2008 contract status

[Vic Sage]

can somebody tell me where to find the 2008 contract status for each guy on the Mets 40-man roster?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Cot's baseball contracts.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/

[Frayed Knot]

Hitting the main players:

C: Both Castro & LoDuca are FAs

1B: Delgado signed at major money for 2008 only, NO no-trade status

2B: Castillo, Valentin, Easley & Marlon are all FAs. Gotay is under team control

OF: Alou = team option; Green = Team Option already declined

Reyes, Wright & Beltran are, of course, signed long term. Beltran has no-trade


Pitchers:
- Glavine = Player option
- Martinez & Wagner signed, both have no trades
- Maine, Oliver, Pelfrey, Humber, Heilman, Smith, Sanchez, Feliciano all under team control. Heilman & Oliver arbitration eligible, probably Feliciano & Sanchez as well.
- Mota & Schoeneweis signed

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Mets still have the option to buy out on Glavine, correct?

[Gwreck]

I believe it works as such:

1. Glavine says "yes" to the option.

2. The Mets then either say yes and pay $13M or say no and pay $3 million as a buyout.

Of course, Glavine could just say "no" to the option and walk away (to retire or sign with Atlanta).

[Frayed Knot]

Not without his say so I don't believe.

His deal was essentially $10.5 for one year (7.5 now + 3 later) or $16.5 over two (plus various escalators based on IPs in '07) - his choice. The buyout simply exists to bring up the '07 salary if he goes and there's no 2nd year to spread it out over.

His last two deals here (after the initial one) have had a kind of gentlemen's agreement feel to them, that if he and the Wilpons agree to still want each other then the numbers are already set.
But if he's intent on coming back I don't know that they can legally stop him.

[Valadius]

Quote from Moises Alou: "I don't want to go anywhere else."

He's staying put.

[smg58]

I'm OK with Moises. He's the one player you can't really blame for the last three weeks. Plus the Mets have depth in the outfield.

[Frayed Knot]

Well Alou's option is with the club so unless Omar & co. decide to cut him loose Moises doesn't have the option of going anywhere unless it's into retirement.
So if he plays he'll play here and at an already agreed upon dollar figure.

[Vic Sage]

So, roster for `08 (based on current contracts):

[u:7851d4974e]Line-up:[/u:7851d4974e]
SS - Reyes
2b - _____
3b - Wright
Cf - Beltran
Lf - Alou (*)
1b - Delgado
Rf - Milledge
C - _____

[u:7851d4974e]Bench:[/u:7851d4974e]
Gotay (If)
Gomez (Rh-of)
_____ ©
_____ (Lh-Of)
_____ (Rh - CI)
_____ (UT)

[u:7851d4974e]SP:[/u:7851d4974e]
1- ______
2- Pedro
3- Glavine (**)
4- Maine
5- Oliver

[u:7851d4974e]Bullpen:[/u:7851d4974e]
Wagner
Heilman
Feliciano
Mota
Schoenweise
Sanchez

* = team option
** = Player option

Basically, what this suggests is that, if there is going to be any significant turnover, the Mets are going to have move or swallow some contracts, especially in the pen.

I'd hope that they'd not re-sign Castillo or LoDuca, or any other expensive replacements, and save the money for a frontline starter. Are there any good FA pitchers going to be available this winter? If not, its time to make a deal, with anybody other than Wright made available.

[metirish]

Found this, not sure how accurate it is but it looks to be OK.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/03/2008_mlb_free_a.html

[Benjamin Grimm]

="MLB Trade Rumors"]Middle relievers Jeremy Affeldt (29) Antonio Alfonseca (36) LaTroy Hawkins (35) Jorge Julio (29) Joe Kennedy (29) Scott Linebrink (31) Troy Percival (39) David Riske (31) - $2.85MM club option for '08 Russ Springer (39) Julian Tavarez (35) - $3.85MM club option for '08 Mike Timlin (42) Luis Vizcaino (31) Kerry Wood (31)

Weren't the Mets fairly recently coveting Linebrink?

[metirish]

Last season I think they nearly had him then the Padres decided they wanted to keep him, I think.

[Valadius]

Linebrink had a stellar '05: 1.83 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 70 K, 23 BB in 73.2 IP. He's been good, but not amazing, the last two years. This year he had a 3.71 ERA, 50 K, 25 BB in 70.1 IP.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That sounds awfully good to me.

Let's get Linebrink.

Who else?

[Gwreck]

="Vic Sage"]So, roster for `08 (based on current contracts):

You don't have El Duque in your projection.

Current contracts call for a rotation of Martinez, Hernandez, Maine, Perez and Pelfrey. If Glavine returns, he would presumably push out Hernandez or Pelfrey.

]Basically, what this suggests is that, if there is going to be any significant turnover, the Mets are going to have move or swallow some contracts, especially in the pen.

The only contrats in the 'pen are Wagner, Schoeneweis and Mota. Of those three, I suppose we could eat Mota's contract and ship him off for a minor leaguer. But there's plenty of room for turnover if wanted.

]I'd hope that they'd not re-sign Castillo or LoDuca, or any other expensive replacements, and save the money for a frontline starter. Are there any good FA pitchers going to be available this winter?

No.

Look at the list for yourself here.

Just like last year, there are no "frontline" starters to be acquiried via free agency. There's a reason Barry Zito (11-13, 4.53 ERA this year) got the money he did.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Here's the list of starters from mlbtraderumors.com:

]Starting pitchers Tony Armas (30) - $5MM mutual option for '08 Kris Benson (33) - $7.5MM club option for '08 Paul Byrd (37) - $8MM club option for '08 Shawn Chacon (30) Roger Clemens (46) Matt Clement (33) Bartolo Colon (35) Josh Fogg (31) Casey Fossum (30) Freddy Garcia (32) Tom Glavine (42) - $9MM player option for '08 Livan Hernandez (33)* Jason Jennings (29) Joe Kennedy (29) Byung-Hyun Kim (29) Brian Lawrence (32) Jon Lieber (38) Kyle Lohse (29) Rodrigo Lopez (32) Greg Maddux (42) - $8.75MM player option or $11MM club option for '08 Eric Milton (32) Tomo Ohka (32) Russ Ortiz (34) Odalis Perez (31) - $9MM club option for '08 Andy Pettitte (36) - $16MM player option for '08 Joel Pineiro (29) Kenny Rogers (43) Curt Schilling (41) Carlos Silva (29) Julian Tavarez (35) - $3.85MM club option for '08 John Thomson (34) Brett Tomko (35) - $4.5MM mutual option for '08 Steve Trachsel (37) - $4.75MM club option for '08 Koji Uehara (33) Jeff Weaver (31) David Wells (45) Kip Wells (31) Randy Wolf (31) - $9MM club option for '08 Jamey Wright (34) Jaret Wright (32)

Joel Pineiro... I had never heard of him until Thursday and now I'm going to have a hard time forgetting his name. (I'm in my 40's, though. I'll manage.)

[Valadius]

I wonder how many of the Benson Bunch are free agents again this year.

[Vic Sage]

Of the FA starting pitchers on that list, there are no guys i'd break the bank to sign. However, we should show some mild interest in a few of them and see where they end up, including:

Freddy Garcia (32)
Jason Jennings (29)
Joel Pineiro (29)
Randy Wolf (31)

These are some guys coming off injuries, but who have shown excellent arms with high ceilings.

But it looks like the only way we're getting a front-line starter will be through a trade.

[Guest attgig]

Linebrink's had great 05 and 06, but this year was marginal at best. that's why the pads traded him away. and he proceeded to give up games for milwakee.

he seemed to have gotten it back together by september, but he was atrocious before he left SD and after he got to milawkee

[Gwreck]

Vic Sage wrote: But it looks like the only way we're getting a front-line starter will be through a trade.

...if at all. I don't see it happening.

[Guest attgig]

i'm worried about the catchers... in the free agent list...

honestly... loduca/castro might not be horrible options for 2 year contracts.

either that or...
barrett (as long as he doesn't get into fights)
torrealba (?? don't know much about him)
Posada (he's old...would he ever come over?)

and there's always piazza....

[Guest attgig]

Gwreck wrote: ="Vic Sage"]But it looks like the only way we're getting a front-line starter will be through a trade. ...if at all. I don't see it happening.

we could always give up the farm and get santana at the trade deadline, and sign him to 100 mil.

[smg58]

Jeremy Affeldt (29)
Strictly a LOOGY, and a wild one at that. Pass.

Antonio Alfonseca (36)
Ugly numbers this year.

LaTroy Hawkins (35)
Respectable numbers for Colorado, but has a history of not cutting it in high-leverage situations. He did give them a scoreless inning yesterday though. Might take a flier on him if he impresses in the postseason and he doesn't ask for much.

Jorge Julio (29)
The talent is there. The results aren't.

Joe Kennedy (29)
Has a bit more to recommend him than Affeldt, but not much.

Scott Linebrink (31)
Decent, but not better than Heilman. Back-of-the-pen guy on a good team. I'd ask about him, but I'm guessing the price will be high relative to his real value.

Troy Percival (39)
Pitched REALLY well when he came back. Not for a big commitment obviously, but worth a look. In hindsight, he was worth a look this year too.

David Riske (31) - $2.85MM club option for '08
His peripherals suggest his 2.45 ERA was a bit fluky, but he's put up pretty good numbers over several years for a guy who's been moved around often. His option is worth picking up, though, so I wouldn't expect him to leave the Royals.

Russ Springer (39)
Outstanding year. Great WHIPs (1.19, 1.04, and 0.91) his last three seasons. Yes his age makes him a bit dicey, but the guy can pitch.

Julian Tavarez (35) - $3.85MM club option for '08
Can't see that option being picked up. Nothing to recommend.

Mike Timlin (42)
Another old guy who can still pitch. Of course I'd prefer youth, but so far the three best options were born in the sixties.

Luis Vizcaino (31)
Might have comparable worth to Linebrink for a lower price. Not a savior by any means, but he could be a bargain (and a significant upgrade over Sele or Mota).

Kerry Wood (31)
The X-factor. A decent return that he could build on. I'd be worried about paying extra for the name, but everybody knows the upside.

[smg58]

Gwreck wrote: ="Vic Sage"]But it looks like the only way we're getting a front-line starter will be through a trade. ...if at all. I don't see it happening.

The price for "name" starters is really high. The fact is the Mets were better off avoiding all of the big-name starters who were signed or traded this past year, except maybe Matsuzaka -- and even he was awfully expensive for "pretty good." Pelfrey should be more ready this time around, and the other four guys look set. (I look at El Duque the way I look at Alou; he's good when he plays.)

[smg58]

attgig wrote: i'm worried about the catchers... in the free agent list... honestly... loduca/castro might not be horrible options for 2 year contracts. either that or... barrett (as long as he doesn't get into fights) torrealba (?? don't know much about him) Posada (he's old...would he ever come over?) and there's always piazza....

Catcher and second base are extremely thin positions around the league right now. LoDuca's at the age where catchers often decline precipitously, and aside from a decent spurt in September he really wasn't good this year. The Padres didn't seem to benefit from Barrett's presence, while the Cubs played their best baseball after he left. Maybe it's a coincidence, but there's a limit to what I'd gamble on that possibility. I'd try to pair up Castro with a similar backup that has upside (maybe dealing for Kelly Shoppach?), and hope one of them takes a step forward.

[metsmarathon]

dare we enter next year with ruben gotay as our primary second baseman?

[TransMonk]

metsmarathon wrote: dare we enter next year with ruben gotay as our primary second baseman?

No.

[TransMonk]

As for catcher, I wouldn't mind having both LoDuca and Castro back. I've warmed up to Castro filling in more than he has as well. I would imagine Castro would be pretty easy to lock up.

I would be uncomfortable with Castro as the primary catcher just due to his history of injuries. If Paulie isn't on the team next year, I would want a young, defensive backstop that could split time with Ramon.

[smg58]

metsmarathon wrote: dare we enter next year with ruben gotay as our primary second baseman?

Not against lefties. We might be able to find a serviceable right-handed complement fairly cheaply, though. Other than Castillo, I really don't know what the better options are.