Benjamin Grimm

Wow. Could be. Frank Deford has an alternative suggestion: Move the mound back 30 feet.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: And maybe it's Arizona who's being patient. The Tigers and Mets both want shortstops; maybe they're working the bidding between the two teams. Adam Rubin wrote: A trio of Arizona scouts, including special assistant Todd Greene, watched a Mets intrasquad game involving Double-A and Triple-A players Tuesday on a back field at the Port St. Lucie complex. Noah Syndergaard, Logan Verrett and Jacob deGrom, who all may be in Triple-A Las Vegas' rotation to open the season, pitched in that game. Syndergaard almost certainly is off-limits in Mets discussions.

And maybe it's Arizona who's being patient. The Tigers and Mets both want shortstops; maybe they're working the bidding between the two teams.

Like I said, Sandy is patient. I can see another week passing before a deal is made.

I don't have a problem with him wanting to be in New York instead of Florida. I suspect it has to do at least as much with the Rangers and the supermodels as it does team spirit, but whatever. I also don't have a problem with him speaking to the press without permission. Jay Horwitz looks more the jerk here than Harvey does. I think if Harvey does stay in New York, he can be on the bench during games. (Other players on the disabled list have done this, I'm sure.) He probably wouldn't make any (or many) road trips, unless the Mets schedule coincided with the Rangers or the supermodels' schedules.

Yeah, I think I'd rather sign Drew or go with Wilmer.

Ashie62 wrote: Morning interweb..Rubin or ESPN claims Gregorious is on the block, not Owings and AZ wants an MLB ready starting P in return... If that's true, then the answer is probably Gee. Maybe Mejia. Arizona would be understandably hesitant on Niese, and the Mets wouldn't trade Wheeler or Syndergaard. (I'm not sure if Colon, as a newly signed free agent, can be traded yet. Is the rule that says he can't be traded until June 1 still in effect?) I don't know if guys like deGrom or Montero fit the bill as "major league ready". Maybe they do, but definitely not as clearly as Gee does. Without Gee, the Mets would have a rotation of Niese, Colon, Wheeler, Matsuzaka, Mejia/Lannan to start the season. If Niese is hurt, then it's Mejia and Lannan instead of Mejia or Lannan.

Only 12 days until Opening Day, but Sandy is a patient guy; I don't think the deal happens today, but I do think something will happen within the week. I think a deal with Arizona is most likely, followed by Seattle for Nick Franklin. Not likely: The Phillies and Jimmy Rollins.

Added a link to the Zach Lutz thread that MFS62 initiated. In the next day or two I'll move this thread to the Predictions sub forum, with a sticky. If anyone wants to find any IPP's over the course of the season, you'll be able to easily find this contents thread.

Steve Dorsey, MLB.com wrote: den Dekker playing his way onto Mets' roster JUPITER, Fla. -- Matt den Dekker would like to head to New York when the Mets break camp in less than two weeks, and so far this spring, the 26-year-old outfielder is making a decent case for a roster spot. Den Dekker entered Monday's 10-7 loss to the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium with a .375 batting average and a .426 on-base percentage, both of which ranked fifth among all National League players. Den Dekker, who attended high school less than an hour away at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, made his MLB debut last August and is vying for a roster spot this spring. Den Dekker knows, however, that there's a chance he could start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. "There's a lot of competition out here," den Dekker said. "I'm just enjoying playing, and whatever they decide, they decide. I can't really worry about that too much." Den Dekker sustained a broken wrist in Spring Training last year and said he spent some extra time with his weight training to gain more strength. "I feel a lot stronger with my swing," den Dekker said. "I've had a pretty decent spring. Everybody out here is competing for jobs. Obviously, I'd like to be in New York. That's where everybody wants to be." Den Dekker has played mostly center field, but he started in left on Monday. "I've played center field all my life, but I can go to left or right as well," den Dekker said, adding that he doesn't care where he plays if he makes the final cut. Mets manager Terry Collins said that he thinks den Dekker, who was 0-for-2 with two walks in Monday's game against the Marlins, has a solid chance to break camp with the big league club. "Yep, definitely. He's played very well," Collins said.

He's trying to fend off Didi Gregorius!

I imagine you're disputing the first sentence and not the second one.

I voted for Owings but I'd be happy with either, as long as the price isn't too painful. I agree that Ike or Lucas alone won't get it done; the Mets' most desirable commodity is young pitching. My guess is that that's what it would take to get either of these guys. But which young pitcher? I'm glad that I don't have to make that kind of decision.

Those are some gruesome numbers so far for Vic Black.

Mike Vorkunov/The Star-Ledger wrote: Jose Valverde closer to earning role in back of Mets bullpen JUPITER, Fla. -- Jose Valverde continues to impress manager Terry Collins. And in doing so he seems closer to earning a role in the back of the Mets bullpen. Valverde pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mets 10-7 loss at the Marlins Monday. He struck out two batters. He now has a 3.86 ERA this spring. "I don�t know where but he�s certainly making a very, very strong case for a guy who�s going to pitch in the back side of that bullpen, no doubt," Collins. Valverde, 36 in a week, bottomed out with the Tigers last season after posting a 3.00 ERA in his first three seasons in Detroit. But GM Sandy Alderson has professed a desire for experience in his bullpen and Collins thinks it will be a welcome trait in the Mets bullpen. "He just takes it even keel every day," Collins said. "And if we�re as young as we think we�re going to be we�re going to need that."

My sigh of relief is a small one. Niese's shoulder was cleared just two weeks ago. I feel like this good news today means that he'll be okay until his next MRI in early April.

I'd give it to Gee. Let him have a pat on the back for the nice way he rebounded from his bad start last year.

If Ruben can't field and he can't hit, then I would say that there's a better alternative. Either a guy who can hit but not field (like Flores) or a guy who can field but not hit (Quintanilla, Tovar, etc.) Some kind of trade for a shortstop is looking more and more likely, even with Niese's latest medical setback.

Uh-oh… Michael J. Fensom/The Star-Ledger wrote: Jonathon Niese, a left-hander and candidate to be the Mets’ Opening Day starter, left his second spring training start Sunday with what the Mets called discomfort in his left elbow.

Not planning on it. If you think he's worth a thread, feel free to start one.

I can't remember the last time I saw a cigarette machine!

I also find it hard to think that Ruben will actually be the guy, unless he really starts producing over the next couple of weeks.

Terry Collins to Ruben Tejada: Shortstop job is all yours Originally published: March 13, 2014 8:12 PM Updated: March 13, 2014 9:20 PM By ANTHONY RIEBER anthony.rieber@newsday.com VIERA, Fla. - Ruben Tejada went 0-for-3 Thursday and is 1-for-15 in spring training. He made an error on a routine play, his third such miscue in his last five games. Still, after his day was over, Tejada was told by Mets manager Terry Collins that he will be the team's shortstop this season. "I talked to him today about trying to relax a little bit," Collins said after the Mets' 7-5 win over the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. "Quit worrying about things. "I said, 'Listen, you're the shortstop here. Your name and your number are going to be in the lineup. You've just got to go be the player we know you can be and you quit worrying about trying to impress everybody. We've seen it in the past and two years ago, you were the talk of the town. You had a bad year. Big deal. Forget it. It's over. Everybody has a [bad] year. Guys that are in the Hall of Fame have had [bad] years. So move on.' " Collins' statement to and about Tejada marks an apparent change in the Mets' thinking -- perhaps a realization that they have little choice but to start the season with the 24-year-old in the lineup. Or it could have been Collins' last-gasp effort to motivate Tejada.

MFS62 wrote: (More on this when Ben gets around to Zach Lutz) Sorry, Zach got skipped.

Added David Wright, Chris Young, and Eric Young. And that completes the 2014 IPP threads. See you in 2015! Drive home safely everybody!