El Duque wants to close

Seriously.

Orlando Hernandez is a free agent, hasn't appeared in a major league game since Sept. 30, 2007, but he wants to keep pitching in 2009. And not only does he want to pitch, he wants to close.

You read that right. El Duque, the closer. He'll blow that 55 mph pitch right on by you in the 9th inning!

From Ken Davidoff:

Meanwhile, Genske said that another client of his, Orlando Hernandez, wants to keep pitching, after missing the entire season with the Mets. El Duque underwent surgery on his right foot in September and is rehabilitating.

Said Genske: "He wants to be a closer. He's ready to go." Closing might be a stretch, but certainly there are teams out there that would try him as a reliever. Shoot, the Mets should consider it. They should just pay him $600,000 (with incentives) instead of $6 million.

I have no words.

The Mets do need a closer, though...

Just kidding!

This Year in Baseball Awards: What Mets are up for the vote?

If you're unfamiliar with the This Year in Baseball Awards, they are a fan-selected group of players, separated into their respective categories.

A few Mets are up for the awards in different categories, here's how the shake out:

Hitter: Carlos Delgado. Delgado had a miserable first half of the season, but busted out in a big way and put together a very good campaign in 2008.

Starter: Johan Santana. The bullpen blew at least six wins for him, and if they could have converted those, he would be making a lot of noise in the Cy Young award chatter. He was a great pick-up, and performed well beyond my expectations in his first year.

Play: Carlos Beltran. He's up for Play of the Year for his over-the-wall grab of Ryan Ludwick's home run on July 27. I remember that play, especially the bird flying out of the way just in time. Great grab. This is one of the reasons why he's the best CF in the league, in my eyes.

Oddity: Johan Santana. Remember when his broken bat hit the ball twice against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 23? I had never seen anything like that, and it definitely belongs in the "oddity" category.

Those are the Mets that can win. Go here to see the rest of the nominees and make your vote.

Mets want Beimel

Add another name to the long list of players the Mets "want."

According to Ken Rosenthal:

Add left-hander Joe Beimel to the list of free-agent relievers on the Mets' wish list. The team also is expected to investigate free-agent closers Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood, and will examine trades and internal solutions while reconstructing its bullpen.

Most Mets fan probably remember Beimel as the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who missed the 2006 NLDS after he cut his hand on a glass at a bar while in New York and told the team he cut it in his hotel room.

Here are Beimel's career numbers. Last year was Beimel's best year, as he posted a 2.02 ERA in 49 IP.

Worth a look, I guess.

Rumor Rundown: Pitching, Pitching, Pitching

Every morning I will scan the web for the newest Mets rumors, and dish them to you. Enjoy your tasty tidbits of baseball gossip.

The New York Times relays info from a quick meeting Omar Minaya held with reporters at the GM Meetings in Cali. Minaya pitched the need for pitching over offense. "I have no problem with our offense, and that was even with [Luis] Castillo not having a good year, and he is a lifetime .300 hitter, if I am not mistaken," Minaya told the Times. "Those things I am not worried about."

When asked if he would look at the pricier closer Francisco Rodriguez, Minaya said "We have to look at everybody."

Minaya also noted that since the Mets only have three starters on the board for next year, he will entertain the idea of re-signing Pedro Martinez. Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell and Jason Vargas will all have a shot at those final two spots. No mention of Oliver Perez.

** * **

Javier Vazquez has piqued the Mets interest.

Vazquez, who is owed $23 million over the next two years by the Chicago White Sox, will not be too expensive, as long as the Mets are willing to pay.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Vazquez, who has a no-trade clause to West Coast teams, was fourth in the American League in strikeouts, but his only winning season in the last four was 2007, when he finished 15-8. He also had winning records in Montreal in the early 2000s when current Mets GM Omar Minaya worked there.

I don't like this, but the Mets do need pitching. Too expensive, too inconsistent.

** * **

Back to K-Rod. Ken Davidoff reminds us of a similar situation from a few years ago.

Newsday:

Though the Mets are reluctant to meet Rodriguez's public asking price of $75 million over five years, they'll engage with him just in case the price drops. As Minaya noted yesterday, Carlos Beltran's original asking price was $200 million before it came down to the $119 million the Mets paid him.

No one was going to spend $200 mil. for Beltran. Unfortunately, I think the closers market is so dry, teams will spend as much as possible to try and land the new single-season save leader.

I'd be more than happy landing the cheaper, and equally good Brian Fuentes.

Platoon

No, not the movie.

According to Marty Noble, the Mets current plan is to use Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy as a platoon in left field in 2009.

That is, unless they can sign a regular left fielder, but I doubt that will happen. If the Mets are already planning to use Tatis and Murphy in left, neither have another true spot on the team.

Tatis and Endy Chavez would compete for the fourth outfielder, and there's no need for that. Murphy, who is seeing time at second base in the Arizona Fall League, would probably not serve as a backup. No way the Mets want young talent just sitting on the bench.

The Mets have been linked to Raul Ibanez already, but he's going to be pricey and I don't think they want to be on the hook for that much money for a player of that caliber.

Using Tatis and Murphy is just fine with me. Both players served the team at the plate, but lacked in the fielding category. They can also be a plus-bat off the bench on days they are not starting. Their pinch-hitting was a key down the stretch, even if they fell short.

The question now is, where does that leave Nick Evans? Evans, who split time with Murphy and Tatis in left, is pretty much left without a position. This moves him right up to the top trading chip.

If the Mets can swap a package of Evans and Aaron Heilman for a starter or bullpen arm, that would be a plus.

Murphy and Tatis in left, Evans and Heilman somewhere else, and a few key arms on the staff. I like how I think.

Brian Fuentes is a free agent

Let the (cheaper) bidding war begin.

Brian Fuentes' agent Rick Thurman told the Denver Post that the only team not showing interest in the closer is the Rockies.

The Mets are among many teams who are actively pursuing Fuentes for their closer duties. The Mets seem to be against spending the big bucks for Francisco Rodriguez, and Fuentes looks like he'll cost a few million cheaper, per year.

According to the Denver Post:

Major League team executives predict that Fuentes won't receive less than $36 million over three years. However, given the number of interested parties, the term of the contract could swell to four years.

I'm fine with the Mets spending that much, for that many years, on a guy like Fuentes. He's consistent, not too old (33) and has been a closer before. Yes, he lost his job during the latter part of 2008, but he still performed well enough to convert 30 of 34 saves.

Poll Results: To Manny or not to Manny?

Before the playoffs ended, I posed the question to you, the reader, if the Mets should sign Manny Ramirez.

Though the rumors linking the Mets and Manny have died down, you never know what Omar Minaya might do for one of his favorite players. Here are the results:

No -- 39%
Yes, with limits -- 35%
Yes -- 24%

I'm assuming the people that voted for just the "Yes" would pay through the nose for Ramirez. While I'm willing to heave over a big chunk of change for the left fielder, there is no way I'd give him six years like he's asking.

I don't think they'll end up making a deal, though it was fun while it lasted.

Next question: Do you want the Mets to sign Oliver Perez?

New York Mets rumors

Due to the popularity of rumors (though I tend to tire of them quickly) I have created a new category specifically for Mets rumors for the 2008-2009 off-season.

All news on Mets rumors can be found under the label "Mets Rumors 08-09."

There will also be another category for rumors throughout baseball not dealing with the Mets, "MLB Rumors 08-09."

Stay tuned for a very crazy off-season, all starting today with the GM Meetings in California. Things will probably heat up more over the next few weeks, but the GM Meetings are usually a big stepping off point for deals that will get done later in the year.

El Duque files for FA

Old man, bunion-sufferer, and man with the giant leg kick -- Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez -- has declared his free agency, effectively ending his Mets tenure and possibly his baseball career.

No way he comes back. If a team signs him, they are out of their minds. He's the walking wounded.

Six Mets file for FA

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.