Frayed Knot

Looks like one dress that ain't gonna be a hand-me-down.

Lefty reliever Sean Burnett leaves Washington for two-year deal in Anaheim.

Time for your daily Dickey [insert FMan joke here] courtesy of Joel Sherman this morning: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/voir_Kfrc0zULvws2dYVab0CFsI Tidbits: - The Mets have told R.A. Dickey what they are willing to do in a contract extension [and] they have told teams interested in acquiring Dickey the types of players � notice the plural � necessary to obtain him. Neither the Dickey camp nor another club has yet to go to the level established by the Mets. First one that does wins. - One outside executive aware of [the Mets'] requests said, �The price is through the roof. He�s good, but he�s a 38-year-old knuckleballer. What is his shelf life? ... I would take him, but for top prospects, no.� - the Mets have done some groundwork by meeting with Long Beach native John Lannan�s reps. - For now, multiple Mets officials have described to me essentially a 55-45 percent likelihood that Dickey stays.

Yunel Escobar, the one living, breathing ML player received by Miami in their wholesale trade of Reyes et al to Toronto, has been flipped to Tampa for a minor leaguer. So whatever those meager team salary projections for the Marlins were for this coming year ... they just went down about another $5 mils.

Hatteberg had nerve damage in his elbow IIRC, hence his ability to be a catcher was not only gone but it wasn't coming back.

Omar is on board in San Diego? ... News to me.

I understand the "moneyball" OBP POV...I just don't agree that for a first baseman, a bunch of walks for a slow guy can equal/exceed "Total Bases" backed largely by extra-basehits... Again, it was more a matter of what they could afford than identifying Hatteberg as the ideal choice. To quote the movie (because it's fresher in my mind than the book): Scout: We have to replace Giambi Billy Beane: Is there another 1st baseman out there like Giambi? Scout No BB: And if there were could we afford him?

Edgy MD wrote: [*]Michael Bloomberg, Andrew Cuomo, and Chris Christie, come on down. [cheap shot]Particularly if snacks are going to be served[/cheap shot]

Farmer Ted wrote: Dan Haren to the Nats. That's a helluva 5th starter, even if he is coming off an off year. 1 year deal, $13 mils. Essentially replaces Edwin Jackson and sits behind Strasburg, Zimmermannnnn, Detwiler & Gonzalez even though he'll make more dough than all of them.

smg58 wrote: I'm also really not sure why teams would think that anybody capable of wearing catching gear is more valuable as a first baseman. Because he's not considered a good catcher--that's why Scioscia got rid of him in the first place--and buying full-fledged 1st basemen on the open market is very expensive (Boston was supposedly in the market for LaRoche but backed off). Plus his RH power should play well in Fenway (it has in small samples) and with the occasional catching job and DH roles as fallbacks they should get plenty of use out of him. I really wondered why the A's took Scott Hatteberg, a relatively weak hitting catcher, and converted him into a very weak hitting first baseman. That, as all readers/watchers of 'Moneyball' know, had more to do with costs and the under-exploited value of OBP than anything else. Yes, you don't make Hatteberg your 1Bman if you've got better options but Oakland couldn't afford better options and therefore had to improvise. That he got on-base for the A's over 35% of the time and averaged about 40 XBHs/year indicates that they didn't do too badly for themselves with the move considering they got 4 years out of him for about half (<$9 mil total) of what the Yanx paid the guy they he was replacing (Giambi) for each season (~$17) and they won an average of 94.5 games/year while doing so.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm guessing that Deacon White is dead at the present time? Looks like he was dead at the time those pictures were taken. Any relation to Deacon Blues? 2A0wGO3c2T8

Edgy MD wrote: So, I haven't read the morning papes... his bloodwork come back OK? Alcohol content was a bit high.

metirish wrote: In regards to Wheeler IIRC there was another prospect form the Giants being touted by the media and initially it looked like the Mets didn't get all they could....of course Wheeler quickly dispelled that notion. My memory is that speedy OFer Gary Brown was the other choice being talked about. Again, not sure if that was just media/fan speculation or if he was really in the mix, but he was on the same level as Wheeler (High-A) at the time of the deal and was about as highly touted (although also more than 1-1/2 years older). The good news is that Brown seems to have stalled a bit at AA in 2012 whereas Wheeler really stepped it up and there's no question that ZW will be the higher rated prospect this winter. So at this point anyway (and assuming it was ever an either/or thing) the Mets made the right call.

"metirish": "it sure is looking that way" -- It increasingly makes sense on a number of levels, doesn't it? "I suppose I am a bit stunned that they are talking top of the line prospects....." -- two months of Beltran netted a top prospect. So did Denard Span to Washington. Considering that a prospect, no matter how highly touted, is still an unknown quantity, the team getting the established player has to give up something potentially quite valuable in order to get the immediate and known help. And RA, coming off the CY year adds more than most to a club's staff and that he's signed cheaply for next season brings more teams and therefore more competition into play. "did Alderson say that he wants players that can help soon? , how soon?" -- from the Adam Rubin piece: Sandy said he [is] "looking for 'difference-makers' in return for Dickey - not low-Class A prospects - Because R.A. is a difference-maker." "the players being talked about, are they ready soon? ..." -- Keep in mind that anyone being talked about at this point is mostly media and/or fan speculation. Folks hear that 'Team X' is interested so everyone immediately goes to the list of that team's prospects and says that it'll probably take someone like [insert prospect here] off the top of that list to get Dickey especially if that prospect is seen to fit the Mets needs (which pretty much everyone short of 1Bs or 3Bs do at this point). None of this means that said player is actually being discussed by the GMs. That said, in the case of Myers from KC he probably would be ready this season. The two Boston guys seem a bit further away like maybe late 2013. Other top prospects are going to vary. 'Top' usually means the projected highest ceiling and not necessarily closest to being ready, although Sandy's vow about "not low-Class A players" indicates he's looking more for near-term help than for a project who hit big down the road but also has a higher chance of flunking out. The good thing about this remains that if he doesn't get all he wants the fallback position of simply hanging onto him for next season - extension or not - is hardly a bad one.

Jochim Soria to Texas for two years The former closer for the Royals didn't pitch at all in 2012 due to his second Tommy John surgery - yet is still only 28 y/o

sharpie wrote: ESPN column: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8706592/boston-red-sox-7-others-talk-new-york-mets-ra-dickey-source-says Selected clips from that piece: -- The Mets met with eight teams Monday about Dickey, the source said. -- He acknowledged also speaking with clubs about left-hander Jonathon Niese. -- Alderson said he would be looking for "difference-makers" in return for Dickey - "Because R.A. is a difference-maker." - not low-Class A prospects. He added that the incoming player would not necessarily have to be an outfielder or catcher, the two areas of most glaring need for the club. -- if we're going to do something -- and I want to emphasize, we may not -- if we do something, we want whatever comes back to us to have an impact on us as soon as possible." -- Alderson said a resolution with Zack Greinke as a free agent definitely could affect how much the Mets could command for Dickey in a trade. -- The Mets might give a team a window to negotiate an extension with Dickey.

BP's too Xander Bogaerts - Position: IF DOB: 10/01/1992 Height/Weight: 6�3�� 175 lbs. Bats/Throws: R/R Drafted/Acquired: International free agent, 2009, Aruba 2012 Stats: .302/.378/.505 at High-A Salem (104 games); .326/.351/.598 at Double-A Portland (23 games) The Tools: 6+ hit; 6+ power potential; 6 arm What Happened in 2012: You mean, besides hitting for power and average in the Carolina League before moving up to Double-A as a teenager and continuing the offensive onslaught by ripping 15 extra-base hits in only 23 games? Strengths: Simple, fluid swing mechanics; very natural barrel-to-ball relationship; projects to hit for both plus power and batting average; shows plus-plus bat speed; shows ability to drive the ball all over the park; can square velocity; arm is plus; plays game with feel and instincts; solid glove; could have above-average defensive profile at third base. Weaknesses: Aggressive in the box; soft and spinning can get him off-balance; will need to expand pitch appetite (fastball eyes); exaggerated swing plane limits stay in the zone; good athlete, but lacks plus speed; physical maturation process could leave speed below-average; limited range at shortstop; fielding actions can be stiff; not ideal profile for middle-of-the-diamond. Overall Future Potential: 7; all-star Explanation of Risk: High risk; excellent makeup, but lofty ceiling; still lots of developmental space between present/future. The Year Ahead: It�s hard to imagine Bogaerts taking another step forward in 2013, but it�s entirely possible. His swing is full of grace, and the power that flows from the hit tool could make him a very special player if everything goes according to plan. He still needs refinement in all phases of the game, and an extended stay in Double-A could expose some of the weaknesses in his offensive approach. While its possible that he remains at shortstop going forward, his defensive profile isn�t ideal at the position at the highest level, and as the 6�3�� 175-lb. 20-year-old continues to grow into his body, his average-at-best speed will tick down and his range at the position will prove to be inadequate. Regardless, his bat has middle-of-the-order potential, and could make him an all-star if he reaches his ceiling. Major league ETA: 2013 with Bradley as #2 Jackie Bradley - Position: CF DOB: 04/19/1990 Height/Weight: 5�10�� 180 lbs. Bats/Throws: L/R Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2011 draft, University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) 2012 Stats: .359/.480/.526 at High-A Salem (67 games); .271/.373/.437 at Double-A Portland (61 games) The Tools: 7 all-around defensive profile; 5+ hit tool What Happened in 2012: In his first full-season, Bradley crushed in High-A, and after a promotion to Double-A, continued to show a mature approach to all phases of the game. Strengths: Special baseball instincts; plus glove; strong arm; average speed, but preternatural feel for position; moves before ball is put in play; precise routes and angles; plus-plus overall profile at premium position; advanced approach at the plate; good pitch-recognition skills; knows his pitch pocket and attacks; solid-average hit tool; tough out. Weaknesses: Lacks plus speed; relies on first-step quickness and instincts for range; game power plays below-average; most likely a down-the-lineup offensive threat. Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player Explanation of Risk: Moderate risk; Bradley is a natural baseball player with now skills; only risk is full development of bat. The Year Ahead: Bradley isn�t long for the minors, with a glove that is ready for the bright lights. The bat isn�t special and could use more reps in the minors, but he�s a mature talent that should be ready for a major-league assignment at some point in 2013. Bradley can make every play in center, and he can do so without making it look like a big production. He has Gold Glove potential at the position, and as long as the bat can play in the average range, he�s a first-division talent. Major league ETA: 2013

metirish wrote: ... hard to believe that Fonzie is only 39..... Some find it very hard to believe.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Who might Texas or Kansas City offer for R.A. Dickey? And... the Royals were 72 and 90 in 2012. Why would they be trading young players for a 38-year-old pitcher? KC has lots of young hitters, not so much in pitching. They've already signed/traded for two pitchers this winter (Earvin Santana & Jeremy Guthrie) and are looking for more. Wil Myers (RH - OF) - their best prospect and probably will be among the top 10 in all of baseball by those folks who rank such stuff this winter - has already been speculated about. Texas has an interesting dilemma; still young SS Elvis Andrus is a good player but SS prospect Jurickson Profar is even youngerer and even betterer (at least potentially - hit .281/368/452 in AA as a 19 y/o). Andrus is supposedly being dangled for pitching/other position help although a wrench just got thrown into those works by Profar pulling himself out of the Dominican Winter Lg season with a strained forearm. Wonder what Dickey + Tejada would net?

This problem is apparently with the other hip and not the one he had worked on previously. Surgery is being recommended and the team is expecting that he'll be out until June or July. They're going to have dueling walkers over on that side of the infield. Eric Chavez's price just went up.

1B, James Loney - TB Rays - One year deal. He was the essentially the only real player the BoSox got from the Dodgers in last year's mega-deal, but of course they didn't really want him, just the salary relief and a temporary replacement for A. Gonzalez so he became a non-tendered FA. I thought this guy was going to be a star when I first saw him. Now he's in the middle of his supposed prime (29 next May) and settling for a $2mil deal coming off his arbitration-determined $6+ last year.

Brad Lidge

Eight of us have submitted lists to date. Anyone else still interested in getting in on this (or updating your existing votes) do so sometime this week as I'll try to wrap it up by then. I tweaked the lower half of my order a bit from how it appears above. 12 - VALDESPIN 11 - FRANCISCO 10 - THOLE 9 - R. RAMIREZ 8 - EDGIN 7 - CEDENO 6 - HEFNER 5 - TURNER 4 - PELFREY 3 - ACOSTA 2 - QUINTANILLA 1 - BAY

Even if you're making the point that the Mets have established some sort of pattern to date with this stuff (and I don't know that they have) speculating, as we are, that Wright finishes his career as a Met in good standing, his status as a life-long NYM with multiple ASGs (currently has 6), GGs (2), Silver Sluggers (2), and Top-10 MVPs (4) would put him in a category all his own even if he were to fall short of HoF standards. Even Seaver wasn't a full-time Met and the only one who really was with any kind of lengthy career was the mediocre-ish Kranepool. I'll put it this way: if all that happens [u:13dkenfb]I would[/u:13dkenfb] advocate for retiring #5 for the same reasons I [u:13dkenfb]have not[/u:13dkenfb] for 17, 8, 24 & 31.

Now that this contract is in the bag, I think anything short of a disasterous ending/ugly divorce means that Wright will be the last man to wear #5 for the Mets. Ending it in an HoF career (way too premature for that talk) would be a nice topping but not totally necessary IMO. And hopefully such an occurrence will end the talk about settling for retired numbers of those with <50% or <25% careers as Mets (#17, #8) just to get the total up, although I suspect it won't.