The Mets, as very much expected, did not offer arbitration to any players.
Of the Mets up for arby, only Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis would have landed a draft pick if they refused arbitration and signed elsewhere.
Shocker, I know.
12/1/09
Why Kelly Shoppach to Tampa matters to the Mets
As we’ve seen, the Mets are trying to scoop up a whole bunch of catchers. They have Omir Santos and Josh Thole, and they signed Chris Coste yesterday and added him to the 40-man. They’re also in talks with Henry Blanco.
But Kelly Shoppach, coming off a decent 2009, where he hit .214 / .335 / .399 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI, was just traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later.
Why were the Mets not interested? He’s cheaper than Bengie Molina, who the Mets have their sights set on. Sure, Shoppach’s not amazing behind the plate, but either is anyone else out there, especially Molina.
What really might interest Omar Minaya, but not me, is what the Rays do with Dioner Navarro.
If the Rays non-tender him, the Mets could look to add him to add to the depth at the catching position. He’s not someone I would clamor for, or even suggest in passing, but as the Mets look to add players at this position, I’m sure Minaya will be interested.
Ex-Mets: Brian Schneider signs with Philly
Update – 2:14 p.m.: The contract is for two-years and worth $3 million, according to the Associated Press.
Original Post: According to The Morning Call, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed Brian Schneider.
Schneider had spent the two seasons with the Mets after coming over with Ryan Church from the Nationals in return for Lastings Milledge.
Schneider has already passed his physical.
Will Schneider come out and say, “I’ll always consider myself an Expo, National and a Met” now?
Link: MetsGrrl wants to know if you’re renewing
MetsGrrl is on a fact-gathering mission to find out how much your season tickets were reduced and if you’re renewing your plan.
Please head over to MetsGrrl.com to submit your info about your plan.
It’s an interesting situation the Mets are in right now. A new stadium but a messy team. They’ve discounted most tickets, but are they low enough to get fans back, especially those with multi-game plans?
Go submit your info. I’m very interested to see how this turns out.
11/30/09
‘I will always be a Phillie’ [Quote]
“I will always be a Phillie.”
-Chris Coste after signing with the Mets
What was that saying about getting off on the right foot?
(Via Brian Costa)
Mets add ex-Reds GM Krivsky to front office
Update: According to Ken Davidoff, Krivsky will attend roughly one homestand a month.
or a death knell for Omar Minaya?
Mets sign Chris Coste, add him to 40-man roster
According to a report out from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the Mets have signed 36-year-old catcher Chris Coste.
Coste, who played in 88 games last year split between Philadelphia and Houston, has been added to the 40-man roster. The Mets were the only team to offer him a guaranteed spot on the roster, according to The Forum.
Last season, Coste hit .224 / .301 / .317 in 205 at bats. He hit two home runs and drove in 18. In his career, Coste has hit .272 / .329 / .416 with 23 home runs and 108 RBI over 437 at bats.
Looks like the Mets will be stockpiling catchers this off-season.
Cora contract details
As reported earlier, Alex Cora and the Mets have agreed to a $2 million dear, pending a physical.
Here are the contract details from Ken Rosenthal…
Cora can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses: $250,000 each for 80, 90, 100 and 110 starts. There is a $2 million option for 2011 that becomes guaranteed if he has about 80 starts next season.
No chance Cora makes 80 starts (again) for the Mets in 2010. Unless 2009 happens all over again. But that’s not possible.
…Right?
Essentially, this is a one-year deal for $2 million for Cora. I like him back, but it’s still too much money.
Thanks, Nick!
Rosenthal: Mets talking to Blanco
The Mets and free-agent catcher Henry Blanco have been talking, according to Ken Rosenthal (via Amazin’ Avenue).
Rosenthal points out that Blanco would likely serve as a backup as the Mets are targeting Bengie Molina as their catcher for 2010 and beyond.
I don’t like this.
1) Blanco, who is mediocre at best, had been with seven organizations in 12 years. He’s a decent player off the bench, but isn’t that what Omir Santos is?
And 2) Molina is going to cost so much money and his OBP is awful.
Then again, the catching market out there is terrible and these might be the Mets best options.
If Blanco is just an insurance plan for if/when Santos “falls back to earth” (as if his sub-.300 OBP was so special anyway), I can understand. But the Molina thing…Oy!
Unless you’d be content with Santos/Josh Thole platoon?
Report: Alex Cora returning to Mets for $2 million [Updated]
Update – 2:48 p.m.: Bart Hubbuch confirms Cora is coming back for $2 million, pending a physical.
Original Post: According to a report out of WEEI, the Mets and Alex Cora are closing in on a deal worth $2 million, relays Adam Rubin.
The contract would also contain a vesting option for 2011.
He appeared in 82 games for the Mets last year, hitting .251 / .320 / .310 with one home run and 18 RBI. His season ended when he decided to have surgery on the ligaments he had torn in both his thumbs.
Cora made the same amount of money last season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)