Hot Stove 2008-2009

Of all the crazy things , I guess they won the bidding war again.

So the Yanx had themselves a 1/4 Billion dollar week.
Or, as they say in the Bronx, a good starting point.

Here's hoping Burnett is even a bigger bust than Pavano. He's apparently a bigger idiot, and already a bigger injury risk.

The non-tenders are headed rather shockingly by ex-Met Ty Wigginton, after a very strong year with the bat. He's not that good defensively in the infield, but I have to think it had more to do with money. I also can't imagine that none of the teams in the market for a third baseman (the Twins, the Indians, the Giants) wouldn't have given him a look. I've always thought Ty could be the 10th man on a good team, and the Mets have room for him (as primarily an outfielder), but somebody might still pay him a starter's salary.

Other noteworthy non-tenders include Chris Capuano (still recovering from TJS but might be worth a long-term look) and Takaishi Saito (his worth depends entirely on the status of his elbow).

The only Met I saw was Argenis Reyes. If that's it, that would mean that Stokes (a good move) and Robinson Cancel (a bit surprising, unless they know they can move one of the other catchers) are staying on the 40.

i would LOVE to bring Wiggy back as a bench player, he has the pop that this bench needs and can play 2B/3B when needed (though not necessarily well)

I'm a lot happier with Ibanez in Philly than as a Met, especially at 3 years.

Keith Law calls it "absurd[/url:20pumd9t]."

What about Burrell for an everyday LF and Jon Garland as an SP?

Edgy DC
Dec 14 2008 07:37 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 14 2008 07:48 PM

="Valadius":2u4mpb0q]I'd plug Wiggy into Easley's spot in a heartbeat.[/quote:2u4mpb0q]
We'll be competing to buy him as a super-sub against teams looking for a starting thirdbaseman. You'd probably have to be thinking of him as your starting secondbaseman when you sign him.

Aaron Miles, meanwhile got non-tendered.

Besides Easley's role also included backing up Reyes at SS and Wiggy is an unrealistic option there.

Miles plays everywhere, shortstop (and mopup pitcher) included. He's pretty similar from both sides of the plate. He can take lefties away from Castillo (against whom Luis is historically weaker), pressing him for the full-time job, backup at shortstop, and fill in elsewhere as needed.

He's pretty analogous to Super Joe, with a little more average and a little less power, but has more starting experience and is less likely to be over-exposed by over-use.

Miles would come cheap and would be a rich mans superjoe

I'd prefer Wiggy cause he can play anything..maybe even left or RF when Murphy or Church have problems

Don't we need to focus on a full-time outfielder? Relying on Church & Murphy for 150 games seems a stretch.

I'd love Burrell..surly as he is and as far as a SP goes..wait til Most of The A pitchers go and go after Sheets or Garland.

Miles is another player who would be an upgrade over Castillo. He has similar hitting numbers to Castillo from a few years ago. He's also at least average with the glove, which Castillo can no longer say. He'd be worth bringing in for something like two years and $5M, although I might go higher than that if there are no other viable 2B options. He's not Orlando Hudson, but he could present significant value.

I'd be willing to go 2 years and $6M for Wigginton's services, even if I could only guarantee him starts against lefties (in the outfield). Somebody like him or Juan Rivera would boost our bench, enable us to platoon Ryan Church, and provide cover if something goes wrong with Murphy, Church, or Delgado. I'm not sure that would be enough, but nobody jumped at the chance to trade for him.

Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.

="Edgy DC":1omuczeq]Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.[/quote:1omuczeq]

I agree.
B'sides, if the Mets sign Cora, we might be subjected to pictures of him with his brother.
I'd get flashbacks of images of Joe Torre and his sister.
Hide the eyes of the chill'uns.

Miles gets my vote.

Later

Righthander Chan Ho Park said in a press conference in Seoul today that he has agreed to a 1-year contract with the Phillies.
According to the Korea Times, Park, 35, will have a base salary of $2.5 million with incentives that could push the total package to $5 million.
There had been reports that the Phillies were close to coming to terms with Park to improve their bullpen. However, the pitcher said he opted for the Phillies in part because they viewed him as a starter.

�I was a little worried about the Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly,� he said. "But as they considered me a starter, I signed with Philadelphia.�

http://www.philly.com/philly/b...l_for_Park.html

Later

The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.

It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."

="Centerfield":38yhgguz]It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."[/quote:38yhgguz]

I love you, Man. Your posts always make me laugh.

="Frayed Knot":uz2je510]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:uz2je510]

Go, Theo, go.

Phils re-up 95 y/o Jamie Moyer for 2 years.

OK, he's really only 46.

="Frayed Knot":2wijd3xl]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

Go, Theo, go.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

I would not be surprised if Houston was the team not being mentioned. He pitched well down there for them and they don't have a whole lot of starting pitching depth after Oswalt.

I'm OK with Pedro. I said it.

Just, you know, sign a bunch of other guys also.

I have no problem with Petey in the #5 slot to start the season. I'm more worried with the durability of Maine and whether the other teams catch up with Pelfry's stuff.

Any day the Phils resign Jamie Moyer and add Chan Ho Park is a good day for us!

The Phils trying to get two more years out of an ancient lefty strikes me as one more good reason for us to Burrell up.

Knucksie in Dixie:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/18/SPMQ14QQMI.DTL

Never made any sense to me that Lance Neikro wasn't a knuckleballer to begin with. IIRC, he had a big hit vs. the Mets (was it a game-winning HR or something?) when he first came up with the Giants and I naturally assumed he was on his way to major stardom.

Fireballer Daniel Cabrera goes to the Nats, 1 year, 2.6 million.

="Valadius":2pz740g9]Ha, good luck with that. Guy's a head case.[/quote:2pz740g9]

I think people were saying that about Ollie Perez before the Pirates sent him to us. Talented, strikeout pitcher, control issues, high ERA, etc.

OK, now both the Angels and the Red Sox say they're not going after Texiera anymore. Has Boras finall pushed people over the edge, or is this all just negotiating ploys?

The Angels are claiming that their offer is "off the table" and that there'll be no further negotiating - which at least doesn't sound like a ploy.
Boston, for its part, isn't claiming that, only that they think they're not going to be his choice due to other teams raising their offers beyond where they're willing to go.

That leaves Teixeira in the position of either taking Boston's "low" offer or going the Baltimore/Washington route which kind of flies in the face of his 'I wanna be a contendah' pledge.

Supposedly this was going to be wrapped up by Xmas but it wouldn't be the first time Boras has over-played his hand.

There's still Baltimore and Washington. Boras isn't quite out of options yet.

Speaking of Boras...

Murray Chass
MurrayChass.com

Now that CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have signed, other pitchers on the
free-agent list are expected to follow. Derek Lowe is probably next on the
list in terms of interest, but the interest has been all talk and no offers.
His agent's asking price is said to be the reason.

Scott Boras has told clubs he wants Barry Zito money for the 35-year-old
Lowe, which means $18 million a year. Clubs interested in Lowe have not
rushed forward with such offers. The slow-moving market may be just what the Mets want.

...Barry Zito isn't worth Barry Zito money. But Derek Lowe? Is he nuts?

Edgy DC
Dec 22 2008 01:44 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 22 2008 02:20 PM

I'm not sure I'd support the Mets spending $18 million a year for two Derek Lowes.

The MOST I'd spend on Derek Lowe is $8 million a year. $18 million is beyond rationality.

Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.

="Willets Point":2bf2t6s1]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:2bf2t6s1]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later

Guys who can consistently give you 200+ IP with 15 wins and a sub-4 ERA are worth plenty more than 8 million.

I wouldn't go four years with Lowe, on account of his age, but I'd much rather have him than Ollie.

="Willets Point":3rvs0psj]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:3rvs0psj]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later[/quote:3rvs0psj]

Just a joke about Lowe's rumored love of the drink.

Randy Johnson will pursue his 300th win as a San Francisco Giant.

he could it be cutting it close with the type of run support the giants give their starters. he needs 5 wins, it took Matt Cain all year to get 8 wins for the Giants with an ERA+ the same as Johnson's last year.

'Randy Johnson is a Giant' is somewhat of a redundant headline. He's probably been called that since he was in the 4th grade.

On the other hand, there must have been plenty in in the Castro district of SF who were excited to hear that someone called 'The Big Unit' was coming to their city.

FK with a late entry for post o' the year.

The Giants have had a nice offseason (Renteria, Affeldt, Howry, Johnson) and if local rumors of them adding Adam Dunn are correct, they could be players in a weak West.

I agree. You can definitely quibble with the wisdom of a team's particular moves but I like to see franchises who've had bad years making a bunch of moves in the offseason, whether they are effective or not.

Like the Giants... and the MFYs...

X-Rockie, X-Astro OFer Wily Tavarez signs a two-year deal with Cincy.
He's good at stealing bases and also .... ummmm, I'll think of something.

And Kevin Mensch heads for Japan.
The Japanese just might get a look at his monsterously huge head and add a second rising sun to their flag.
I think that thing has its own gravitational pull.

Penny for your Sox ...

Brad Penny to Boston for 1 yr/$5mil -- pending a physical which could yet throw a wrench into the works.

As mentioned elsewhere, this could keep them from chasing the likes of Lowe, Wolf, Ollie, etc. thus reducing the demand pool by one more team.

This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

The Cubs sign Aaron Miles for two years, then trade DeRosa to the Indians for three low level (not even top 20) prospects. At least it's not the Phillies, but that's one mild upgrade over Castillo and one significant upgrade who found takers at prices we could have afforded.

Cubs 2B Mark DeRosa - long rumored as part of a Jake Peavy trade - dealt to Cleveland for a trio of minor league pitchers.

Fuentes got two years at $17.5M, plus a club option. Rotoworld says "Fuentes almost certainly took less money to play close to home," but I'm not sure who was competing with the Angels.

Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day!

="Frayed Knot":1xejc7ja]Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day![/quote:1xejc7ja]

Better news- nobody really cares about him anymore, including it seems the GMs of all 30 teams.

Watching MLB Network Hot Stove and they are reporting that San Francisco have offered Manny Ramirez a four year deal.

Dodgers and A Jones have agreed to defer most of his money owed likely leading to him playing elsewhere.

Scott Proctor to the Marlins for one year.

="Benjamin Grimm":2ytj1poh]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.[/quote:2ytj1poh]

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

="Ashie62":hblnrkgs]Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker[/quote:hblnrkgs]

i don't believe that for a second.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

Maybe the three closer thing is the way to go after the last two seasons.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

True..my impatience caused me to jump over Krod & Putz KP DOOTY...I'm just frustrated that the odds of landing a power corner and a decent SP , Sheets, Garland, Lowe..are diminishing and pray the Mets are not newly cash short

Burrell has a rep for being a prick but if the Rays can land him at 16 million for 2 years I then wonder why the Mets wouldn't top that and not have to expect 150 games from Murphy and even let Murphy learn 2B at AAA as an experiment.

The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.

="smg58":1gnuo0ct]The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.[/quote:1gnuo0ct]
Can't wait to see him go head-to-head with Pinella.
Later

And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.

="smg58":162h2ehz]And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.[/quote:162h2ehz]

Makes ya crazy. Geez. I mean, about Hairston.

Maybe Hairston gets a chance to start in Cincy and couldn't be sure of that here.
Never did even hear a rumor of them looking at him though.

Also:

- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino

Andy Pettitte turns down one year and $10 million from the Yanks in a declining market.

Yomiuri Giant Koji Uehara signs with Bal'more for two years.

Reports say that he's the team's first Japanese player, but they forget Nippo-Hawaiian Len Sakata.

="Frayed Knot":2gsb44fr]- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino[/quote:2gsb44fr]

I'll laugh if Pavano gives the Indians 27 starts (i.e., more starts than he gave the MFY's in four years).

The Marquis deal appears to leave Jorge de la Rosa out of the rotation in Colorado. I'd see what the asking price for him is; he finished very strongly last year, and he's at least as good as Tim Redding.

="Centerfield":biqnwx39]Len was American.[/quote:biqnwx39]
As I said.

From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly

="Frayed Knot":3hnipcdi]From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly[/quote:3hnipcdi]
Pure insurance with Utley out for the early part of the year due to surgery.
Later

From MetsBlog

Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press believes the Mets have made an offer to free-agent RHP Tim Redding, who was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season

I'll give Redding this: with one inning and six runs, he may be the worst performing Yankee ever.

If Rocco Baldelli can be reasonably healthy, he could be a great pick up for the Red Sox. I hope he is healthy and has a great season for the Sox.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3gx2svou]Bocco Radelli to the Sed Rox.[/quote:3gx2svou]

And quite possibly Smoltz too!
Not official yet but several outlets are reporting it's 'bout a done deal.
I guess they're promising him a starting job - don't think he would have jumped otherwise.

Other reports have Trevor Hoffman going to the Brews ... although this is only one day after others had him headed to the Dodgers.

Sort of a homecoming for Smoltz. Didn't he start his career with the Braves when they were still playing in Boston?

No, the Tigers. Anywhoo, oughta soitenly remove Boston from the list of potential Lowe suitors (and cause me some concern too: Why don't any of Lowe's former employers want him back?)

The additions of Smoltz and Brad Penny probably take the Sox out of the discussions for Derek Lowe.

Assuming Baldelli gets something like what Hairston got, I'd be a little annoyed that we didn't give him a look. We do need another righthanded bat.

Yeah, I was half-hoping for Baldelli too.
He's not a great player and has played fewer games in the last two seasons than Alou had in the two before we got him. But if this problem of his has finally been diagnosed correctly he could be a useful guy to have around.

But Omar seems to be on this 'one problem at a time' schedule where nothing can even be talked about until the starter question is answered.

I almost did too because I sometimes confuse the Smoltz trade with the Bagwell one from Boston. The Smoltz from Detroit for Denny Alexander trade happened around the same era as Bagwell for Larry Anderson.
Both were done for pennant push help and in each case the minor leaguers were home-town guys (Smoltz is from Mich, Bags from Conn) who turned into HoF possibilities.

Doyle Alexander.

Now Denny McLain or somebody is getting into the conflation.

Looking at a potential nightmare with outfield defense the MFY's are apparently looking to trade Swisher and Nady.

Yankees fielding offers for Nady, Swisher

Posted by: Jon Heyman

The Yankees are fielding trade offers for corner outfielders Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. There's been some speculation they might consider trading Hideki Matsui, too, but he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off knee surgery, so there's really no way to trade him.

A logjam at the corners was created when the Yankees surprised a lot of folks and signed Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million contract. Swisher previously had been penciled in as the Yankees' first baseman but now becomes part of a crowded mix of accomplished corner outfielders. Swisher is a versatile player and can play some center field, as well. Some National League teams may be interested. However, Nady's trade value is higher after a better offensive season, so he may be just as likely to be dealt. Nady, acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade with the Pirates, combined to hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBIs for the year, while Swisher finished at .219 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs for the White Sox before being dealt to the Yankees after the season

i'd sure take Nady back, to split time with Church, Murphy and Delgado. But no way the Yanx trade him cross town.

You leave Tatis out of that mix.

Nady gives you what Tatis gives you, only more and probably better and definitely younger. Tatis' only advantage is playing third.

I'd love a Nady around because I think the best way to get something like last year's productivity out of Tatis is to make him earn every at-bat.

Maybe Murphy will do that, but I'm not counting on it.

What's going down, and I think a lot of us feel it, is that a lot of things went kind of right in Omar's offense that could have easily gone wronger, and he's kind of seeming to kind of be counting on a lot of those same thingies to go right again.

Fans be pessemistic creatures, of course.

Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.

="Vic Sage":37m9y64n]Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.[/quote:37m9y64n]

and you have a wild card at 1b, so it's not even half a lineup.
nobody has faith in schnied to produce offensively, and while castro COULD provide some pop, he just gets hurt too often (he must be the worst backup catcher in the league).
2b, nobody has faith in castillo, except he's saying all the right things.
and Church... will his head be screwed on straight?

it'll be an interesting few more weeks before spring training.

I agree with Vic, including about left field, but I'd be okay with giving Murphy/Tatis a chance to shine again. But in doing that, you have to protect yourself by beefing up some of the other positions. And as yet, the Mets haven't done anything towards that end.

Ramon Castro, not the worst backup catcher in the league.

Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady

BY KEN DAVIDOFF | ken.davidoff@newsday.com
January 9, 2009
In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.

General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady. With spring training more than a month away and the season opener just about three months away, however, there is no imperative to execute a quick trade.

The Mets enjoyed having Nady on their club for the first four months of the 2006 season, and they inquired about him last July, when the Yankees wound up getting him from Pittsburgh. For now, however, the Mets are focused on their starting rotation and are not looking to acquire a bat either through free agency or through a trade.

Frayed Knot
Jan 09 2009 01:54 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 09 2009 02:02 PM

Swisher switch-hits, and is better and more versatile defensively.
He's also signed for the next few years which could be either good or bad depending on whether he regains his hitting from last season's off year.

Nady is more likely to hit better (though walk less) and would only be for one year at a price to be determined by arbitration then would be a FA after that.

If we weren't already loaded with lefthanded hitting outfielders, I'd take Godzilla as a LH bench masher in the Franco/Staub mold.

As long as the Cranks would pay 90% of the freight and expect nothing back in return, sure.

(OK, maybe 70% with a throw-in going the other way would do)

I feel safe to say Tatis has had his middle aged career year..I wouldn't put too high a ceiling there.

Daniel Murphy needs more seasoning and I still advocate a year at AAA to learn 2B

Mr. Nady..wasn't he a Met who know has Yankee cooties?

Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

="metirish"]Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

Pedro really looked spent in 2008, after having a respectable September prior. I don't think he has much in the tank and I would not miss all the drama.

Marlins not interested in signing Pedro
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Don't look for Pedro Martinez to wind up with the Marlins.
A day after a report stated the Marlins were in the mix for the 37-year-old right-hander, a league source confirmed to MLB.com on Sunday that Florida has zero interest. Reports in the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and SunSentinel also ruled out the possibility of Martinez joining the club.

On Saturday night, a report on ESPNdeportes.com stated the Marlins had discussions with agent Fernando Cuza regarding Martinez. The report added Florida may have begun preliminary contract talks, and that the two sides were expected to continue talking this week.

As of late Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were not considered a possible fit.

Martinez has a home in Miami, and he has expressed privately a desire to pitch for the Marlins. On Monday, Cuza is expected to have discussions with the Mets about a possible return to New York. The right-hander also is expected to test the free-agent market.

Hampered by injuries last year, Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts. He threw 109 innings.

Working with minimal financial resources, the Marlins are looking for affordable free agents. The team did explore adding veteran Carl Pavano, who signed with the Indians.

The Marlins are prepared to head into Spring Training with a rotation that includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez. Nolasco, eliglbe for arbitration, still has not signed.

Florida continues to explore depth at catcher. The team is looking for low-priced options there. A free agent that could be a fit is Ivan Rodriguez, but only if his price tag continues to drop this month.

Yeah, use the threat of the Daddy Warbucks Marlins to trigger a false bidding war. That's the ticket.

I think that Pedro had far more interest in the Marlins than they had in him. I believe that Pedro is desperate to play another season, but I don't think teams throughout the league are very interested in signing him.

Pedro was once a dominant, HOF caliber pitcher, but he seems to be the one person that doesn't see how far removed from his former greatness he now is.

If Pedro Martinez retired tomorrow he would surely be in the HOF at first ballot , wouldn't he?

I was not inferring that Pedro Martinez was not worthy of enshrinement in Coopperstown. He has had a tremendous career and was arguably one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in MLB for several seasons. I would vote for him (if I had a vote) when his name comes up on the HOF ballot. I was simply stating that he is not nearly the dominant pitcher he once was.

I think he's pretty aware of what happened last year.

If he didn't still believe he could turn it around, he wouldn't be the great pitcher he is. What's more, I believe he could turn it around. In his prime, he had an unprecedented four killer pitches, so it's not like he was fastball-reliant. It's a matter of finding what he can do with what's left of his fastball and using it to complement the rest of his arsenal.

That's a far ways from saying he will return to a productive level, but I'm certain he can. Glavine continued to pitch effectively with a powder puff fastball and a change. While his control was still very good, Pedro's has always been even better.

And if I'm the Mets, I'm willing to spend some change to find out. Giving him Redding's money with an automatically vesting bonus year of $9 million if he gets 180 innings? Yeah, go for it. I'm certain he can do as well as Redding in 2009, and a damn fine bet to do better. The only thing Redding has over him is a better doctor's report.

Michael Young wants out of Texas , can play 2nd base.

I should add that Heyman just said on the Hot stove that he has %62 million left on his big contract.

Young's expensive, and the dropoff in his numbers over the past three years has been precipitous. Even if they took Castillo it would still be a $10M payroll hit, and he's just not that good anymore.

Dodgers reportedly to release Andruw before today is out

Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?

Someone will be able to pick him up for minimum wage, and they may get a hell of a bargain at the Dodgers expense.

Jones was on MLB Network the other night talking about how he would love to go back to the Braves.

="Benjamin Grimm":2v9kwf3v]Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?[/quote:2v9kwf3v]

I guess not enough of a chance in their minds to make carrying him all year worth it.
They restructured his deal last week with a release in mind so I assume they're going to do similar thing to what we did with Bonilla (only on a much bigger scale): pay out the remainder over a long period to avoid getting hit with it all at once.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that the Phillies are aggressively trying to sign Moises Alou.

Would Alou be a starter there or would he be in a limited role , who's in the outfield there along with Ibanez?...Dobbs?....Victorino?

Watch him hit .500 and stay healthy all year. Bastard.

He wouldn't start there - but he'd be a potentially good RH bat off the bench for a predominately lefty hitting squad.

The three options (Perez, Wolf, and Sheets) may be soon reduced to two:

="MLB.com":2t16pb69]The deep freeze that's been the Major League free-agent market this winter has shown indications a thaw is coming -- at least for starting pitchers.

On the heels of the Mets reaching an apparent agreement on a Minor League deal with right-hander Freddy Garcia, it looks like the Dodgers have taken the inside track in the competition for lefty starter Randy Wolf's services.

According to sources for FoxSports.com, Wolf could most likely be signed to a one or two-year deal. Wolf previously pitched for Los Angeles in 2007 and was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA in a combined 33 starts last season for the Padres and Astros.

FoxSports.com said Wolf would get less than the three-year, $28 million offer the pitcher turned down from Houston earlier this winter. [/quote:2t16pb69]

Wolf turned down an offer for that much? , and I was thinking he could be had for a song on a one year deal.

Fine. I actually saw Wolf pitch twice last year, at the only game I attended at MFY Stadium and at the game I attended at Petco. Both time he got shellacked.

There are a number of available starters who can give you at least a league average ERA, several of whom have the upside to do significantly better. Randy Wolf is not one of them. I see no point in pursuing a demonstrably inferior pitcher just because he's a lefty.

I don't think anybody but Wally Matthews is arguing that his leftiness is important, and Wally is only throwing that pitch to drum up "Mets Gotta Steal Pettitte" angles. Who do you have your eye on?

Just turned over to MLB Network after watching "What Not To Wear" and heard Tom Verducci say that Perez is moving closer to signing with the Mets.

]Mets extend offer to Perez, their top target

The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target.

The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is.

Perez remains the Mets' top choice for the final spot in their rotation, though the team has remained in contact with three other free-agent pitchers -- Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets. They know they'd have competition for Wolf (Dodgers), Garland (Diamondbacks) and Sheets (Rangers, possibly Yankees) but aren't sure what other teams are competing for Perez.

The Mets had been hopeful to land free agent Derek Lowe earlier but were surprised when the rival Braves outbid them by $24 million, landing Lowe with a $60-million, four-year contract. Perez, 27, is eight years younger than Lowe, though not quite as consistent.

Mets GM Omar Minaya would love to import Perez, so the Mets are not likely to take one of the other pitchers unless he feels his chances for Perez are gone.

I hope "the mystery team" comes and raises perez's price too high so we can sign Sheets. Then Boras and Perez can admit there was no mystery team and we get both at a reduced rate!

If money is the issue, I'd like to see the Mets sign Sheets and with any Ollie Perez money left over, go out and sign Odalis Perez. His ERA was only .10 worse than Ollie's last year, is still only 32 years old, and probably be signed for far less money than any of the other names that have been in the press lately.

Later

Varitek's (read: Boras's) threat to sit out the season and/or retire didn't get the Sox to budge I see.

Tek is one of several who turned down arbitration offers this winter only to wind up not only with a much smaller deal than arb would have snagged him but didn't get the multi-year deal either.

Now it's hope you play well and the economy improves when you can do the same dance next year.

="Ashie62":2t5ssjz6]Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise?[/quote:2t5ssjz6]

.220

Is that his weight or his average? , sucks either way though.

]Left-hander Chase Wright was traded by the New York Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for outfielder-catcher Eric Fryer.

Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's.

metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.

="Rockin' Doc":2e2xwbch]metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.[/quote:2e2xwbch]

B'sides, they couldn't have the signing photo op soon anyhow.
They'd first have to send out Cecil Fielder's uni to have the seams let out to fit Jones.

Later

Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.

="Frayed Knot":1zv55w66]Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.[/quote:1zv55w66]

Yeah, poor guy. My heart breaks for him.

/sarcasm

It's not like he doesn't get to keep the 15 miills.

Sure, it just shows a helluva difference between what someone thought he was worth last year vs what they think he's worth barely a year later.
How the mighty (and fat) have fallen.

December 10, 2008

="Benjamin Grimm":g0bx2ilm]Word is that the Dodgers would have to eat a big chunk of Pierre's contract in order to move him.[/quote:g0bx2ilm]

HahnSolo
Dec 10 2008 02:36 PM

I'm still on the negative side of meh with him.

Edgy DC
Dec 10 2008 02:55 PM

Well, you sure don't see me tossing my pom-poms in the air.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 10 2008 02:58 PM

Me neither. Pierre and Castillo made a nice pair on the 2002 Marlins, but that was a long time ago.

Remember how they used to abuse Piazza? Almost unfair.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 10 2008 03:00 PM

What I wonder, though, is if trading Castillo for Pierre would make the Mets more willing to spend to upgrade at second base.

It doesn't really make any sense, but it's possible that they might see it that way. (They'd still be increasing the payroll, but at least they wouldn't be paying Castillo to sit on the bench. And maybe they'd get something out of Pierre. Or at least, more than they expect from Castillo.)

Vince Coleman Firecracker
Dec 10 2008 03:40 PM

Luis Castillo is a useful major leaguer who happens to be overpaid. Juan Pierre is a useless major leaguer who happens to be overpaid. Castillo is a below average second baseman who can't slug. Pierre's a terrible center fielder (or an average left fielder) who can't hit. Endy Chavez is a better player than Juan Pierre. Almost all major leaguers are better players than Juan Pierre. The one thing he can do is steal bases, and he's not very good at that. Here are his CS% numbers, per year, for his career:
01 27%
02 20%
03 24%
04 38%
05 23%
06 26%
07 19%
08 23%
For is career, that's 25%, the break-even point. If he's even a little bit off his career average, he's a liability on the base paths.

Pierre is exactly the kind of player you can't hand to a manager. He has a reputation as a good defender, a leadoff type hitter and, perhaps, a "winner." Managers give these kind of players way too many plate appearances and innings in the field based on reputation while the team's performance suffers.

bmfc1
Dec 10 2008 07:37 PM

From Ken Rosenthal, tonight:

8:46 p.m. � Mets trying to land M's Putz

The Mets are working to acquire a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez � and that setup man would be another closer from the American League West.

J.J. Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.

Mets right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first-base prospect Mike Carp would be in the deal, as would Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.

metirish
Dec 10 2008 07:38 PM

Can I get a WOW?

metirish
Dec 10 2008 07:42 PM

From KR

9:32 p.m. � Source: Tigers to aqcuire Edwin Jackson

The Detroit Tigers are set to acquire right-hander Edwin Jackson from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Matt Joyce, according to a major-league source.

Tampa Bay, with David Price on the way, had a surplus of starting pitching. Jackson, 25, was 14-11 this year with a 4.25 ERA.

In exchange the Rays get a 24-year-old, left-handed-hitting corner outfielder who hit 12 homers in 242 at-bats. -- Ed Price

metirish
Dec 10 2008 07:42 PM

="bmfc1":3tnm13me]From Ken Rosenthal, tonight:

8:46 p.m. � Mets trying to land M's Putz

The Mets are working to acquire a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez � and that setup man would be another closer from the American League West.

J.J. Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.

Mets right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first-base prospect Mike Carp would be in the deal, as would Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.[/quote:3tnm13me]

Just so this is not lost on the last page.

Gwreck
Dec 10 2008 07:55 PM

Putz is extremely valuable but won't come cheap: $5 million for '09 and $8.6 million club option for '10 (with a $1M buyout). The other 3 players combined make less than $4 million.

I think we'd miss Chavez a lot.

HahnSolo
Dec 10 2008 07:56 PM

I'd love to know how he would feel about going from a closer to a setup guy. Would hate to bring him in only to have him griping about his role.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 10 2008 08:00 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2008 08:12 PM

Chavez isn't going to help us if he hits like he did last year. I love him and all.

Meantime I think three guys are all you wanna surrender for a single reliever, especially one coming off a poor season like Putz (edit - poor for him).

seawolf17
Dec 10 2008 08:09 PM

Heilman, Chavez, Carp for Putz? Yes.
Heilman, Chavez, Carp and Joe Smith for Putz? No.

smg58
Dec 10 2008 08:36 PM

I'd be worried about trusting workhorse innings to a guy coming off a serious injury, but when he's healthy Putz is as good a reliever as anybody. And the Mets do not appear to be giving up anybody they might miss. The Mets need a righthanded reserve outfielder more than they'd need Chavez. I'd make sure JJ gets a thorough physical, but if he passes, I'm for it.

metirish
Dec 11 2008 07:30 PM

davidoff

]
The Mets reopened trade discussions with the Cubs Thursday about acquiring Staten Island native Jason Marquis, according to SI.com. Marquis has a hefty salary -- he will earn $9.5 million this season -- but Minaya could dump Scott Schoeneweis ($3.6M) on Chicago to accomplish another one of Minaya's goals of addition by subtraction. It worked with Heilman.

One thing about these meetings I find interesting is that every year various baseball types go there looking for a gig , from prominent free agents to former players, I read that Bobby Meacham is there selling himself as is Lee Mazzilli.

metirish
Dec 11 2008 07:57 PM

Minaya on getting more offense.

]

"Before I start moving my dollars to offense, I have to move my dollars to pitching," the GM said."Last year was very simple guys. We had 20 blown saves. We scored the runs."

smg58
Dec 12 2008 04:49 AM

="metirish"]davidoff

]
The Mets reopened trade discussions with the Cubs Thursday about acquiring Staten Island native Jason Marquis, according to SI.com. Marquis has a hefty salary -- he will earn $9.5 million this season -- but Minaya could dump Scott Schoeneweis ($3.6M) on Chicago to accomplish another one of Minaya's goals of addition by subtraction. It worked with Heilman.

Marquis' ERA+ last year (99) was comparable with those of Perez (100) and Maine (101). I might try to be ambitious here, offering Anderson, Feliciano, and a second-tier prospect for Marquis and Mike Fontenot. We'd take on more money, but we'd fill two needs and keep the Cubs from revisting sending DeRosa to the Phillies if the Peavy deal gets resurrected. But Schoeneweis for Marquis would be a perfectly acceptable fallback.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 12 2008 05:07 AM

I'm not that enamored with Marquis. MFY fan, you know.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 06:26 AM

All this talk about Marquis and Pierre makes me think Omar loves Frenchies.

bmfc1
Dec 12 2008 07:06 AM

Marquis is a fine #5 pitcher, perhaps a 4, but nothing more than that. He's a SOB which might be good at stretch time. We (sadly) know that he can hit. (For what it's worth, he's also a NYker and a M.O.T.) I hope this gets done.

Phillies got Ibanez which means that Burrell goes elsewhere.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 12 2008 07:33 AM

="bmfc1":2vohih50]Marquis is a fine #5 pitcher, perhaps a 4, but nothing more than that. He's a SOB which might be good at stretch time. We (sadly) know that he can hit. (For what it's worth, he's also a NYker and a M.O.T.) I hope this gets done.

Phillies got Ibanez which means that Burrell goes elsewhere.[/quote:2vohih50]

See now right there's a reason to not part with Shoeneweis, if you needed one. Phils are going to be even more loaded with LH hitting than last year.

I think maybe the Mets go get Burrell, what do you say? He's streaky and a bit of a dumb jock but he hits, he's righty and it sticks it the Phils (he's definitely better than Ibanez).

I suppose Marquis would be alright near the end of the rotation but I'd hate for them to be fighting to get their money's worth with him.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 07:45 AM

I don't have a problem with Marquis being a four or five pitcher; that's pretty much what the Mets are looking for anyway. It would be nice to get someone who would be number 2, and bump Maine and Pelfrey each down a slot, but that's not all that realistic.

I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 07:47 AM

Ryan Howard, who Marty Noble insists was the MVP last year, went a m odest .219 / .313 / .479 // .792 vs the Mets last year.

If you've got to decide which lefty to keep, consider that he didn't reach base once against Feliciano in seven plate appearances (four Ks), while Schoeneweis was perfect against him in five confrontations, with two Ks.

Wait, that doesn't help at all.

Um, Schoenewess came out on top in his one matchup with Ibanez last year, while Feliciano didn't see and Raul action. But that only makes them more even.

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.

seawolf17
Dec 12 2008 07:56 AM

="Benjamin Grimm":11ubw6yw]I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.[/quote:11ubw6yw]
I'd still rather have Dunn than Burrell, but I'd take Burrell in a second. I'm concerned about Murphy getting overexposed; give him 250 ABs in a part-time role and let him earn his stripes again.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 07:59 AM

Speaking of Ibanez, the Phillies just signed him to a three year, $30 million contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=376426 8

Too bad. I think he would have been a great pickup for the Mets.

Later

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:07 AM

Head, slammed through wall.

Rockin' Doc
Dec 12 2008 08:28 AM

If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:32 AM

Marlon, I think, is not long for this town.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 08:33 AM

="Rockin' Doc":2d4wl6of]If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).[/quote:2d4wl6of]

Yes. Right now the fifth outfielder spot appears to be a competition between Evans and Reed. If a Burrell or Dunn were signed, the competition would be over and both of those outfielders would end up in Buffalo.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:37 AM

Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 08:44 AM

="Edgy DC":3pbxjx7s]Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.[/quote:3pbxjx7s]

Well, Dmitri Young wasn't tendered and is a free agent.
He certainly fills the "big fat" parts of that slot.

Later

Gwreck
Dec 12 2008 09:40 AM

="Edgy DC":1wn8w6gz]Head, slammed through wall.[/quote:1wn8w6gz]

Rollins
Ibanez
Utley
Howard
Werth
Victorino
Dobbs/Feliz
Ruiz

Ouch. Only consolation is that it's a left-heavy lineup.

Centerfield
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Ibanez basically replaces Burrell's production. Meaning the Phils will return a very similar lineup to last year's.

Mark Texiera still available.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

I'm slamming my head through a wall because of the proliferation of posting without reading.

smg58
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Evans belongs at Buffalo playing first base. With Carp gone and Delgado in his walk year, he should be getting full-time AB's at his best position.

The Mets need more lefthanded pitching.

Burrell might not be better than Ibanez when you factor in ballparks. But both might hurt (might have hurt, in Ibanez' case) the Mets defensively more than they'd help offensively. The Mets absolutely need another righthanded bat in the outfield, but not at a cost that's disproportionate to the benefit.

sharpie
Dec 12 2008 10:24 AM

Ibanez is a pretty good fielder, certainly not a guy you have to take out in the late innings.

TransMonk
Dec 12 2008 03:13 PM

Looks like the Yanks will overpay for Burnett[/url:3vyw4v5q] rather than overpay for Lowe.

Holy wallets.

Of all the crazy things , I guess they won the bidding war again.

So the Yanx had themselves a 1/4 Billion dollar week.
Or, as they say in the Bronx, a good starting point.

Here's hoping Burnett is even a bigger bust than Pavano. He's apparently a bigger idiot, and already a bigger injury risk.

The non-tenders are headed rather shockingly by ex-Met Ty Wigginton, after a very strong year with the bat. He's not that good defensively in the infield, but I have to think it had more to do with money. I also can't imagine that none of the teams in the market for a third baseman (the Twins, the Indians, the Giants) wouldn't have given him a look. I've always thought Ty could be the 10th man on a good team, and the Mets have room for him (as primarily an outfielder), but somebody might still pay him a starter's salary.

Other noteworthy non-tenders include Chris Capuano (still recovering from TJS but might be worth a long-term look) and Takaishi Saito (his worth depends entirely on the status of his elbow).

The only Met I saw was Argenis Reyes. If that's it, that would mean that Stokes (a good move) and Robinson Cancel (a bit surprising, unless they know they can move one of the other catchers) are staying on the 40.

i would LOVE to bring Wiggy back as a bench player, he has the pop that this bench needs and can play 2B/3B when needed (though not necessarily well)

I'm a lot happier with Ibanez in Philly than as a Met, especially at 3 years.

Keith Law calls it "absurd[/url:20pumd9t]."

What about Burrell for an everyday LF and Jon Garland as an SP?

Edgy DC
Dec 14 2008 07:37 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 14 2008 07:48 PM

="Valadius":2u4mpb0q]I'd plug Wiggy into Easley's spot in a heartbeat.[/quote:2u4mpb0q]
We'll be competing to buy him as a super-sub against teams looking for a starting thirdbaseman. You'd probably have to be thinking of him as your starting secondbaseman when you sign him.

Aaron Miles, meanwhile got non-tendered.

Besides Easley's role also included backing up Reyes at SS and Wiggy is an unrealistic option there.

Miles plays everywhere, shortstop (and mopup pitcher) included. He's pretty similar from both sides of the plate. He can take lefties away from Castillo (against whom Luis is historically weaker), pressing him for the full-time job, backup at shortstop, and fill in elsewhere as needed.

He's pretty analogous to Super Joe, with a little more average and a little less power, but has more starting experience and is less likely to be over-exposed by over-use.

Miles would come cheap and would be a rich mans superjoe

I'd prefer Wiggy cause he can play anything..maybe even left or RF when Murphy or Church have problems

Don't we need to focus on a full-time outfielder? Relying on Church & Murphy for 150 games seems a stretch.

I'd love Burrell..surly as he is and as far as a SP goes..wait til Most of The A pitchers go and go after Sheets or Garland.

Miles is another player who would be an upgrade over Castillo. He has similar hitting numbers to Castillo from a few years ago. He's also at least average with the glove, which Castillo can no longer say. He'd be worth bringing in for something like two years and $5M, although I might go higher than that if there are no other viable 2B options. He's not Orlando Hudson, but he could present significant value.

I'd be willing to go 2 years and $6M for Wigginton's services, even if I could only guarantee him starts against lefties (in the outfield). Somebody like him or Juan Rivera would boost our bench, enable us to platoon Ryan Church, and provide cover if something goes wrong with Murphy, Church, or Delgado. I'm not sure that would be enough, but nobody jumped at the chance to trade for him.

Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.

="Edgy DC":1omuczeq]Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.[/quote:1omuczeq]

I agree.
B'sides, if the Mets sign Cora, we might be subjected to pictures of him with his brother.
I'd get flashbacks of images of Joe Torre and his sister.
Hide the eyes of the chill'uns.

Miles gets my vote.

Later

Righthander Chan Ho Park said in a press conference in Seoul today that he has agreed to a 1-year contract with the Phillies.
According to the Korea Times, Park, 35, will have a base salary of $2.5 million with incentives that could push the total package to $5 million.
There had been reports that the Phillies were close to coming to terms with Park to improve their bullpen. However, the pitcher said he opted for the Phillies in part because they viewed him as a starter.

�I was a little worried about the Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly,� he said. "But as they considered me a starter, I signed with Philadelphia.�

http://www.philly.com/philly/b...l_for_Park.html

Later

The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.

It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."

="Centerfield":38yhgguz]It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."[/quote:38yhgguz]

I love you, Man. Your posts always make me laugh.

="Frayed Knot":uz2je510]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:uz2je510]

Go, Theo, go.

Phils re-up 95 y/o Jamie Moyer for 2 years.

OK, he's really only 46.

="Frayed Knot":2wijd3xl]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

Go, Theo, go.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

I would not be surprised if Houston was the team not being mentioned. He pitched well down there for them and they don't have a whole lot of starting pitching depth after Oswalt.

I'm OK with Pedro. I said it.

Just, you know, sign a bunch of other guys also.

I have no problem with Petey in the #5 slot to start the season. I'm more worried with the durability of Maine and whether the other teams catch up with Pelfry's stuff.

Any day the Phils resign Jamie Moyer and add Chan Ho Park is a good day for us!

The Phils trying to get two more years out of an ancient lefty strikes me as one more good reason for us to Burrell up.

Knucksie in Dixie:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/18/SPMQ14QQMI.DTL

Never made any sense to me that Lance Neikro wasn't a knuckleballer to begin with. IIRC, he had a big hit vs. the Mets (was it a game-winning HR or something?) when he first came up with the Giants and I naturally assumed he was on his way to major stardom.

Fireballer Daniel Cabrera goes to the Nats, 1 year, 2.6 million.

="Valadius":2pz740g9]Ha, good luck with that. Guy's a head case.[/quote:2pz740g9]

I think people were saying that about Ollie Perez before the Pirates sent him to us. Talented, strikeout pitcher, control issues, high ERA, etc.

OK, now both the Angels and the Red Sox say they're not going after Texiera anymore. Has Boras finall pushed people over the edge, or is this all just negotiating ploys?

The Angels are claiming that their offer is "off the table" and that there'll be no further negotiating - which at least doesn't sound like a ploy.
Boston, for its part, isn't claiming that, only that they think they're not going to be his choice due to other teams raising their offers beyond where they're willing to go.

That leaves Teixeira in the position of either taking Boston's "low" offer or going the Baltimore/Washington route which kind of flies in the face of his 'I wanna be a contendah' pledge.

Supposedly this was going to be wrapped up by Xmas but it wouldn't be the first time Boras has over-played his hand.

There's still Baltimore and Washington. Boras isn't quite out of options yet.

Speaking of Boras...

Murray Chass
MurrayChass.com

Now that CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have signed, other pitchers on the
free-agent list are expected to follow. Derek Lowe is probably next on the
list in terms of interest, but the interest has been all talk and no offers.
His agent's asking price is said to be the reason.

Scott Boras has told clubs he wants Barry Zito money for the 35-year-old
Lowe, which means $18 million a year. Clubs interested in Lowe have not
rushed forward with such offers. The slow-moving market may be just what the Mets want.

...Barry Zito isn't worth Barry Zito money. But Derek Lowe? Is he nuts?

Edgy DC
Dec 22 2008 01:44 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 22 2008 02:20 PM

I'm not sure I'd support the Mets spending $18 million a year for two Derek Lowes.

The MOST I'd spend on Derek Lowe is $8 million a year. $18 million is beyond rationality.

Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.

="Willets Point":2bf2t6s1]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:2bf2t6s1]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later

Guys who can consistently give you 200+ IP with 15 wins and a sub-4 ERA are worth plenty more than 8 million.

I wouldn't go four years with Lowe, on account of his age, but I'd much rather have him than Ollie.

="Willets Point":3rvs0psj]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:3rvs0psj]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later[/quote:3rvs0psj]

Just a joke about Lowe's rumored love of the drink.

Randy Johnson will pursue his 300th win as a San Francisco Giant.

he could it be cutting it close with the type of run support the giants give their starters. he needs 5 wins, it took Matt Cain all year to get 8 wins for the Giants with an ERA+ the same as Johnson's last year.

'Randy Johnson is a Giant' is somewhat of a redundant headline. He's probably been called that since he was in the 4th grade.

On the other hand, there must have been plenty in in the Castro district of SF who were excited to hear that someone called 'The Big Unit' was coming to their city.

FK with a late entry for post o' the year.

The Giants have had a nice offseason (Renteria, Affeldt, Howry, Johnson) and if local rumors of them adding Adam Dunn are correct, they could be players in a weak West.

I agree. You can definitely quibble with the wisdom of a team's particular moves but I like to see franchises who've had bad years making a bunch of moves in the offseason, whether they are effective or not.

Like the Giants... and the MFYs...

X-Rockie, X-Astro OFer Wily Tavarez signs a two-year deal with Cincy.
He's good at stealing bases and also .... ummmm, I'll think of something.

And Kevin Mensch heads for Japan.
The Japanese just might get a look at his monsterously huge head and add a second rising sun to their flag.
I think that thing has its own gravitational pull.

Penny for your Sox ...

Brad Penny to Boston for 1 yr/$5mil -- pending a physical which could yet throw a wrench into the works.

As mentioned elsewhere, this could keep them from chasing the likes of Lowe, Wolf, Ollie, etc. thus reducing the demand pool by one more team.

This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

The Cubs sign Aaron Miles for two years, then trade DeRosa to the Indians for three low level (not even top 20) prospects. At least it's not the Phillies, but that's one mild upgrade over Castillo and one significant upgrade who found takers at prices we could have afforded.

Cubs 2B Mark DeRosa - long rumored as part of a Jake Peavy trade - dealt to Cleveland for a trio of minor league pitchers.

Fuentes got two years at $17.5M, plus a club option. Rotoworld says "Fuentes almost certainly took less money to play close to home," but I'm not sure who was competing with the Angels.

Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day!

="Frayed Knot":1xejc7ja]Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day![/quote:1xejc7ja]

Better news- nobody really cares about him anymore, including it seems the GMs of all 30 teams.

Watching MLB Network Hot Stove and they are reporting that San Francisco have offered Manny Ramirez a four year deal.

Dodgers and A Jones have agreed to defer most of his money owed likely leading to him playing elsewhere.

Scott Proctor to the Marlins for one year.

="Benjamin Grimm":2ytj1poh]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.[/quote:2ytj1poh]

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

="Ashie62":hblnrkgs]Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker[/quote:hblnrkgs]

i don't believe that for a second.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

Maybe the three closer thing is the way to go after the last two seasons.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

True..my impatience caused me to jump over Krod & Putz KP DOOTY...I'm just frustrated that the odds of landing a power corner and a decent SP , Sheets, Garland, Lowe..are diminishing and pray the Mets are not newly cash short

Burrell has a rep for being a prick but if the Rays can land him at 16 million for 2 years I then wonder why the Mets wouldn't top that and not have to expect 150 games from Murphy and even let Murphy learn 2B at AAA as an experiment.

The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.

="smg58":1gnuo0ct]The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.[/quote:1gnuo0ct]
Can't wait to see him go head-to-head with Pinella.
Later

And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.

="smg58":162h2ehz]And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.[/quote:162h2ehz]

Makes ya crazy. Geez. I mean, about Hairston.

Maybe Hairston gets a chance to start in Cincy and couldn't be sure of that here.
Never did even hear a rumor of them looking at him though.

Also:

- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino

Andy Pettitte turns down one year and $10 million from the Yanks in a declining market.

Yomiuri Giant Koji Uehara signs with Bal'more for two years.

Reports say that he's the team's first Japanese player, but they forget Nippo-Hawaiian Len Sakata.

="Frayed Knot":2gsb44fr]- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino[/quote:2gsb44fr]

I'll laugh if Pavano gives the Indians 27 starts (i.e., more starts than he gave the MFY's in four years).

The Marquis deal appears to leave Jorge de la Rosa out of the rotation in Colorado. I'd see what the asking price for him is; he finished very strongly last year, and he's at least as good as Tim Redding.

="Centerfield":biqnwx39]Len was American.[/quote:biqnwx39]
As I said.

From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly

="Frayed Knot":3hnipcdi]From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly[/quote:3hnipcdi]
Pure insurance with Utley out for the early part of the year due to surgery.
Later

From MetsBlog

Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press believes the Mets have made an offer to free-agent RHP Tim Redding, who was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season

I'll give Redding this: with one inning and six runs, he may be the worst performing Yankee ever.

If Rocco Baldelli can be reasonably healthy, he could be a great pick up for the Red Sox. I hope he is healthy and has a great season for the Sox.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3gx2svou]Bocco Radelli to the Sed Rox.[/quote:3gx2svou]

And quite possibly Smoltz too!
Not official yet but several outlets are reporting it's 'bout a done deal.
I guess they're promising him a starting job - don't think he would have jumped otherwise.

Other reports have Trevor Hoffman going to the Brews ... although this is only one day after others had him headed to the Dodgers.

Sort of a homecoming for Smoltz. Didn't he start his career with the Braves when they were still playing in Boston?

No, the Tigers. Anywhoo, oughta soitenly remove Boston from the list of potential Lowe suitors (and cause me some concern too: Why don't any of Lowe's former employers want him back?)

The additions of Smoltz and Brad Penny probably take the Sox out of the discussions for Derek Lowe.

Assuming Baldelli gets something like what Hairston got, I'd be a little annoyed that we didn't give him a look. We do need another righthanded bat.

Yeah, I was half-hoping for Baldelli too.
He's not a great player and has played fewer games in the last two seasons than Alou had in the two before we got him. But if this problem of his has finally been diagnosed correctly he could be a useful guy to have around.

But Omar seems to be on this 'one problem at a time' schedule where nothing can even be talked about until the starter question is answered.

I almost did too because I sometimes confuse the Smoltz trade with the Bagwell one from Boston. The Smoltz from Detroit for Denny Alexander trade happened around the same era as Bagwell for Larry Anderson.
Both were done for pennant push help and in each case the minor leaguers were home-town guys (Smoltz is from Mich, Bags from Conn) who turned into HoF possibilities.

Doyle Alexander.

Now Denny McLain or somebody is getting into the conflation.

Looking at a potential nightmare with outfield defense the MFY's are apparently looking to trade Swisher and Nady.

Yankees fielding offers for Nady, Swisher

Posted by: Jon Heyman

The Yankees are fielding trade offers for corner outfielders Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. There's been some speculation they might consider trading Hideki Matsui, too, but he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off knee surgery, so there's really no way to trade him.

A logjam at the corners was created when the Yankees surprised a lot of folks and signed Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million contract. Swisher previously had been penciled in as the Yankees' first baseman but now becomes part of a crowded mix of accomplished corner outfielders. Swisher is a versatile player and can play some center field, as well. Some National League teams may be interested. However, Nady's trade value is higher after a better offensive season, so he may be just as likely to be dealt. Nady, acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade with the Pirates, combined to hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBIs for the year, while Swisher finished at .219 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs for the White Sox before being dealt to the Yankees after the season

i'd sure take Nady back, to split time with Church, Murphy and Delgado. But no way the Yanx trade him cross town.

You leave Tatis out of that mix.

Nady gives you what Tatis gives you, only more and probably better and definitely younger. Tatis' only advantage is playing third.

I'd love a Nady around because I think the best way to get something like last year's productivity out of Tatis is to make him earn every at-bat.

Maybe Murphy will do that, but I'm not counting on it.

What's going down, and I think a lot of us feel it, is that a lot of things went kind of right in Omar's offense that could have easily gone wronger, and he's kind of seeming to kind of be counting on a lot of those same thingies to go right again.

Fans be pessemistic creatures, of course.

Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.

="Vic Sage":37m9y64n]Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.[/quote:37m9y64n]

and you have a wild card at 1b, so it's not even half a lineup.
nobody has faith in schnied to produce offensively, and while castro COULD provide some pop, he just gets hurt too often (he must be the worst backup catcher in the league).
2b, nobody has faith in castillo, except he's saying all the right things.
and Church... will his head be screwed on straight?

it'll be an interesting few more weeks before spring training.

I agree with Vic, including about left field, but I'd be okay with giving Murphy/Tatis a chance to shine again. But in doing that, you have to protect yourself by beefing up some of the other positions. And as yet, the Mets haven't done anything towards that end.

Ramon Castro, not the worst backup catcher in the league.

Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady

BY KEN DAVIDOFF | ken.davidoff@newsday.com
January 9, 2009
In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.

General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady. With spring training more than a month away and the season opener just about three months away, however, there is no imperative to execute a quick trade.

The Mets enjoyed having Nady on their club for the first four months of the 2006 season, and they inquired about him last July, when the Yankees wound up getting him from Pittsburgh. For now, however, the Mets are focused on their starting rotation and are not looking to acquire a bat either through free agency or through a trade.

Frayed Knot
Jan 09 2009 01:54 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 09 2009 02:02 PM

Swisher switch-hits, and is better and more versatile defensively.
He's also signed for the next few years which could be either good or bad depending on whether he regains his hitting from last season's off year.

Nady is more likely to hit better (though walk less) and would only be for one year at a price to be determined by arbitration then would be a FA after that.

If we weren't already loaded with lefthanded hitting outfielders, I'd take Godzilla as a LH bench masher in the Franco/Staub mold.

As long as the Cranks would pay 90% of the freight and expect nothing back in return, sure.

(OK, maybe 70% with a throw-in going the other way would do)

I feel safe to say Tatis has had his middle aged career year..I wouldn't put too high a ceiling there.

Daniel Murphy needs more seasoning and I still advocate a year at AAA to learn 2B

Mr. Nady..wasn't he a Met who know has Yankee cooties?

Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

="metirish"]Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

Pedro really looked spent in 2008, after having a respectable September prior. I don't think he has much in the tank and I would not miss all the drama.

Marlins not interested in signing Pedro
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Don't look for Pedro Martinez to wind up with the Marlins.
A day after a report stated the Marlins were in the mix for the 37-year-old right-hander, a league source confirmed to MLB.com on Sunday that Florida has zero interest. Reports in the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and SunSentinel also ruled out the possibility of Martinez joining the club.

On Saturday night, a report on ESPNdeportes.com stated the Marlins had discussions with agent Fernando Cuza regarding Martinez. The report added Florida may have begun preliminary contract talks, and that the two sides were expected to continue talking this week.

As of late Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were not considered a possible fit.

Martinez has a home in Miami, and he has expressed privately a desire to pitch for the Marlins. On Monday, Cuza is expected to have discussions with the Mets about a possible return to New York. The right-hander also is expected to test the free-agent market.

Hampered by injuries last year, Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts. He threw 109 innings.

Working with minimal financial resources, the Marlins are looking for affordable free agents. The team did explore adding veteran Carl Pavano, who signed with the Indians.

The Marlins are prepared to head into Spring Training with a rotation that includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez. Nolasco, eliglbe for arbitration, still has not signed.

Florida continues to explore depth at catcher. The team is looking for low-priced options there. A free agent that could be a fit is Ivan Rodriguez, but only if his price tag continues to drop this month.

Yeah, use the threat of the Daddy Warbucks Marlins to trigger a false bidding war. That's the ticket.

I think that Pedro had far more interest in the Marlins than they had in him. I believe that Pedro is desperate to play another season, but I don't think teams throughout the league are very interested in signing him.

Pedro was once a dominant, HOF caliber pitcher, but he seems to be the one person that doesn't see how far removed from his former greatness he now is.

If Pedro Martinez retired tomorrow he would surely be in the HOF at first ballot , wouldn't he?

I was not inferring that Pedro Martinez was not worthy of enshrinement in Coopperstown. He has had a tremendous career and was arguably one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in MLB for several seasons. I would vote for him (if I had a vote) when his name comes up on the HOF ballot. I was simply stating that he is not nearly the dominant pitcher he once was.

I think he's pretty aware of what happened last year.

If he didn't still believe he could turn it around, he wouldn't be the great pitcher he is. What's more, I believe he could turn it around. In his prime, he had an unprecedented four killer pitches, so it's not like he was fastball-reliant. It's a matter of finding what he can do with what's left of his fastball and using it to complement the rest of his arsenal.

That's a far ways from saying he will return to a productive level, but I'm certain he can. Glavine continued to pitch effectively with a powder puff fastball and a change. While his control was still very good, Pedro's has always been even better.

And if I'm the Mets, I'm willing to spend some change to find out. Giving him Redding's money with an automatically vesting bonus year of $9 million if he gets 180 innings? Yeah, go for it. I'm certain he can do as well as Redding in 2009, and a damn fine bet to do better. The only thing Redding has over him is a better doctor's report.

Michael Young wants out of Texas , can play 2nd base.

I should add that Heyman just said on the Hot stove that he has %62 million left on his big contract.

Young's expensive, and the dropoff in his numbers over the past three years has been precipitous. Even if they took Castillo it would still be a $10M payroll hit, and he's just not that good anymore.

Dodgers reportedly to release Andruw before today is out

Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?

Someone will be able to pick him up for minimum wage, and they may get a hell of a bargain at the Dodgers expense.

Jones was on MLB Network the other night talking about how he would love to go back to the Braves.

="Benjamin Grimm":2v9kwf3v]Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?[/quote:2v9kwf3v]

I guess not enough of a chance in their minds to make carrying him all year worth it.
They restructured his deal last week with a release in mind so I assume they're going to do similar thing to what we did with Bonilla (only on a much bigger scale): pay out the remainder over a long period to avoid getting hit with it all at once.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that the Phillies are aggressively trying to sign Moises Alou.

Would Alou be a starter there or would he be in a limited role , who's in the outfield there along with Ibanez?...Dobbs?....Victorino?

Watch him hit .500 and stay healthy all year. Bastard.

He wouldn't start there - but he'd be a potentially good RH bat off the bench for a predominately lefty hitting squad.

The three options (Perez, Wolf, and Sheets) may be soon reduced to two:

="MLB.com":2t16pb69]The deep freeze that's been the Major League free-agent market this winter has shown indications a thaw is coming -- at least for starting pitchers.

On the heels of the Mets reaching an apparent agreement on a Minor League deal with right-hander Freddy Garcia, it looks like the Dodgers have taken the inside track in the competition for lefty starter Randy Wolf's services.

According to sources for FoxSports.com, Wolf could most likely be signed to a one or two-year deal. Wolf previously pitched for Los Angeles in 2007 and was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA in a combined 33 starts last season for the Padres and Astros.

FoxSports.com said Wolf would get less than the three-year, $28 million offer the pitcher turned down from Houston earlier this winter. [/quote:2t16pb69]

Wolf turned down an offer for that much? , and I was thinking he could be had for a song on a one year deal.

Fine. I actually saw Wolf pitch twice last year, at the only game I attended at MFY Stadium and at the game I attended at Petco. Both time he got shellacked.

There are a number of available starters who can give you at least a league average ERA, several of whom have the upside to do significantly better. Randy Wolf is not one of them. I see no point in pursuing a demonstrably inferior pitcher just because he's a lefty.

I don't think anybody but Wally Matthews is arguing that his leftiness is important, and Wally is only throwing that pitch to drum up "Mets Gotta Steal Pettitte" angles. Who do you have your eye on?

Just turned over to MLB Network after watching "What Not To Wear" and heard Tom Verducci say that Perez is moving closer to signing with the Mets.

]Mets extend offer to Perez, their top target

The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target.

The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is.

Perez remains the Mets' top choice for the final spot in their rotation, though the team has remained in contact with three other free-agent pitchers -- Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets. They know they'd have competition for Wolf (Dodgers), Garland (Diamondbacks) and Sheets (Rangers, possibly Yankees) but aren't sure what other teams are competing for Perez.

The Mets had been hopeful to land free agent Derek Lowe earlier but were surprised when the rival Braves outbid them by $24 million, landing Lowe with a $60-million, four-year contract. Perez, 27, is eight years younger than Lowe, though not quite as consistent.

Mets GM Omar Minaya would love to import Perez, so the Mets are not likely to take one of the other pitchers unless he feels his chances for Perez are gone.

I hope "the mystery team" comes and raises perez's price too high so we can sign Sheets. Then Boras and Perez can admit there was no mystery team and we get both at a reduced rate!

If money is the issue, I'd like to see the Mets sign Sheets and with any Ollie Perez money left over, go out and sign Odalis Perez. His ERA was only .10 worse than Ollie's last year, is still only 32 years old, and probably be signed for far less money than any of the other names that have been in the press lately.

Later

Varitek's (read: Boras's) threat to sit out the season and/or retire didn't get the Sox to budge I see.

Tek is one of several who turned down arbitration offers this winter only to wind up not only with a much smaller deal than arb would have snagged him but didn't get the multi-year deal either.

Now it's hope you play well and the economy improves when you can do the same dance next year.

="Ashie62":2t5ssjz6]Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise?[/quote:2t5ssjz6]

.220

Is that his weight or his average? , sucks either way though.

]Left-hander Chase Wright was traded by the New York Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for outfielder-catcher Eric Fryer.

Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's.

metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.

="Rockin' Doc":2e2xwbch]metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.[/quote:2e2xwbch]

B'sides, they couldn't have the signing photo op soon anyhow.
They'd first have to send out Cecil Fielder's uni to have the seams let out to fit Jones.

Later

Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.

="Frayed Knot":1zv55w66]Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.[/quote:1zv55w66]

Yeah, poor guy. My heart breaks for him.

/sarcasm

It's not like he doesn't get to keep the 15 miills.

Sure, it just shows a helluva difference between what someone thought he was worth last year vs what they think he's worth barely a year later.
How the mighty (and fat) have fallen.

HahnSolo · December 10, 2008

I'm still on the negative side of meh with him.

December 10, 2008

Well, you sure don't see me tossing my pom-poms in the air.

December 10, 2008

Me neither. Pierre and Castillo made a nice pair on the 2002 Marlins, but that was a long time ago.

Remember how they used to abuse Piazza? Almost unfair.

Benjamin Grimm · December 10, 2008

What I wonder, though, is if trading Castillo for Pierre would make the Mets more willing to spend to upgrade at second base.

It doesn't really make any sense, but it's possible that they might see it that way. (They'd still be increasing the payroll, but at least they wouldn't be paying Castillo to sit on the bench. And maybe they'd get something out of Pierre. Or at least, more than they expect from Castillo.)

December 10, 2008

Luis Castillo is a useful major leaguer who happens to be overpaid. Juan Pierre is a useless major leaguer who happens to be overpaid. Castillo is a below average second baseman who can't slug. Pierre's a terrible center fielder (or an average left fielder) who can't hit. Endy Chavez is a better player than Juan Pierre. Almost all major leaguers are better players than Juan Pierre. The one thing he can do is steal bases, and he's not very good at that. Here are his CS% numbers, per year, for his career:
01 27%
02 20%
03 24%
04 38%
05 23%
06 26%
07 19%
08 23%
For is career, that's 25%, the break-even point. If he's even a little bit off his career average, he's a liability on the base paths.

Pierre is exactly the kind of player you can't hand to a manager. He has a reputation as a good defender, a leadoff type hitter and, perhaps, a "winner." Managers give these kind of players way too many plate appearances and innings in the field based on reputation while the team's performance suffers.

bmfc1 · December 10, 2008

From Ken Rosenthal, tonight:

8:46 p.m. � Mets trying to land M's Putz

The Mets are working to acquire a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez � and that setup man would be another closer from the American League West.

J.J. Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.

Mets right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first-base prospect Mike Carp would be in the deal, as would Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.

metirish · December 10, 2008

Can I get a WOW?

metirish · December 10, 2008

From KR

9:32 p.m. � Source: Tigers to aqcuire Edwin Jackson

The Detroit Tigers are set to acquire right-hander Edwin Jackson from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Matt Joyce, according to a major-league source.

Tampa Bay, with David Price on the way, had a surplus of starting pitching. Jackson, 25, was 14-11 this year with a 4.25 ERA.

In exchange the Rays get a 24-year-old, left-handed-hitting corner outfielder who hit 12 homers in 242 at-bats. -- Ed Price

metirish · December 10, 2008

="bmfc1":3tnm13me]From Ken Rosenthal, tonight:

8:46 p.m. � Mets trying to land M's Putz

The Mets are working to acquire a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez � and that setup man would be another closer from the American League West.

J.J. Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.

Mets right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first-base prospect Mike Carp would be in the deal, as would Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.[/quote:3tnm13me]

Just so this is not lost on the last page.

Gwreck
Dec 10 2008 07:55 PM

Putz is extremely valuable but won't come cheap: $5 million for '09 and $8.6 million club option for '10 (with a $1M buyout). The other 3 players combined make less than $4 million.

I think we'd miss Chavez a lot.

HahnSolo
Dec 10 2008 07:56 PM

I'd love to know how he would feel about going from a closer to a setup guy. Would hate to bring him in only to have him griping about his role.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 10 2008 08:00 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2008 08:12 PM

Chavez isn't going to help us if he hits like he did last year. I love him and all.

Meantime I think three guys are all you wanna surrender for a single reliever, especially one coming off a poor season like Putz (edit - poor for him).

seawolf17
Dec 10 2008 08:09 PM

Heilman, Chavez, Carp for Putz? Yes.
Heilman, Chavez, Carp and Joe Smith for Putz? No.

smg58
Dec 10 2008 08:36 PM

I'd be worried about trusting workhorse innings to a guy coming off a serious injury, but when he's healthy Putz is as good a reliever as anybody. And the Mets do not appear to be giving up anybody they might miss. The Mets need a righthanded reserve outfielder more than they'd need Chavez. I'd make sure JJ gets a thorough physical, but if he passes, I'm for it.

metirish
Dec 11 2008 07:30 PM

davidoff

]
The Mets reopened trade discussions with the Cubs Thursday about acquiring Staten Island native Jason Marquis, according to SI.com. Marquis has a hefty salary -- he will earn $9.5 million this season -- but Minaya could dump Scott Schoeneweis ($3.6M) on Chicago to accomplish another one of Minaya's goals of addition by subtraction. It worked with Heilman.

One thing about these meetings I find interesting is that every year various baseball types go there looking for a gig , from prominent free agents to former players, I read that Bobby Meacham is there selling himself as is Lee Mazzilli.

metirish
Dec 11 2008 07:57 PM

Minaya on getting more offense.

]

"Before I start moving my dollars to offense, I have to move my dollars to pitching," the GM said."Last year was very simple guys. We had 20 blown saves. We scored the runs."

smg58
Dec 12 2008 04:49 AM

="metirish"]davidoff

]
The Mets reopened trade discussions with the Cubs Thursday about acquiring Staten Island native Jason Marquis, according to SI.com. Marquis has a hefty salary -- he will earn $9.5 million this season -- but Minaya could dump Scott Schoeneweis ($3.6M) on Chicago to accomplish another one of Minaya's goals of addition by subtraction. It worked with Heilman.

Marquis' ERA+ last year (99) was comparable with those of Perez (100) and Maine (101). I might try to be ambitious here, offering Anderson, Feliciano, and a second-tier prospect for Marquis and Mike Fontenot. We'd take on more money, but we'd fill two needs and keep the Cubs from revisting sending DeRosa to the Phillies if the Peavy deal gets resurrected. But Schoeneweis for Marquis would be a perfectly acceptable fallback.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 12 2008 05:07 AM

I'm not that enamored with Marquis. MFY fan, you know.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 06:26 AM

All this talk about Marquis and Pierre makes me think Omar loves Frenchies.

bmfc1
Dec 12 2008 07:06 AM

Marquis is a fine #5 pitcher, perhaps a 4, but nothing more than that. He's a SOB which might be good at stretch time. We (sadly) know that he can hit. (For what it's worth, he's also a NYker and a M.O.T.) I hope this gets done.

Phillies got Ibanez which means that Burrell goes elsewhere.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Dec 12 2008 07:33 AM

="bmfc1":2vohih50]Marquis is a fine #5 pitcher, perhaps a 4, but nothing more than that. He's a SOB which might be good at stretch time. We (sadly) know that he can hit. (For what it's worth, he's also a NYker and a M.O.T.) I hope this gets done.

Phillies got Ibanez which means that Burrell goes elsewhere.[/quote:2vohih50]

See now right there's a reason to not part with Shoeneweis, if you needed one. Phils are going to be even more loaded with LH hitting than last year.

I think maybe the Mets go get Burrell, what do you say? He's streaky and a bit of a dumb jock but he hits, he's righty and it sticks it the Phils (he's definitely better than Ibanez).

I suppose Marquis would be alright near the end of the rotation but I'd hate for them to be fighting to get their money's worth with him.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 07:45 AM

I don't have a problem with Marquis being a four or five pitcher; that's pretty much what the Mets are looking for anyway. It would be nice to get someone who would be number 2, and bump Maine and Pelfrey each down a slot, but that's not all that realistic.

I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 07:47 AM

Ryan Howard, who Marty Noble insists was the MVP last year, went a m odest .219 / .313 / .479 // .792 vs the Mets last year.

If you've got to decide which lefty to keep, consider that he didn't reach base once against Feliciano in seven plate appearances (four Ks), while Schoeneweis was perfect against him in five confrontations, with two Ks.

Wait, that doesn't help at all.

Um, Schoenewess came out on top in his one matchup with Ibanez last year, while Feliciano didn't see and Raul action. But that only makes them more even.

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.

seawolf17
Dec 12 2008 07:56 AM

="Benjamin Grimm":11ubw6yw]I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.[/quote:11ubw6yw]
I'd still rather have Dunn than Burrell, but I'd take Burrell in a second. I'm concerned about Murphy getting overexposed; give him 250 ABs in a part-time role and let him earn his stripes again.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 07:59 AM

Speaking of Ibanez, the Phillies just signed him to a three year, $30 million contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=376426 8

Too bad. I think he would have been a great pickup for the Mets.

Later

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:07 AM

Head, slammed through wall.

Rockin' Doc
Dec 12 2008 08:28 AM

If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:32 AM

Marlon, I think, is not long for this town.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 08:33 AM

="Rockin' Doc":2d4wl6of]If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).[/quote:2d4wl6of]

Yes. Right now the fifth outfielder spot appears to be a competition between Evans and Reed. If a Burrell or Dunn were signed, the competition would be over and both of those outfielders would end up in Buffalo.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:37 AM

Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 08:44 AM

="Edgy DC":3pbxjx7s]Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.[/quote:3pbxjx7s]

Well, Dmitri Young wasn't tendered and is a free agent.
He certainly fills the "big fat" parts of that slot.

Later

Gwreck
Dec 12 2008 09:40 AM

="Edgy DC":1wn8w6gz]Head, slammed through wall.[/quote:1wn8w6gz]

Rollins
Ibanez
Utley
Howard
Werth
Victorino
Dobbs/Feliz
Ruiz

Ouch. Only consolation is that it's a left-heavy lineup.

Centerfield
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Ibanez basically replaces Burrell's production. Meaning the Phils will return a very similar lineup to last year's.

Mark Texiera still available.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

I'm slamming my head through a wall because of the proliferation of posting without reading.

smg58
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Evans belongs at Buffalo playing first base. With Carp gone and Delgado in his walk year, he should be getting full-time AB's at his best position.

The Mets need more lefthanded pitching.

Burrell might not be better than Ibanez when you factor in ballparks. But both might hurt (might have hurt, in Ibanez' case) the Mets defensively more than they'd help offensively. The Mets absolutely need another righthanded bat in the outfield, but not at a cost that's disproportionate to the benefit.

sharpie
Dec 12 2008 10:24 AM

Ibanez is a pretty good fielder, certainly not a guy you have to take out in the late innings.

TransMonk
Dec 12 2008 03:13 PM

Looks like the Yanks will overpay for Burnett[/url:3vyw4v5q] rather than overpay for Lowe.

Holy wallets.

Of all the crazy things , I guess they won the bidding war again.

So the Yanx had themselves a 1/4 Billion dollar week.
Or, as they say in the Bronx, a good starting point.

Here's hoping Burnett is even a bigger bust than Pavano. He's apparently a bigger idiot, and already a bigger injury risk.

The non-tenders are headed rather shockingly by ex-Met Ty Wigginton, after a very strong year with the bat. He's not that good defensively in the infield, but I have to think it had more to do with money. I also can't imagine that none of the teams in the market for a third baseman (the Twins, the Indians, the Giants) wouldn't have given him a look. I've always thought Ty could be the 10th man on a good team, and the Mets have room for him (as primarily an outfielder), but somebody might still pay him a starter's salary.

Other noteworthy non-tenders include Chris Capuano (still recovering from TJS but might be worth a long-term look) and Takaishi Saito (his worth depends entirely on the status of his elbow).

The only Met I saw was Argenis Reyes. If that's it, that would mean that Stokes (a good move) and Robinson Cancel (a bit surprising, unless they know they can move one of the other catchers) are staying on the 40.

i would LOVE to bring Wiggy back as a bench player, he has the pop that this bench needs and can play 2B/3B when needed (though not necessarily well)

I'm a lot happier with Ibanez in Philly than as a Met, especially at 3 years.

Keith Law calls it "absurd[/url:20pumd9t]."

What about Burrell for an everyday LF and Jon Garland as an SP?

Edgy DC
Dec 14 2008 07:37 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 14 2008 07:48 PM

="Valadius":2u4mpb0q]I'd plug Wiggy into Easley's spot in a heartbeat.[/quote:2u4mpb0q]
We'll be competing to buy him as a super-sub against teams looking for a starting thirdbaseman. You'd probably have to be thinking of him as your starting secondbaseman when you sign him.

Aaron Miles, meanwhile got non-tendered.

Besides Easley's role also included backing up Reyes at SS and Wiggy is an unrealistic option there.

Miles plays everywhere, shortstop (and mopup pitcher) included. He's pretty similar from both sides of the plate. He can take lefties away from Castillo (against whom Luis is historically weaker), pressing him for the full-time job, backup at shortstop, and fill in elsewhere as needed.

He's pretty analogous to Super Joe, with a little more average and a little less power, but has more starting experience and is less likely to be over-exposed by over-use.

Miles would come cheap and would be a rich mans superjoe

I'd prefer Wiggy cause he can play anything..maybe even left or RF when Murphy or Church have problems

Don't we need to focus on a full-time outfielder? Relying on Church & Murphy for 150 games seems a stretch.

I'd love Burrell..surly as he is and as far as a SP goes..wait til Most of The A pitchers go and go after Sheets or Garland.

Miles is another player who would be an upgrade over Castillo. He has similar hitting numbers to Castillo from a few years ago. He's also at least average with the glove, which Castillo can no longer say. He'd be worth bringing in for something like two years and $5M, although I might go higher than that if there are no other viable 2B options. He's not Orlando Hudson, but he could present significant value.

I'd be willing to go 2 years and $6M for Wigginton's services, even if I could only guarantee him starts against lefties (in the outfield). Somebody like him or Juan Rivera would boost our bench, enable us to platoon Ryan Church, and provide cover if something goes wrong with Murphy, Church, or Delgado. I'm not sure that would be enough, but nobody jumped at the chance to trade for him.

Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.

="Edgy DC":1omuczeq]Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.[/quote:1omuczeq]

I agree.
B'sides, if the Mets sign Cora, we might be subjected to pictures of him with his brother.
I'd get flashbacks of images of Joe Torre and his sister.
Hide the eyes of the chill'uns.

Miles gets my vote.

Later

Righthander Chan Ho Park said in a press conference in Seoul today that he has agreed to a 1-year contract with the Phillies.
According to the Korea Times, Park, 35, will have a base salary of $2.5 million with incentives that could push the total package to $5 million.
There had been reports that the Phillies were close to coming to terms with Park to improve their bullpen. However, the pitcher said he opted for the Phillies in part because they viewed him as a starter.

�I was a little worried about the Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly,� he said. "But as they considered me a starter, I signed with Philadelphia.�

http://www.philly.com/philly/b...l_for_Park.html

Later

The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.

It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."

="Centerfield":38yhgguz]It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."[/quote:38yhgguz]

I love you, Man. Your posts always make me laugh.

="Frayed Knot":uz2je510]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:uz2je510]

Go, Theo, go.

Phils re-up 95 y/o Jamie Moyer for 2 years.

OK, he's really only 46.

="Frayed Knot":2wijd3xl]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

Go, Theo, go.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

I would not be surprised if Houston was the team not being mentioned. He pitched well down there for them and they don't have a whole lot of starting pitching depth after Oswalt.

I'm OK with Pedro. I said it.

Just, you know, sign a bunch of other guys also.

I have no problem with Petey in the #5 slot to start the season. I'm more worried with the durability of Maine and whether the other teams catch up with Pelfry's stuff.

Any day the Phils resign Jamie Moyer and add Chan Ho Park is a good day for us!

The Phils trying to get two more years out of an ancient lefty strikes me as one more good reason for us to Burrell up.

Knucksie in Dixie:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/18/SPMQ14QQMI.DTL

Never made any sense to me that Lance Neikro wasn't a knuckleballer to begin with. IIRC, he had a big hit vs. the Mets (was it a game-winning HR or something?) when he first came up with the Giants and I naturally assumed he was on his way to major stardom.

Fireballer Daniel Cabrera goes to the Nats, 1 year, 2.6 million.

="Valadius":2pz740g9]Ha, good luck with that. Guy's a head case.[/quote:2pz740g9]

I think people were saying that about Ollie Perez before the Pirates sent him to us. Talented, strikeout pitcher, control issues, high ERA, etc.

OK, now both the Angels and the Red Sox say they're not going after Texiera anymore. Has Boras finall pushed people over the edge, or is this all just negotiating ploys?

The Angels are claiming that their offer is "off the table" and that there'll be no further negotiating - which at least doesn't sound like a ploy.
Boston, for its part, isn't claiming that, only that they think they're not going to be his choice due to other teams raising their offers beyond where they're willing to go.

That leaves Teixeira in the position of either taking Boston's "low" offer or going the Baltimore/Washington route which kind of flies in the face of his 'I wanna be a contendah' pledge.

Supposedly this was going to be wrapped up by Xmas but it wouldn't be the first time Boras has over-played his hand.

There's still Baltimore and Washington. Boras isn't quite out of options yet.

Speaking of Boras...

Murray Chass
MurrayChass.com

Now that CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have signed, other pitchers on the
free-agent list are expected to follow. Derek Lowe is probably next on the
list in terms of interest, but the interest has been all talk and no offers.
His agent's asking price is said to be the reason.

Scott Boras has told clubs he wants Barry Zito money for the 35-year-old
Lowe, which means $18 million a year. Clubs interested in Lowe have not
rushed forward with such offers. The slow-moving market may be just what the Mets want.

...Barry Zito isn't worth Barry Zito money. But Derek Lowe? Is he nuts?

Edgy DC
Dec 22 2008 01:44 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 22 2008 02:20 PM

I'm not sure I'd support the Mets spending $18 million a year for two Derek Lowes.

The MOST I'd spend on Derek Lowe is $8 million a year. $18 million is beyond rationality.

Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.

="Willets Point":2bf2t6s1]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:2bf2t6s1]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later

Guys who can consistently give you 200+ IP with 15 wins and a sub-4 ERA are worth plenty more than 8 million.

I wouldn't go four years with Lowe, on account of his age, but I'd much rather have him than Ollie.

="Willets Point":3rvs0psj]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:3rvs0psj]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later[/quote:3rvs0psj]

Just a joke about Lowe's rumored love of the drink.

Randy Johnson will pursue his 300th win as a San Francisco Giant.

he could it be cutting it close with the type of run support the giants give their starters. he needs 5 wins, it took Matt Cain all year to get 8 wins for the Giants with an ERA+ the same as Johnson's last year.

'Randy Johnson is a Giant' is somewhat of a redundant headline. He's probably been called that since he was in the 4th grade.

On the other hand, there must have been plenty in in the Castro district of SF who were excited to hear that someone called 'The Big Unit' was coming to their city.

FK with a late entry for post o' the year.

The Giants have had a nice offseason (Renteria, Affeldt, Howry, Johnson) and if local rumors of them adding Adam Dunn are correct, they could be players in a weak West.

I agree. You can definitely quibble with the wisdom of a team's particular moves but I like to see franchises who've had bad years making a bunch of moves in the offseason, whether they are effective or not.

Like the Giants... and the MFYs...

X-Rockie, X-Astro OFer Wily Tavarez signs a two-year deal with Cincy.
He's good at stealing bases and also .... ummmm, I'll think of something.

And Kevin Mensch heads for Japan.
The Japanese just might get a look at his monsterously huge head and add a second rising sun to their flag.
I think that thing has its own gravitational pull.

Penny for your Sox ...

Brad Penny to Boston for 1 yr/$5mil -- pending a physical which could yet throw a wrench into the works.

As mentioned elsewhere, this could keep them from chasing the likes of Lowe, Wolf, Ollie, etc. thus reducing the demand pool by one more team.

This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

The Cubs sign Aaron Miles for two years, then trade DeRosa to the Indians for three low level (not even top 20) prospects. At least it's not the Phillies, but that's one mild upgrade over Castillo and one significant upgrade who found takers at prices we could have afforded.

Cubs 2B Mark DeRosa - long rumored as part of a Jake Peavy trade - dealt to Cleveland for a trio of minor league pitchers.

Fuentes got two years at $17.5M, plus a club option. Rotoworld says "Fuentes almost certainly took less money to play close to home," but I'm not sure who was competing with the Angels.

Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day!

="Frayed Knot":1xejc7ja]Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day![/quote:1xejc7ja]

Better news- nobody really cares about him anymore, including it seems the GMs of all 30 teams.

Watching MLB Network Hot Stove and they are reporting that San Francisco have offered Manny Ramirez a four year deal.

Dodgers and A Jones have agreed to defer most of his money owed likely leading to him playing elsewhere.

Scott Proctor to the Marlins for one year.

="Benjamin Grimm":2ytj1poh]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.[/quote:2ytj1poh]

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

="Ashie62":hblnrkgs]Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker[/quote:hblnrkgs]

i don't believe that for a second.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

Maybe the three closer thing is the way to go after the last two seasons.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

True..my impatience caused me to jump over Krod & Putz KP DOOTY...I'm just frustrated that the odds of landing a power corner and a decent SP , Sheets, Garland, Lowe..are diminishing and pray the Mets are not newly cash short

Burrell has a rep for being a prick but if the Rays can land him at 16 million for 2 years I then wonder why the Mets wouldn't top that and not have to expect 150 games from Murphy and even let Murphy learn 2B at AAA as an experiment.

The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.

="smg58":1gnuo0ct]The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.[/quote:1gnuo0ct]
Can't wait to see him go head-to-head with Pinella.
Later

And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.

="smg58":162h2ehz]And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.[/quote:162h2ehz]

Makes ya crazy. Geez. I mean, about Hairston.

Maybe Hairston gets a chance to start in Cincy and couldn't be sure of that here.
Never did even hear a rumor of them looking at him though.

Also:

- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino

Andy Pettitte turns down one year and $10 million from the Yanks in a declining market.

Yomiuri Giant Koji Uehara signs with Bal'more for two years.

Reports say that he's the team's first Japanese player, but they forget Nippo-Hawaiian Len Sakata.

="Frayed Knot":2gsb44fr]- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino[/quote:2gsb44fr]

I'll laugh if Pavano gives the Indians 27 starts (i.e., more starts than he gave the MFY's in four years).

The Marquis deal appears to leave Jorge de la Rosa out of the rotation in Colorado. I'd see what the asking price for him is; he finished very strongly last year, and he's at least as good as Tim Redding.

="Centerfield":biqnwx39]Len was American.[/quote:biqnwx39]
As I said.

From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly

="Frayed Knot":3hnipcdi]From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly[/quote:3hnipcdi]
Pure insurance with Utley out for the early part of the year due to surgery.
Later

From MetsBlog

Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press believes the Mets have made an offer to free-agent RHP Tim Redding, who was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season

I'll give Redding this: with one inning and six runs, he may be the worst performing Yankee ever.

If Rocco Baldelli can be reasonably healthy, he could be a great pick up for the Red Sox. I hope he is healthy and has a great season for the Sox.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3gx2svou]Bocco Radelli to the Sed Rox.[/quote:3gx2svou]

And quite possibly Smoltz too!
Not official yet but several outlets are reporting it's 'bout a done deal.
I guess they're promising him a starting job - don't think he would have jumped otherwise.

Other reports have Trevor Hoffman going to the Brews ... although this is only one day after others had him headed to the Dodgers.

Sort of a homecoming for Smoltz. Didn't he start his career with the Braves when they were still playing in Boston?

No, the Tigers. Anywhoo, oughta soitenly remove Boston from the list of potential Lowe suitors (and cause me some concern too: Why don't any of Lowe's former employers want him back?)

The additions of Smoltz and Brad Penny probably take the Sox out of the discussions for Derek Lowe.

Assuming Baldelli gets something like what Hairston got, I'd be a little annoyed that we didn't give him a look. We do need another righthanded bat.

Yeah, I was half-hoping for Baldelli too.
He's not a great player and has played fewer games in the last two seasons than Alou had in the two before we got him. But if this problem of his has finally been diagnosed correctly he could be a useful guy to have around.

But Omar seems to be on this 'one problem at a time' schedule where nothing can even be talked about until the starter question is answered.

I almost did too because I sometimes confuse the Smoltz trade with the Bagwell one from Boston. The Smoltz from Detroit for Denny Alexander trade happened around the same era as Bagwell for Larry Anderson.
Both were done for pennant push help and in each case the minor leaguers were home-town guys (Smoltz is from Mich, Bags from Conn) who turned into HoF possibilities.

Doyle Alexander.

Now Denny McLain or somebody is getting into the conflation.

Looking at a potential nightmare with outfield defense the MFY's are apparently looking to trade Swisher and Nady.

Yankees fielding offers for Nady, Swisher

Posted by: Jon Heyman

The Yankees are fielding trade offers for corner outfielders Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. There's been some speculation they might consider trading Hideki Matsui, too, but he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off knee surgery, so there's really no way to trade him.

A logjam at the corners was created when the Yankees surprised a lot of folks and signed Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million contract. Swisher previously had been penciled in as the Yankees' first baseman but now becomes part of a crowded mix of accomplished corner outfielders. Swisher is a versatile player and can play some center field, as well. Some National League teams may be interested. However, Nady's trade value is higher after a better offensive season, so he may be just as likely to be dealt. Nady, acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade with the Pirates, combined to hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBIs for the year, while Swisher finished at .219 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs for the White Sox before being dealt to the Yankees after the season

i'd sure take Nady back, to split time with Church, Murphy and Delgado. But no way the Yanx trade him cross town.

You leave Tatis out of that mix.

Nady gives you what Tatis gives you, only more and probably better and definitely younger. Tatis' only advantage is playing third.

I'd love a Nady around because I think the best way to get something like last year's productivity out of Tatis is to make him earn every at-bat.

Maybe Murphy will do that, but I'm not counting on it.

What's going down, and I think a lot of us feel it, is that a lot of things went kind of right in Omar's offense that could have easily gone wronger, and he's kind of seeming to kind of be counting on a lot of those same thingies to go right again.

Fans be pessemistic creatures, of course.

Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.

="Vic Sage":37m9y64n]Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.[/quote:37m9y64n]

and you have a wild card at 1b, so it's not even half a lineup.
nobody has faith in schnied to produce offensively, and while castro COULD provide some pop, he just gets hurt too often (he must be the worst backup catcher in the league).
2b, nobody has faith in castillo, except he's saying all the right things.
and Church... will his head be screwed on straight?

it'll be an interesting few more weeks before spring training.

I agree with Vic, including about left field, but I'd be okay with giving Murphy/Tatis a chance to shine again. But in doing that, you have to protect yourself by beefing up some of the other positions. And as yet, the Mets haven't done anything towards that end.

Ramon Castro, not the worst backup catcher in the league.

Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady

BY KEN DAVIDOFF | ken.davidoff@newsday.com
January 9, 2009
In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.

General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady. With spring training more than a month away and the season opener just about three months away, however, there is no imperative to execute a quick trade.

The Mets enjoyed having Nady on their club for the first four months of the 2006 season, and they inquired about him last July, when the Yankees wound up getting him from Pittsburgh. For now, however, the Mets are focused on their starting rotation and are not looking to acquire a bat either through free agency or through a trade.

Frayed Knot
Jan 09 2009 01:54 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 09 2009 02:02 PM

Swisher switch-hits, and is better and more versatile defensively.
He's also signed for the next few years which could be either good or bad depending on whether he regains his hitting from last season's off year.

Nady is more likely to hit better (though walk less) and would only be for one year at a price to be determined by arbitration then would be a FA after that.

If we weren't already loaded with lefthanded hitting outfielders, I'd take Godzilla as a LH bench masher in the Franco/Staub mold.

As long as the Cranks would pay 90% of the freight and expect nothing back in return, sure.

(OK, maybe 70% with a throw-in going the other way would do)

I feel safe to say Tatis has had his middle aged career year..I wouldn't put too high a ceiling there.

Daniel Murphy needs more seasoning and I still advocate a year at AAA to learn 2B

Mr. Nady..wasn't he a Met who know has Yankee cooties?

Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

="metirish"]Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

Pedro really looked spent in 2008, after having a respectable September prior. I don't think he has much in the tank and I would not miss all the drama.

Marlins not interested in signing Pedro
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Don't look for Pedro Martinez to wind up with the Marlins.
A day after a report stated the Marlins were in the mix for the 37-year-old right-hander, a league source confirmed to MLB.com on Sunday that Florida has zero interest. Reports in the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and SunSentinel also ruled out the possibility of Martinez joining the club.

On Saturday night, a report on ESPNdeportes.com stated the Marlins had discussions with agent Fernando Cuza regarding Martinez. The report added Florida may have begun preliminary contract talks, and that the two sides were expected to continue talking this week.

As of late Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were not considered a possible fit.

Martinez has a home in Miami, and he has expressed privately a desire to pitch for the Marlins. On Monday, Cuza is expected to have discussions with the Mets about a possible return to New York. The right-hander also is expected to test the free-agent market.

Hampered by injuries last year, Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts. He threw 109 innings.

Working with minimal financial resources, the Marlins are looking for affordable free agents. The team did explore adding veteran Carl Pavano, who signed with the Indians.

The Marlins are prepared to head into Spring Training with a rotation that includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez. Nolasco, eliglbe for arbitration, still has not signed.

Florida continues to explore depth at catcher. The team is looking for low-priced options there. A free agent that could be a fit is Ivan Rodriguez, but only if his price tag continues to drop this month.

Yeah, use the threat of the Daddy Warbucks Marlins to trigger a false bidding war. That's the ticket.

I think that Pedro had far more interest in the Marlins than they had in him. I believe that Pedro is desperate to play another season, but I don't think teams throughout the league are very interested in signing him.

Pedro was once a dominant, HOF caliber pitcher, but he seems to be the one person that doesn't see how far removed from his former greatness he now is.

If Pedro Martinez retired tomorrow he would surely be in the HOF at first ballot , wouldn't he?

I was not inferring that Pedro Martinez was not worthy of enshrinement in Coopperstown. He has had a tremendous career and was arguably one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in MLB for several seasons. I would vote for him (if I had a vote) when his name comes up on the HOF ballot. I was simply stating that he is not nearly the dominant pitcher he once was.

I think he's pretty aware of what happened last year.

If he didn't still believe he could turn it around, he wouldn't be the great pitcher he is. What's more, I believe he could turn it around. In his prime, he had an unprecedented four killer pitches, so it's not like he was fastball-reliant. It's a matter of finding what he can do with what's left of his fastball and using it to complement the rest of his arsenal.

That's a far ways from saying he will return to a productive level, but I'm certain he can. Glavine continued to pitch effectively with a powder puff fastball and a change. While his control was still very good, Pedro's has always been even better.

And if I'm the Mets, I'm willing to spend some change to find out. Giving him Redding's money with an automatically vesting bonus year of $9 million if he gets 180 innings? Yeah, go for it. I'm certain he can do as well as Redding in 2009, and a damn fine bet to do better. The only thing Redding has over him is a better doctor's report.

Michael Young wants out of Texas , can play 2nd base.

I should add that Heyman just said on the Hot stove that he has %62 million left on his big contract.

Young's expensive, and the dropoff in his numbers over the past three years has been precipitous. Even if they took Castillo it would still be a $10M payroll hit, and he's just not that good anymore.

Dodgers reportedly to release Andruw before today is out

Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?

Someone will be able to pick him up for minimum wage, and they may get a hell of a bargain at the Dodgers expense.

Jones was on MLB Network the other night talking about how he would love to go back to the Braves.

="Benjamin Grimm":2v9kwf3v]Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?[/quote:2v9kwf3v]

I guess not enough of a chance in their minds to make carrying him all year worth it.
They restructured his deal last week with a release in mind so I assume they're going to do similar thing to what we did with Bonilla (only on a much bigger scale): pay out the remainder over a long period to avoid getting hit with it all at once.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that the Phillies are aggressively trying to sign Moises Alou.

Would Alou be a starter there or would he be in a limited role , who's in the outfield there along with Ibanez?...Dobbs?....Victorino?

Watch him hit .500 and stay healthy all year. Bastard.

He wouldn't start there - but he'd be a potentially good RH bat off the bench for a predominately lefty hitting squad.

The three options (Perez, Wolf, and Sheets) may be soon reduced to two:

="MLB.com":2t16pb69]The deep freeze that's been the Major League free-agent market this winter has shown indications a thaw is coming -- at least for starting pitchers.

On the heels of the Mets reaching an apparent agreement on a Minor League deal with right-hander Freddy Garcia, it looks like the Dodgers have taken the inside track in the competition for lefty starter Randy Wolf's services.

According to sources for FoxSports.com, Wolf could most likely be signed to a one or two-year deal. Wolf previously pitched for Los Angeles in 2007 and was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA in a combined 33 starts last season for the Padres and Astros.

FoxSports.com said Wolf would get less than the three-year, $28 million offer the pitcher turned down from Houston earlier this winter. [/quote:2t16pb69]

Wolf turned down an offer for that much? , and I was thinking he could be had for a song on a one year deal.

Fine. I actually saw Wolf pitch twice last year, at the only game I attended at MFY Stadium and at the game I attended at Petco. Both time he got shellacked.

There are a number of available starters who can give you at least a league average ERA, several of whom have the upside to do significantly better. Randy Wolf is not one of them. I see no point in pursuing a demonstrably inferior pitcher just because he's a lefty.

I don't think anybody but Wally Matthews is arguing that his leftiness is important, and Wally is only throwing that pitch to drum up "Mets Gotta Steal Pettitte" angles. Who do you have your eye on?

Just turned over to MLB Network after watching "What Not To Wear" and heard Tom Verducci say that Perez is moving closer to signing with the Mets.

]Mets extend offer to Perez, their top target

The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target.

The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is.

Perez remains the Mets' top choice for the final spot in their rotation, though the team has remained in contact with three other free-agent pitchers -- Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets. They know they'd have competition for Wolf (Dodgers), Garland (Diamondbacks) and Sheets (Rangers, possibly Yankees) but aren't sure what other teams are competing for Perez.

The Mets had been hopeful to land free agent Derek Lowe earlier but were surprised when the rival Braves outbid them by $24 million, landing Lowe with a $60-million, four-year contract. Perez, 27, is eight years younger than Lowe, though not quite as consistent.

Mets GM Omar Minaya would love to import Perez, so the Mets are not likely to take one of the other pitchers unless he feels his chances for Perez are gone.

I hope "the mystery team" comes and raises perez's price too high so we can sign Sheets. Then Boras and Perez can admit there was no mystery team and we get both at a reduced rate!

If money is the issue, I'd like to see the Mets sign Sheets and with any Ollie Perez money left over, go out and sign Odalis Perez. His ERA was only .10 worse than Ollie's last year, is still only 32 years old, and probably be signed for far less money than any of the other names that have been in the press lately.

Later

Varitek's (read: Boras's) threat to sit out the season and/or retire didn't get the Sox to budge I see.

Tek is one of several who turned down arbitration offers this winter only to wind up not only with a much smaller deal than arb would have snagged him but didn't get the multi-year deal either.

Now it's hope you play well and the economy improves when you can do the same dance next year.

="Ashie62":2t5ssjz6]Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise?[/quote:2t5ssjz6]

.220

Is that his weight or his average? , sucks either way though.

]Left-hander Chase Wright was traded by the New York Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for outfielder-catcher Eric Fryer.

Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's.

metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.

="Rockin' Doc":2e2xwbch]metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.[/quote:2e2xwbch]

B'sides, they couldn't have the signing photo op soon anyhow.
They'd first have to send out Cecil Fielder's uni to have the seams let out to fit Jones.

Later

Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.

="Frayed Knot":1zv55w66]Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.[/quote:1zv55w66]

Yeah, poor guy. My heart breaks for him.

/sarcasm

It's not like he doesn't get to keep the 15 miills.

Sure, it just shows a helluva difference between what someone thought he was worth last year vs what they think he's worth barely a year later.
How the mighty (and fat) have fallen.

Gwreck · December 10, 2008

Putz is extremely valuable but won't come cheap: $5 million for '09 and $8.6 million club option for '10 (with a $1M buyout). The other 3 players combined make less than $4 million.

I think we'd miss Chavez a lot.

HahnSolo · December 10, 2008

I'd love to know how he would feel about going from a closer to a setup guy. Would hate to bring him in only to have him griping about his role.

December 10, 2008

Chavez isn't going to help us if he hits like he did last year. I love him and all.

Meantime I think three guys are all you wanna surrender for a single reliever, especially one coming off a poor season like Putz (edit - poor for him).

Edited December 10, 2008 by Guest

seawolf17 · December 10, 2008

Heilman, Chavez, Carp for Putz? Yes.
Heilman, Chavez, Carp and Joe Smith for Putz? No.

smg58 · December 10, 2008

I'd be worried about trusting workhorse innings to a guy coming off a serious injury, but when he's healthy Putz is as good a reliever as anybody. And the Mets do not appear to be giving up anybody they might miss. The Mets need a righthanded reserve outfielder more than they'd need Chavez. I'd make sure JJ gets a thorough physical, but if he passes, I'm for it.

metirish · December 11, 2008

davidoff

]
The Mets reopened trade discussions with the Cubs Thursday about acquiring Staten Island native Jason Marquis, according to SI.com. Marquis has a hefty salary -- he will earn $9.5 million this season -- but Minaya could dump Scott Schoeneweis ($3.6M) on Chicago to accomplish another one of Minaya's goals of addition by subtraction. It worked with Heilman.

One thing about these meetings I find interesting is that every year various baseball types go there looking for a gig , from prominent free agents to former players, I read that Bobby Meacham is there selling himself as is Lee Mazzilli.

metirish · December 11, 2008

Minaya on getting more offense.

]

"Before I start moving my dollars to offense, I have to move my dollars to pitching," the GM said."Last year was very simple guys. We had 20 blown saves. We scored the runs."

smg58 · December 12, 2008

="metirish"]davidoff

]
The Mets reopened trade discussions with the Cubs Thursday about acquiring Staten Island native Jason Marquis, according to SI.com. Marquis has a hefty salary -- he will earn $9.5 million this season -- but Minaya could dump Scott Schoeneweis ($3.6M) on Chicago to accomplish another one of Minaya's goals of addition by subtraction. It worked with Heilman.

Marquis' ERA+ last year (99) was comparable with those of Perez (100) and Maine (101). I might try to be ambitious here, offering Anderson, Feliciano, and a second-tier prospect for Marquis and Mike Fontenot. We'd take on more money, but we'd fill two needs and keep the Cubs from revisting sending DeRosa to the Phillies if the Peavy deal gets resurrected. But Schoeneweis for Marquis would be a perfectly acceptable fallback.

December 12, 2008

I'm not that enamored with Marquis. MFY fan, you know.

December 12, 2008

All this talk about Marquis and Pierre makes me think Omar loves Frenchies.

bmfc1 · December 12, 2008

Marquis is a fine #5 pitcher, perhaps a 4, but nothing more than that. He's a SOB which might be good at stretch time. We (sadly) know that he can hit. (For what it's worth, he's also a NYker and a M.O.T.) I hope this gets done.

Phillies got Ibanez which means that Burrell goes elsewhere.

December 12, 2008

="bmfc1":2vohih50]Marquis is a fine #5 pitcher, perhaps a 4, but nothing more than that. He's a SOB which might be good at stretch time. We (sadly) know that he can hit. (For what it's worth, he's also a NYker and a M.O.T.) I hope this gets done.

Phillies got Ibanez which means that Burrell goes elsewhere.[/quote:2vohih50]

See now right there's a reason to not part with Shoeneweis, if you needed one. Phils are going to be even more loaded with LH hitting than last year.

I think maybe the Mets go get Burrell, what do you say? He's streaky and a bit of a dumb jock but he hits, he's righty and it sticks it the Phils (he's definitely better than Ibanez).

I suppose Marquis would be alright near the end of the rotation but I'd hate for them to be fighting to get their money's worth with him.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 07:45 AM

I don't have a problem with Marquis being a four or five pitcher; that's pretty much what the Mets are looking for anyway. It would be nice to get someone who would be number 2, and bump Maine and Pelfrey each down a slot, but that's not all that realistic.

I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 07:47 AM

Ryan Howard, who Marty Noble insists was the MVP last year, went a m odest .219 / .313 / .479 // .792 vs the Mets last year.

If you've got to decide which lefty to keep, consider that he didn't reach base once against Feliciano in seven plate appearances (four Ks), while Schoeneweis was perfect against him in five confrontations, with two Ks.

Wait, that doesn't help at all.

Um, Schoenewess came out on top in his one matchup with Ibanez last year, while Feliciano didn't see and Raul action. But that only makes them more even.

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.

seawolf17
Dec 12 2008 07:56 AM

="Benjamin Grimm":11ubw6yw]I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.[/quote:11ubw6yw]
I'd still rather have Dunn than Burrell, but I'd take Burrell in a second. I'm concerned about Murphy getting overexposed; give him 250 ABs in a part-time role and let him earn his stripes again.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 07:59 AM

Speaking of Ibanez, the Phillies just signed him to a three year, $30 million contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=376426 8

Too bad. I think he would have been a great pickup for the Mets.

Later

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:07 AM

Head, slammed through wall.

Rockin' Doc
Dec 12 2008 08:28 AM

If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:32 AM

Marlon, I think, is not long for this town.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 08:33 AM

="Rockin' Doc":2d4wl6of]If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).[/quote:2d4wl6of]

Yes. Right now the fifth outfielder spot appears to be a competition between Evans and Reed. If a Burrell or Dunn were signed, the competition would be over and both of those outfielders would end up in Buffalo.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:37 AM

Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 08:44 AM

="Edgy DC":3pbxjx7s]Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.[/quote:3pbxjx7s]

Well, Dmitri Young wasn't tendered and is a free agent.
He certainly fills the "big fat" parts of that slot.

Later

Gwreck
Dec 12 2008 09:40 AM

="Edgy DC":1wn8w6gz]Head, slammed through wall.[/quote:1wn8w6gz]

Rollins
Ibanez
Utley
Howard
Werth
Victorino
Dobbs/Feliz
Ruiz

Ouch. Only consolation is that it's a left-heavy lineup.

Centerfield
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Ibanez basically replaces Burrell's production. Meaning the Phils will return a very similar lineup to last year's.

Mark Texiera still available.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

I'm slamming my head through a wall because of the proliferation of posting without reading.

smg58
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Evans belongs at Buffalo playing first base. With Carp gone and Delgado in his walk year, he should be getting full-time AB's at his best position.

The Mets need more lefthanded pitching.

Burrell might not be better than Ibanez when you factor in ballparks. But both might hurt (might have hurt, in Ibanez' case) the Mets defensively more than they'd help offensively. The Mets absolutely need another righthanded bat in the outfield, but not at a cost that's disproportionate to the benefit.

sharpie
Dec 12 2008 10:24 AM

Ibanez is a pretty good fielder, certainly not a guy you have to take out in the late innings.

TransMonk
Dec 12 2008 03:13 PM

Looks like the Yanks will overpay for Burnett[/url:3vyw4v5q] rather than overpay for Lowe.

Holy wallets.

Of all the crazy things , I guess they won the bidding war again.

So the Yanx had themselves a 1/4 Billion dollar week.
Or, as they say in the Bronx, a good starting point.

Here's hoping Burnett is even a bigger bust than Pavano. He's apparently a bigger idiot, and already a bigger injury risk.

The non-tenders are headed rather shockingly by ex-Met Ty Wigginton, after a very strong year with the bat. He's not that good defensively in the infield, but I have to think it had more to do with money. I also can't imagine that none of the teams in the market for a third baseman (the Twins, the Indians, the Giants) wouldn't have given him a look. I've always thought Ty could be the 10th man on a good team, and the Mets have room for him (as primarily an outfielder), but somebody might still pay him a starter's salary.

Other noteworthy non-tenders include Chris Capuano (still recovering from TJS but might be worth a long-term look) and Takaishi Saito (his worth depends entirely on the status of his elbow).

The only Met I saw was Argenis Reyes. If that's it, that would mean that Stokes (a good move) and Robinson Cancel (a bit surprising, unless they know they can move one of the other catchers) are staying on the 40.

i would LOVE to bring Wiggy back as a bench player, he has the pop that this bench needs and can play 2B/3B when needed (though not necessarily well)

I'm a lot happier with Ibanez in Philly than as a Met, especially at 3 years.

Keith Law calls it "absurd[/url:20pumd9t]."

What about Burrell for an everyday LF and Jon Garland as an SP?

Edgy DC
Dec 14 2008 07:37 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 14 2008 07:48 PM

="Valadius":2u4mpb0q]I'd plug Wiggy into Easley's spot in a heartbeat.[/quote:2u4mpb0q]
We'll be competing to buy him as a super-sub against teams looking for a starting thirdbaseman. You'd probably have to be thinking of him as your starting secondbaseman when you sign him.

Aaron Miles, meanwhile got non-tendered.

Besides Easley's role also included backing up Reyes at SS and Wiggy is an unrealistic option there.

Miles plays everywhere, shortstop (and mopup pitcher) included. He's pretty similar from both sides of the plate. He can take lefties away from Castillo (against whom Luis is historically weaker), pressing him for the full-time job, backup at shortstop, and fill in elsewhere as needed.

He's pretty analogous to Super Joe, with a little more average and a little less power, but has more starting experience and is less likely to be over-exposed by over-use.

Miles would come cheap and would be a rich mans superjoe

I'd prefer Wiggy cause he can play anything..maybe even left or RF when Murphy or Church have problems

Don't we need to focus on a full-time outfielder? Relying on Church & Murphy for 150 games seems a stretch.

I'd love Burrell..surly as he is and as far as a SP goes..wait til Most of The A pitchers go and go after Sheets or Garland.

Miles is another player who would be an upgrade over Castillo. He has similar hitting numbers to Castillo from a few years ago. He's also at least average with the glove, which Castillo can no longer say. He'd be worth bringing in for something like two years and $5M, although I might go higher than that if there are no other viable 2B options. He's not Orlando Hudson, but he could present significant value.

I'd be willing to go 2 years and $6M for Wigginton's services, even if I could only guarantee him starts against lefties (in the outfield). Somebody like him or Juan Rivera would boost our bench, enable us to platoon Ryan Church, and provide cover if something goes wrong with Murphy, Church, or Delgado. I'm not sure that would be enough, but nobody jumped at the chance to trade for him.

Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.

="Edgy DC":1omuczeq]Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.[/quote:1omuczeq]

I agree.
B'sides, if the Mets sign Cora, we might be subjected to pictures of him with his brother.
I'd get flashbacks of images of Joe Torre and his sister.
Hide the eyes of the chill'uns.

Miles gets my vote.

Later

Righthander Chan Ho Park said in a press conference in Seoul today that he has agreed to a 1-year contract with the Phillies.
According to the Korea Times, Park, 35, will have a base salary of $2.5 million with incentives that could push the total package to $5 million.
There had been reports that the Phillies were close to coming to terms with Park to improve their bullpen. However, the pitcher said he opted for the Phillies in part because they viewed him as a starter.

�I was a little worried about the Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly,� he said. "But as they considered me a starter, I signed with Philadelphia.�

http://www.philly.com/philly/b...l_for_Park.html

Later

The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.

It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."

="Centerfield":38yhgguz]It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."[/quote:38yhgguz]

I love you, Man. Your posts always make me laugh.

="Frayed Knot":uz2je510]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:uz2je510]

Go, Theo, go.

Phils re-up 95 y/o Jamie Moyer for 2 years.

OK, he's really only 46.

="Frayed Knot":2wijd3xl]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

Go, Theo, go.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

I would not be surprised if Houston was the team not being mentioned. He pitched well down there for them and they don't have a whole lot of starting pitching depth after Oswalt.

I'm OK with Pedro. I said it.

Just, you know, sign a bunch of other guys also.

I have no problem with Petey in the #5 slot to start the season. I'm more worried with the durability of Maine and whether the other teams catch up with Pelfry's stuff.

Any day the Phils resign Jamie Moyer and add Chan Ho Park is a good day for us!

The Phils trying to get two more years out of an ancient lefty strikes me as one more good reason for us to Burrell up.

Knucksie in Dixie:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/18/SPMQ14QQMI.DTL

Never made any sense to me that Lance Neikro wasn't a knuckleballer to begin with. IIRC, he had a big hit vs. the Mets (was it a game-winning HR or something?) when he first came up with the Giants and I naturally assumed he was on his way to major stardom.

Fireballer Daniel Cabrera goes to the Nats, 1 year, 2.6 million.

="Valadius":2pz740g9]Ha, good luck with that. Guy's a head case.[/quote:2pz740g9]

I think people were saying that about Ollie Perez before the Pirates sent him to us. Talented, strikeout pitcher, control issues, high ERA, etc.

OK, now both the Angels and the Red Sox say they're not going after Texiera anymore. Has Boras finall pushed people over the edge, or is this all just negotiating ploys?

The Angels are claiming that their offer is "off the table" and that there'll be no further negotiating - which at least doesn't sound like a ploy.
Boston, for its part, isn't claiming that, only that they think they're not going to be his choice due to other teams raising their offers beyond where they're willing to go.

That leaves Teixeira in the position of either taking Boston's "low" offer or going the Baltimore/Washington route which kind of flies in the face of his 'I wanna be a contendah' pledge.

Supposedly this was going to be wrapped up by Xmas but it wouldn't be the first time Boras has over-played his hand.

There's still Baltimore and Washington. Boras isn't quite out of options yet.

Speaking of Boras...

Murray Chass
MurrayChass.com

Now that CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have signed, other pitchers on the
free-agent list are expected to follow. Derek Lowe is probably next on the
list in terms of interest, but the interest has been all talk and no offers.
His agent's asking price is said to be the reason.

Scott Boras has told clubs he wants Barry Zito money for the 35-year-old
Lowe, which means $18 million a year. Clubs interested in Lowe have not
rushed forward with such offers. The slow-moving market may be just what the Mets want.

...Barry Zito isn't worth Barry Zito money. But Derek Lowe? Is he nuts?

Edgy DC
Dec 22 2008 01:44 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 22 2008 02:20 PM

I'm not sure I'd support the Mets spending $18 million a year for two Derek Lowes.

The MOST I'd spend on Derek Lowe is $8 million a year. $18 million is beyond rationality.

Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.

="Willets Point":2bf2t6s1]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:2bf2t6s1]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later

Guys who can consistently give you 200+ IP with 15 wins and a sub-4 ERA are worth plenty more than 8 million.

I wouldn't go four years with Lowe, on account of his age, but I'd much rather have him than Ollie.

="Willets Point":3rvs0psj]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:3rvs0psj]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later[/quote:3rvs0psj]

Just a joke about Lowe's rumored love of the drink.

Randy Johnson will pursue his 300th win as a San Francisco Giant.

he could it be cutting it close with the type of run support the giants give their starters. he needs 5 wins, it took Matt Cain all year to get 8 wins for the Giants with an ERA+ the same as Johnson's last year.

'Randy Johnson is a Giant' is somewhat of a redundant headline. He's probably been called that since he was in the 4th grade.

On the other hand, there must have been plenty in in the Castro district of SF who were excited to hear that someone called 'The Big Unit' was coming to their city.

FK with a late entry for post o' the year.

The Giants have had a nice offseason (Renteria, Affeldt, Howry, Johnson) and if local rumors of them adding Adam Dunn are correct, they could be players in a weak West.

I agree. You can definitely quibble with the wisdom of a team's particular moves but I like to see franchises who've had bad years making a bunch of moves in the offseason, whether they are effective or not.

Like the Giants... and the MFYs...

X-Rockie, X-Astro OFer Wily Tavarez signs a two-year deal with Cincy.
He's good at stealing bases and also .... ummmm, I'll think of something.

And Kevin Mensch heads for Japan.
The Japanese just might get a look at his monsterously huge head and add a second rising sun to their flag.
I think that thing has its own gravitational pull.

Penny for your Sox ...

Brad Penny to Boston for 1 yr/$5mil -- pending a physical which could yet throw a wrench into the works.

As mentioned elsewhere, this could keep them from chasing the likes of Lowe, Wolf, Ollie, etc. thus reducing the demand pool by one more team.

This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

The Cubs sign Aaron Miles for two years, then trade DeRosa to the Indians for three low level (not even top 20) prospects. At least it's not the Phillies, but that's one mild upgrade over Castillo and one significant upgrade who found takers at prices we could have afforded.

Cubs 2B Mark DeRosa - long rumored as part of a Jake Peavy trade - dealt to Cleveland for a trio of minor league pitchers.

Fuentes got two years at $17.5M, plus a club option. Rotoworld says "Fuentes almost certainly took less money to play close to home," but I'm not sure who was competing with the Angels.

Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day!

="Frayed Knot":1xejc7ja]Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day![/quote:1xejc7ja]

Better news- nobody really cares about him anymore, including it seems the GMs of all 30 teams.

Watching MLB Network Hot Stove and they are reporting that San Francisco have offered Manny Ramirez a four year deal.

Dodgers and A Jones have agreed to defer most of his money owed likely leading to him playing elsewhere.

Scott Proctor to the Marlins for one year.

="Benjamin Grimm":2ytj1poh]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.[/quote:2ytj1poh]

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

="Ashie62":hblnrkgs]Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker[/quote:hblnrkgs]

i don't believe that for a second.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

Maybe the three closer thing is the way to go after the last two seasons.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

True..my impatience caused me to jump over Krod & Putz KP DOOTY...I'm just frustrated that the odds of landing a power corner and a decent SP , Sheets, Garland, Lowe..are diminishing and pray the Mets are not newly cash short

Burrell has a rep for being a prick but if the Rays can land him at 16 million for 2 years I then wonder why the Mets wouldn't top that and not have to expect 150 games from Murphy and even let Murphy learn 2B at AAA as an experiment.

The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.

="smg58":1gnuo0ct]The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.[/quote:1gnuo0ct]
Can't wait to see him go head-to-head with Pinella.
Later

And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.

="smg58":162h2ehz]And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.[/quote:162h2ehz]

Makes ya crazy. Geez. I mean, about Hairston.

Maybe Hairston gets a chance to start in Cincy and couldn't be sure of that here.
Never did even hear a rumor of them looking at him though.

Also:

- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino

Andy Pettitte turns down one year and $10 million from the Yanks in a declining market.

Yomiuri Giant Koji Uehara signs with Bal'more for two years.

Reports say that he's the team's first Japanese player, but they forget Nippo-Hawaiian Len Sakata.

="Frayed Knot":2gsb44fr]- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino[/quote:2gsb44fr]

I'll laugh if Pavano gives the Indians 27 starts (i.e., more starts than he gave the MFY's in four years).

The Marquis deal appears to leave Jorge de la Rosa out of the rotation in Colorado. I'd see what the asking price for him is; he finished very strongly last year, and he's at least as good as Tim Redding.

="Centerfield":biqnwx39]Len was American.[/quote:biqnwx39]
As I said.

From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly

="Frayed Knot":3hnipcdi]From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly[/quote:3hnipcdi]
Pure insurance with Utley out for the early part of the year due to surgery.
Later

From MetsBlog

Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press believes the Mets have made an offer to free-agent RHP Tim Redding, who was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season

I'll give Redding this: with one inning and six runs, he may be the worst performing Yankee ever.

If Rocco Baldelli can be reasonably healthy, he could be a great pick up for the Red Sox. I hope he is healthy and has a great season for the Sox.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3gx2svou]Bocco Radelli to the Sed Rox.[/quote:3gx2svou]

And quite possibly Smoltz too!
Not official yet but several outlets are reporting it's 'bout a done deal.
I guess they're promising him a starting job - don't think he would have jumped otherwise.

Other reports have Trevor Hoffman going to the Brews ... although this is only one day after others had him headed to the Dodgers.

Sort of a homecoming for Smoltz. Didn't he start his career with the Braves when they were still playing in Boston?

No, the Tigers. Anywhoo, oughta soitenly remove Boston from the list of potential Lowe suitors (and cause me some concern too: Why don't any of Lowe's former employers want him back?)

The additions of Smoltz and Brad Penny probably take the Sox out of the discussions for Derek Lowe.

Assuming Baldelli gets something like what Hairston got, I'd be a little annoyed that we didn't give him a look. We do need another righthanded bat.

Yeah, I was half-hoping for Baldelli too.
He's not a great player and has played fewer games in the last two seasons than Alou had in the two before we got him. But if this problem of his has finally been diagnosed correctly he could be a useful guy to have around.

But Omar seems to be on this 'one problem at a time' schedule where nothing can even be talked about until the starter question is answered.

I almost did too because I sometimes confuse the Smoltz trade with the Bagwell one from Boston. The Smoltz from Detroit for Denny Alexander trade happened around the same era as Bagwell for Larry Anderson.
Both were done for pennant push help and in each case the minor leaguers were home-town guys (Smoltz is from Mich, Bags from Conn) who turned into HoF possibilities.

Doyle Alexander.

Now Denny McLain or somebody is getting into the conflation.

Looking at a potential nightmare with outfield defense the MFY's are apparently looking to trade Swisher and Nady.

Yankees fielding offers for Nady, Swisher

Posted by: Jon Heyman

The Yankees are fielding trade offers for corner outfielders Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. There's been some speculation they might consider trading Hideki Matsui, too, but he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off knee surgery, so there's really no way to trade him.

A logjam at the corners was created when the Yankees surprised a lot of folks and signed Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million contract. Swisher previously had been penciled in as the Yankees' first baseman but now becomes part of a crowded mix of accomplished corner outfielders. Swisher is a versatile player and can play some center field, as well. Some National League teams may be interested. However, Nady's trade value is higher after a better offensive season, so he may be just as likely to be dealt. Nady, acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade with the Pirates, combined to hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBIs for the year, while Swisher finished at .219 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs for the White Sox before being dealt to the Yankees after the season

i'd sure take Nady back, to split time with Church, Murphy and Delgado. But no way the Yanx trade him cross town.

You leave Tatis out of that mix.

Nady gives you what Tatis gives you, only more and probably better and definitely younger. Tatis' only advantage is playing third.

I'd love a Nady around because I think the best way to get something like last year's productivity out of Tatis is to make him earn every at-bat.

Maybe Murphy will do that, but I'm not counting on it.

What's going down, and I think a lot of us feel it, is that a lot of things went kind of right in Omar's offense that could have easily gone wronger, and he's kind of seeming to kind of be counting on a lot of those same thingies to go right again.

Fans be pessemistic creatures, of course.

Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.

="Vic Sage":37m9y64n]Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.[/quote:37m9y64n]

and you have a wild card at 1b, so it's not even half a lineup.
nobody has faith in schnied to produce offensively, and while castro COULD provide some pop, he just gets hurt too often (he must be the worst backup catcher in the league).
2b, nobody has faith in castillo, except he's saying all the right things.
and Church... will his head be screwed on straight?

it'll be an interesting few more weeks before spring training.

I agree with Vic, including about left field, but I'd be okay with giving Murphy/Tatis a chance to shine again. But in doing that, you have to protect yourself by beefing up some of the other positions. And as yet, the Mets haven't done anything towards that end.

Ramon Castro, not the worst backup catcher in the league.

Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady

BY KEN DAVIDOFF | ken.davidoff@newsday.com
January 9, 2009
In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.

General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady. With spring training more than a month away and the season opener just about three months away, however, there is no imperative to execute a quick trade.

The Mets enjoyed having Nady on their club for the first four months of the 2006 season, and they inquired about him last July, when the Yankees wound up getting him from Pittsburgh. For now, however, the Mets are focused on their starting rotation and are not looking to acquire a bat either through free agency or through a trade.

Frayed Knot
Jan 09 2009 01:54 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 09 2009 02:02 PM

Swisher switch-hits, and is better and more versatile defensively.
He's also signed for the next few years which could be either good or bad depending on whether he regains his hitting from last season's off year.

Nady is more likely to hit better (though walk less) and would only be for one year at a price to be determined by arbitration then would be a FA after that.

If we weren't already loaded with lefthanded hitting outfielders, I'd take Godzilla as a LH bench masher in the Franco/Staub mold.

As long as the Cranks would pay 90% of the freight and expect nothing back in return, sure.

(OK, maybe 70% with a throw-in going the other way would do)

I feel safe to say Tatis has had his middle aged career year..I wouldn't put too high a ceiling there.

Daniel Murphy needs more seasoning and I still advocate a year at AAA to learn 2B

Mr. Nady..wasn't he a Met who know has Yankee cooties?

Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

="metirish"]Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

Pedro really looked spent in 2008, after having a respectable September prior. I don't think he has much in the tank and I would not miss all the drama.

Marlins not interested in signing Pedro
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Don't look for Pedro Martinez to wind up with the Marlins.
A day after a report stated the Marlins were in the mix for the 37-year-old right-hander, a league source confirmed to MLB.com on Sunday that Florida has zero interest. Reports in the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and SunSentinel also ruled out the possibility of Martinez joining the club.

On Saturday night, a report on ESPNdeportes.com stated the Marlins had discussions with agent Fernando Cuza regarding Martinez. The report added Florida may have begun preliminary contract talks, and that the two sides were expected to continue talking this week.

As of late Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were not considered a possible fit.

Martinez has a home in Miami, and he has expressed privately a desire to pitch for the Marlins. On Monday, Cuza is expected to have discussions with the Mets about a possible return to New York. The right-hander also is expected to test the free-agent market.

Hampered by injuries last year, Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts. He threw 109 innings.

Working with minimal financial resources, the Marlins are looking for affordable free agents. The team did explore adding veteran Carl Pavano, who signed with the Indians.

The Marlins are prepared to head into Spring Training with a rotation that includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez. Nolasco, eliglbe for arbitration, still has not signed.

Florida continues to explore depth at catcher. The team is looking for low-priced options there. A free agent that could be a fit is Ivan Rodriguez, but only if his price tag continues to drop this month.

Yeah, use the threat of the Daddy Warbucks Marlins to trigger a false bidding war. That's the ticket.

I think that Pedro had far more interest in the Marlins than they had in him. I believe that Pedro is desperate to play another season, but I don't think teams throughout the league are very interested in signing him.

Pedro was once a dominant, HOF caliber pitcher, but he seems to be the one person that doesn't see how far removed from his former greatness he now is.

If Pedro Martinez retired tomorrow he would surely be in the HOF at first ballot , wouldn't he?

I was not inferring that Pedro Martinez was not worthy of enshrinement in Coopperstown. He has had a tremendous career and was arguably one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in MLB for several seasons. I would vote for him (if I had a vote) when his name comes up on the HOF ballot. I was simply stating that he is not nearly the dominant pitcher he once was.

I think he's pretty aware of what happened last year.

If he didn't still believe he could turn it around, he wouldn't be the great pitcher he is. What's more, I believe he could turn it around. In his prime, he had an unprecedented four killer pitches, so it's not like he was fastball-reliant. It's a matter of finding what he can do with what's left of his fastball and using it to complement the rest of his arsenal.

That's a far ways from saying he will return to a productive level, but I'm certain he can. Glavine continued to pitch effectively with a powder puff fastball and a change. While his control was still very good, Pedro's has always been even better.

And if I'm the Mets, I'm willing to spend some change to find out. Giving him Redding's money with an automatically vesting bonus year of $9 million if he gets 180 innings? Yeah, go for it. I'm certain he can do as well as Redding in 2009, and a damn fine bet to do better. The only thing Redding has over him is a better doctor's report.

Michael Young wants out of Texas , can play 2nd base.

I should add that Heyman just said on the Hot stove that he has %62 million left on his big contract.

Young's expensive, and the dropoff in his numbers over the past three years has been precipitous. Even if they took Castillo it would still be a $10M payroll hit, and he's just not that good anymore.

Dodgers reportedly to release Andruw before today is out

Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?

Someone will be able to pick him up for minimum wage, and they may get a hell of a bargain at the Dodgers expense.

Jones was on MLB Network the other night talking about how he would love to go back to the Braves.

="Benjamin Grimm":2v9kwf3v]Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?[/quote:2v9kwf3v]

I guess not enough of a chance in their minds to make carrying him all year worth it.
They restructured his deal last week with a release in mind so I assume they're going to do similar thing to what we did with Bonilla (only on a much bigger scale): pay out the remainder over a long period to avoid getting hit with it all at once.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that the Phillies are aggressively trying to sign Moises Alou.

Would Alou be a starter there or would he be in a limited role , who's in the outfield there along with Ibanez?...Dobbs?....Victorino?

Watch him hit .500 and stay healthy all year. Bastard.

He wouldn't start there - but he'd be a potentially good RH bat off the bench for a predominately lefty hitting squad.

The three options (Perez, Wolf, and Sheets) may be soon reduced to two:

="MLB.com":2t16pb69]The deep freeze that's been the Major League free-agent market this winter has shown indications a thaw is coming -- at least for starting pitchers.

On the heels of the Mets reaching an apparent agreement on a Minor League deal with right-hander Freddy Garcia, it looks like the Dodgers have taken the inside track in the competition for lefty starter Randy Wolf's services.

According to sources for FoxSports.com, Wolf could most likely be signed to a one or two-year deal. Wolf previously pitched for Los Angeles in 2007 and was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA in a combined 33 starts last season for the Padres and Astros.

FoxSports.com said Wolf would get less than the three-year, $28 million offer the pitcher turned down from Houston earlier this winter. [/quote:2t16pb69]

Wolf turned down an offer for that much? , and I was thinking he could be had for a song on a one year deal.

Fine. I actually saw Wolf pitch twice last year, at the only game I attended at MFY Stadium and at the game I attended at Petco. Both time he got shellacked.

There are a number of available starters who can give you at least a league average ERA, several of whom have the upside to do significantly better. Randy Wolf is not one of them. I see no point in pursuing a demonstrably inferior pitcher just because he's a lefty.

I don't think anybody but Wally Matthews is arguing that his leftiness is important, and Wally is only throwing that pitch to drum up "Mets Gotta Steal Pettitte" angles. Who do you have your eye on?

Just turned over to MLB Network after watching "What Not To Wear" and heard Tom Verducci say that Perez is moving closer to signing with the Mets.

]Mets extend offer to Perez, their top target

The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target.

The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is.

Perez remains the Mets' top choice for the final spot in their rotation, though the team has remained in contact with three other free-agent pitchers -- Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets. They know they'd have competition for Wolf (Dodgers), Garland (Diamondbacks) and Sheets (Rangers, possibly Yankees) but aren't sure what other teams are competing for Perez.

The Mets had been hopeful to land free agent Derek Lowe earlier but were surprised when the rival Braves outbid them by $24 million, landing Lowe with a $60-million, four-year contract. Perez, 27, is eight years younger than Lowe, though not quite as consistent.

Mets GM Omar Minaya would love to import Perez, so the Mets are not likely to take one of the other pitchers unless he feels his chances for Perez are gone.

I hope "the mystery team" comes and raises perez's price too high so we can sign Sheets. Then Boras and Perez can admit there was no mystery team and we get both at a reduced rate!

If money is the issue, I'd like to see the Mets sign Sheets and with any Ollie Perez money left over, go out and sign Odalis Perez. His ERA was only .10 worse than Ollie's last year, is still only 32 years old, and probably be signed for far less money than any of the other names that have been in the press lately.

Later

Varitek's (read: Boras's) threat to sit out the season and/or retire didn't get the Sox to budge I see.

Tek is one of several who turned down arbitration offers this winter only to wind up not only with a much smaller deal than arb would have snagged him but didn't get the multi-year deal either.

Now it's hope you play well and the economy improves when you can do the same dance next year.

="Ashie62":2t5ssjz6]Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise?[/quote:2t5ssjz6]

.220

Is that his weight or his average? , sucks either way though.

]Left-hander Chase Wright was traded by the New York Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for outfielder-catcher Eric Fryer.

Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's.

metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.

="Rockin' Doc":2e2xwbch]metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.[/quote:2e2xwbch]

B'sides, they couldn't have the signing photo op soon anyhow.
They'd first have to send out Cecil Fielder's uni to have the seams let out to fit Jones.

Later

Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.

="Frayed Knot":1zv55w66]Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.[/quote:1zv55w66]

Yeah, poor guy. My heart breaks for him.

/sarcasm

It's not like he doesn't get to keep the 15 miills.

Sure, it just shows a helluva difference between what someone thought he was worth last year vs what they think he's worth barely a year later.
How the mighty (and fat) have fallen.

Benjamin Grimm · December 12, 2008

I don't have a problem with Marquis being a four or five pitcher; that's pretty much what the Mets are looking for anyway. It would be nice to get someone who would be number 2, and bump Maine and Pelfrey each down a slot, but that's not all that realistic.

I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.

December 12, 2008

Ryan Howard, who Marty Noble insists was the MVP last year, went a m odest .219 / .313 / .479 // .792 vs the Mets last year.

If you've got to decide which lefty to keep, consider that he didn't reach base once against Feliciano in seven plate appearances (four Ks), while Schoeneweis was perfect against him in five confrontations, with two Ks.

Wait, that doesn't help at all.

Um, Schoenewess came out on top in his one matchup with Ibanez last year, while Feliciano didn't see and Raul action. But that only makes them more even.

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.

seawolf17 · December 12, 2008

="Benjamin Grimm":11ubw6yw]I too have been thinking about Burrell as a Met. (I've always seen him as a future Met; they tend to get guys who've hurt them, even if it's not until they've passed their prime.)

If they do sign him, I suppose their five-man outfield is Beltran, Church, Burrell, Tatis, and Murphy. (Evans and Reed to Buffalo.) I'd be a little concerned with Murphy not getting enough playing time, but I imagine he'd find his spots.[/quote:11ubw6yw]
I'd still rather have Dunn than Burrell, but I'd take Burrell in a second. I'm concerned about Murphy getting overexposed; give him 250 ABs in a part-time role and let him earn his stripes again.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 07:59 AM

Speaking of Ibanez, the Phillies just signed him to a three year, $30 million contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=376426 8

Too bad. I think he would have been a great pickup for the Mets.

Later

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:07 AM

Head, slammed through wall.

Rockin' Doc
Dec 12 2008 08:28 AM

If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:32 AM

Marlon, I think, is not long for this town.

Benjamin Grimm
Dec 12 2008 08:33 AM

="Rockin' Doc":2d4wl6of]If the Mets could pick up Pat Burrell for reasonable termsd, I would be okay with that. The Mets need a corner outfielder and some right handed power to help balance the line up. Burrell would accomplish both.

Murphy could still get reps as the fourth outfielder, possible spot starter at second base and the top lefty bat off the bench. Tatis would be the top righty bat off the bench while serving as a back up in LF and the corner infield spots. The only problem I see with that plan is with Endy gone, there is no one to serve as a late inning defensive substitute in LF unless Jeremy fills that role. That, however would be too many outfielders and someone (likely Murphy or Reed) would have to go elsewhere (Buffalo).[/quote:2d4wl6of]

Yes. Right now the fifth outfielder spot appears to be a competition between Evans and Reed. If a Burrell or Dunn were signed, the competition would be over and both of those outfielders would end up in Buffalo.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 08:37 AM

Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.

MFS62
Dec 12 2008 08:44 AM

="Edgy DC":3pbxjx7s]Evans is going to Buffalo. Marlon is going to Arizona. The Mets have a big fat slot waiting for a big fat outfielder to fill it.[/quote:3pbxjx7s]

Well, Dmitri Young wasn't tendered and is a free agent.
He certainly fills the "big fat" parts of that slot.

Later

Gwreck
Dec 12 2008 09:40 AM

="Edgy DC":1wn8w6gz]Head, slammed through wall.[/quote:1wn8w6gz]

Rollins
Ibanez
Utley
Howard
Werth
Victorino
Dobbs/Feliz
Ruiz

Ouch. Only consolation is that it's a left-heavy lineup.

Centerfield
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Ibanez basically replaces Burrell's production. Meaning the Phils will return a very similar lineup to last year's.

Mark Texiera still available.

Edgy DC
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

I'm slamming my head through a wall because of the proliferation of posting without reading.

smg58
Dec 12 2008 09:45 AM

Evans belongs at Buffalo playing first base. With Carp gone and Delgado in his walk year, he should be getting full-time AB's at his best position.

The Mets need more lefthanded pitching.

Burrell might not be better than Ibanez when you factor in ballparks. But both might hurt (might have hurt, in Ibanez' case) the Mets defensively more than they'd help offensively. The Mets absolutely need another righthanded bat in the outfield, but not at a cost that's disproportionate to the benefit.

sharpie
Dec 12 2008 10:24 AM

Ibanez is a pretty good fielder, certainly not a guy you have to take out in the late innings.

TransMonk
Dec 12 2008 03:13 PM

Looks like the Yanks will overpay for Burnett[/url:3vyw4v5q] rather than overpay for Lowe.

Holy wallets.

Of all the crazy things , I guess they won the bidding war again.

So the Yanx had themselves a 1/4 Billion dollar week.
Or, as they say in the Bronx, a good starting point.

Here's hoping Burnett is even a bigger bust than Pavano. He's apparently a bigger idiot, and already a bigger injury risk.

The non-tenders are headed rather shockingly by ex-Met Ty Wigginton, after a very strong year with the bat. He's not that good defensively in the infield, but I have to think it had more to do with money. I also can't imagine that none of the teams in the market for a third baseman (the Twins, the Indians, the Giants) wouldn't have given him a look. I've always thought Ty could be the 10th man on a good team, and the Mets have room for him (as primarily an outfielder), but somebody might still pay him a starter's salary.

Other noteworthy non-tenders include Chris Capuano (still recovering from TJS but might be worth a long-term look) and Takaishi Saito (his worth depends entirely on the status of his elbow).

The only Met I saw was Argenis Reyes. If that's it, that would mean that Stokes (a good move) and Robinson Cancel (a bit surprising, unless they know they can move one of the other catchers) are staying on the 40.

i would LOVE to bring Wiggy back as a bench player, he has the pop that this bench needs and can play 2B/3B when needed (though not necessarily well)

I'm a lot happier with Ibanez in Philly than as a Met, especially at 3 years.

Keith Law calls it "absurd[/url:20pumd9t]."

What about Burrell for an everyday LF and Jon Garland as an SP?

Edgy DC
Dec 14 2008 07:37 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 14 2008 07:48 PM

="Valadius":2u4mpb0q]I'd plug Wiggy into Easley's spot in a heartbeat.[/quote:2u4mpb0q]
We'll be competing to buy him as a super-sub against teams looking for a starting thirdbaseman. You'd probably have to be thinking of him as your starting secondbaseman when you sign him.

Aaron Miles, meanwhile got non-tendered.

Besides Easley's role also included backing up Reyes at SS and Wiggy is an unrealistic option there.

Miles plays everywhere, shortstop (and mopup pitcher) included. He's pretty similar from both sides of the plate. He can take lefties away from Castillo (against whom Luis is historically weaker), pressing him for the full-time job, backup at shortstop, and fill in elsewhere as needed.

He's pretty analogous to Super Joe, with a little more average and a little less power, but has more starting experience and is less likely to be over-exposed by over-use.

Miles would come cheap and would be a rich mans superjoe

I'd prefer Wiggy cause he can play anything..maybe even left or RF when Murphy or Church have problems

Don't we need to focus on a full-time outfielder? Relying on Church & Murphy for 150 games seems a stretch.

I'd love Burrell..surly as he is and as far as a SP goes..wait til Most of The A pitchers go and go after Sheets or Garland.

Miles is another player who would be an upgrade over Castillo. He has similar hitting numbers to Castillo from a few years ago. He's also at least average with the glove, which Castillo can no longer say. He'd be worth bringing in for something like two years and $5M, although I might go higher than that if there are no other viable 2B options. He's not Orlando Hudson, but he could present significant value.

I'd be willing to go 2 years and $6M for Wigginton's services, even if I could only guarantee him starts against lefties (in the outfield). Somebody like him or Juan Rivera would boost our bench, enable us to platoon Ryan Church, and provide cover if something goes wrong with Murphy, Church, or Delgado. I'm not sure that would be enough, but nobody jumped at the chance to trade for him.

Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.

="Edgy DC":1omuczeq]Unless and until Castillo and/or Delgado are dealt, we've got to be thinking shortstopability in our next infielder.[/quote:1omuczeq]

I agree.
B'sides, if the Mets sign Cora, we might be subjected to pictures of him with his brother.
I'd get flashbacks of images of Joe Torre and his sister.
Hide the eyes of the chill'uns.

Miles gets my vote.

Later

Righthander Chan Ho Park said in a press conference in Seoul today that he has agreed to a 1-year contract with the Phillies.
According to the Korea Times, Park, 35, will have a base salary of $2.5 million with incentives that could push the total package to $5 million.
There had been reports that the Phillies were close to coming to terms with Park to improve their bullpen. However, the pitcher said he opted for the Phillies in part because they viewed him as a starter.

�I was a little worried about the Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly,� he said. "But as they considered me a starter, I signed with Philadelphia.�

http://www.philly.com/philly/b...l_for_Park.html

Later

The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.

It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."

="Centerfield":38yhgguz]It was me. I had some extra money lying around and I figured, "Oh what the hell."[/quote:38yhgguz]

I love you, Man. Your posts always make me laugh.

="Frayed Knot":uz2je510]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:uz2je510]

Go, Theo, go.

Phils re-up 95 y/o Jamie Moyer for 2 years.

OK, he's really only 46.

="Frayed Knot":2wijd3xl]The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ...
well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year.

I hope it's not us either.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

Go, Theo, go.[/quote:2wijd3xl]

I would not be surprised if Houston was the team not being mentioned. He pitched well down there for them and they don't have a whole lot of starting pitching depth after Oswalt.

I'm OK with Pedro. I said it.

Just, you know, sign a bunch of other guys also.

I have no problem with Petey in the #5 slot to start the season. I'm more worried with the durability of Maine and whether the other teams catch up with Pelfry's stuff.

Any day the Phils resign Jamie Moyer and add Chan Ho Park is a good day for us!

The Phils trying to get two more years out of an ancient lefty strikes me as one more good reason for us to Burrell up.

Knucksie in Dixie:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/18/SPMQ14QQMI.DTL

Never made any sense to me that Lance Neikro wasn't a knuckleballer to begin with. IIRC, he had a big hit vs. the Mets (was it a game-winning HR or something?) when he first came up with the Giants and I naturally assumed he was on his way to major stardom.

Fireballer Daniel Cabrera goes to the Nats, 1 year, 2.6 million.

="Valadius":2pz740g9]Ha, good luck with that. Guy's a head case.[/quote:2pz740g9]

I think people were saying that about Ollie Perez before the Pirates sent him to us. Talented, strikeout pitcher, control issues, high ERA, etc.

OK, now both the Angels and the Red Sox say they're not going after Texiera anymore. Has Boras finall pushed people over the edge, or is this all just negotiating ploys?

The Angels are claiming that their offer is "off the table" and that there'll be no further negotiating - which at least doesn't sound like a ploy.
Boston, for its part, isn't claiming that, only that they think they're not going to be his choice due to other teams raising their offers beyond where they're willing to go.

That leaves Teixeira in the position of either taking Boston's "low" offer or going the Baltimore/Washington route which kind of flies in the face of his 'I wanna be a contendah' pledge.

Supposedly this was going to be wrapped up by Xmas but it wouldn't be the first time Boras has over-played his hand.

There's still Baltimore and Washington. Boras isn't quite out of options yet.

Speaking of Boras...

Murray Chass
MurrayChass.com

Now that CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have signed, other pitchers on the
free-agent list are expected to follow. Derek Lowe is probably next on the
list in terms of interest, but the interest has been all talk and no offers.
His agent's asking price is said to be the reason.

Scott Boras has told clubs he wants Barry Zito money for the 35-year-old
Lowe, which means $18 million a year. Clubs interested in Lowe have not
rushed forward with such offers. The slow-moving market may be just what the Mets want.

...Barry Zito isn't worth Barry Zito money. But Derek Lowe? Is he nuts?

Edgy DC
Dec 22 2008 01:44 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 22 2008 02:20 PM

I'm not sure I'd support the Mets spending $18 million a year for two Derek Lowes.

The MOST I'd spend on Derek Lowe is $8 million a year. $18 million is beyond rationality.

Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.

="Willets Point":2bf2t6s1]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:2bf2t6s1]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later

Guys who can consistently give you 200+ IP with 15 wins and a sub-4 ERA are worth plenty more than 8 million.

I wouldn't go four years with Lowe, on account of his age, but I'd much rather have him than Ollie.

="Willets Point":3rvs0psj]Oh man, Lowe needs $10 million just for booze alone.[/quote:3rvs0psj]
Are you saying this because he associates with Scott Boras?
Or is there something else you know about him?

Later[/quote:3rvs0psj]

Just a joke about Lowe's rumored love of the drink.

Randy Johnson will pursue his 300th win as a San Francisco Giant.

he could it be cutting it close with the type of run support the giants give their starters. he needs 5 wins, it took Matt Cain all year to get 8 wins for the Giants with an ERA+ the same as Johnson's last year.

'Randy Johnson is a Giant' is somewhat of a redundant headline. He's probably been called that since he was in the 4th grade.

On the other hand, there must have been plenty in in the Castro district of SF who were excited to hear that someone called 'The Big Unit' was coming to their city.

FK with a late entry for post o' the year.

The Giants have had a nice offseason (Renteria, Affeldt, Howry, Johnson) and if local rumors of them adding Adam Dunn are correct, they could be players in a weak West.

I agree. You can definitely quibble with the wisdom of a team's particular moves but I like to see franchises who've had bad years making a bunch of moves in the offseason, whether they are effective or not.

Like the Giants... and the MFYs...

X-Rockie, X-Astro OFer Wily Tavarez signs a two-year deal with Cincy.
He's good at stealing bases and also .... ummmm, I'll think of something.

And Kevin Mensch heads for Japan.
The Japanese just might get a look at his monsterously huge head and add a second rising sun to their flag.
I think that thing has its own gravitational pull.

Penny for your Sox ...

Brad Penny to Boston for 1 yr/$5mil -- pending a physical which could yet throw a wrench into the works.

As mentioned elsewhere, this could keep them from chasing the likes of Lowe, Wolf, Ollie, etc. thus reducing the demand pool by one more team.

This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

The Cubs sign Aaron Miles for two years, then trade DeRosa to the Indians for three low level (not even top 20) prospects. At least it's not the Phillies, but that's one mild upgrade over Castillo and one significant upgrade who found takers at prices we could have afforded.

Cubs 2B Mark DeRosa - long rumored as part of a Jake Peavy trade - dealt to Cleveland for a trio of minor league pitchers.

Fuentes got two years at $17.5M, plus a club option. Rotoworld says "Fuentes almost certainly took less money to play close to home," but I'm not sure who was competing with the Angels.

Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day!

="Frayed Knot":1xejc7ja]Good news folks, Barry Bonds says that he should be fully recovered from the hip surgery he needs in time for opening day![/quote:1xejc7ja]

Better news- nobody really cares about him anymore, including it seems the GMs of all 30 teams.

Watching MLB Network Hot Stove and they are reporting that San Francisco have offered Manny Ramirez a four year deal.

Dodgers and A Jones have agreed to defer most of his money owed likely leading to him playing elsewhere.

Scott Proctor to the Marlins for one year.

="Benjamin Grimm":2ytj1poh]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.[/quote:2ytj1poh]

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

="Ashie62":hblnrkgs]Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker[/quote:hblnrkgs]

i don't believe that for a second.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

Maybe the three closer thing is the way to go after the last two seasons.

="Benjamin Grimm"]This just in: Brian Fuentes to sign a two-year deal with the Angels.

This just in: Mets do nothing

Although the Metsies may be sewing Andruw Jones a jersey and importing steroids for his locker

Yeah, the Mets by not getting a third closer, are doing nothing.

True..my impatience caused me to jump over Krod & Putz KP DOOTY...I'm just frustrated that the odds of landing a power corner and a decent SP , Sheets, Garland, Lowe..are diminishing and pray the Mets are not newly cash short

Burrell has a rep for being a prick but if the Rays can land him at 16 million for 2 years I then wonder why the Mets wouldn't top that and not have to expect 150 games from Murphy and even let Murphy learn 2B at AAA as an experiment.

The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.

="smg58":1gnuo0ct]The Cubs apparently are giving 3 years and $30M to Milton Bradley. They expect him to play right field full time, even though he has had trouble staying in the lineup when he's been the DH. Given Burrell's deal and the fact that Abreu would have made much more sense for them, I really don't get this one.[/quote:1gnuo0ct]
Can't wait to see him go head-to-head with Pinella.
Later

And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.

="smg58":162h2ehz]And the bargains continue. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland for a year and an option, and Jerry Hairston stays in Cincinnatti for a year and $2M. I don't get the Mets' lack of interest in Hairston at that price.[/quote:162h2ehz]

Makes ya crazy. Geez. I mean, about Hairston.

Maybe Hairston gets a chance to start in Cincy and couldn't be sure of that here.
Never did even hear a rumor of them looking at him though.

Also:

- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino

Andy Pettitte turns down one year and $10 million from the Yanks in a declining market.

Yomiuri Giant Koji Uehara signs with Bal'more for two years.

Reports say that he's the team's first Japanese player, but they forget Nippo-Hawaiian Len Sakata.

="Frayed Knot":2gsb44fr]- Pavano to Cleveland for a year at a low base with lotsa IP incentives

- Cubs deal Jason Marquis (de Sade) to Colorado for LH reliever Luis Vizcaino[/quote:2gsb44fr]

I'll laugh if Pavano gives the Indians 27 starts (i.e., more starts than he gave the MFY's in four years).

The Marquis deal appears to leave Jorge de la Rosa out of the rotation in Colorado. I'd see what the asking price for him is; he finished very strongly last year, and he's at least as good as Tim Redding.

="Centerfield":biqnwx39]Len was American.[/quote:biqnwx39]
As I said.

From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly

="Frayed Knot":3hnipcdi]From the; 'How the (somewhat) mighty have fallen' department:
2B Marcus Giles signs a minor league deal with Philly[/quote:3hnipcdi]
Pure insurance with Utley out for the early part of the year due to surgery.
Later

From MetsBlog

Mike Fitzpatrick of the Associated Press believes the Mets have made an offer to free-agent RHP Tim Redding, who was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season

I'll give Redding this: with one inning and six runs, he may be the worst performing Yankee ever.

If Rocco Baldelli can be reasonably healthy, he could be a great pick up for the Red Sox. I hope he is healthy and has a great season for the Sox.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3gx2svou]Bocco Radelli to the Sed Rox.[/quote:3gx2svou]

And quite possibly Smoltz too!
Not official yet but several outlets are reporting it's 'bout a done deal.
I guess they're promising him a starting job - don't think he would have jumped otherwise.

Other reports have Trevor Hoffman going to the Brews ... although this is only one day after others had him headed to the Dodgers.

Sort of a homecoming for Smoltz. Didn't he start his career with the Braves when they were still playing in Boston?

No, the Tigers. Anywhoo, oughta soitenly remove Boston from the list of potential Lowe suitors (and cause me some concern too: Why don't any of Lowe's former employers want him back?)

The additions of Smoltz and Brad Penny probably take the Sox out of the discussions for Derek Lowe.

Assuming Baldelli gets something like what Hairston got, I'd be a little annoyed that we didn't give him a look. We do need another righthanded bat.

Yeah, I was half-hoping for Baldelli too.
He's not a great player and has played fewer games in the last two seasons than Alou had in the two before we got him. But if this problem of his has finally been diagnosed correctly he could be a useful guy to have around.

But Omar seems to be on this 'one problem at a time' schedule where nothing can even be talked about until the starter question is answered.

I almost did too because I sometimes confuse the Smoltz trade with the Bagwell one from Boston. The Smoltz from Detroit for Denny Alexander trade happened around the same era as Bagwell for Larry Anderson.
Both were done for pennant push help and in each case the minor leaguers were home-town guys (Smoltz is from Mich, Bags from Conn) who turned into HoF possibilities.

Doyle Alexander.

Now Denny McLain or somebody is getting into the conflation.

Looking at a potential nightmare with outfield defense the MFY's are apparently looking to trade Swisher and Nady.

Yankees fielding offers for Nady, Swisher

Posted by: Jon Heyman

The Yankees are fielding trade offers for corner outfielders Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. There's been some speculation they might consider trading Hideki Matsui, too, but he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off knee surgery, so there's really no way to trade him.

A logjam at the corners was created when the Yankees surprised a lot of folks and signed Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million contract. Swisher previously had been penciled in as the Yankees' first baseman but now becomes part of a crowded mix of accomplished corner outfielders. Swisher is a versatile player and can play some center field, as well. Some National League teams may be interested. However, Nady's trade value is higher after a better offensive season, so he may be just as likely to be dealt. Nady, acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade with the Pirates, combined to hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBIs for the year, while Swisher finished at .219 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs for the White Sox before being dealt to the Yankees after the season

i'd sure take Nady back, to split time with Church, Murphy and Delgado. But no way the Yanx trade him cross town.

You leave Tatis out of that mix.

Nady gives you what Tatis gives you, only more and probably better and definitely younger. Tatis' only advantage is playing third.

I'd love a Nady around because I think the best way to get something like last year's productivity out of Tatis is to make him earn every at-bat.

Maybe Murphy will do that, but I'm not counting on it.

What's going down, and I think a lot of us feel it, is that a lot of things went kind of right in Omar's offense that could have easily gone wronger, and he's kind of seeming to kind of be counting on a lot of those same thingies to go right again.

Fans be pessemistic creatures, of course.

Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.

="Vic Sage":37m9y64n]Last year, i think we got about as much as we can reasonably expect this year from 1b, ss, 3b and CF. We got nothing from 2b and C, and RF was a mixed bag. But Murphy/Tatis in LF certainly outperformed all expectations and i do not believe for a minute we'll get similar production from that combo again this year.

So, we either upgrade at 2b, c, and/or Rf to compensate, or replace the LF combo before it blows up in our faces. Or we go into the season with 1/2 the lineup very well likely to suck, to one degree or another, even as Omar whistles past the graveyard.[/quote:37m9y64n]

and you have a wild card at 1b, so it's not even half a lineup.
nobody has faith in schnied to produce offensively, and while castro COULD provide some pop, he just gets hurt too often (he must be the worst backup catcher in the league).
2b, nobody has faith in castillo, except he's saying all the right things.
and Church... will his head be screwed on straight?

it'll be an interesting few more weeks before spring training.

I agree with Vic, including about left field, but I'd be okay with giving Murphy/Tatis a chance to shine again. But in doing that, you have to protect yourself by beefing up some of the other positions. And as yet, the Mets haven't done anything towards that end.

Ramon Castro, not the worst backup catcher in the league.

Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady

BY KEN DAVIDOFF | ken.davidoff@newsday.com
January 9, 2009
In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.

General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady. With spring training more than a month away and the season opener just about three months away, however, there is no imperative to execute a quick trade.

The Mets enjoyed having Nady on their club for the first four months of the 2006 season, and they inquired about him last July, when the Yankees wound up getting him from Pittsburgh. For now, however, the Mets are focused on their starting rotation and are not looking to acquire a bat either through free agency or through a trade.

Frayed Knot
Jan 09 2009 01:54 PM

Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 09 2009 02:02 PM

Swisher switch-hits, and is better and more versatile defensively.
He's also signed for the next few years which could be either good or bad depending on whether he regains his hitting from last season's off year.

Nady is more likely to hit better (though walk less) and would only be for one year at a price to be determined by arbitration then would be a FA after that.

If we weren't already loaded with lefthanded hitting outfielders, I'd take Godzilla as a LH bench masher in the Franco/Staub mold.

As long as the Cranks would pay 90% of the freight and expect nothing back in return, sure.

(OK, maybe 70% with a throw-in going the other way would do)

I feel safe to say Tatis has had his middle aged career year..I wouldn't put too high a ceiling there.

Daniel Murphy needs more seasoning and I still advocate a year at AAA to learn 2B

Mr. Nady..wasn't he a Met who know has Yankee cooties?

Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

="metirish"]Source: Martinez talking to Marlins

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportes.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic -- Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.
The Marlins have spoken with Martinez's agent.
Martinez, 37, has won three Cy Young awards and has a career record of 214-99, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 17 seasons with Los Angeles, Montreal, Boston and the New York Mets.
Martinez struggled last season to a 5-6 record with a 5.61 ERA with the Mets, after battling injuries and dealing with the death of his father. In his first year with the Mets, Martinez won 15 games and struck out 208 batters in 217 innings. But he has been 17-15 in the last three seasons.
Martinez owns a house in Miami.

Pedro really looked spent in 2008, after having a respectable September prior. I don't think he has much in the tank and I would not miss all the drama.

Marlins not interested in signing Pedro
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Don't look for Pedro Martinez to wind up with the Marlins.
A day after a report stated the Marlins were in the mix for the 37-year-old right-hander, a league source confirmed to MLB.com on Sunday that Florida has zero interest. Reports in the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and SunSentinel also ruled out the possibility of Martinez joining the club.

On Saturday night, a report on ESPNdeportes.com stated the Marlins had discussions with agent Fernando Cuza regarding Martinez. The report added Florida may have begun preliminary contract talks, and that the two sides were expected to continue talking this week.

As of late Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were not considered a possible fit.

Martinez has a home in Miami, and he has expressed privately a desire to pitch for the Marlins. On Monday, Cuza is expected to have discussions with the Mets about a possible return to New York. The right-hander also is expected to test the free-agent market.

Hampered by injuries last year, Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts. He threw 109 innings.

Working with minimal financial resources, the Marlins are looking for affordable free agents. The team did explore adding veteran Carl Pavano, who signed with the Indians.

The Marlins are prepared to head into Spring Training with a rotation that includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez. Nolasco, eliglbe for arbitration, still has not signed.

Florida continues to explore depth at catcher. The team is looking for low-priced options there. A free agent that could be a fit is Ivan Rodriguez, but only if his price tag continues to drop this month.

Yeah, use the threat of the Daddy Warbucks Marlins to trigger a false bidding war. That's the ticket.

I think that Pedro had far more interest in the Marlins than they had in him. I believe that Pedro is desperate to play another season, but I don't think teams throughout the league are very interested in signing him.

Pedro was once a dominant, HOF caliber pitcher, but he seems to be the one person that doesn't see how far removed from his former greatness he now is.

If Pedro Martinez retired tomorrow he would surely be in the HOF at first ballot , wouldn't he?

I was not inferring that Pedro Martinez was not worthy of enshrinement in Coopperstown. He has had a tremendous career and was arguably one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in MLB for several seasons. I would vote for him (if I had a vote) when his name comes up on the HOF ballot. I was simply stating that he is not nearly the dominant pitcher he once was.

I think he's pretty aware of what happened last year.

If he didn't still believe he could turn it around, he wouldn't be the great pitcher he is. What's more, I believe he could turn it around. In his prime, he had an unprecedented four killer pitches, so it's not like he was fastball-reliant. It's a matter of finding what he can do with what's left of his fastball and using it to complement the rest of his arsenal.

That's a far ways from saying he will return to a productive level, but I'm certain he can. Glavine continued to pitch effectively with a powder puff fastball and a change. While his control was still very good, Pedro's has always been even better.

And if I'm the Mets, I'm willing to spend some change to find out. Giving him Redding's money with an automatically vesting bonus year of $9 million if he gets 180 innings? Yeah, go for it. I'm certain he can do as well as Redding in 2009, and a damn fine bet to do better. The only thing Redding has over him is a better doctor's report.

Michael Young wants out of Texas , can play 2nd base.

I should add that Heyman just said on the Hot stove that he has %62 million left on his big contract.

Young's expensive, and the dropoff in his numbers over the past three years has been precipitous. Even if they took Castillo it would still be a $10M payroll hit, and he's just not that good anymore.

Dodgers reportedly to release Andruw before today is out

Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?

Someone will be able to pick him up for minimum wage, and they may get a hell of a bargain at the Dodgers expense.

Jones was on MLB Network the other night talking about how he would love to go back to the Braves.

="Benjamin Grimm":2v9kwf3v]Wow. He's horrendously overpaid, but they're going to have to eat that contract anyway. Is there no hope of him having a bounceback year?[/quote:2v9kwf3v]

I guess not enough of a chance in their minds to make carrying him all year worth it.
They restructured his deal last week with a release in mind so I assume they're going to do similar thing to what we did with Bonilla (only on a much bigger scale): pay out the remainder over a long period to avoid getting hit with it all at once.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that the Phillies are aggressively trying to sign Moises Alou.

Would Alou be a starter there or would he be in a limited role , who's in the outfield there along with Ibanez?...Dobbs?....Victorino?

Watch him hit .500 and stay healthy all year. Bastard.

He wouldn't start there - but he'd be a potentially good RH bat off the bench for a predominately lefty hitting squad.

The three options (Perez, Wolf, and Sheets) may be soon reduced to two:

="MLB.com":2t16pb69]The deep freeze that's been the Major League free-agent market this winter has shown indications a thaw is coming -- at least for starting pitchers.

On the heels of the Mets reaching an apparent agreement on a Minor League deal with right-hander Freddy Garcia, it looks like the Dodgers have taken the inside track in the competition for lefty starter Randy Wolf's services.

According to sources for FoxSports.com, Wolf could most likely be signed to a one or two-year deal. Wolf previously pitched for Los Angeles in 2007 and was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA in a combined 33 starts last season for the Padres and Astros.

FoxSports.com said Wolf would get less than the three-year, $28 million offer the pitcher turned down from Houston earlier this winter. [/quote:2t16pb69]

Wolf turned down an offer for that much? , and I was thinking he could be had for a song on a one year deal.

Fine. I actually saw Wolf pitch twice last year, at the only game I attended at MFY Stadium and at the game I attended at Petco. Both time he got shellacked.

There are a number of available starters who can give you at least a league average ERA, several of whom have the upside to do significantly better. Randy Wolf is not one of them. I see no point in pursuing a demonstrably inferior pitcher just because he's a lefty.

I don't think anybody but Wally Matthews is arguing that his leftiness is important, and Wally is only throwing that pitch to drum up "Mets Gotta Steal Pettitte" angles. Who do you have your eye on?

Just turned over to MLB Network after watching "What Not To Wear" and heard Tom Verducci say that Perez is moving closer to signing with the Mets.

]Mets extend offer to Perez, their top target

The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target.

The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is.

Perez remains the Mets' top choice for the final spot in their rotation, though the team has remained in contact with three other free-agent pitchers -- Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets. They know they'd have competition for Wolf (Dodgers), Garland (Diamondbacks) and Sheets (Rangers, possibly Yankees) but aren't sure what other teams are competing for Perez.

The Mets had been hopeful to land free agent Derek Lowe earlier but were surprised when the rival Braves outbid them by $24 million, landing Lowe with a $60-million, four-year contract. Perez, 27, is eight years younger than Lowe, though not quite as consistent.

Mets GM Omar Minaya would love to import Perez, so the Mets are not likely to take one of the other pitchers unless he feels his chances for Perez are gone.

I hope "the mystery team" comes and raises perez's price too high so we can sign Sheets. Then Boras and Perez can admit there was no mystery team and we get both at a reduced rate!

If money is the issue, I'd like to see the Mets sign Sheets and with any Ollie Perez money left over, go out and sign Odalis Perez. His ERA was only .10 worse than Ollie's last year, is still only 32 years old, and probably be signed for far less money than any of the other names that have been in the press lately.

Later

Varitek's (read: Boras's) threat to sit out the season and/or retire didn't get the Sox to budge I see.

Tek is one of several who turned down arbitration offers this winter only to wind up not only with a much smaller deal than arb would have snagged him but didn't get the multi-year deal either.

Now it's hope you play well and the economy improves when you can do the same dance next year.

="Ashie62":2t5ssjz6]Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise?[/quote:2t5ssjz6]

.220

Is that his weight or his average? , sucks either way though.

]Left-hander Chase Wright was traded by the New York Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for outfielder-catcher Eric Fryer.

Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's.

metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.

="Rockin' Doc":2e2xwbch]metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's."

Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.[/quote:2e2xwbch]

B'sides, they couldn't have the signing photo op soon anyhow.
They'd first have to send out Cecil Fielder's uni to have the seams let out to fit Jones.

Later

Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.

="Frayed Knot":1zv55w66]Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives.

15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.[/quote:1zv55w66]

Yeah, poor guy. My heart breaks for him.

/sarcasm

It's not like he doesn't get to keep the 15 miills.