Pedro Feliciano and the Mets have agreed to a one-year deal, believed to be worth $1.65 million, according to Adam Rubin.
This would be a $572,500 raise over last seasons salary.
Feliciano was the last Mets player left in arbitration.
2/6/09
The State of the Mets -- 2/6/09
The fourth edition of The State of the Mets.
Today I focus on Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez and what Omar Minaya has to do for the rest of the off season.
Enjoy.
(YouTube link here)
Today I focus on Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez and what Omar Minaya has to do for the rest of the off season.
Enjoy.
(YouTube link here)
2/5/09
Another crazy Spanish language story
Here's another gem from Impacto Deportivo:
Se soltó el loco; Manny Ramírez podría botar a Scott Boras
or
Came off the loco, Manny Ramírez could throw to Scott Boras
Here's the translation of Impacto Deportivo, from Google Translator:
As if the story wasn't crazy enough...
Se soltó el loco; Manny Ramírez podría botar a Scott Boras
or
Came off the loco, Manny Ramírez could throw to Scott Boras
Here's the translation of Impacto Deportivo, from Google Translator:
Scott Boras, who once was separated from his duties by Alex Rodriguez, it could suffer the same fate with Manny Ramírez.The gist of that is Manny Ramirez is considering firing Scott Boras and would begin negotiating for himself.
It is hoped this Wednesday at Impactodeportivo.com.do, Ramirez is quillao with Boras.
Boras has been estimated that a very hard time to ask and that is moving away to the teams.
Ramirez could take control of a future negotiations as soon as this weekend.
As if the story wasn't crazy enough...
Mets sign Elmer Dessens
The Mets have signed pitcher Elmer Dessens to a minor league deal, according to the Denver Post (via MLBTR).Dessens is guaranteed $72,000, but could earn up to $600,000 with incentives.
He has pitched for eight different teams in his 12 year career, most recently with Atlanta. A career 4.56 ERA, and a season ERA that hasn't dipped below 4.50 since 2005, Dessens can work as either a reliever or a starter.
Enjoy Buffalo, Elmer.
Scratch Sheets
A torn flexor tendon in his right elbow is standing between Ben Sheets and a major league contract.
News broke today that Sheets will get surgery to repair his injured arm, and might be able to pitch this season -- in August.
So count out Sheets for now, but you never know. Say Oliver Perez goes down in August and the Mets need a boost in the rotation. A rehabbed Sheets wouldn't be the worst option.
Hey, you never know.
News broke today that Sheets will get surgery to repair his injured arm, and might be able to pitch this season -- in August.
So count out Sheets for now, but you never know. Say Oliver Perez goes down in August and the Mets need a boost in the rotation. A rehabbed Sheets wouldn't be the worst option.
Hey, you never know.
A right-hand bat or a left-hand arm?
The Mets may be targeting Rich Aurilia, according to Ken Davidoff.
Aurilia has seen time at all fouroutinfield positions over the last few years, with the bulk of his time being at first base with his range and speed now diminished. Last season with the San Francisco Giants, Aurilia hit .283, had an OBP of .332 and slugged .413.
He'd be a nice addition, but with all the people the Mets have brought on this off-season, where's that extra arm they so sorely need?
Davidoff goes on to note that they have some interest in the available lefties (Will Ohman, Joe Beimel, etc.) but believe they can fill the role internally, possibly with Casey Fossum or Tom Martin.
Though they shouldn't lean on either of those guys, hoping for a full, productive season out of them, the possibility of mixing and matching could work. It may not be the best move, but it's better than nothing.
Aurilia has seen time at all four
He'd be a nice addition, but with all the people the Mets have brought on this off-season, where's that extra arm they so sorely need?
Davidoff goes on to note that they have some interest in the available lefties (Will Ohman, Joe Beimel, etc.) but believe they can fill the role internally, possibly with Casey Fossum or Tom Martin.
Though they shouldn't lean on either of those guys, hoping for a full, productive season out of them, the possibility of mixing and matching could work. It may not be the best move, but it's better than nothing.
Ex-Met: Uncle Cliff signs with San Diego
I thought San Diego was in a rebuilding phase? Maybe they're counting on Uncle Cliff Floyd to mentor their young guys.
Floyd and the Padres have agreed to a one-year deal.
Good luck, Uncle Cliffy!
Floyd and the Padres have agreed to a one-year deal.
Good luck, Uncle Cliffy!
Citi's advertising budget: Why 'Citi Field' is just a drop in the bucket
Commenter "Des" does a great job of proving what I've been trying to say all along. Think of Citi Field as one big advertisement! Des really puts it into perspective with some calculations. Take a look:
Unfortunately, I like to hear myself scream and yell and to see my byline anywhere in a paper. Heck, I'm a journalism major. It's in our blood.
Great job, Des!
According to American Banker, Citigroup's third quarter marketing and advertising budget for 2008 was $515 million (that's down 33%, by the way). So figure their M&A budget is around $2 billion a year.$20 million = One percent. Whew. It's hard to even wrap your mind around that one.
The naming rights cost Citi $20 million a year. Guess what percent $20 million is of $2 billion? I have a calculator, so don't sweat it -- one percent. A drop in the bucket.
It is in everyone's best interests for Citigroup to survive. A big part of that, from Citi's point of view, is to at least appear to be sound and successful. And to their way of thinking, having their name on the Mets' field helps. A year or two from now, once they've gotten back on track and this storm has (hopefully) passed, will the naming rights look so bad? Not at all.
But that kind of thinking requires some perspective and thought, which is in short supply with the hair-trigger crowd, which is made up of morons who like hearing themselves scream and yell, or seeing their byline on page three instead of in the back of the paper.
Unfortunately, I like to hear myself scream and yell and to see my byline anywhere in a paper. Heck, I'm a journalism major. It's in our blood.
Great job, Des!
2/4/09
Omar Minaya should not be done -- the bullpen needs work
Via Adam Rubin:
Guys like Will Ohman and Juan Cruz are still on the market, and would be excellent additions to the Mets weak middle relief portion of the bullpen. If Omar is going to short change them with a minor league deal, I think they're going to be shut out.
There is no reason they shouldn't pay a guy like Ohman or Cruz enough money to come to the team. I think Minaya is completely overvaluing guys like Duaner Sanchez, Sean Green and Brian Stokes. Heck, I want them all to do well, but I really don't think they're good enough to bridge the gap from starter to J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez.
Those two guys at the end of the bullpen are completely worthless if the team can't hand them a lead. Without a solid set of pitchers for middle relief, I'm not very confident in the outlook for 2009.
The depth chart has the Mets bullpen as follows (without K-Rod and Putz):
Green, I don't know enough about to judge, but his numbers really aren't that good. A career 4.32 ERA and 1.53 WHIP aren't going to calm my nerves, or my heartburn, when he's pitching in the 7th inning with a one run lead.
Muniz has been riding the shuttle between triple-A and the major leagues for a while now. He's never really gotten a ton of work at the MLB level, and rightly so. He's just not that good. Parnell is a young gun, who they hope will blossom and prosper soon, but he's just not ready yet.
So save for K-Rod and Putz, the bullpen is a bit of a mess. They need to go out and lock down Ohman or Cruz (or someone else!), and soon, because this 'pen is just not going to cut it in the NL East.
Omar Minaya has ruled out bringing in Manny Ramirez or any other major expenditure. The lone pieces still being sought are a lefty reliever on a minor-league deal and a righty bat for the bench, perhaps via a spring-training trade.Fine. I understand no Manny, and I had been OK with that from the start. The problem I have is with the lefty reliever on a minor league deal.
Guys like Will Ohman and Juan Cruz are still on the market, and would be excellent additions to the Mets weak middle relief portion of the bullpen. If Omar is going to short change them with a minor league deal, I think they're going to be shut out.
There is no reason they shouldn't pay a guy like Ohman or Cruz enough money to come to the team. I think Minaya is completely overvaluing guys like Duaner Sanchez, Sean Green and Brian Stokes. Heck, I want them all to do well, but I really don't think they're good enough to bridge the gap from starter to J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez.
Those two guys at the end of the bullpen are completely worthless if the team can't hand them a lead. Without a solid set of pitchers for middle relief, I'm not very confident in the outlook for 2009.
The depth chart has the Mets bullpen as follows (without K-Rod and Putz):
- D. Sanchez
- P. Feliciano
- S. Green
- B. Stokes
- C. Muniz
- B. Parnell
Green, I don't know enough about to judge, but his numbers really aren't that good. A career 4.32 ERA and 1.53 WHIP aren't going to calm my nerves, or my heartburn, when he's pitching in the 7th inning with a one run lead.
Muniz has been riding the shuttle between triple-A and the major leagues for a while now. He's never really gotten a ton of work at the MLB level, and rightly so. He's just not that good. Parnell is a young gun, who they hope will blossom and prosper soon, but he's just not ready yet.
So save for K-Rod and Putz, the bullpen is a bit of a mess. They need to go out and lock down Ohman or Cruz (or someone else!), and soon, because this 'pen is just not going to cut it in the NL East.
2/3/09
More on the Citi Field deal
Reports this morning broke t he news that Citigroup might break the deal with the New York Mets for naming rights to the new stadium.
Now more and more news is coming out.
The Daily News seems to be on top of their game today. Here's an article from Greg B. Smith and Larry McShane reporting that the Mets are denying Citigroup is going to break the deal.
From CNN:
I know it's tough to stomach, even for me, but it's just a conglomeration of billboards and ugly patches that Citi has to dish to the Mets.
Oh, and by the way, Adam Rubin notes that even though many people have been claiming it's a $400 million deal for the naming rights, he's heard that it's actually more like $500 million.
Now more and more news is coming out.
The Daily News seems to be on top of their game today. Here's an article from Greg B. Smith and Larry McShane reporting that the Mets are denying Citigroup is going to break the deal.
Citigroup executives called to reiterate their commitment to the deal after a report in the Wall Street Journal that the package was in jeopardy, said David Howard, Mets executive vice president for operations.I have to agree with Howard here. I know that Citigroup is being bailed out, to the tune of a ridiculous amount of money ($45 billion), but they've promised none of the money going to the Mets is coming from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
With April's opening day drawing near, Citigroup was ripped by two members of Congress last week for taking billions in bailout money while spending millions to put their name on a baseball stadium.
But Howard said there were dozens of other federal bailout fund recipients involved in naming rights deals and football bowl games sponsorships.
"Why is this deal being singled out?" he asked. "There is an element of unfairness in this situation."
From CNN:
Citigroup told CNN in a statement though that it has a "legally binding agreement" with the Mets, and that it is "using no TARP capital for Citi Field, or for marketing purposes."Still, where was the uproar when Citigroup sponosred this years Rose Bowl? What about commercials? Billboards? Taxi cabs? You still see Citi's name plastered everywhere. As I've said before, think of "Citi Field" as one giant commercial that's not going anywhere.
I know it's tough to stomach, even for me, but it's just a conglomeration of billboards and ugly patches that Citi has to dish to the Mets.
Oh, and by the way, Adam Rubin notes that even though many people have been claiming it's a $400 million deal for the naming rights, he's heard that it's actually more like $500 million.
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