Mets Make Offer To Lowe

Wish List: Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.

Starting 5:
Santana
Pelphrey
Maine
Lowe
Perez

Not bad. That rotation could arguably be the best in the NL.

Mets won't sign both Lowe and Perez. They will try to sign 1 of them. But Omar is going to have to pony up some cash, which he usually doesn't do...

I don't quite get the thinking behind trying to resign Perez. The Mets need a solid #2 starter. Unless Perez magically got better in the off season, I don't see why they would sign their #4 starter to be their #2.

The Mets won't sign Perez - it's just a ploy to lower Lowe's price.

Chico, I think the idea is that he's the next best deal on the market, not that I necessarily agree. It amazes me how everyone is treating Sheets like he has the plague. Anyway, I think the need for a #2 is why they'll eventually end up with Lowe (even though kerelcooper slots him in at #4). Anyway, the one team that could mess up the whole 3/40-45 deal could be the Red Sox, but they know how not to overpay.

The Mets were 6th best in the National League last year in terms of Runs Allowed. In 2009, they'll have a full season from K-Rod instead of the 3/4 season they got from Billy Wagner, and JJ Putz in the 8th inning instead of the combustible Aaron Heilman. If they can substitute Derek Lowe for the erratic Oliver Perez, that will save them another 25 or so runs.

I still think the Mets need one more solid bat at the corner outfield slots; they have Carlos Beltran and a bunch of 4th outfielder types out there. Church, Tatis and Murphy are all good depth guys, but none of those dudes screams "starting corner outfielder" to me. The Mets already have pretty crappy hitters at 2B and C, so I'm a little uncomfortable with the crapshoot they have going on at the corner OF slots.

Why are Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, and Randy Wolf grouped together?

Derek Lowe- really really good, #1-2 type guy.

Ollie- #3-4 type guy (albeit a low 3).

Randy Wolf- #4 at best, most likely a #5.

Huge, huge difference.

ahahaha Kramer, that's the most hilarious trade idea I've ever heard. I thought some of the Yankees fans suggestions for getting Peavy were out there, but this takes the cake.

serious Kramer. you couldnt of been serious

What could we get if we coughed up Grabow? It's no secret we're trying to move him, wish we weren't though.

Kramer is really looking like an "assman"

...that should be "good" value (Lowe may be a fine pitcher but he ain't a God).

"What could we get if we coughed up Grabow? It's no secret we're trying to move him, wish we weren't though."

Bucs could get a decent return. I think Tigers is the best place to get max value for Grabow IMO. Why? His ERA is much, much better than his peripherals. And Dave Drombowski has a hard on for those kinds of pitchers (Jackson, Robertson, Willis).

"I agree that the importance of having two lefty relievers is way overblown. I'd rather have all good righties than two mediocre but lefty pitchers. "

You build to win your division, and go to the playoffs. Sometimes, adjustments have to be made to accomodate adjustments division rivals made.

AKA if your biggest division rival's 3 best hitters are all lefties, and two have very firm differences in their splits v. RHP and LHP, it is smart to carry two lefties.

"The Mets were 6th best in the National League last year in terms of Runs Allowed. In 2009, they'll have a full season from K-Rod instead of the 3/4 season they got from Billy Wagner, and JJ Putz in the 8th inning instead of the combustible Aaron Heilman. If they can substitute Derek Lowe for the erratic Oliver Perez, that will save them another 25 or so runs.

I still think the Mets need one more solid bat at the corner outfield slots; they have Carlos Beltran and a bunch of 4th outfielder types out there. Church, Tatis and Murphy are all good depth guys, but none of those dudes screams "starting corner outfielder" to me. The Mets already have pretty crappy hitters at 2B and C, so I'm a little uncomfortable with the crapshoot they have going on at the corner OF slots.

Posted by: JK47 | December 29, 2008 at 10:01 AM"

It's amusing you cite stats for your argument with the Pitching (Which I agree with by the way), but then rip apart the T-2nd Ranked Offense in the NL in terms of Runs. Church, Murphy, Tatis are more then good enough in the corners (When Church is healthy). Any problem with the Mets offense is from having both Castillo and Schneider, both of whom are pretty much automatic outs. Not the corner outfield.

PS: It's pretty amusing that people think Cosmo Kramer was serious, that was pretty obviously sarcasm.

I WOULD SIGN LOWE AND MANNY THEN TRADE DELGADO AND SCHEINDER TO ANGELS FOR SAUNDERS AND NAPOLI OR MATHIS;THEN TRADE CHURCH AND NIESE OR PARNELL TO BLUE JAYS FOR RIOS; MY LINEUP; REYES,MURPHY(1B),WRIGHT,MANNY,BELTRAN,RIOS,NAPOLI OR MATHIS AND CASTILLO PITCHING; SANTANA,LOWE,SAUNDERS,PELPHREY AND MAINE

Why don't the Mets sign Mark Mulder? He'd come cheap and could compete with Niese for the fifth spot in the rotation, and if he doesn't work out as a starter they'd have another lefty in the pen.

"THEN TRADE CHURCH AND NIESE OR PARNELL TO BLUE JAYS FOR RIOS;"

The Blue Jays don't make this deal. Rios has legitimate star potential, and 2009 could be a breakout season for him. Either way, he's contract is reasonable, he's a plus defensive RF and a solid defensive CF, and he does everything pretty well. If he can maintain good power throughout the season and improve his plate discipline even a little, then he could be in for a very big year in 2009.

No way you deal someone with that upside for a good platoon right fielder and a good but nothing special pitching prospect.

"THEN TRADE DELGADO AND SCHEINDER TO ANGELS FOR SAUNDERS AND NAPOLI OR MATHIS"

This trade is a complete and total gang bang of the Angels.

They give up a solid 2/3 lefty with multiple years of team control left and a young catcher that is superior to Schneider already, and in exchange they receive an aging 1B on an expensive one year deal, and a good defensive catcher that can post a .340 OBP but does nothing else.

Sorry, but those deals simply help your Mets, and do no good to anyone else. That's not how trading works.

JAMES, seriously???? You think you can trade Delgado and Schneider for Saunders, Napali or Mathis? What the heck are you smoking man??

Mets won't go wrong with a utility guy like Alex Cora. He has lost a step or 2 and has no power, but the guy will catch anything hit to him, never gripes and is a solid as can be at both SS and 2B Mets fans.

Either way, the name Pelphrey doesn't look even remotely right.

I'm gonna love that rotation of Zantana, Mane, Pelphrey, Low, and Niece.

As a met fan, I've believed all off-season that we are better off with Lowe than Perez.However, now I'm starting to have a change of heart; specifically after the Yanks' Tex aquisition. We already signed K-Rod and got Putz. Our pitching staff is much improved thus far. Plus, Omar has proven that he, in fact, isn't the scrub of a GM he showed himself to be last year (Miledge/Church trade, Castillo, etc.). So I say, let Omar's team lead us to the promise land. He got Perez for Nady, he got Maine for Benson, he got Johan in a trade, Pelfrey was brought up under his reign, as will be Niese. I am fine going to battle with those guys in the rotation instead of signing Lowe and making it seem like we are buying the division.
As for a lefty in the pen, Jerry and Omar preached last year about 2-way bullpen guys. I don't think they care whether the pitcher is lefty or righty, they just need to get outs. I'm fine with just Feliciano. Give that last pen spot to a kid like Parnell or a rule 5 pick like Rocky Cherry or (if healthy) Darren O'Day.
I'm kind of sick of New York, and baseball fans in general, looking to win by bringing in guys. I understand that's the way baseball is nowadays. However, I'd rather have a great story, like Tatis, and a young, intense kid, like Murphy, lead the way, than bring in Manny to give us a quick fix. Just the same as I'd rather have Perez, who has been here and somewhat blossomed here, than Lowe who has had success elsewhere. It just makes the game more interesting, more fun, and more of a great story. This way, when we reach the promise land it wasn't because of our money... it was because of our GM, because of our kids, and most of all, because the New York Mets are a good team, not a rich one.

Damn, and I thought Yankees fans were the only ones that overvalued their players and thought teams would trade their best for pennies on the dollar. Bravo, Mets fans, bravo.

For the record, Ryan Church is not a fourth outfielder. His 2008 was a bit of an aberration. He's not as bad as he was post-concussion nor is he as good as he was before the concussion. He's really somewhere in between. Basically, he's offensively league average and defensively well-above average. He's not an all-star but he's certainly an everyday player.

I'm not all that comfortable with the idea of Tatis/Murphy in left and I think the team could use an upgrade there. Part of me is hoping the Yankees would send Nick Swisher to the Mets on the cheap because of their outfield surplus. That's probably a pipe dream, I know. I think signing Pat Burrell might make sense, especially since it seems as though the market for him is not that great and he can be possibly had for a short-term, relatively inexpensive deal. A right-handed power bat would fit very nicely in Mets lineup.

Finally, am I think only one who thinks that singing Lowe to a 3 or 4 year deal is a mistake? The guy is 35. Look what happened with Pedro. I also think that picking up Randy Wolf instead of Ollie Perez is basically as wash, not an upgrade or downgrade. Wolf is a bit older and gives up more hits but he doesn't walk nearly as many. If someone is willing to pay Boras a ton for Ollie, Wolf would be a fine replacement.

Another middle reliever (preferably left-handed) would be nice and if there's anyway to get rid of Castillo I might do a cartwheel. Hopefully, Omar can make a few more moves than just a backup middle infielder.

I think the Mets will sign Lowe, if not, the Yanks will

Dodgers send two bad contracts to the Mets, easy done deal: Jones and Pierre for the 3rd baseman.
You see, 2 wrongs make a Wright.

"Dodgers send two bad contracts to the Mets, easy done deal: Jones and Pierre for the 3rd baseman.
You see, 2 wrongs make a Wright."

Actually, two wrongs don't make a right... but 3 rights make a left. So we'll send you three righties (Carlos Muniz, Nelson Figueroa, and Duaner sanchez) for a lefty (Kershaw).

The dollar amount is actually the same as the one the Dodgers gave him in 2005 (albeit that was for four years and not three).

If they sign him I think it'll be for something like 3/42 or maybe 3/39 and a 4th year option (not sure about Lowe's preference for 4 years).

dont be suprised if the braves start bidding for Lowe. they got the money to spend and are in need of a top of the rotation pitcher.

Poor Ben Sheets. What's up with his market?

Cosmo Kramer, that's your worst idea since using the homeless in a rickshaw business.

I would really like to see the Dodgers bring Lowe back, even if it means over paying the market a bit.

"Lowe is not a number 1"

Only because he isn't flashy. Lowe puts up number 1 numbers most of the time.

"THEN TRADE DELGADO AND SCHEINDER TO ANGELS FOR SAUNDERS AND NAPOLI OR MATHIS"

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. TONY REAGINS WOULD BE FIRED FOR JUST MENTIONING SUCH A THING. SAUNDERS OR NAPOLI ALONE ARE WORTH MORE THAN THAT PACKAGE.

NOW TURN YOUR CAPS LOCK OFF WHEN POSTING PLEASE.

I find it interesting that the Mets would offer Lowe 12mil per year after Lowe went into the offseason shooting for 18mil per year. My guess is that it's because all prices are dropping right now and there's not really another serious contender for Lowe. And to the all the Braves fans out there who say Wren should give Boras a call...I completely agree with you. Lucky for Braves fans the Mets have shot fairly low for him. They did this because they've got a plan B and C option in Perez and Wolf. I think Wren should offer Lowe 3 years 45mil. I don't think the Mets want to get into a major bidding war for this guy. If Wren was willing to go 16 mil per yr on an injury risk like Burrnet, then he should go 15 for a guy as reliable as Lowe.

I would like to thank all the non-Angels fans out there for slamming James' trade proposal. It brought back bad memories of the 07 off-season when we heard the Melky+Kennedy offers coming from Yankee fans suggesting that it was fair value for Johan.

Delgado isn't worth much. His contract is pretty darn close to what he would earn on the open market. That makes his trade value close to neutral.

Meanwhile, Napoli just finished the season posting a 960 OPS. That OPS was 100 points higher than Joe Mauer and would have led all the Mets players (highest was Wright at 924). Now Napoli has to stay healthy and post those numbers for 140 games, but he is under team control for an additional 3 years, players a premium defensive position, and hits HR's at a very Adam Dunn like rate.

As for Saunders, he's 27, a lefty, and just posted an ERA under 3.50 in the AL. Oh, and he's under team control for another 3-4 years as well.

Smart move by the Mets with Lowe. Don't get suckered into Perez - Lowe is the real prize. The Met's made a very prudent move in signing K-Rod at a reasonable rate. Trading for Putz was brilliant. If they can land Lowe at under $15m/year I nominate the Mets for the smartest team in the 2008 off-season.

Squeeze another $12m and they can have Dunn manning left. Keep Church in right. Wow, that's a lot of bang for your buck.

K-Rod - $13m
Putz - $5m (probably a total increase of just $3m)
Lowe - $15m
Dunn - $12m

$43m for your dominant closer, amazing set-up guy, solid #2 starter, and a 40HR LF'er. I would take that any day over Sabathia/Teixeira and their long contracts and no trade clauses.

"As for Saunders, he's 27, a lefty, and just posted an ERA under 3.50 in the AL. Oh, and he's under team control for another 3-4 years as well."

And lets not forget that he throws 93-95 as well. Not many Lefties can do that. The only knock on the guy really is his K rate, and I think he can improve that to Derek Lowe-esque levels.

if the mets aren't going over 3 years, i really think 4 years at 60 to 65 million would get lowe to atlanta. i guess we'll see if wren is truly committed to getting an ace and minaya is truly going to stick to this 3 yr max thing. would also be good for atl because it not only gets us what we need but would keep him from the mets

yanks 09

1. C. Sabathia
2. A. Burnett
3. C. Wang
4. D. Lowe
5. J. Chamberlain

z

09 Red Sox
1. Beckett
2. Lester
3. Dice K
4. Lowe
5. Penny

Bye bye to wake..masterson back to the bullpen!

Kulaid:

If its bye bye to Wake.... then its probably
bye bye to Jason V!

Kulaid:

If its bye bye to Wake.... then its probably
bye bye to Jason V!

Posted by: Arnie Serotsky | December 30, 2008 at 11:07 PM
__________________________________________________________

Why?? Vtek never caught Wake...not to mention i dont want vtek back...but still. why would that have to do with anything

would Lowe take offense to that offer? Not sure he has much choice but for someone who was asking for 4 and 60, 3 for 36 is pushing it. I'll bet other teams would go for that and maybe a bit more. Omar better be careful before he winds up with a 4,5 of Pedro and Niese (haha jk)

Not so much as an insult, but rather I think other teams will now start upping that bid easily. I wish the Phillies could get in on the bidding, because at that price he would still be seen as a bargain. With 3/36 on the table, the Braves and Red Sox can easily top that... Phillies can at the very least match it.... I can even see the Yankees going 3/40

As for a "starting bid" - Don't remember anyone starting a low bidding war and win..

Sabathia and Dice K are both awful comparisons, especially Dice K, seeing as how he has never been a Major League Baseball free agent.

"As for a "starting bid" - Don't remember anyone starting a low bidding war and win.."

Yeah, because it isn't as if the Mets offered K-Rod a 2/24 deal to start, and then later signed him for a little more. Nothing like that has ever happened before. Especially not in the last month. Definitely never happened.

Obviously, as has been said, its only a starting offer. That being said I hope we dont budge too much.... I think its funny how so many ppl are coming out of the wood work saying how ridiculous this offer is. We have been saying for weeks now that Lowe will end up around 3/45 then when Penny was signed the priced seemed to drop lower. 3/40 sounds to be the market price and I think what we will end up paying.

As for our other holes, I rather keep them for other threads

yeah...im thinking the Phils will scoop him up for 3/40