MetsCitiBlog

Keep the Dye, Give me Manny!

Jermaine Dye is available for the right price apparently.  He is 34 years old and rebounded nicely last year after an off year in 2007.  Please, for the love of God, do not trade for him!  He is exactly what the Mets tried to be a few years ago and exactly what they should not be now.  

The Mets need to either sign the Iconic Manny Ramirez (yes, typing that seems silly) or let Church man the position with Tatis/Murphy in LF.  Manny for a couple years would pay for itself and the newspapers would have material as well.  Dye, let's be honest, is on the downward slope even though 2008 went well for him.  

I am a big fan of the idea of a lineup like this:

Jose Reyes

Orlando Hudson

David Wright

Manny Ramirez

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Delgado

Ryan Church

Brian Schneider

Pitcher

A little bottom heavy with the lefties, but don't forget Tatis, Evans, and Castro on the days a lefty goes against the Mets.  Taht is one of the best lineups in baseball immediately.  

Derek Lowe heading to Beantown?

Several reports are out regarding Derek Lowe starting to tip his hand towards the Red Sox.  Lowe left the Sox four years ago to sign a strong deal with the Dodgers.  Rotoworld and the Boston Globe both have quotes from Lowe referring to the Red Sox as a winning franchise and how he will not sign with a lower tier team simply for more money.  He wants to win, plain and simple and he will only consider teams that have winning track records.

Although Lowe wanting to play for a winner doesn't hurt the Mets, I am starting to think that as long as the Red Sox want him and offer him something close to a three or four year deal around $12-$14 million a year, he is theirs for the taking.  I do not see Lowe signing anytime soon.  Unless he gets a quick, strong offer from Boston and he just goes for it.

I would like Lowe to come to the mets, but I just do not see them paying for him.  My sense is that they will look for a couple Jon Garland types so they can spend money on a closer and eventually pursue some offense.  

Mets firing up the Hot Stove!

It is beginning to heat up for the Mets and some free agents.  Hot Stove is hitting around Thanksgiving as it has in years past for Omar Minaya.  He has made famous Turkey Day visits before, will he do it again?

Minaya was in contact with the agents for several players yesterday, laying the groundwork for future meeting, contacts, and offers.  The Post, along with several publications, is reporting that Minaya was in contact with Brian Fuentes and Francisco Rodriguez yesterday to begin the talks towards offers.  It is not expected that offers will be submitted before Thanksgiving, but who knows.  The Mets are also showing interest in Kerry Wood and the old man, Trevor Hoffman, albeit for a shorter deal.

For the course of action I see in the future, Minaya seems to be after a couple closers, one for the job and one that can be the eighth inning guy and step in if the closer gets hurt or is ineffective for a stretch.  In that sense I say bring on Kerry Wood.  He should be relatively cheaper that Rodriguez and has the guts.  If his injured past comes back, you have someone in the eighth that has closed (Huston Street,...?).  I like Brian Fuentes but I am not sure about him in NY.  K-Rod has concerns about velocity, arm strength, etc.  How much of that eases up if he comes to the NL and what is the real risk?  We won't know unless he comes to the Mets and we get to see it unfold.  Ultimately, I think K-Rod ends up here but, we will see if Minaya even wants him.  

Some reports suggest the Mets may need to look to the Rays for Edwin Jackson or Andy Sonnanstine via trade.  I am in on either of these guys for the right price.  However, the Rays are difficult to trade with, especially regarding pitching.  Sonnanstine is an up and comer though with guts and a give me the ball attitude.  Both are young as well.

Heilman is certainly gone and Castillo could be close behind.  I get the feeling that Minaya will not simply give up Castillo, but if he thinks he is getting a good deal, he won't hesitate.  The White Sox will not happen I don't think.  They want to much for Dye and I don't sense the Mets like Vazquez that much.  

Mets Off-Season Insights, Hot Stove MLB

All day I have been reading and re-reading the posts of this blog, as well as others regarding the Mets.  It seems this off-season has been full of stories and backtracking and denials and misinformation.  Even some of the top writers seem to be getting it all wrong.  I have been trying to formulate a direction I see this team headed this off-season.  So, between a lot of posts by myself & others, writers' opinions, statements by Minaya, and some educated guessing, I have put together some thoughts on where this team seems to be headed.  Some stuff is not new, some is, take it for what it is.  Educated speculation.

• The Mets will not overbid to secure any top free agents.  A couple years ago, they could not get people in here without the extra year on the deal or the extra millions.  Now, being a Met doesn't sound so bad.  Minaya knows they are close, other players know this, so he will not extend contracts to the fifth year or that extra $15 million.  Who does this regard?  Players like Francisco Rodriguez, Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez most notably.  These free agents, and others, were probably expecting the Mets to drive up price and time, but it isn't happening.  The only 4 year deal I see being offered is Perez maybe.  There are too many questions on Rodriguez, Lowe is older, and some others like Brian Fuentes has no leverage with the state of the market  
• It would seem that Omar will hit the free agent market for starting pitching and a closer.  I think his mind set is that these two positions are worth a lost draft pick maybe.  I do not sense that Minaya want to lose a draft pick to sign someone like Juan Cruz, as a middle reliever.  Now that Street is available from someone other than Billy Beane, he can be had.  In fact, Joel Sherman says Huston was almost a Met right after going to Colorado, but the Mets balked at the asking price of Heilman and Feliciano.
• Pitching is the only priority.  Offense is gravy at this point.  That may change later on in the off-season, especially if Minaya is able to sign a couple guys or trade for a guy/sign a guy by the end of the winter meetings.  If Minaya had to go to opening day with his starting eight he has now, I sense he would be fine with it as long as he got the starters, middle relievers, and closer he needs.  What is comforting to know is that Minaya knows this is not simply a ninth inning problem, its anyone after the starter.  He likes Joe Smith, and maybe Brian Stokes, Duaner Sanchez, Pedro Feliciano, Luis Ayala.  Other than that, I think he would be fine with a major overhaul.
• Finally, it seems that Omar & Co. are dead set on controlling the market and not letting it control them.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Yankees seem to be trying to control the market, but they are just going to spend whatever it takes.  Minaya seems to be going slow and holding his cards close as to not drive up the price on anyone, or to help overvalue anyone. 

Now its time to wait and see.  Where does the money fall, how much, and who gets traded for who.  The meeting are coming up in about a week and a half.  Let the fun begin. 

A Wild Day in MLB, Rumors & More!

Well, it was a long day in the MLB.  Furcal, Renteria, Peavy, lots of rumors and none of them true or sound.  At one point today, the Mets had offered a contract to Furcal and he was deciding soon between them and the A's.  Now, it seems the A's and the Giants are fighting for him with a couple dark horses lingering (Braves and maybe the Rangers).  About the second that the Giants were rumored in on Furcal, it was posted on a variety of sites that they had signed Renteria to a two year deal.  Guess what?  Not true.  Peavy is now probably headed to the Cubs and it appears the Braves are completely out of it.  This probably means the Braves get him tomorrow.

By the way, the sick thing is, the only real news was the Minor League signing of two Indian kids that won a reality contest to try out in front of MLB scouts.  The Pirates signed Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh today and assigned them to the Minor League camp come spring training.

Mets offer Furcal a Contract

According to Rafael Furcal, the Mets have offered him an intriguing deal to play second base for them.  He is currently on his way to the U.S. to discuss deals from the Mets and A's, and possibly others with his agent.  He anticipates making a decision very soon on where he will play next year.

Wow, I did not see this coming.  It is a bold move by the Mets.  Bye Bye Castillo obviously.  Minaya must have a deal available to him (Vazquez I am guessing).  A healthy Furcal and Reyes on the same team.  I have to be excited.  Also, if something ever happened to one or the other, you still have a solid leadoff.  Who bats first?  Reyes, then Furcal?  Furcal then Reyes?  It is a little premature to have him in uniform, but I think it would be a nice deal for the Mets.  Everyone thinks big hitters and home runs coming in via free agency or deals, but how about a solid average, base stealing threat, doubles guy?  The thing is, if we are spending $40-$50 million on him or Hudson, I like him better.  He likes the spotlight, he could handle New York, and he is a proven  veteran.  Plus he has been a pain in the a#$ for the Mets to get out on many occasions.

Castillo seems like a Met for '09

Well, like it or not, Luis Castillo is looking more and more like the 2nd baseman for the Mets in 2009 unless something sweet pops up for Omar Minaya.  Newsday reports that based on the lack of second base possibilities and the fact Minaya is so gung ho for pitching, there may not be a fit coming down the road for the Mets at 2nd.  Castillo has committed to Minaya to come into camp in shape and ready to perform like his old self.  Hopefully the gold glove, steady hitter will hold to that.

What are the options?  Trade his bad contract for someone elses?  Javier Vasquez?  Jose Guillen?  No thanks, someone else's headache need not become ours.  How about Orlando Hudson?  All he wants is a 5 year deal for $50 million.  I don't think that kind of a deal plays out strong in the end.  

The 2nd base market is working against the Mets, just the opposite of how the closer market is working for them.  I say we give him the shot to redeem himself, pray he comes in lean, athletic, and healthy.  Concentrate on the pitchers at the front, middle, and end.  Starters, middle men, and closer need an injection.  

Yankees Putting a Deadline on Sabathia Deal?

CBSSportsline.com has a quote from Hal Steinbrenner saying, " We've made him an offer. It's not going to be there forever."  Wow, that's a bold statement from someone banking on this as the big signing of the offseason.

Sabathia is in the driver's seat.  It is well known that he prefers the West Coast as a destination of choice.  Some have suggested that the Brewers would probably be more interesting to Sabathia if they could meet his price.  The Yankees are really only a consideration (most likely his destination too) because they are blowing every other team out of the water. 

 I get the sense that this is just a little message to get some feedback on the offer and see what the next step is.  Hal would love for this to be resolved before another team bids, but that would be too good to be true.

Could Aaron Heilman Please be Traded?

I have been a supporter since he arrived from Notre Dame.  I have defended him during his troubled times and applauded him during his times on top.  He has a great fastball and a nasty change.  However, Aaron Heilman needs to get far away from New York.  As far as possible.

He wants to start, yet he does not complain or even comment unless asked about it.  Heilman goes about his business and is quiet in all respects.  The problem is, he has given up a couple heart crushing blows.  It all started in the Cardinal playoff series in 2006.  Occasionally since then, he has had a knack of hanging one at the wrong time.  

That being said, it is time to change scenery.  Package him with a prospect or two and pick up a solid reliever.  There are several teams that see him as a starter still.  Capitalize on that by sending him out ASAP.  The Rockies, A's, Cards, Cubs, and Diamondbacks have all shown interest at sometime in the recent past.  

Mike Mussina is not a Hall of Fame Pitcher

First, let me say that I am not hating on the Yankees or Mike Mussina.  I believe that Moose has been a quiet warrior for two ball clubs for the last 18 years.  However, I do not believe he is of Hall of Fame caliber at all.  Sorry Moose, no Cy, no plaque.  I will give you some facts.  All of my information comes from Baseball-Reference.

First, I know about the whole 270 wins and over a hundred more wins than losses blah, blah.  Yes, he has been an above average pitcher for quite some time.  He is a compiler.  

He has never won the Cy Young Award.  Not once.  He finished second once, and had a fourth, couple fifths, and some lower or not at all on the ballot.  That is only taking into the American League as well.  So in any given years there were a a few to a lot of pitchers better than he.  He had a bunch of very good years.  He has never been phenomenal, not even for one year.  Mussina often wasn't even the best pitcher on his team or in his division.  Over that span of time, names like Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Curt Shilling, Johan Santana, Roy Halladay, David Cone, Jimmy Key, and Derek Lowe, even had more dominant years and/or careers.  

Also, postseason stats are not there for Mussina.  Does he have a ring?  His lifetime postseason record is 7 wins and 8 losses.  Since 2003, he was 3 wins and 6 losses.  

Good pitcher, good career, nothing phenomenal.  Sorry Moose, you will have to go to someone else's induction to get to the Hall of Fame.