New York Mets Rumors

Discussion: Trade Options For Yankees And Mets

With so many teams maintaining or reducing payroll this winter, the New York Yankees and New York Mets have an opportunity to take advantage, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Although it's possible that the Yankees' and Mets' 2010 payrolls will be below their 2009 figures, Sherman says each team still has money to spend. Sherman suggests that the two New York franchises could use their financial flexibility to explore the trade market. The Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds are among the clubs reportedly looking to trade. Sherman thinks that the Yankees or Mets are in a...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Duke, Hardy, Mets, Angels

Some Saturday evening links... Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports write that the Brewers asked the Pirates for Zach Duke or Paul Maholm in exchange for J.J. Hardy. Pittsburgh hoped to land the shortstop in exchange for closer Matt Capps or catcher Ryan Doumit. When the Pirates refused to budge, the Brewers pulled the trigger on the deal with Minnesota for Carlos Gomez. Also noted is that the Mets are considering former Indians skipper Eric Wedge as a candidate for their bench coach vacancy. The position could be a stepping stone to the head job as Jerry...   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Fernando Tatis

In 2008, after disappearing from the Major Leagues for some time, Fernando Tatis hooked on with the Mets. Tatis was a pleasant surprise for the orange and blue, posting .297/.369/.484 in 92 games. After the season, the Metropolitans rewarded Tatis with a one-year, $1.7MM deal. The Dominican utilityman did not perform at quite the same level in '09. In 379 plate appearances, Tatis recorded a less impressive slash line of .282/.339/.438. Defensively, he showed that he is still sharp - whether it be in left field, first base or third base. Tatis, who turns 35 on New Year's Day, will...   Continue Reading

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Nationals Drawing Interest In Willingham

Washington is drawing strong trade interest in left fielder Josh Willingham, but may not be willing to part with him, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Willingham turned in a slash line of .260/.367/.496 with 24 HRs in 502 plate appearances in 2009. The post identifies the Braves as a team that likes the 30-year-old, but says that they have concerns about his back and are less than enamored with his defensive play. Willingham, they suggest, might be a better fit in the American League where he can be a DH. Earlier this month, Tim...   Continue Reading

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Mets Rumors: Lackey, Figgins, Delgado, Francoeur

The Mets plan to be serious bidders for the services of John Lackey, writes David Lennon of Newsday. GM Omar Minaya reportedly "received a favorable first impression" from a meeting earlier this week with Lackey's agent, Steve Hilliard. Lennon points out that the Mets successfully zeroed in on free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez last offseason and secured his services for $37MM over three years, short of what some expected. Here's a look at some of the other tidbits Lennon brings us in this piece: If the Mets sign the versatile Chone Figgins, he would be placed in left field. Under...   Continue Reading

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Olney On Lackey, Astros, Rangers, Doumit, Carroll

In today's blog post at ESPN.com, Buster Olney writes about Michael Bourn, and how he went from hitting .218 with a .273 OBP in the first half of 2008 to hitting .285 with a .354 OBP in 2009 thanks to a suggestion from Astros' coach Dave Clark. Here's a roundup of Olney's rumors... The Angels last offer to John Lackey was a $72MM package, made earlier this year. Olney's educated guess is that the Mariners are the best bet to sign Lackey, followed in order by the Angels, Brewers, Mets, Red Sox, and Yankees. Olney hears that the Astros "are...   Continue Reading

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Mets Rumors: Delgado, Francoeur, Non-Tenders

The New York Post's Bart Hubbuch has some good Mets info this afternoon, though it is unfortunately broken up into three tweets. Hubbuch learned that Mets GM Omar Minaya intends to watch Carlos Delgado in winter ball next month. Delgado could probably be re-signed cheaply after hip surgery limited the 37-year-old to 112 plate appearances this year. Cross Jeff Francoeur off the list of non-tender candidates - Minaya said Francoeur will be back and also mentioned that an extension is a possibility. Mets fans - do you believe Francoeur's 308 plate appearances with the club represent a reformed hitter? Hubbuch...   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Javier Vazquez Rumor Shot Down

1:24pm: MLB.com's Mark Bowman talked to a team source who said the Dodgers and Braves are not currently having trade discussions. Bowman believes the Brewers do have interest in Vazquez. As for Derek Lowe, Bowman doesn't see the Yankees in the mix but does consider the Angels and Brewers possibilities. 9:16am: Former Reds and Nationals GM Jim Bowden is on Twitter, and last night he floated a couple of Dodgers rumors. Bowden wrote that the Dodgers are talking with the Braves about pitcher Javier Vazquez and with the Mets about second baseman Luis Castillo. Vazquez would be an excellent addition...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Figgins, Halladay, Uggla

On this date 31 years ago, Red Sox free agent pitcher Luis Tiant signed a two-year, $875K contract with the Yankees. After eight seasons and 122 wins with Boston, Tiant would go 21-17 with the Yankees before finishing his career with the Pirates and Angels. With this year's free agents looking for new homes, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... UmpBump attempts to determine how much Chone Figgins is worth. The Phrontiersman warns that giving up Cole Hamels is too much for Roy Halladay. We Should Be GMs analyzes the Phillies roster and suggests...   Continue Reading

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Red Sox, Mets Express Interest In John Lackey

The Red Sox expressed preliminary interest in free agent starter John Lackey this week at the GM Meetings, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Additionally, David Lennon of Newsday says Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke to Lackey's agent on the phone. There's no cost to express interest, so why not? The Mariners, Rangers, Brewers, and Yankees have been linked to Lackey in various reports. Earlier this week, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick polled 20 baseball people, and the Yankees, Mets, and Angels were seen as the most likely to sign him. Lackey's agent told Brewers GM Doug Melvin that his...   Continue Reading

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