From Adam Rubin…
Jeff Francoeur's surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb turned out to be more complex than originally expected, although the outfielder still expects to be ready for spring training. Because Francoeur played with the injury for the final month of the season, the thumb ligament wore down and shriveled, necessitating a transplant from his wrist.
Remember when everyone said, “Oh, it won’t be a problem. He’s just gritty and plays the game right. Let him play!”
Oy vey.
During the physical, the Mets had concerns over Henry Blanco’s right shoulder. For that, they restructured the deal, which now has a base salary of $750,000, according to Ken Davidoff.
The deal, with new incentives, could be worth as much as $2,225,000.
Davidoff notes that he can quickly earn an additional $700K from “roster bonuses” (read: staying healthy). Breaking it down even further, he earns $5,000 each day on the roster up to 80 days, $4,500 for days 81-135 and $3,500 for days 136-150.
The rest of the incentives vary from $50,000 for winning the Most Valuable Player award to $50,000 for World Series MVP to $25,000 for winning a Gold Glove. For the full list, use your one Newsday click to read Davidoff’s blog.
Update – 10 a.m.: The Mets have traded Monasterios to the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations, according to Brian Costa and Anthony DiComo.
Original Post: With the 7th pick in the Rule 5 Draft, the Mets selected RHP Carlos Monasterios, 23-years-old from the Phillies Triple-A roster.
Monasterios went to the Phillies from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu trade.
He made eight starts last year, seven with Clearwater (Advanced-A) and one with Reading (Double-A). He appeared in 37 games total last season.
In 89 1-3 innings, Monasterios put up a 3.73 ERA and a 1.209 WHIP. He allowed 4 home runs last season.
In his career, he’s pitched 384 2-3 innings, posting a 4.49 ERA, 1.318 WHIP, a 2.9 BB/9 and 6.8 SO/9.
According to the broadcast on MLB.com, Monasterios has been throwing very well in the Venezuelan winter league.
As covered earlier, the Mets selected Carlos Monasterios (Update: He’s been traded) and John Lujan in the earlier rounds of the draft. After that the Mets selected…
-Mets selected 1B Thomas Hubbard from Seattle.
Marshall hit .271 / .380 / .434 with 14 home runs and 70 RBI with the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jax last season.
-Mets selected RHP Rolando Valdez from San Diego.
Between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Valdez posted a 5.40 ERA in 33 1-3 innings. He posted a 1.680 WHIP, allowing five home runs.
-Mets selected LHP Orlando Lara from San Diego.
Lara spent 2009 with the Mexico City Reds, pitching in 18 games, starting seven. He posted a 5.03 ERA and 1.676 WHIP. He allowed three home runs in 48 1-3 innings.
-Mets selected RHP Johan Figuereo from Washington.
Figuereo is a converted infielder who threw his first inning in 2007. In ‘08 he tossed 37 2-3 innings, putting up a 4.20 ERA and 1.274 WHIP. Last year, he tossed 24 2-3 innings with a 2.92 ERA and 1.216 WHIP. In only 23 innings, he allowed eight home runs.
The Mets did lose a player from the Gulf Coast League team. I’m trying to track down that name.
Thanks to Chris Birckhead on Twitter, we know the Mets lost RHP Hayden Beard, from Australia, from Gulf Coast Rookie League.
Beard went 5-2 with a 5.34 ERA and 1.385 WHIP last season.
In the minor-league round of the Rule 5 Draft, the Mets selected RHP John Lujan, 25-years-old, from the Chicago White Sox Triple-A team.
Lujan, 6-foot-1, a reliever who pitched 58 2-3 innings last season with the Birmingham Barons. He pitched to the tune of a 4.45 ERA, 1.347 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 7.8 SO/9.
He struck out 51 and allowed only one home run.
Update 12:12 p.m.: According to Steve Popper, citing a baseball official(?), the Mets have not offered Molina a two-year deal. “Interested, but hoping for 1,” he writes.
Original Post: According to a blog post by David Lennon from Newsday (pay site), if Bengie Molina accepts a two-year, $12 million deal, he will be the newest Met.
Lennon writes that if Molina refuses the two-year deal, the Mets could look at alternatives, such as Yorvit Torrealbla, who is available for one year, just to play in New York.
You might remember that Torrealba was almost a Met a few years ago, but the deal fell through. Torrealba was not quiet about the matter, so it’s a little strange that he’s so willing to come to NY.
Still, here’s to hoping that Molina sticks to his demands of three years. $12 million is a lot of money.
Imagine if Omar Minaya was actually a Sheriff??