The Phillies will attempt to advance to their fourth consecutive NLCS on Friday, when former teammates Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter face off in Philadelphia. Until then, we've got some links from the NL East to keep you entertained…
- Mark Zuckerman of NatsInsider says the Nationals could have room on their roster for Rick Ankiel next year, though it would probably be as a fourth outfielder. There's "virtually no chance" the Nationals re-sign Laynce Nix and Ankiel, according to Zuckerman. Jonny Gomes could be back, but the out-of-options Roger Bernadina isn't assured of a roster spot going forward.
- The Mets announced that Johan Santana will rest to prepare for the 2012 season instead of playing winter ball or pitching more in the instructional league. GM Sandy Alderson says he's optimistic that Santana will "maintain a Spring Training schedule with all other Mets pitchers next February and will be ready for the start of the 2012 season." The Mets owe the left-hander $24MM in 2012, $25.5MM in 2013 and at least a $5.5MM buyout in 2014.
- The Mets also announced that bench coach Ken Oberkfell, third base Coach Chip Hale, first base coach Mookie Wilson and bullpen coach Jon Debus won't be back in 2012. The A's signed Hale to be manager Bob Melvin's bench coach for the next two years.
Wow the Mets let all there coaches go jesus (I thought Chip Hale was really good and i’m not surprised a team picked him up right away honestly…).
He was going to oakland all along.
Jim Riggleman and Larry Bowa are the early favorites for the Mets bench coach job
Alderson’s ‘optimistic’ statement concerning Santana was delivered with his fingers crossed no doubt. It’s been truly sad to follow Santana’s recovery the last two years. After missing just about all of last year, he was supposed to return this June, then early September,then pitch in the Arizona fall league. Now he’s hopefully coming back in the spring. Good Luck Johan, hope you finally do come back!
If I’m permitted a selfish thought- Kudos to Brian Cashman. He’s involved in another one of those ‘Sometimes the best trades are the ones that are not made’ moves. Anyone remember the proposed Hughes and Joba/or Kennedy for Santana trade?
Hughes and Joba are garbage so its not like Cashman did so great.Signing a bum like Burnett and trading a 21 game winner looks pretty bad.Cashman also did release John Axford and trade Melky Cabrera and Vizcaino for Vasquez.If the yankees had a average GM all these years they would have won about eight championships during the cashman years instead of four
Hughes and Joba have pitched in the last two years despite injuries and have contributed to a championship, as has Burnett. Last time I looked Johan hasn’t pitched and has yet to put on a WS ring. Melky, was a nice piece, but was a product of the team more than being an important piece, as his performance in Atlanta proves. He’s now in KC, because he wasn’t good enough for Atlanta! Vizcaino was a Chuck’n Duck pitcher in NY, who luckily got hurt, otherwise he would have gotten his infielders killed, with the line drives that he consistently served up.
As for the 21 game winner your talking about, Cashman got Curtis Granderson who’s in the running for MVP, not a bad trade at all. Kennedy, was to use your phrase, garbage in NY. He’s most likely matured and is reaping the benefits of not having to pitch in a tougher division in a superior league. Axeford couldn’t even make the major league roster, he was cut in the minors, this before the Yanks even had a decent bullpen! He also is pitching in a weak division in the NL.So you see, your lame hack job on Cashman is again to use your term,real garbage
So if Cashman acquires a player that flourishes in NY like Granderson, he deserves praise, but doesn’t deserve criticism if he trades away a player that flourishes outside of NY, like Kennedy?
Over the last 4 years, Hughes and Joba combined for 8.7 WAR. Santana produced a total WAR of 14.4 the last 4 years- without pitching 2011. The Yankees rotation would look a lot more refreshing with Santana minus Joba and Hughes. Heck, with Santana, it can be argued that Cashman doesn’t waste the dough on Soriano last year.
You give the WAR for Hughes and Joba for the last 4 years but Santana hasn’t pitched for the better parts of 2 seasons. Santana indeed would look good in the Yankees rotation but hasn’t pitched in reality has he? You’re looking to what could be instead of what is the present. Kennedy pitched for part of two years and was awful. Cashman shouldn’t be crushed because he made a trade that benefited both teams, in this case three teams. His objective was to better HIS team. And as far as Soriano goes, the owner and team President signed Soriano over Cashman’s objections.
First off you keep saying he has not pitched for the better part of past 2 seasons which is not true. He pitched almost the entire 2010 season before missing 2011. Second that is his point. Even while missing all of 2011 and the last month of 2009 and 2010 Santana still out produce Joba and Hughes. If he hadn’t been injured the difference would have been even wider.
see post below. Cashman also saved $80mil. people seem to forget this point…
hey, let’s just completely forget the fact that Johan has also cost over 80mil through those 4 years, which should have purchased 20 WAR considering it’s usually valued at $4mil per 1 WAR. so your logic is flawed
sincerely,
Red Sox fan
$56 million so far, actually. And with 1 WAR at $4.5 million each, he’s produced $8.8 million surplus in WAR, though still not up to what fans expected.
And it’s not fair to compare players like that for big markets. Big markets like NY are willing to overpay for marginal WAR from individual players. Which is why the Yankees can say that it was worth acquire two players (Kennedy and Jackson) that have produced 13.4 WAR total over 4 years that have costed a total of $1.6 million for a single player (Granderson) that has produced 8.2 WAR at $13.75 million over the last two years.
Granderson = $1.68/WARKennedy + Jackson = $119k/WAR
fair enough, but you can’t discredit the next few years that he’s guaranteed at the same time. and if you’re expecting much from him, well, i have a bridge to sell you. Santana was one of the best pitchers i’ve seen, especially on the Twins, but the list of pitchers who came back from shoulder surgery and were able to revive their career is… well, Chris Carpenter. that’s it
I rather have a 21 game winner who hasnt reached his prime anyday over a 29 year old CF who is having a career year.I am talking about Vizcaino the 20 year old prospect who Cashman gave up in the Vasquez trade.Kennedy didnt get ehough of a chance like Joba the fat and Hughes has.Cashman signing and trades of the likes of Pavano,Burnett,Wright,Igawa,Vasquez,Brown,Contreras,Johnson,Womack,Marte,Giambi and Feliciano have been awful.How is that Aroid trade working out.1 championship in 8 years with that cheater.If Cashman was a GM for a team with an actual budget he would have been fired a long time ago
Just stop. You’re throwing out names mixed with revisionist history. Last year you didn’t even know Kennedy existed, Vizcaino is still a prospect, Igawa was Old Man Steinbrenner’s reaction to the Red Sox’s Dice K signing. Cashman took the hit but it wasn’t his signing. For every bad signing or trade you bring up I can give a good one, so lets just say you’re a Yankees hater and a frustrated Cashman basher. If I give you a good trade or signing, you’ll come back with the ‘budget angle’,if I bring out a trade you’ll find a bad trade… meanwhile he’s got 5 rings. How many does the GM of your team have?
It sure was weird way back when the Twins were attempting to rob both NYY and Boston for Santanna, then nearly give him away to the Mets. recall also thaose trade winds, the twins were after Jon Lester (laughing) and Jacoby Ellsbury for him back then also, then ur Yankees they wanted Hughes and Chamberlain, but from the Mets they took a bunch of nobodies, plus a scrawny CF named Gomez who couldn’t do anything but slash at the ball?? You were probably laughing back then also, it was hilarious at the deal the Twins took, when they were after top guys from NYY and Boston like that and accept so little from of all people, Omar Minaya..
wins are an awful way to gauge a pitcher’s value, but anyway it was a good trade for all teams involved, and Kennedy was put in a position to succeed in Arizona, and he obviously wasn’t ready or able to pitch in NY, and so instead of wasting away in the minors or wasting a roster spot he’s able to pitch well for the D-Backs. You do realize GMs do well when they make these trades because people will want to deal with you in the future if you’re not ripping off every other team you deal with. Everyone won that trade. Cashman’s a good GM, and yes there are better GMs in the game, but he’s easy top 5, and that’s not even a slight against Cashman
He did not really miss all of last year (2010). He made 29 starts. He basically missed like the last month. While they hoped to have him back this year it was never a sure thing. Also he was never going to pitch in the AFL as ML players cannot play in it. Winter league was possible but that was never going to be allowed by the Mets as they would have no way of controlling his workload.
It was reported recently that he was going to the AFL, may have been an error. I stand corrected as far as last year goes. Thanks.
yep. and people were ripping Theo for not trading Ellsbury & Lester for him, too.
You are a racist piece of garbage.It figures coming from a person who lives in a racist city like Boston
come on dude. i’ve lived in the Bean my entire life and i can assure you – we’re not racist like this guy. just wanted to clarify that we all hate him just as much as you do
Dude,Get a clue! you come off as an arrogant bigoted Anglo Red Sox fan that can’t recognize Frank McCourt when he post’s his opinion.
Racism…nice one.
Ok, I wasn’t aware that they basically had to totally reattach Santana’s arm. How long does the poor guy have to rehab?!?!
Is there any reason why the Nats wouldn’t pursue Adam Jones as their center fielder? He is way better than Upton, both offensively and defensively. I am new at this–any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Joe K.
Nats should persue Jones, he’s a real talent. I will disagree on the second part of your post. The only Upton that Jones is better than may be Sinclair.
They can pursue Jones but why would the Orioles give up a young controllable player. I doubt he becomes available to acquire while Upton will be because he makes way to much compared to his production.
Racism isn’t cool, bro
Denard Span and CJ Wilson would make me very happy as a Nationals fan.
From what I understand, Mookie WILL be back with the Mets, just in a different “role” – no idea what that is however.
So the Yankees are going to trade for a not “really good” pitcher who is owed a ton of money. Ok…
There is no way of knowing what Santana will come back as but to this point in his career he has been a premier starter. Not really sure where you get not a really good pitcher from unless you can tell the future and know what he will do on a go forward. Lifetime he has 133 wins against only 69 losses while sporting a lifetime WHIP of 1.12 and ERA of 3.10. If that is what you consider bad then there are really few top pitchers in the majors. Heck even in 2010 when his shoulder gave out on him he still turned in a 1.18 WHIP and sub 3 ERA.
It’s that he just has not been out there for long periods for nearly 3 seasons, couple that with the M & M issue ( Twins got the Miles and Mets paid him the Money) about the only good thing to really come out of the entire saga on the mets front is that they gave up a bunch of nobodies in the end for him.
You’re right, but there’s reason to be pessimistic about his future. Guys just don’t come back from capsule surgery the same.
He’s a smart pitcher so I’d bet he’ll be successful, but probably not AS successful as in the past.
You’re right. They usually go after not “really good” free agents and pay them a ton of money.