If anyone thought Oliver Perez would accept arbitration, they were crazy.
Perez turned down the Mets arbitration offer last night, and will hit the market seeking a multi-year, lucrative deal.
If Perez signs elsewhere, the Mets will be awarded a first-round draft pick, and another pick between the first and second rounds.
I'd like to have him back, but I know he will cost the Mets a lot of money. With the inconsistency they've seen first-hand over the last few years, do the Mets even want him back? Not for the money he wants, in my opinion.
Sorry for this getting lost in the shuffle, but no one expected him to accept, so I had resigned myself to the fact for a while.
12/8/08
Mets Rumor: Jon Garland
This is the the kind of pitcher the Mets need to focus on. Solid, durable and effective. Not a top tier starter, but someone who will fit nicely at the back of their rotation.
Per Ken Rosenthal (I wonder how many times I will write his name over the next two weeks...):
If not, they must go out and sign someone else instead of handing two-fifths of the rotation to unproven rookies. Garland is high on my Mets fan wish list for this off-season.
Per Ken Rosenthal (I wonder how many times I will write his name over the next two weeks...):
Right-hander Jon Garland, who declined arbitration from the Angels, is on the Mets' radar. The Mets are unlikely to pay top dollar for a starter after investing in a closer, and Garland would fit the back of their rotation. Johan Santana, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese are the Mets' current projected starters. Garland, 29, has averaged 205 innings over the past seven seasons and likely would benefit from a move to the National League.Perfect. If the Mets can manage to land Garland, I will feel much better about guys like Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell competing for that final spot(s) in the rotation.
If not, they must go out and sign someone else instead of handing two-fifths of the rotation to unproven rookies. Garland is high on my Mets fan wish list for this off-season.
Sherman: Don't look past K-Rod moving to NL
Just as projected (and projected correctly, mind you), Johan Santana flourished in the "weaker" National League, Francisco Rodriguez would have the chance to do the same if he signs with the Mets.
Joel Sherman brings it up in his latest Hardball column, and even gives us a little interleague action stats.
In four games pitched against the Mets, K-Rod has earned one save in five innings of work. He's surrendered three hits (one of those two home runs allowed against NL teams -- the Marlon Anderson inside the park home run on June 11, 2005) and two runs allowed for a 3.60 ERA.
This is starting to sound better and better. Now Omar just has to sign him.
Joel Sherman brings it up in his latest Hardball column, and even gives us a little interleague action stats.
My colleague Mark Hale dug up these numbers for me about Rodriguez in interleague games: Rodriguez has faced an NL team in 45 games covering 50 innings and he has a 1.07 ERA, with just 23 hits allowed (two homers), 20 walks and 67 strikeouts.Well then. Those are some excellent numbers.
In four games pitched against the Mets, K-Rod has earned one save in five innings of work. He's surrendered three hits (one of those two home runs allowed against NL teams -- the Marlon Anderson inside the park home run on June 11, 2005) and two runs allowed for a 3.60 ERA.
This is starting to sound better and better. Now Omar just has to sign him.
Mets Rumor: Steak dinner with K-Rod
Hopefully Omar Minaya knew in advance whether Francisco Rodriguez was a vegetarian or not.
According to sources, Minaya and K-Rod (and his agent, I assume) had a lengthy sit-down at a steakhouse last night. David Lennon reports the meeting was over four hours long. He also wrote "Minaya only smiled when asked whether an offer had been made."
Sly, Omar. Very sly.
I'm anticipating a quick signing of a closer so the Mets can move on to other things.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Mets will not make simultaneous offers to K-Rod, Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman. Instead, they will likely offer it to their first choice (Rodriguez), and move down the line from there (Fuentes, Hoffman).
If nothing comes of that, I'm sure they'll turn to Kerry Wood before they look into a trade, as they don't want to give up any of their young talent if they don't have to.
According to sources, Minaya and K-Rod (and his agent, I assume) had a lengthy sit-down at a steakhouse last night. David Lennon reports the meeting was over four hours long. He also wrote "Minaya only smiled when asked whether an offer had been made."
Sly, Omar. Very sly.
I'm anticipating a quick signing of a closer so the Mets can move on to other things.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Mets will not make simultaneous offers to K-Rod, Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman. Instead, they will likely offer it to their first choice (Rodriguez), and move down the line from there (Fuentes, Hoffman).
If nothing comes of that, I'm sure they'll turn to Kerry Wood before they look into a trade, as they don't want to give up any of their young talent if they don't have to.
Mets trying to dump Castillo, not finding any takers
"No surprise there!" is the resounding response from Mets fans.
There is no doubt in my mind the Mets have wanted the dump Luis Castillo for months now. Here's a tidbit from Ken Rosenthal:
That's actually probably a bad idea, as that would leave the Mets in a must-trade situation, and the rest of the clubs knowing they have the higher hand.
Well, I want Hudson and I don't want Castillo. Still, the Mets have bigger priorities and shouldn't focus on this.
There is no doubt in my mind the Mets have wanted the dump Luis Castillo for months now. Here's a tidbit from Ken Rosenthal:
The Mets are desperate to move second baseman Luis Castillo to create a spot for free agent Orlando Hudson. The only way to do it would be to exchange Castillo's contract for another of similar value, but lots of luck. When the Mets asked the Rangers about a Castillo-for-Vicente Padilla — a swap that would require the Rangers to move Ian Kinsler to left field — they were told, "No thank you."The Mets are going to end up paying a ton of Castillo's contract wherever he goes. They might as well sign Hudson and hope they can find a suitor for Castillo.
That's actually probably a bad idea, as that would leave the Mets in a must-trade situation, and the rest of the clubs knowing they have the higher hand.
Well, I want Hudson and I don't want Castillo. Still, the Mets have bigger priorities and shouldn't focus on this.
12/7/08
Mets to make offer to K-Rod tonight?
According to Jon Heyman and Sweeny Murti, Omar Minaya and the Mets are wasting no time in Las Vegas.
After arriving at 5 pm local time, the Mets have already scheduled a few sit-down meetings with free agent closers. Their first choice, Francisco Rodriguez, is supposedly meeting with the team officials as early as tonight.
That could mean that right now, in Las Vegas, the Mets staff is pitching numbers to K-Rod and his agent Paul Kinzer.
It'd be a nice hurdle to get out of the way if they can sign Rodriguez early, but unless the deal is exactly what he wants, expect him to shop around a little before making his decision.
After arriving at 5 pm local time, the Mets have already scheduled a few sit-down meetings with free agent closers. Their first choice, Francisco Rodriguez, is supposedly meeting with the team officials as early as tonight.
That could mean that right now, in Las Vegas, the Mets staff is pitching numbers to K-Rod and his agent Paul Kinzer.
It'd be a nice hurdle to get out of the way if they can sign Rodriguez early, but unless the deal is exactly what he wants, expect him to shop around a little before making his decision.
MLB Rumor: Dye traded to Reds [Updated: Maybe not]
Accord to Hal McCoy (via MLBTR), the White Sox have traded Jermaine Dye to the Reds for Homer Bailey.
This is of note on this site because the Mets had been linked to Dye in the Fernando Martinez rumored trade.
From McCoy:
What is puzzling is that Bailey is a young guy, under contract for six years and Dye has one year left with a mutual option for 2010. I would have thought that the Reds could have gotten a little more for Bailey, who struggled last season, but I guess they thought the time was right.
Update: Lies! The Chicago Tribune refutes the story above.
It's official. The Winter Meetings are going to be insane.
This is of note on this site because the Mets had been linked to Dye in the Fernando Martinez rumored trade.
From McCoy:
A major-league source close to the situation told The Dayton Daily News on Sunday, Dec. 7, "The deal is done and will be announced this week."Guess you can scratch that trade off the list (thank goodness).
What is puzzling is that Bailey is a young guy, under contract for six years and Dye has one year left with a mutual option for 2010. I would have thought that the Reds could have gotten a little more for Bailey, who struggled last season, but I guess they thought the time was right.
Update: Lies! The Chicago Tribune refutes the story above.
A source familiar with the talks rejected a report in the Dayton Daily News quoting a "major-league source close to the situation" that a deal to send Sox right fielder Jermaine Dye to Cincinnati for pitcher Homer Bailey "was done and would be announced this week."Also, check out that story for a tidbit on a broken down trade proposal with the Mets. Minaya refused to include Bobby Parnell, and trade talks stalled.
It's official. The Winter Meetings are going to be insane.
In honor of the Winter Meetings being held in Las Vegas
I figured I'd put a little casino themed photo together.
From top left, going clockwise: Kerry Wood, Brian Fuentes, Raul Ibanez, Derek Lowe, Jon Garland, Huston Street, Orlando Hudson, Nick Punto and Francisco Rodriguez.
From top left, going clockwise: Kerry Wood, Brian Fuentes, Raul Ibanez, Derek Lowe, Jon Garland, Huston Street, Orlando Hudson, Nick Punto and Francisco Rodriguez.Also: Check out this strangely appropriate Photoshop from a few months ago (two months to the day, exactly!).
The Winter Meetings start tomorrow. Prepare for news overload. Tune in here, as I will work as the filter between you and all the ridiculous news. If it's worthwhile, you'll read it here. If it's just rumors for the heck of rumors, I'll be sure you won't be bothered with it.
12/6/08
Olney: What the Mets will offer
The Mets look like they're going to break the bank for a closer, according to Buster Olney.
Olney takes some educated guesses on his blog, and proposes what he believes the Mets will offer to the top three closers on the market: Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood.
On my Christmas list: A "Rodriguez" Mets jersey.
Olney takes some educated guesses on his blog, and proposes what he believes the Mets will offer to the top three closers on the market: Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood.
Francisco Rodriguez, three years and $36 million; Brian Fuentes, three years and $30 million; Kerry Wood, two years and $16 million to $18 million. The Mets are really sitting in a strong position, as perhaps the only big-market team intent on spending good money on a reliever, and their intention is to present the offers with this marching order: The first reliever who accepts our offer is going to be our closer.I am going to go out on the veritable limb here and say the Mets are going to sign K-Rod. I also think they're going to deal Aaron Heilman and someone else in a package for a good 8th inning guy either before or very soon after they land their closer.
On my Christmas list: A "Rodriguez" Mets jersey.
Sign Pedro Martinez
That's right, I said it. The Mets should sign Pedro Martinez.
As I noted yesterday, I agree with Dan Graziano that the Mets are overvaluing their 2009 rotation, especially with the two holes at the back end of the rotation. With Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell attempting to break into the big leagues on a full time basis, the Mets need security.
"I do want to play," Martinez told Christian Red in today's NY Daily News. "I'm not going to talk about it until January. I'm away from all that. I know I'm a free agent. One thing - I'm getting ready because I know how long it takes to get ready. I'm working out. I'm doing everything I have to do."
Why not sign Martinez? Well for one, he's extremely injury prone. He's at the end of his career, there is no doubt about that, but he's still able to pitch at the major league level to some degree. He can put in innings and is proven at this level, something you cannot say about Niese or Parnell.
He's no longer the ace of the staff, but he can definitely serve as the 5th man in the rotation.
Take a chance. A one-year deal, with incentives. He knows New York, can pitch in high-pressure cities and is a great addition in the clubhouse. I'm for it.
As I noted yesterday, I agree with Dan Graziano that the Mets are overvaluing their 2009 rotation, especially with the two holes at the back end of the rotation. With Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell attempting to break into the big leagues on a full time basis, the Mets need security.
"I do want to play," Martinez told Christian Red in today's NY Daily News. "I'm not going to talk about it until January. I'm away from all that. I know I'm a free agent. One thing - I'm getting ready because I know how long it takes to get ready. I'm working out. I'm doing everything I have to do."
Why not sign Martinez? Well for one, he's extremely injury prone. He's at the end of his career, there is no doubt about that, but he's still able to pitch at the major league level to some degree. He can put in innings and is proven at this level, something you cannot say about Niese or Parnell.
He's no longer the ace of the staff, but he can definitely serve as the 5th man in the rotation.
Take a chance. A one-year deal, with incentives. He knows New York, can pitch in high-pressure cities and is a great addition in the clubhouse. I'm for it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)