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Gammons On Ortiz, Beltre, Dunn, Crawford, Dice-K

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In his latest appearance on WEEI's Big Show, Peter Gammons discussed the playoffs, the offseason, and, of course, the Red Sox. Here are the highlights:

  • The Red Sox will likely pick up David Ortiz's 2011 option in part because they'd be afraid to see him playing for the Yankees or Rays if they let him go.
  • Adrian Beltre was never comfortable in Seattle like he was in Los Angeles and is in Boston. Gammons thinks the third baseman could end up signing with the Tigers this winter and wonders if he'd be uncomfortable in Detroit's spacious home park.
  • Although Adam Dunn insists he doesn't want to DH, he may end up having no other choice. The Nationals appear unlikely to re-sign Dunn because "they don’t know where to play him in the field," according to Gammons, who says the Yankees are a potential destination for the slugger.
  • If they pursue either player, the Red Sox are more likely to go after Carl Crawford than Jayson Werth.
  • Crawford signing with the Angels may not be as likely as people think, Gammons says, since owner Arte Moreno "isn’t always great with free agents."
  • Daisuke Matsuzaka is a trade candidate this winter, and Gammons can envision Boston dealing him to the Mets for Carlos Beltran.

Poll: The Mets’ Leadership Change

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The Mets haven't won a championship since Frank Cashen and Davey Johnson led them to the top of the baseball world in 1986. Since then, they've cycled through five GMs and eight managers with mixed results. Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel, who are currently in charge of the team, won't be back in the same capacity next season. We don't know who will be running the Mets from here on, but it’s not too early to vote.

Will the Mets be better off under new leadership?

Click here to vote and here to view the results.

Odds & Ends: Dipoto, Figueroa, Papelbon, Greinke

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Links for Friday, before all eyes turn to Clayton Richard and Matt Cain…

  • The D'Backs will likely bring interim manager Kirk Gibson back in 2011, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
  • The D'Backs are close to an agreement with Jerry Dipoto that would keep the exec in Arizona as director of scouting and player development, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
  • Astros GM Ed Wade told Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle that he can see Nelson Figueroa being the team's fifth starter in 2011. The 36-year-old goes to arbitration this winter, assuming the Astros offer a contract.
  • Jonathan Papelbon would like to set the market for closer contracts when he hits free agency after next season, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Papelbon has his doubters after a tough season, but he says he's looking forward to a dominant 2011 campaign.
  • Some MLB executives are convinced that the Royals will dangle Zack Greinke as trade bait this winter, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
  • Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reminds us of some of Omar Minaya's best and worst moves, since it looks like the Mets may soon replace their GM.
  • Free agent pitching prospect Barret Loux will start accepting offers today, according to Kendall Rogers of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).

Heyman On Pena, Reyes, Blue Jays

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Three American League GMs told Jon Heyman of SI.com that they believe their team's stars deserve to win the MVP. Miguel Cabrera, Josh Hamilton and Robinson Cano all have strong cases for the award, but if Heyman had asked Theo Epstein or Alex Anthopoulos, there's a good chance he would have heard Adrian Beltre or Jose Bautista mentioned, too. Here are Heyman's latest rumors:

  • The Rays hope to re-sign Carlos Pena this offseason, though it looks like Carl Crawford and Rafael Soriano will sign elsewhere. Crawford recently told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan that he’s open to signing anywhere and indicated that he realizes he isn’t likely to return to Tampa Bay.
  • Jose Reyes would like to sign long-term in New York. It looks like he’ll be negotiating his deal with a new general manager; Heyman reported earlier today that Omar Minaya will not be the Mets GM for long.
  • Speaking of GMs, Heyman adds Blue Jays exec Tony LaCava to his list of potential GM candidates. Heyman reports that the Blue Jays have about 14-15 managerial candidates, including Bob Melvin, Don Baylor, Yankees coach Rob Thomson and Brian Butterfield.

Minaya, Manuel Will Not Lead Mets In 2011

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GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel will not return to the Mets organization in those roles next year, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. As expected, the Mets will decline Manuel's 2011 option and fire or re-assign Minaya, who is under contract through 2012.

Manuel, now in his third season as Mets manager, has managed the team to a 202-212 record. The Mets are 77-82 this year, headed for a second consecutive fourth place finish.

Minaya replaced Jim Duquette in 2004, soon after he resigned as the GM of the Montreal Expos. As Mets GM, Minaya signed Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez and Francisco Rodriguez to contracts that are now holding the team back. However, the GM locked David Wright and Jose Reyes up to affordable extensions, acquired Johan Santana and, more recently, found R.A. Dickey on the scrap heap. 

The New York Post reported that the Mets could have difficulty attracting top executives, but the team should have plenty of options to choose from. Heyman reports that the Mets may be considering White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, former D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes and longtime A's GM Sandy Alderson. Here's a look at several other candidates to replace Minaya. 

Odds & Ends: Darvish, Feliciano, D’Backs, Blue Jays

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As the Padres face a big uphill battle in San Francisco this weekend, we look at some news items….

Odds & Ends: K-Rod, Angels, Tamura, Matsui

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Links for Wednesday, before the Giants ask Tim Lincecum to help extend their NL West lead…

  • Lawyers from the MLB Players Association and MLB will meet in New York tomorrow to discuss the union's grievance with the Mets. As the AP reports, the sides will discuss the team's decision to place Francisco Rodriguez on the disqualified list.
  • Top prospect Mike Moustakas told reporters that he and other Royals minor leaguers welcome the attention they're attracting this year. 
  • The Angels let scouting director Eddie Bane go, according to John Manuel of Baseball America. Bane was a candidate for the D'Backs GM job earlier in the month.
  • Japanese outfielder Hitoshi Tamura has interest in playing major league baseball, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The 33-year-old has 27 homers this year and represented the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks at the All-Star game.
  • Jason Varitek told reporters, including MLB.com's Ian Browne, that he's well aware of the fact that he may only have a handful of games remaining in a Red Sox uniform.
  • Through an interpreter, Hideki Matsui told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he'd consider signing with the A's if they expressed interest in him this offseason.
  • Todd Helton made it clear to Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he isn't retiring after the season.
  • Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic heard that Brandon Webb was throwing just 81 mph in his instructional league outing (Twitter link). Webb told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that he had fun and felt good.
  • The D'Backs, who will see Webb and Rodrigo Lopez hit free agency this winter, will look to add starting pitching, but GM Kevin Towers told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that he believes starters may be easier to obtain through trades than major league free agency.

Rosenthal On Red Sox, Yankees, Garza

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The Red Sox will "explore their options" with Adrian Beltre, Victor Martinez, and David Ortiz, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  They're also "already checking into" Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth, possibly with the idea of moving Jacoby Ellsbury back to center field and making Mike Cameron a pricey fourth outfielder.  Rosenthal's other musings…

  • Rosenthal's quick math suggests the Yankees would have to stay out of the Crawford/Werth derby – barring a payroll increase –  if they sign Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and Cliff Lee.
  • Rosenthal finds the offseason trade market for starting pitching unimpressive.  Though Matt Garza is "drawing long looks" from other teams, the Rays are more likely to trade a starter after the 2011 season.  As for Royals ace Zack Greinke, the team might be inclined to let him rebuild value in the first half.  Earlier this month, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith named five other starters who might be available this winter.
  • John Hart, Stan Kasten, or Sandy Alderson could be a fit for the Mets if they look to add an experienced executive above Omar Minaya, speculates Rosenthal.  Rosenthal's source does not see Kasten replacing Bob Dupuy as baseball's second in command.
  • Felipe Lopez wouldn't net the Red Sox a draft pick if his next deal is of the minor league variety, notes Rosenthal.

Heyman On Cubs, Pettitte, V-Mart

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SI's Jon Heyman leads his latest column with a look at the Cubs' managerial opening.  He feels that interim manager Mike Quade is now a real possibility, with Ryne Sandberg the other top contender.  Heyman's other info:

  • "Word around the team" is that Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte is 50-50 on whether he'll play next year.
  • Heyman passes along an unconfirmed report from a competing executive that Boston's offer to Victor Martinez was about $22MM over two years.  Martinez's former teammate C.C. Sabathia expects the catcher to sign elsewhere, as he's seeking a four-year contract.  Whatever the amount, Martinez rejected the two-year offer in August.  Martinez profiles as a highly-ranked Type A free agent, so the Red Sox might at least end up with a pair of draft picks.  Any first-rounder received will be the 19th overall pick at best.
  • Jose Reyes "expects the Mets to either pick up his $11 million option or offer him an extension," writes Heyman.  Reyes sports a .284/.322/.429 line this year and could be primed for a big 2011.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Hisanori Takahashi

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When the Mets signed lefty Hisanori Takahashi in February, his recent stats in Japan described him as a flyball/command pitcher who could fill a swingman role.  The screwballer's Mets deal came with a $1MM guarantee and $2MM in performance bonuses.  The Pirates, Orioles, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, and Padres also expressed interest in Takahashi.

According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, Takahashi's contract includes a provision allowing him to declare free agency on October 31st, creating "a four-week window in which the Mets have exclusive negotiation rights."  Typically the free agent filing period begins the day after the World Series with an exclusive window for teams for fifteen days.  That'd make the filing date between November 1st and November 5th.  The wrinkle: ESPN's Jayson Stark recently wrote that the annual filing, arbitration, and tender dates will be moved up this year.  Allowing players to file before or during the World Series seems unlikely, however, and Takahashi's unique situation is confusing as well.  We'll seek clarification on both fronts.

GM Omar Minaya told Waldstein he hopes to work out a new contract with Takahashi, although keep in mind that Minaya might not last that long at the team's helm.  Takahashi told ESPN's Adam Rubin he likes New York and plans to finish his career in MLB, but not much is known beyond that.  Let's take a look at Takahashi's free agent case.

The Pros

  • Takahashi is versatile, having ably filled roles in the Mets' rotation and bullpen.  At this point, he's actually their closer.  In 64.6 innings as a starter Takahashi posted a 5.01 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 1.53 HR/9.  Out of the pen he managed a 2.21 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and a 0.34 HR/9.
  • He dominated lefties in 2010, posting a 11.05 K/9 while allowing no home runs in 29.3 frames.  He was respectable against righties too.
  • Takahashi is on the border of Type B and nothing at last check, though given the timeframe the Mets probably can't offer arbitration anyway.  He won't cost a draft pick.

The Cons

  • Takahashi's multiple roles in 2010 could work against him – even if he'd like another crack at starting, teams might be more enticed by his relief success.
  • At 36 years old in April, Takahashi is no spring chicken.  He hasn't pitched 150 innings in a season since 2007.  
  • Among those with 100 innings this year, Takahashi's 45.6% flyball rate is the 13th-highest.  His 8.4% rate of home runs per flyball may not last, resulting in more shots leaving the yard in 2011.

The Verdict

Quality lefties are tough to find no matter what the role.  Takahashi's agent Peter Greenberg figures to start out seeking a two-year deal despite his client's age.  The annual guarantee could be around $2.5MM, plus incentives for starts and games finished.

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