Mets Sign Wagner

[Centerfield]

Fantastic 62.

[Guest cooby]

Nice!

[Frayed Knot]

]Couldn't we have waited two weeks to sign him?

Once you decide you want someone you don't go stalling for 2 weeks with nothing but hope that he'll still be available.
Also, since Philly was apparently willing to go for 3 years at major money in a FA deal, shirley they would have offered BW arbitration. There'd be no downside to not doing so.

So Philly gets our (#18?) draft pick.
Maybe we offer arb to Looper and get one back if he signs elsewhere.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

It's a good time to be a Mets fan. Hell, it's always a good time to be a Mets fan, but these are really good times at present.

I wonder what Bret thinks of the dillusional, cheap ass Mets right now. The Red Sox let Pedro and Lowe leave last year and now they are looking to dump Manny's bat (and salary). Seems the roles may have reversed since Bret's change in allegiance.

[Elster88]

The Mets could've picked Manny up two years ago off unconditional waivers and not given up players! And gotten two more of his peak years!! But they were too cheap to do it at the time and too stupid to realize they should get him as young as possible!!! Manny's going to pull a Sammy Sosa.

Wagner? Another aging veteran past his prime with a well known name. Wilpon's old trick to keep the stands full. All they had to do was roll up their sleeves and offer a little more money and they could've gotten a younger guy who is just as good and will only improve. Another example of both stupidity and tight pursestrings. How does it feel to get beaten out by a franchise that is a punching bag for my beloved Red Sox?

Haha, nice job getting Delgado for the same money as they could've gotten him for last year without giving up a rookie who had one of the best first two months in history.

How'd that Beltran deal work out?

[curiously neglects commenting on Pedro]

[Elster88]

Actually those are all halfway decent arguments.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Yeah, we're going to need some results before we can claim the high ground. There's no question that we've made mistakes the last few years (Guerrero, Manny, Zambrano, etc.) but it's looking more and more like the Mets are Omar's team and the early results from him are pretty decent.

No one could have predicted Beltran's decline last season, and if he'd been his usual self, we would've had a decent shot at making the playoffs.

His only real black eye is not overwhelming Delgado last season, then turning around and trading our 2nd best prospect for him and his bloated contract. Frankly, I think we could've had Delgado for less, but even at that cost, it's a decent trade.

And now he's built what's likely to be one of the best offenses in the NL and added the missing piece to our bullpen. Combine that with one of the deepest rotations in baseball, and we're already favored to reach the playoffs in 2006.

Now the question becomes, how will our team execute? And if we do well, will we be able to sustain it?

[Guest HappyRecap]

I hate these multi-year deals given to older players (like Delgado) but I think Wagner has something left in his tank.

My guess is that he'll be solid for two years and then the wheels will come off. What they do then is anyone's guess.

Wagner seems to give up as many HRs as Looper does but with a few less walks. So maybe we don't have to sit through these painful-like-pulling-a-bandaid-off-slowly ninth innings that Looper subjected us to.

HAPPY RECAP

[Guest abogdan]

I don't like the Wagner deal at all. Too much money over too many years for a 35 year old player who will only pitch one inning every other day. I don't like paying big money to closers, especially through their age 38 season, especially when you have someone like Aaron Heilman on your roster who was hugely succesful in a relief role last year and makes nothing. This move marginally improves the team's chances of winning in 2006 but That $24 million owed from 2008-9 looks like it could be a big obstacle in the way of the Mets being competitive if Wagner's production drops off even slightly.

My preference would have been to give Heilman a shot at closing or to sign Trevor Hoffman to a 1-2 year deal if the team really doesn't want to give Heilman that role.

[Elster88]

I disagree. The difference may be marginal in the regular season for an average team. A good bullpen with a solid anchor is what you need to get over the hump, and beat out the better teams in pennant races and playoff series. Delgado and the deep staff put the Mets on the hump, Wagner plus Heilman in the pen put the Mets over it.

Remove Rivera and how many WS do the Yanks win? Not that Wagner is Rivera, but you see what I mean.

[Guest HappyRecap]

He's proven that he can't close but he had success as a set-up man in FLA.

It also seemed that he could handle the pressure thoughout his lack of success. I would have no problems giving him a shot as a set-up man since he'll come cheap off of his recent shoulder surgery. And if we find that it wasn't the shoulder that kept him from pitching well, then dump him.

Has Heilman been written off as a starter? It's what the guy was for his whole career in the minors and in college. And his last few starts for the Mets were solid. He doesn't have over-powering stuff so let's get him on the hill in the first inning and see what he can do.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Who has proven that he can't close? Looper?

If that's your conclusion, I think that it's a little broad and hasty. There's a lot of gray in this game.

[Elster88]

Press conference at 3.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Press conference at 3:00.

My husband is going to get jealous if Omar continues sending me so much e-mail

OE - Damn - I would have beaten Elster if I hadn't tried to be funny.

[Guest Edgy DC]

See if you can (a) get me a shot of Sarah, and ( find out what Virginia community his alpaca farm is located in.

[Willets Point]

Now that you mention it, there's someone who raises alpacas near my Mom's house, although I doubt Wagner lives there.

[Zvon]

Elster88 wrote: Not that Wagner is Rivera, but you see what I mean.

Not that this ia an accurate measureing stick, but Wagners makin more $$$ than Rivera. Look what BJ Ryan ended up getting......$47 million over 5 yrs.

As far as Im concerned, this off seasons gonna end with the NY METS the best and most exciting baseball team in NYC.
Are they payin Wags too much?
For too long?
Of course they are!
Alls I know is he's now a Met. We have addressed 2 of our biggest questionmarks (1b & closr), and in style.If theres a down side Ill complain when we get there.

And the Philllies were set to contact Wagner yesterday at 4pm to increase the money, but at 3:15 they received a call from Wags agent with his decision to go with the Mets.
I LOVE IT!

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've been listening to two radio blowhards for half an hour. Get Wagner's makeup on and go to it.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Sarah is NOT at the press conference.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Here we go! A Bean Stringfellow reference!

Sarah's not in the house.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Marion, VA.

Wagner is wearing 13.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ron Hodges was in on this!?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Valerie Wilpon, Jeff's wife, also gets her propers.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: Ron Hodges was in on this!?

Huh?

What?

Really?

Explain!

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Edgy DC wrote: Valerie Wilpon, Jeff's wife, also gets her propers.

As does Chrissie Glavine

[Guest Edgy DC]

Asked about BJ Ryan:

"I don't watch much TV, and, you know, if I do, it usually has something to do with my other business."

There's TV programming about alpaca farming?

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

That was quick.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Huh? What? Really? Explain!

I don't quite get it, but I think Ronnie lives in Virginia and gave Wags a positive picture of New York. I'm afriad I may be conflating that account with another somebody that Omar was discussing. I'm trying to look like I'm working here.

Wouldn't it be nice to be Ron Hodges?

[Guest SI Metman]

Edgy DC wrote: Asked about BJ Ryan: "I don't watch much TV, and, you know, if I do, it usually has something to do with my other business." There's TV programming about alpaca farming?

lol, it's funny because the person who asked that was Joe Mac (owner of MOFO)

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Here he is -