NL East teams have nearly finished their offseason shopping, but could make a move or two while Spring Training is underway. Here are the details…
- Chipper Jones was thinking about retirement last year, but tells Scott Miller of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) that he wants to play until the end of his current contract, which is guaranteed through the 2012 season. The Braves hold a $7MM option on Jones for 2013 which can also vest if Jones plays a certain number of games over the next two seasons.
- Ryan Zimmerman pushed the Nationals to re-sign his friend Adam Dunn, but Zimmerman said his disappointment over Dunn's depature shouldn't be interpreted as criticism of the the club, writes CSNWashington's Mark Zuckerman. "I was just expressing more frustrations of losing a teammate and a friend than anything," Zimmerman said. "I think a lot of people took it as I was taking a stab at [the Nats] or talking bad about them, which was completely the opposite."
- Michael Weiner said the MLBPA was happy with Cliff Lee's decision to sign with the Phillies, rather than sign for larger contracts in Texas or New York, tweets Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan. "Not only were we not upset Cliff got to go to the Phillies, we applauded him," Weiner said.
- Donald Trump told Alison Leigh Cowan and Ken Belson of the New York Times that he's interested in buying a majority stake in the Mets. Trump says he called Fred Wilpon about two weeks ago to set up a meeting.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson says it's "unlikely" that the Mets discuss an extension with Jose Reyes before Opening Day, according to ESPNNewYork's Adam Rubin. Reyes is set to hit free agency after the season and has said he's open to a long-term deal. The $1 billion lawsuit against the Mets owners won't prevent the Mets from signing Reyes to a multiyear deal, Alderson said.
- Jason Isringhausen auditioned for the Mets today, according to Newsday's David Lennon (on Twitter). Alderson and two of his assistants, J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta, are familiar with the longtime closer from his time in Oakland. Isringhausen first appeared in the majors as a starter for the Mets in 1995.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Phillies' starters would rather pitch than talk about their place in baseball history.
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post
Jason Isringhousen? Who said you can’t go home again
Jason Isringhausen? Generation K? All we need now is Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson.
Remember how hyped that class was? I got so sick of Mets fans talking about them.
Tis the season to sign long lost arms…
Their place in baseball history? What have they accomplished that has earned them a play in baseball history?
But…but…but..they’re all ON THE SAME TEAM!!!!!
BESTEST ROTATION EVAH IN TEH HISTORY OF THE GAME!!11ONEONEONE!1
There have been rotations as good, if people only research their history. And some of them fell short of the mountaintop.
Yeah, wayyyy before my time but the Indians had some sick rotations in the early 50’s but usually ended up finishing 2nd to the Yanks (back when there was just 1 team from the AL and one from the NL who made the playoffs which was just the WS back then before div play).
1951- Feller w/ 22 wins, Wynn and Garcia w/ 20 wins each and Bob Lemon w/ 17 wins. 69 CG between the 4 that year. Sick!
Yeah, nothing like coronating them before they’ve collectively done anything.
Yes, the Phillies are so humble about their rotation that they are “introducing” four out of five players already on their team; the modesty just tugs at your heartstrings. I smell a Sports illustraded cover jinxs comming up.
nothing like a jealous mets fan’s insightful comments
thanks, I almost forgot to mention the humble fan base.
Heyy totally agree i really cant wait to laugh when 2 or more of them get injured…you never know what kind of injuries a team will face…the phillies have the same chance as any other team to be next haha cant wait
^That is when you know your team is sad^
When they are named the “Mets?”
you don’t go to many games do you?…matter of fact, you must not leave your house, because the world’s full of them; it would be nice if you could balme them all on one sports team.
It’s people like you that give fellow Mets fans a bad name. As much as I hate the Phillies I’d NEVER, EVER wish ill upon someone, regardless of the team name that is stitched across their chests.
Thank you. I am a Phillies fan, I agree that this team has not accomplished SQUAT yet, I’m personally sick of all this Spring Training hoopla.
And I HATE when Johan gets hurt. He is one of the best in his game when healthy, and I appreciate talent, unlike some of these so-called Mets fans around here. When any of our team’s players gets hurt, it cheapens the product and diminishes the rivalry. Grow up fellas.
most expensive rotation in baseball (this could be wrong)
LOL, that’s Ok Frank, don’t let potentially being wrong stop you from making a statement like that. It never stopped the many thousands that have come before you.
Reyes could set himself up for a big pay day if he has a good season, given the weak shortstop field. I mean, after Hanley and Tulo, there is a huge drop off in talent.
I can see Reyes having a big year too and he probablly wants out of Queens anyways
…he probablly wants out of Queens anyways
Granted, athletes are rarely completely candid about what they truly feel, but everything I’ve read recently (Latin media included) indicates that Reyes wants to remain a Met – indefinitely.
Jason Bay… uuurrrrrre fiwwwreeeddd.
Oh God, the Phillies rotation is going to be treated like the Heat were before the season started.
except its actually good
and not a bunch of ego maniacs…
I’ll bite my tongue when I see a Cliff Lee Nike commercial “what should I do?” and Doc Halladay makes an appearance on Entourage
I’m pretty sure the Heat are doing well this season…
Not against my guys in GREEN!
Imagine what Trump could do with the Mets. Maybe CC will be moving across town next year.
I wish Donald Trump owned the Mets before this past offseason. We could of had a reality show searching for their next GM and Manager.
Ollie Perez: You’re fired! haha
What if Trump and Mark Cuban (also with rumored interest in a stake), decided to pair up and buy the entire team from the Wilpons?
The Mets would be declaring bankruptcy every 7 years or so, and constantly losing in the NLCS after great regular seasons.
I would instantly become a (half way) mets fan if he bought out the Mets, if only because he would have the guts to stand up to useless people like Selig, Boras, the MLBPA and every other form of management and the agents..Union.. Finally a man that knows how to handle the situation that is outspoken and would blow the whistle shich is WHY ownership would never allow him to buy a majority stake in any club.. probably why Cuban still does not own one yet..
Trump = FTW!
To whoever thinks Don Trump as a baseball owner is a good idea: go look at what he did to the USFL, and you’ll have an idea of what will happen to the New York Mets under his ownership.
Could it get worse?
The union applauded Lee for signing for less money and they aren’t even advising Pujols about what to do in his negotiations with the Cards. A union that cares more about its members than about making a buck. How refreshing…a tear…
Not if his 6th year vests, which it likely will.
I don’t know if I would automatically assume that. Lee is getting older and more injury prone
maybe I’m the only one that feels this way but if Donald Trump came and made the Mets basically like the Yankees, why weren’t you just a Yankee fan in the first place?
Yes you are the only one that feels that way…
god i hope donald buys the team. then we can finally get a good franchise. we’re going to have a steinbrenner(excuse the spelling which i assume is incorrect) on our hands. the seinfeld episode with him mentioning everyone who he has ever fired comes to mind “Steinbrenner: You know as painful as it is I had to let a few people go over the years. Yogi Berra, Lou Pinella, Bucky Dent, Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Dick Houser, Bill Virdon, Billy Martin, Scott Marrow, Billy Martin, Bob Lemmon, Billy Martin”
I understand what you’re talking about, yet the words still do not make sense.
I wonder how Trump would be as a mlb owner? I wonder if he would face the same problems that Mark CUban seems to face in trying to get a team?
I think “The Donald” may face even more scrutiny than Cuban. There is no getting around the fact that several of the Trump businesses have filed for bankruptcy in the past 10 years. While I do not believe Donald himself has ever filed, that can not look good to the powers that be in the MLB who just finished dealing with the Texas situation.