Free Agents

[Theoldmole]

Is Castillo a rent-a-player, or part of the Mets' future?

Why is everyone so sure LoDuca is not coming back?

Who else is probably staying, probably going?

[nymr83]

heres my guesses (from the current 25-man roster):
Staying: Felciano, Glavine, Hernandez, Maine, Perez, Schoenweis (unfortunately), Sosa, Wagner, Castillo, Delgado, Gotay, Reyes, Wright, Alou, Beltran, Milledge
Going: Heilman, Mota, Sele, Conine, Green
Don't know/Don't care: Lawrence, Alomar, Difelice, Anderson

also returning: Smith, Martinez, Burgos, Pelfrey, Castro, Easley, Chavez, Gomez, Humber,
also leaving: LoDuca, A.Hernandez, Valentin, Johnson, Newhan

[Guest Edgy DC]

2007-08 Free Agents

First Basemen
Jeff Conine
Andy Tracy

Second Basemen
Luis Castillo
Damion Easley
Jose Valentin

Shortstops
None

Third Basemen
Fernando Tatis

Catchers
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Robinson Cancel
Ramon Castro
Mike DiFelice
Paul Lo Duca
Shawn Wooten

Outfielders
Moises Alou
Shawn Green
Chad Hermanson
Ricky Ledee

[Frayed Knot]

TheOldMole wrote: Is Castillo a rent-a-player, or part of the Mets' future?

To be determined. I don't think mgmt is sold one way or the other yet.
Personally, I'm less sold on him as a long-term solution than I am simply a good fit for the situation right now. He's still the worst slugger in MLB.

]Why is everyone so sure LoDuca is not coming back?

There was that one NY Daily News article suggesting that mgmt views him with less than enamored eyes. He also isn't young, isn't cheap, and, oh yeah, isn't hitting.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He isn't healthy and isn't playing, either.

That said, I don't think truly everyone is certain.

[Elster88]

ARod at second.

[Elster88]

Edgy DC wrote: He isn't healthy and isn't playing, either. That said, I don't think truly everyone is certain.

My gut says he won't be back. Or maybe that's my hope. What say you?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think he won't be back. I'm just not certain, options being what they are.

[smg58]

The good options at both catcher and second base are very limited. Castillo is giving the Mets reasons to keep him around, but it's a limited sample. Gotay could go a lot of different directions; he could be like Wally Backman, he could be like Marlon Anderson, or he could hit .220 next year and disappear. That complicates things.

Catcher? I don't want to throw significant long-term money at an aging catcher. The only free agent catcher who's both reasonably young and reasonably accomplished is Michael Barrett, but you can't like the way his tenure with the Cubs ended. As far as trades go, the only spare catcher I can see being shopped around is Kelly Shoppach in Cleveland, but the Indians may set the price high for that reason. I might be content with bringing in somebody with a comparable resum� to Castro, and hoping that that player or Castro steps up to take the full-time job.

[Guest Edgy DC]

None of the current shortstop free agents look like obvious switchers to second at this point, so here are catchers and secondbasemen.

Guys with asterisks have an option. I'd rather talk about this in the offseason, but I'm pretty sure whoever we get to catch will be named Molina.

Second Basemen Marlon Anderson NYM Craig Biggio HOU Luis Castillo NYM Damion Easley NYM Mark Ellis * OAK Marcus Giles * SD Tony Graffanino MIL Tadahito Iguchi PHI Jeff Kent * LAD Mark Loretta HOU Kaz Matsui COL Luis Rivas CLE Jose Valentin NYM

Catchers Brad Ausmus HOU Paul Bako BAL Michael Barrett SD Gary Bennett * STL Ramon Castro NYM Wiki Gonzalez WAS Jason Kendall CHC Jason LaRue KC Paul Lo Duca NYM Damian Miller MIL Chad Moeller CIN Jose Molina NYY Josh Paul TB Jorge Posada NYY Ivan Rodriguez * DET Yorvit Torrealba COL Javier Valentin * CIN

[Willets Point]

Edgy DC wrote: I'd rather talk about this in the offseason, but I'm pretty sure whoever we get to catch will be named Molina.

As long as his middle name isn't "Fuckin'."

[duan]

Elster88 wrote: ARod at second.

i have to say, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

[Willets Point]

duan wrote: ="Elster88"]ARod at second. i have to say, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

Me three.

[Valadius]

The options at catcher look really slim. Personally, I'd prefer to get a catcher for the future. As for second base, for some weird reason I always saw Luis Castillo as our second baseman, even as far back as three years ago. However, it wouldn't hurt to platoon him with a younger guy who has power.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Unfortunately, I seriouosly doubt ARod would be for it.

I like Castillo (if the price is reasonable) over most of the others on the list of second baseman. I would be okay with Biggio, but I doubt he will be going anywhere. I could see Castillo at second base with Gotay and possibly Easley backing him up and providing bench strenghth.

At present, I'm more concerned with making the playoffs and then fielding the best possible line up for a postseason run. I'll worry about offseason maneuvers to strenghthen the 2008 roster after the Mets season comes to an end. Hopefully, that won't be until after the first of November.

[Gwreck]

Biggio is retiring at the end of this season.

Those lists are terrible. The best option may be to resign Castillo, LoDuca and Castro. (at 2 year or 1 + option contracts).

[Valadius]

I don't even know why Biggio's even listed. He's retiring at the end of the year.

And I have another idea for second base - trade for Baltimore's Brian Roberts.

[stevejrogers]

Valadius wrote: I don't even know why Biggio's even listed. He's retiring at the end of the year.

Proceedural thing since this is the last year of his contract. See Clemens, Roger offseason of 2003-04 for the same type of senario. Clemens "retired" at the end of his contract. So technically he was a free agent and could sign with anyone without the Yankees receiving compensation.

Same thing happened the last two seasons with Clemens. He signed a two year deal with the Astros, so he was a free agent in 05-06. Signed a one year deal after the deadline (or was serving a suspension if you believe that conspiracy theory) and did the same thing this past offseason.

If you retire in mid-contract and decide that you want to come back, you have to return to the team you are signed to. Otherwise an agreement must be reached where you are released or traded.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He's listed because he's listed.

He probably makes no less sense than Alex Rodriguez, expecially since we're talking about getting Rodriguez to play second without even speculating what the cost would be.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Edgy - "He probably makes no less sense than Alex Rodriguez, expecially since we're talking about getting Rodriguez to play second without even speculating what the cost would be."

Yup�

[Guest User 362]

TheOldMole wrote: Is Castillo a rent-a-player, or part of the Mets' future?

I'd be surprised if the Mets don't try to re-sign him; however, the Mets have surprised me before.

Howard

[duan]

Rockin' Doc wrote: Edgy - "He probably makes no less sense than Alex Rodriguez, expecially since we're talking about getting Rodriguez to play second without even speculating what the cost would be." Yup�

125-150 million for 5 years, is my bet.

Only issue is could he play second but I'd be of the opinion that he can do pretty much whatever he wants on the field to a very high level. I could be proved wrong about that and i've no idea whether he'd be up for the challenge.

i'd still like to 'explore the concept' rather then signing Luis Castillo to a 4 year 40 million heap of shit.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Luis Castillo is more likely to get two years, 10.5-13, I think.

The likelier move with A-Rod would be to sign him to play third and move Wright to a corner outfield spot.

[duan]

i don't think they'll push David Wright to the outfield; he's a decent enough defensive pair of hands and they're committed to him for the long term. If Alex Roderiguez is coming here (which is probably a 1 in 10,000 kinda chance) I'd hope that it'd be for 2nd base and nothing else.

I'm just terribly frightened that we're going to get locked into an aging and decaying castillo, who only has 20 XBH on an up year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]i don't think they'll push David Wright to the outfield

I don't think he's coming here under any circumstances.

They didn't offer Castillo four years three years ago, so I doubt they're going to go crazy now.