Odds and Ends: Delgado, Heilman, Teixeira, Alvarez

Mets would be dumb to keep Delgado. Let's not forget from April 07 to June 08, he was awful.

You have to wonder how bad Heilman can get until Mets fans admit that he is not valuable. He might be the worst set-up man in either league.

Someone should let Steve Popper know Delgado has a 16 mil option, not 12 prior to the buyout.

Carlos Delgado 1b
4 years/$52M (2005-08), plus 2009 option

* acquired 11/05 in trade from Florida (as part of deal, Marlins paid Mets $7M - $1M in 2006, $2M in 2007, $4M in 2008)
* 05:$4M, 06:$13.5M, 07:$14.5M, 08:$16M, 09:$16M option ($4M buyout)
* 2009 option may vest based on MVP voting rank
* if 2009 option does not vest, club has $12M mutual option ($4M buyout)
* MVP award bonus ($50,000 for finishing 2nd to Bonds in MVP vote)
* signed as a free agent 1/05

I'm going to insult you for doubting the abilities of a set-up man.

Yowza! I'm sure the Alvarez/Crow talk is just another case of posturing; part of the game. Still, for the first time, I'm beginning to wonder...

Both guys have been linked to preposterous bonus demands and in either case, it REALLY doesn't sound like the big league club is planning to back down.

With Washington, I tend to think of Kasten as a straight shooter. I think he might be willing to let Crow return to school if the price doesn't come down. Even though every first round pick last year, eventually signed, that was actually pretty unusual. It would hardly prove unprecedented were we to see one or more of this year's picks go unsigned. Considering the perceived depth of next year's class, it might even turn out to benefit the Nats (though that's surely not the team's official stance).

On the other front...despite a price tag that almost certainly exceeds Crow's, I still think Alvarez will sign. Bucs fans are still smarting from the club's decision to pass on Wieters last year and the club can hardly afford another draft-related public relations nightmare. That, I think, would prove more costly than 'grossly overpaying.' Picking up LaRoche in the Bay deal provides some leverage, but let's be honest...Alvarez is, by far, the more important of the two in terms of the club's future. While he'll likely move off third, his bat still profiles to play its way into more than a few All Star lineups. Furthermore, it seems that most scouts consider Alvarez a much better bet to reach his potential than Crow- a power arm with some mechanical questions (particularly with regard to health).

Nevertheless, the danger exists for Alvarez and the Bucs to continue their starting contest too long. If both sides wait for the other to blink, it could mean another year at Vandy for the former and two top picks in '09 for the latter. Hardly the end of the world, but I'm sure it's not what either side wants. You have to think a compromise will be reached.

It IS intriguing to consider the prospect of two such high profile picks- and perhaps more, based on Posey's similarly absurd demands and the lack of action on the Beckham and Alonso fronts (though I don't expect a problem in either case)- returning to school and, more importantly, returning to the draft pool for '09. It's worth noting that early word has this coming draft among the better classes (along with '07) since the windfall of '05. Certainly it has a more certain- and exciting- No. 1 in Steven Strasburg. Alex White and Kyle Gibson are nice consolation prizes on the pitching front, while Dustin Ackley and Ryan Jackson are a pair of intriguing bats. And that's just a small sampling from the college ranks. As always, the prep ranks will swell with talent- and hype- the closer we get to draft day.

Add Crow and Alvarez to the group and you've got a first round bonanza!

icedrake,

if you nontender someone, you don't get draft picks. You have to offer arbitration to the player and he has to decline it. "Letting him walk" gets you nothing.

I think you're refering to Delgado, and I believe that the guy your replying to was talking about Heilman.

Either way, if the Mets decline Delgado's option, why would they offer him arbitration (if they even could)?

BTW- what's a noob?

No way the Mets risk offering Delgado arbitration. He is the perfect candidate for someone who will accept a one year deal.

You would then end up paying his $4m for declining the option and then risk paying another $12m or so in arbitration (assuming he keeps up his production).

Not sure that Carlos will get a better deal anywhere else.

Tim...I have to disagree with that note credit to MetsBlog. Delgado indeed has a 12 million or 4 Million "buy-out". The additional factors are there to possible increase Carlos up to the 16 million of last season. The buy-out from the Mets point of view is accomplished with the 4 Million due from the Marlins for year 2008.

"I still stand by the notion that Teix is Giambi Jr.(with less power) and will be in pinstripes come winter."

Tex is a better defensive player, a switch hitter and far less injury prone. He also has a career slugging percentage a mere 1/10 of a point lower than that of Giambi. The only place Giambi really has ever had anything on Tex is that he is more fiery and more of a leader.

A few things...

The whole ''Aaron Heilman in the rotation'' saga has been going on a long time now, and I don't think the Mets would go that route. I agree with you Max, but I still don't think it's in the cards for Heilman to start in Queens. As a former first-round pick, if the Mets really thought of Heilman as a starter it would've happened already.

As for the Teixeira talks, I think Seattle would be a good fit for him. The Mariners are in this mess because they have no one with a decent on-base percentage other than Ichiro or Ibanez, not exactly free agent signings. Granted that the Silva and Washburn signings pitching-wise have been poor, but they have potential to have some good starting pitching on the horizon with Felix and Morrow. I think the only really bad signing with the offense was obviously Sexson, as Beltre hasn't exactly been a bust in Seattle.

There are huge differences between Teixeira at 28-29 years old and a player like Richie Sexson, who put up big power numbers in Milwaukee but always had average numbers otherwise. Plus, they signed Sexson in '05 after he had 90 at-bats with Arizona the year before. Teixeira is a consistent .300/30/100 guy(at least) with gold glove potential every season. A big difference from a hack like Richie Sexson.

I still think the Yankees will need the first baseman spot for one of their over-the-hill stars and will be too strapped to sign Teixeira, but that's just me.