Benjamin Grimm

Well, Lucas Duda might be Mike Vail. But yeah, I do think the youth of the current team is better than some of the other youth movements we've hung our hopes on in the past. I'm not worried about Bay's 2014 option. It will be easy enough to avoid. If David Wright was 34 I'd say, yes, by the time the Mets contend again, he'll likely be past his prime. But the Mets outlook may* be a lot brighter in a couple of years, and David will still be young enough to contribute, so I don't want to bail on him. *Before anyone jumps down my throat, note that I said may and not will.

If the Mets keep him, he becomes a free agent after 2013. If the Mets trade him, he becomes a free agent after 2012.

I am definitely not on board with trading Wright.

I voted for the coin toss, but I considered voting for the option above it.

Yeah, I can't blame Alderson for this one. Also, I knew he wouldn't get $20 million per year, but he did come pretty close. And finally, as someone said above, this may turn out to be similar to Darryl Strawberry's loss. It's entirely possible that Jose will only get to 130 games in one or two of his seasons in Miami and his contract will be a bigger albatross than Jason Bay's. Oh well. I'm very sorry to see him go, but I've been through this before and I've survived.

First of the players for whom I have an unused retro-card. Capuano won one Schaefer Pitcher of the Month award in 2011 and was in contention for a second one, so I prepared this card just in case:

Rubin is emphasizing the third-round pick, but the sandwich pick between the first and second rounds isn't quite nothing, even if it is created "out of thin air."

It's not the sobriety part that matters as much as the willing/unwilling part.

Did anyone watch Mets Hot Stove yesterday? Kevin was interviewing Terry Collins, and they were talking about Ruben Tejada. Terry was saying that if Tejada ends up replacing Reyes as the shortstop, he'll have to learn to stay within himself, not try to be Jose Reyes, but to be Ruben Tejada (blah blah blah). Terry said he'll have to continually reinforce the message, and he expects to get help from veteran players who can mentor Tejada, like Angel Pagan or "Carlos Beltran if he's here." Huh? I have to wonder, was Terry having a senior moment? Or did he let something slip? I remember when the Mets traded Beltran, they had asked him if a trade would preclude them from resigning Carlos as a free agent over the winter. But in the two months after the trade, Lucas Duda emerged (to a degree, anyway) and I assumed that the Mets would pencil in right field as a position that's set with a low-cost player. And they wouldn't bring back Beltran to play center, would they? I doubt that we'll see Beltran return in 2012, but Terry did say what he said, and I am curious about what's behind it.

The Marlins won the World Series in 2003 and still couldn't sell tickets. I don't know why they're so sure that the new stadium is going to be that much of a draw, especially once the novelty wears off.

The plan for Phase 1 includes up to 680,000 square feet of retail, up to 400 units of housing � 35 percent of which will be affordable � a hotel, two acres of open space and parking. And 65 per cent of the housing will be unaffordable? Who's gonna live there then? They should at least try to make it affordable to somebody. I hope the hotel will be moderately priced. If it is, I might actually stay there if I ever go to a Citi Field night game.

This is from MLBTradeRumors.com, which I've never heard of, so I won't comment on its credibility. It seems to be a consolidation of rumors and reports from around the big leagues. Anyway, here it is: Jose Reyes Market May Be Down To Just Marlins, Mets By Mark Polishuk [December 1, 2011 at 9:12pm CST] The Marlins and Mets may be the last two contenders remaining in the Jose Reyes sweepstakes, and the Marlins "hopes are high" that they will land the free agent shortstop, reports CBSSports.com's Scott Miller (passed on by his CBS colleague Matt Snyder). Another baseball source tells Miller, "everyone seems to think Reyes is the right fit for the Marlins." The Braves, Giants and Phillies are out of the bidding, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman, with the Brewers and Tigers seen as "iffy" or very unlikely candidates by Heyman and CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler. So, unless a fringe suitor like the Red Sox get involved, it may be down to just the two NL East rivals. Miami has offered Reyes a six-year deal worth somewhere between $70MM and $90MM, and Heyman tweets the Marlins could "bump it a bit" and then set a deadline since the offer has been on the table for a while. Even with the apparently thin market for Reyes, this kind of hardball tactic could backfire on the Fish since it could allow the Mets or another team to jump into the bidding at a lower price. The Marlins have openly targeted many top free agents this winter but this high profile only increases the pressure on the club to actually sign at least one or two of these big names. The Mets are apparently willing to offer a five-year, $80MM contract. GM Sandy Alderson told reporters today (including MLB.com's Anthony DiComo) that he wasn't aware of any teams besides Miami in the hunt for Reyes and that he was planning to meet with Reyes' agents before or during the Winter Meetings. That lack of a sixth year in the offer could ultimately hurt the Mets, even though their offer would give Reyes a larger average annual value than the Marlins' deal, presuming Miami's offer is six years/$90MM. Maybe a sixth year on a vesting option could bring Reyes back to New York.

Pitched a complete game shutout for the Mets. You don't see many of those anymore.

Did you see where the Phillies tried to lure Billy Wagner out of retirement, but he said no thanks?

The parties agreed that no new players will be permitted to use a low density maple bat during the term of the agreement. Hmmm... I wonder what prompted this? By 2013, all Major League players will wear a new batting helmet developed by Rawlings that protects against pitches thrown at 100 miles per hour. The new version of the helmet is significantly less �bulky� than prior versions of the more protective helmet. Also interesting. I wonder if it will be at all Gazoo-like? The concussion policy that was implemented prior to the 2011 season has been improved and will remain in effect for the duration of the Basic Agreement. Improved in what way? Players, managers, and coaches will be prohibited from using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews and Club appearances. In addition, at any time when fans are permitted in the ballpark, players, managers and coaches must conceal tobacco products (including packages and tins), and may not carry tobacco products in their uniforms or on their bodies. Individuals who violate the policy will be subject to discipline. The parties also agreed upon an extensive program of education and public outreach regarding the dangers of smokeless tobacco. I guess this is a good idea.

USA Today adds this: Instant replay also will be expanded, subject to negotiations between MLB and the umpires' union, to include fair/foul and trapped/caught balls.

Some more details, courtesy of the Associated Press: Minimum Salary The minimum salary reaches the $500,000 mark in 2014, and then there will be cost-of-living increases in both of the following two years. Amateur Draft There will also be a new "competitive balance lottery'' that gives small-market teams extra selections in the amateur draft. Owners achieved their goal of reining in spending on amateur players coming to the major leagues. For high school and college players taken in the June amateur draft, there will be five bands of penalties, starting with a 75 percent tax on the amount 0-5 percent over a specified threshold for each team next year, based on its selection spot. For teams going 5-10 percent over, the tax will rise to 100 percent and they will lose their next first-round draft pick. If a team goes more than 15 percent over, it could lose its following two first-round draft picks. For players taken in the 11th round and beyond, teams may give them signing bonuses up to $100,000 without it counting against the new threshold. For international amateur signings from nations such as the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, a luxury tax will begin with the July 2012-June 2013 signing season. Free Agent Compensation Major league free agent compensation will be completely revised in 2013, with a team having to offer its former players who became free agents the average of the top 125 contracts - currently about $12 million - to receive draft-pick compensation if a player signs with a new team. It eliminates the statistical formula that had been in place since the 1981 strike settlement. Arbitration In addition, the portion of players with 2-3 years of major league service who are eligible for salary arbitration will rise from 17 percent to 22 percent starting in 2013. Revenue Sharing And there a new market disqualification test, preventing teams from large markets from receiving revenue-sharing proceeds - and lowering the amount the big teams pay as long as they stay under the payroll threshold.

I'd bet $10,000 that Edgy wasn't looking for a hard cap.

The owners and players are set to announce a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Tuesday of next week. It will run through 2016, which will mean 21 years without a work stoppage in baseball. There's something they can be legitimately proud of, especially as the NBA seems to be going down the tubes right now. There will be blood testing for HGH, and some rather complex rules for slotting of draft picks. There will be a luxury tax if you overspend on draft picks, but there are exceptions (I think) for early rounds, and the penalties are higher for teams that don't get the early round picks. The most interesting wrinkle to me is the one about compensation for Type A free agents. Previously you had to offer arbitration to the player in order to qualify for the compensation pick. Now, you'll have to offer a guaranteed contract for at least one year, $12 million.

Tim Raines is also the guy I think of in relation to that May 1 date. The January 8 deadline came into play more frequently. With the Mets I remember Edgardo Alfonzo passing that date, and maybe John Olerud.

And the rule was the other way around; you didn't have to wait to resign your guy, but you had to sign him by January 8 or he became off limits until May 1.

Jurrgens is represented by Scott Boras, and the Braves may be thinking that he'll be gone after two years, so in this scenario they'd be trading two years of Jurrgens for six or more years of Nunez.

Anthony DiComo wrote: Mets shuffle roster before Rule 5 Draft deadline By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com NEW YORK -- With an abnormally large number of their top prospects vulnerable in next month's Rule 5 Draft, the Mets on Friday performed some extensive roster shuffling to keep their farm system intact. The Mets added pitchers Robert Carson and Jeurys Familia, outfielders Juan Lagares, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Cesar Puello, and infielders Wilmer Flores and Reese Havens to their 40-man roster, ensuring that no team can select those players in the Rule 5 Draft proceedings at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. They opted not to protect pitcher Brad Holt and infielder Jefry Marte, among others, leaving those players exposed to other teams. Familia, 22, has rocketed up the team's prospect depth chart in recent years, posting a 3.49 ERA at Double-A Binghamton this season after a sensational start with Class A St. Lucie. Familia ranked third on MLB.com's postseason Top 10 Mets prospect list and could crack the big league roster as soon as next season. Protecting him was a no-brainer. Flores, 20, has long been one of the organization's top prospects, ranking fourth on MLB.com's Top 10 list and 39th in all of baseball. Despite questions surrounding his defensive position and ability -- not to mention a down season offensively that saw him hit .269 with a .309 on-base percentage -- Flores remains one of the team's most valuable chips. Havens, 25, has done little but excel when healthy over the last four seasons, but rarely has he been healthy. Injuries undermined the second baseman for a third straight season in 2011, limiting him to 61 games. But when Havens played, he thrived, hitting .288 with six home runs and 17 doubles and prompting the Mets -- who have no obvious future second baseman within the organization -- to protect him. Carson, 22, made his debut as a full-time reliever last month in the Arizona Fall League, walking 12 batters and striking out 11 over 17 1/3 innings. Despite those struggles, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson mentioned Carson by name this week as a left-handed candidate for the Opening Day bullpen, and subsequently protected him. Nieuwenhuis, 24, was a prime candidate to crack the Major League roster this summer -- and perhaps enter next spring as a competitor for the starting center field job -- before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in June. A left-handed hitter, Nieuwenhuis was batting .298 with a .403 on-base percentage for Triple-A Buffalo prior to his injury. Lagares, 21, hit well at all three of his stops this year, batting .303 in the AFL after posting a .370 average at Binghamton and a .338 mark for St. Lucie. Most impressive was the outfielder's .391 on-base percentage and .512 slugging mark following his midsummer promotion to Double-A. Puello, 20, hit .259 with 10 home runs for Class A St. Lucie this season, though a lack of patience limited his strides at the plate. MLB.com ranked him seventh on its postseason Top 10 Mets prospects list, and the Mets protected him despite his raw skill set. The only player on MLB.com's Top 10 list whom the Mets left exposed was Marte, 20, who has long ranked among the organization's most promising young infielders. A strong showing in the Arizona Fall League was not enough for the Mets to protect Marte, who struggled to the tune of a .313 on-base percentage in 131 games at St. Lucie. The Mets also opted not to protect pitchers Mark Cohoon, Collin McHugh and Holt, the latter a former organizational favorite. A supplemental-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Holt posted an 8.34 ERA over two levels last season, then followed it up with a 4.71 mark at Double-A this year. He walked 57 batters in 93 2/3 innings. Major League regulations stipulate that any player who signed his first professional contract before age 19 and has been in the organization for five years, or who signed after age 19 and has been in the organization for four years, is eligible to be selected in next month's Rule 5 Draft if not protected. Thus, players such as Familia and Flores must be added to the 40-man roster, while fellow top prospects Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler are safe. If selected, a player must remain on his new team's active roster or disabled list all season, or be offered back to his original club at a discounted price. The Mets made two selections in last year's Rule 5 Draft, second baseman Brad Emaus and reliever Pedro Beato, ultimately keeping Beato and returning Emaus to the Blue Jays. They also own the rights to one of the most famous Rule 5 Draft selections of all time, left-hander Johan Santana.

The Phillies, for one, are a team that's not interested because of Jose's "reputation." (Yes, the same team that just signed a jackass relief pitcher.) I suspect, though, that if teams are wary of Jose it's more because of his legs than his head.