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Mets Agree To Sell Minority Stake In Team

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7:23pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Mets have shot down this morning's report, issuing a statement saying "[there] is uninformed speculation regarding terms of a potential deal." Rubin points out that the team has made a series of misstatements in the past.

ESPN's Buster Olney wonders how MLB will respond since the deal is "seemingly a body blow to [the] perceived franchise value of team," and the league could be wary about how future investors perceive the club's worth (Twitter links).

SATURDAY, 8:54pm: Adam Rubin of ESPN New York has learned the terms of the purchase, which sound extremely favorable for Einhorn. The $200MM buys him 30-35% of the team, and he has an option to increase his stake to 60% in three years. If the Wilpons do not want to give him a majority (and controlling) share at that time, they can refund the $200MM while Einhorn still gets to keep his 30-35% stake.

THURSDAY: The Mets have agreed to sell a minority share of the club to David Einhorn, president of Greenlight Capital Inc., according to ESPN's Karl Ravech. The Mets confirmed that Einhorn is their preferred partner, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. MLB has not yet approved the deal, but the Mets stand to obtain $200MM from Einhorn. The Mets expect to enter into definitive agreemets within a month.

Though the Wilpon family has had its share of financial troubles, the Mets say they're going to continue spending. They are prepared to exceed the commissioner's recommended bonuses in this year's draft and expect to maintain a payroll in the $100-145MM range next year. The influx of cash figures to help the Mets pay their bills.

Closer Notes: Rodriguez, Bell

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Happy 23rd birthday to Braves' closer Craig Kimbrel, who has struck out 78 of 192 batters he's faced as a big leaguer (40.6%). Make sure you follow @closernews for all the latest on fantasy's most unpredictable category, the save. Here are some notes on the ninth inning…

  • Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets that the Rangers will consider K-Rod along with other top right-handed relievers, though he doesn't see them accounting for his $17.5MM option.
  • Andy Martino of The New York Daily News explains why Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez might be more tradeable than we think. "Instead of signing someone like (Jonathan) Papelbon or(Heath) Bell this winter for three or four years, a team could pick up that option and have K-Rod for a year and a half," said one NL executive. "That could be very tempting, and the Mets might actually get a prospect back in that case."
  • In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says it would make sense for the Cardinals to try to acquire Padres closer Heath Bell to solve their ninth inning woes. Olney wonders if they would attempt to expand a deal to include Jason Bartlett, who St. Louis had interest in over the winter.
  • Dan Mennella looked at both K-Rod and Bell as trade candidates recently, and Tim Dierkes listed some potentially available relievers.

Rodriguez Open To Setting Up

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Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez doesn’t want to be dealt to a team that would use him as a setup man, though he would be willing to fill that role under the right conditions, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  If a team were willing to sign him to a contract extension and return him to the closer’s role next season, K-Rod says he wouldn't object.

“That would be great,” the 29-year-old said. “That would be no problem.”

Teams, of course, are wary about the clause in Rodriguez's deal that would guarantee his $17.5MM option for next season if he finishes 55 games.  The veteran is currently on pace to finish 62 games.

The Rangers could be interested in Rodriguez under such conditions, says Rosenthal.  They could use Rodriguez as a setup man for the remainder of the year then make him the closer in 2012 and move Neftali Feliz to the rotation.

Mets Notes: Wright, Alderson, Giants, Fossum

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In the wake of Fred Wilpon's already-infamous New Yorker interview, David Wright tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link) that he wants to "close the book" on the incident, and that Wilpon contacted him to say that he "misspoke."  Wright also seems to have a sense of humor about the situation, saying "My parents texted me and told me I was their superstar." (Quote from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports).

Some other news from the Mets camp….

  • In light of Wilpon’s comments, Joel Sherman of the New York Post asks whether Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes should care for anything but “padding their free-agent resumes” at this point. Sherman also says Wright has been handed an opportunity to step down from his unofficial position as team spokesman.
  • GM Sandy Alderson said he hasn't spoken to Wright, Beltran or Reyes about Wilpon's statements, reports Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.  “They’re professionals, and things happen from time to time and they’re able to take that in stride,” Alderson said. “I don’t think this has been a major issue for them."  The link also contains Alderson's thoughts on next season's payroll and his first impressions of new Mets minority owner David Einhorn. 
  • The Giants need a big bat more than ever in the wake of Buster Posey's season-ending injury, but a source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (Twitter link) that San Francisco hasn't been in contact with the Mets about any of their available hitters.
  • Casey Fossum is "not inclined to pitch right now" and has been placed on the restricted list at the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, reports Adam Rubin.  (Twitter link)  Despite this, the veteran southpaw has no plans to retire, and Buffalo manager Tim Teufel said that Fossum is trying to "reinvent himself" (via the Twitter feed of The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington).  Fossum, who last pitched in the majors in 2009 and pitched in Japan last season, signed a minor league deal with the Mets in February.  He has a 6.56 ERA in nine games (six of them starts) with Buffalo this year.

MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith also contributed to this post

Mets Designate Pat Misch For Assignment

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The Mets designated Pat Misch for assignment to create roster space for Dale Thayer, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). In related moves, the Mets optioned Fernando Martinez to the minor leagues and promoted Thayer.

Misch, 29, made six relief appearances this year and has allowed 11 hits and four walks in 7 innings, striking out five. The left-hander has a 4.80 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in six seasons with the Giants and Mets.

Thayer, a right-hander who had brief stints with the Rays in 2009-10, has been pitching for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate. He has a 2.05 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 26 1/3 innings with Buffalo. A 47th round selection in 1999, Thayer has struck out nearly a batter per inning over the course of his nine minor league seasons.

Heyman On Sandoval, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers

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Pablo Sandoval has catching experience, but the Giants won’t attempt to re-position him behind the plate when he returns from the disabled list, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Here’s Heyman’s latest from around the league:

  • Mets minority owner David Einhorn is expected to have a say in major team decisions, though he won’t have the final call. If the Wilpons have to sell the team, Einhorn will have the first opportunity to buy it.
  • The Dodgers have not explored possible trades for Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp and rival teams haven’t called to express interest in the outfielders, according to Heyman. The Dodgers would like to lock both up long-term instead of allowing them to hit the open market after next year.
  • One Dodger who won’t be getting a long-term contract offer: James Loney. The first baseman is a likely non-tender after the season, according to executives around the league.
  • The Rangers are looking for a reliever and would prefer a right-hander. Heyman hears they’ll consider Francisco Rodriguez of the Mets.
  • The Cubs don’t plan to exercise Aramis Ramirez’s $16MM option for 2012, according to Heyman.

Blue Jays Notes: Lawrie, Super Two, Escobar

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Shaun Marcum has been Milwaukee's best starter this year, but Brett Lawrie is doing his best to make Blue Jays fans forget about the pitcher he was traded for. The 21-year-old infield prospect has a .343/.403/.632 line at Triple-A with 12 home runs. GM Alex Anthopoulos and Jeff Blair of Sportsnet Radio FAN 590 discussed Lawrie's hot start and a number of other issues pertaining to the Blue Jays this morning. Here are the details:

  • Lawrie has improved his strikeout to walk ratio in Triple-A this month, a development that’s encouraging for the Jays’ front office.
  • Super two status is a moving target at the best of times and Anthopoulos points out that over 80% of players who become eligible for arbitration are optioned to the minor leagues at some point. Players like Travis Snider and Brett Cecil don’t have continuous Major League service, which means projecting whether minor leaguers are on track for super two status is mostly futile.
  • The Blue Jays have a record of not manipulating service according to Anthopoulos. He points to J.P. Arencibia and Kyle Drabek, both of whom got the call late last year.
  • Anthopoulos has been on the phone with a few GMs, but he doesn’t expect trades to kick into high gear until after the draft, which starts June 6th.
  • Anthopoulos saw the rumor linking Jose Reyes to the Blue Jays and though the GM declined to comment on another team’s player, he praised the Jays’ current shortstop, Yunel Escobar. “He’s young, he’s everything we want,” Anthopoulos said of Escobar, who is under team control through 2013. “Shortstop is not an area we need to improve. We think it’s a strength.”

Jays Contacted Mets About Reyes, Others This Spring

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In Spring Training, the Blue Jays contacted the Mets to find out their plans about several players, including Jose Reyes, according to David Waldstein of the New York Times. GM Alex Anthopoulos did not make any firm proposals in the discussions, but the Blue Jays are monitoring Reyes’ progress. Yunel Escobar is playing well and under team control through 2013, so the Blue Jays don't have a pressing need for a shortstop.

Giants GM Brian Sabean does not appear to have contacted the Mets about Reyes and other teams haven’t yet expressed substantial interest in the shortstop – hardly a surprise given that the trade deadline is over two months away. It’s equally unsurprising to hear that the Blue Jays are monitoring Reyes’ progress, since most mid and large market teams are presumably eyeing him to some degree. 

Mets Notes: Rodriguez, Payroll, Reyes

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Tonight the Mets will try to rebound from an ugly loss against the Cubs as Dillon Gee faces Casey Coleman. In the meantime, here are some off-field notes about New York's National League team…

  • Francisco Rodriguez will consider any potential trade the Mets are interested in and is open to waiving his $17.5MM vesting option for 2012 if an acquiring team wants to negotiate a multiyear extension, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. 
  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson said on WFAN that he expects his team's 2012 payroll to sit in the $100-145MM range, as Michael Baron notes at MetsBlog.
  • Alderson also pointed out that the Mets could still make Jose Reyes an offer to stay in New York long-term. 
  • A selloff is coming for the Mets, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Morosi predicts where Rodriguez, Reyes, David Wright and Mike Pelfrey will be after the trade deadline. 
  • Alderson told Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger that people can “get caught up in the emotion from time to time and perhaps say some things that, on reflection, probably were not well-chosen.” This week Mets owner Fred Wilpon made comments that certainly fall into that category. 
  • A Mets executive told Murray Chass that people inside the organization wanted to get Wilpon's story out into the public because they felt he was being treated unfairly. As a result the owner agreed to the two interviews that created a mini-controversy.
  • Alderson reiterated that the Mets are able to exceed the commissioner’s recommended bonuses in this year’s draft, according to McCullough (on Twitter).

Heyman On Reyes, Rodriguez, A’s, Minaya

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We know that Mets owner Fred Wilpon doesn’t think Jose Reyes is a $142MM player, but how do other insiders see it? Jon Heyman of SI.com hears from five MLB executives who estimate Reyes will sign for somewhere between $45-108MM after the season when he hits free agency. Here’s the latest from around the majors, with a focus on Reyes’ Mets:

  • Francisco Rodriguez, who can veto trades to ten teams, told Heyman that he understands baseball is “a business” and deals happen.
  • There’s no chance the Mariners trade Felix Hernandez now that they’re playing better, according to Heyman.
  • If the White Sox make a starter available, Edwin Jackson could be the one to hit the trade market, as he’s eligible for free agency after the season. 
  • Over the weekend, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk weighed in on what a “bad” season would mean for Albert Pujols. Heyman says Pujols will surely do well even if his off-year continues, since the Cardinals “aren't going to lower their offer of nine years and more than $200MM.”
  • Ivan Rodriguez repeated that he wants to play three more years.
  • Despite the recent controversy involving A’s manager Bob Geren and relievers Brian Fuentes and Huston Street, Heyman says the skipper “isn't going anywhere.”
  • The Indians are one of a few teams that has shown interest in former Mets and Expos GM Omar Minaya.
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