter or RH hitters. The Mets are going to need a lot more versatility out of the bullpen, and they're going to have to sign, trade and promote to fill out the pen.
Eddie Kunz, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and Jason Vargas are all players who may find themselves either starting or in the bullpen in '09. Players available via trade include perennial-rumor name Huston Street, J.J. Putz and George Sherrill.
One big name who filed for free agency on Thursday is Chad Cordero. Cordero is working back from an injury and surgery of a torn labrum, and it's said he'll be ready by spring training. The Mets have been linked to Cordero for a while, so I'd expect some interest from Omar Minaya. We all saw Cordero before he went under the knife, and his fastball was flat and slow. If those problems are solved, and he's the Cordero of old, I'd be more than happy to have him on the Mets.
Any way you look at it, it's going to be a busy off-season for Minaya, and the bullpen is a major point of concern, especially if the young guys cannot perform up to snuff.
According to David Lennon, an overhaul is most likely in the works to fix the Mets Achilles heel over the past few seasons. From today's Daily News:
Other than Joe Smith, Brian Stokes and Pedro Feliciano, the bullpen should look drastically different in '09.Stokes really came out of nowhere at the end and surprised the team with an above-average fastball and ability to go multiple innings.
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Mets COO Jeff Wilpon has spoken about addition by subtraction, meaning Aaron Heilman (two years from free agency), Scott Schoeneweis (one year, $3.6 million remaining) and Luis Castillo (three years, $18 million) all potentially are goners. Since the Mets would have to eat so much of Castillo's contract, or trade for an equally bad contract, they may be stuck with him.
Smith and Feliciano are the opposites of each other, which means they are delegated mostly to a specific batter, either LH hitter or RH hitters. The Mets are going to need a lot more versatility out of the bullpen, and they're going to have to sign, trade and promote to fill out the pen.
Eddie Kunz, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and Jason Vargas are all players who may find themselves either starting or in the bullpen in '09. Players available via trade include perennial-rumor name Huston Street, J.J. Putz and George Sherrill.
One big name who filed for free agency on Thursday is Chad Cordero. Cordero is working back from an injury and surgery of a torn labrum, and it's said he'll be ready by spring training. The Mets have been linked to Cordero for a while, so I'd expect some interest from Omar Minaya. We all saw Cordero before he went under the knife, and his fastball was flat and slow. If those problems are solved, and he's the Cordero of old, I'd be more than happy to have him on the Mets.
Any way you look at it, it's going to be a busy off-season for Minaya, and the bullpen is a major point of concern, especially if the young guys cannot perform up to snuff.
Perez, Easley and Wise file for FA
Oliver Perez, Damion Easley and Matt Wise (remember him?) all filed for free agency on Thursday. The Mets have 15 days to negotiate with these players, and any other players who file from the 2008 team.
Do not expect Perez to sign any time soon. His agent is Scott Boras, which means they're going to play the field and wait for the highest possible bidder. The Mets will make a play for him, but it will be a very drawn out process.
Other pitchers that could fill the two voids: Jon Garland, Derek Lowe or Randy Wolf.
Easley is a tough one. He was great off the bench and filled in at second base when Luis Castillo went down with an injury. Anderson Hernandez also saw time at 2B, but his light hitting gave Easley an opening. He's getting up there in age, but he's a tough veteran, who has been with the team for a few years. He might be cursed though, as he still hasn't played in a postseason game.
I can see the team bringing him back, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's not a Met when Citi Field opens.
And then there's Wise. He only appeared in eight games last season after signing a $1.2 million contract. Don't expect him back. You might see him on a milk carton sometime soon, though.
Do not expect Perez to sign any time soon. His agent is Scott Boras, which means they're going to play the field and wait for the highest possible bidder. The Mets will make a play for him, but it will be a very drawn out process.
Other pitchers that could fill the two voids: Jon Garland, Derek Lowe or Randy Wolf.
Easley is a tough one. He was great off the bench and filled in at second base when Luis Castillo went down with an injury. Anderson Hernandez also saw time at 2B, but his light hitting gave Easley an opening. He's getting up there in age, but he's a tough veteran, who has been with the team for a few years. He might be cursed though, as he still hasn't played in a postseason game.
I can see the team bringing him back, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's not a Met when Citi Field opens.
And then there's Wise. He only appeared in eight games last season after signing a $1.2 million contract. Don't expect him back. You might see him on a milk carton sometime soon, though.
10/30/08
Fernando Tatis re-signed by Mets
The Sporting News' NL Comeback Player-of-the-Year will come back for another year with the Mets.
Fernando Tatis agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Mets, worth $1.7 million.
Tatis hit .297 in 92 games last year, with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Tatis, who injured his shoulder near the end of the season, will not require surgery and will be ready for spring training.
He filled in both LF and RF when Moises Alou and Ryan Church were out for an extended period of time. In 2009, he will most likely fill a much smaller role.
I like this move. Helps solidify the bench, as he can play a few positions and pinch hit. Good signing.
Fernando Tatis agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Mets, worth $1.7 million.
Tatis hit .297 in 92 games last year, with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Tatis, who injured his shoulder near the end of the season, will not require surgery and will be ready for spring training.
He filled in both LF and RF when Moises Alou and Ryan Church were out for an extended period of time. In 2009, he will most likely fill a much smaller role.
I like this move. Helps solidify the bench, as he can play a few positions and pinch hit. Good signing.
Ex-Mets: So long, Mike Jacobs
The ex-Met low-ball power hitter is out of the NL East.
The Florida Marlins have traded Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Leo Nunez.
The Marlins may be trading a good bulk of their core players, so look for more trades from them. Looks like they're going into rebuilding mode again.
The Florida Marlins have traded Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Leo Nunez.
The Marlins may be trading a good bulk of their core players, so look for more trades from them. Looks like they're going into rebuilding mode again.
Last night, I was disgusted
I respect the heck out of the Phillies for winning the World Series. It was a tough pill to swallow, but they deserved it and congrats to them. Still, Phillies fans felt the need to boo.
Come on now, Philly. You just won the World Series, your first title in over two decades. Celebrate, cheer, be happy!
But when they announced commissioner Bud Selig, the owner of their own team, and the Tampa Bay Rays, they were all resoundingly booed by the crowd. Selig, maybe I can understand. Probably dealing with the weather and all that baggage. The Rays, too, I can be OK with. You did just beat them in five games, and it was a good, fun and competitive series.
But the owner?! Your team, his team, just won the World Series. You're the best team in the league, mostly due to his money and decisions. Yes, the GM does a lot, but who do you think puts him in his position?
Come on, Philly fans. At least cheer for your own team, own organization, and maybe give a hand to the other team.
Come on now, Philly. You just won the World Series, your first title in over two decades. Celebrate, cheer, be happy!
But when they announced commissioner Bud Selig, the owner of their own team, and the Tampa Bay Rays, they were all resoundingly booed by the crowd. Selig, maybe I can understand. Probably dealing with the weather and all that baggage. The Rays, too, I can be OK with. You did just beat them in five games, and it was a good, fun and competitive series.
But the owner?! Your team, his team, just won the World Series. You're the best team in the league, mostly due to his money and decisions. Yes, the GM does a lot, but who do you think puts him in his position?
Come on, Philly fans. At least cheer for your own team, own organization, and maybe give a hand to the other team.
Ambiorix Burgos released from jail
He's still in a huge amount of hot water, but now he'll be free to suffer on the outside.
Ambiorix Burgos has been released from a Dominican jail after paying $57,000 and now he must appear at court every two weeks. He is prohibited from leaving the country.
Burgos is slated to pitch in winter ball with the Azucareros del Este in the Dominican league, but who knows if he'll ever be a Met within the next few days.
Just release him, Omar. He's more trouble than he's worth.
Ambiorix Burgos has been released from a Dominican jail after paying $57,000 and now he must appear at court every two weeks. He is prohibited from leaving the country.
Burgos is slated to pitch in winter ball with the Azucareros del Este in the Dominican league, but who knows if he'll ever be a Met within the next few days.
Just release him, Omar. He's more trouble than he's worth.
10/29/08
Congrats, Phillies
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies on winning the 2008 World Series...See you in 2009,
The closing bell
Billy Wagner is out. Francisco Rodriguez is expensive. Brian Fuentes is the quiet guy. J.J. Putz and Huston Street may be among the new targets.
These guys will not come cheap. Among them are George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, and Kevin Gregg.
My favorite of the bunch: Soria. He's young, he's good, and he has a great nickname. "The Mexicutioner" on the Mets? Yes, please.
Soria has pitched for two years in the majors, and is only 24-years-old. In 2007, he threw in 62 games, notched a 2.48 ERA, and picked up 17 saves. Last season was even better. Sixty-three games, 1.60 ERA, and a 1.60 ERA. Can't ask for much more than that out of a closer.
Mexicutioner will cost a lot. As you can tell, he's a great pitcher, and is a staple of the Royals team and one of their only bright spots. Don't expect him.
The best option out there won't be picked up via a trade, according to Ken Davidoff. He believes that Jeremy Affeldt might be the best option for a closer.
Will this World Series end already so we can embark on some real rumors and grumblings.
These guys will not come cheap. Among them are George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, and Kevin Gregg.
My favorite of the bunch: Soria. He's young, he's good, and he has a great nickname. "The Mexicutioner" on the Mets? Yes, please.
Soria has pitched for two years in the majors, and is only 24-years-old. In 2007, he threw in 62 games, notched a 2.48 ERA, and picked up 17 saves. Last season was even better. Sixty-three games, 1.60 ERA, and a 1.60 ERA. Can't ask for much more than that out of a closer.
Mexicutioner will cost a lot. As you can tell, he's a great pitcher, and is a staple of the Royals team and one of their only bright spots. Don't expect him.
The best option out there won't be picked up via a trade, according to Ken Davidoff. He believes that Jeremy Affeldt might be the best option for a closer.
Lefty Jeremy Affeldt, 29, put together a decent season with Cincinnati, striking out 80 batters in 78 1/3 innings. Interestingly, he held righty hitters to a .335 on-base percentage and .391 slugging percentage; lefties got on base worse (.301 OBP) but slugged better (.444 SLG). For his career, he has performed slightly better against lefties (.335 OBP, .410 SLG) than righties (.348 OBP, .414 SLG).The Mets have been linked to him for a few years, so it wouldn't be surprising if they can pick him up. He's had some up and down years, and he's coming off one of his best. Interesting his name would come up for a closer for the Mets, but I like Davidoff's thinking.
Will this World Series end already so we can embark on some real rumors and grumblings.
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