Pedro Still Plans To Play In ’09
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post a "longtime friend" of Pedro Martinez says the righthander "fully expects" to play in 2009. Pedro is apparently sticking to his $5MM asking price and incentive-based deals do not appeal to him. His agent says he's already attracted interest from a number of teams and he's expecting more calls when holes appear in rotations around the league.
Odds And Ends: Hudson, Alvarez, Anderson
Links for Saturday…
- The Astros claimed 25-year-old pitcher Wilton Lopez off waivers from the Padres and assigned him to Double-A, according to this AP article.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic relays some recent Orlando Hudson comments. O-Dog said the D'Backs made him an offer this offseason, it just didn't appeal to him.
- Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog suggests that we could see the Mets release Marlon Anderson today to make room for Livan Hernandez.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle sounds confident about the Astros' chances this year.
- John Perrotto of Pirates Report anticipates a 2009 MLB debut for Pedro Alvarez.
- Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald discusses Scott Boras in light of the Nick Adenhart tragedy.
- MLB.com's Scott Merkin reports that the White Sox still haven't found a fit for their leadoff spot.
Marlon Anderson May Be Released
According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, Marlon Anderson's final game with the Mets may be tonight. The team will need the roster spot for Livan Hernandez, who makes his Mets debut tomorrow. If the Mets release Anderson, they'll have to assume his $1.15MM salary for '09 (minus $400K if he signs elsewhere).
Anderson, 35, hit just .210/.255/.275 in 151 plate appearances last year while appearing at left field and first base. 60 of those PAs came as a pinch-hitter, but Anderson did not fare well. He did well in a very limited sample in '07, but it's unclear why Omar Minaya gave him a two-year contract that winter.
Odds & Ends: Lackey, Sheffield, Luis Gonzalez
Links for Thursday…
- Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald learned that while White Sox GM Ken Williams seeks a leadoff hitter, he does not have interest in Juan Pierre or Gary Matthews Jr.
- In an article yesterday, MLB.com's Lyle Spencer said all is quiet on the John Lackey extension front. Angels GM Tony Reagins said Lackey's initial Opening Day deadline was never a factor for the team.
- Murray Chass says Gary Sheffield's clubhouse presence is a positive.
- Luis Gonzalez, a free agent, hopes to play in 2009. But when he retires, he'll do so as a Diamondback according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro wrote in praise of Florida starter Josh Johnson.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock says the Padres introduced Tom Garfinkel as the new president and chief operating officer in charge of non-baseball operations.
- I wrote about Blue Jays starter David Purcey over at RotoAuthority.
Sheffield, Mets Agree To Deal
SUNDAY, 2:40pm: Matthew Cerrone from MetsBlog tells us that Nick Evans was optioned to AAA in order to make room for Sheffield.
4:32pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya announced the signing, which is pending a physical. Will he help? A few projections:
Sheffield came up as a 20 year-old Brewers shortstop; he's now hanging on as a 40 year-old Mets platoon outfielder. Sheffield was willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Mets way back in November of '97, when the Marlins had their fire sale (according to a Jon Heyman Newsday article). He was eventually dealt to the Dodgers in May of '98.
2:33pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says Sheffield agreed to sign with the Mets. An announcement is expected this afternoon.
12:08pm: Sherman adds that Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke to Sheffield directly recently to explain how he'd fit with the team. Meanwhile, several Phillies players have contacted Sheffield to lobby him to sign.
11:23am: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets are close to signing Gary Sheffield. The Mets plan to give him significant playing time. They'd only have to pay $400K and would consider Sheffield an option in both outfield corners. Sherman's source said:
"Unless something drastic happens, he is a Met. Someone would have to offer him a second year, and I just don't see that happening."
David Lennon of Newsday believes Sheffield could sign with the Mets as soon as tonight.
Odds & Ends: Fogg, Payrolls, Padres, Nady
Links for Friday…
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Orioles have "mild interest" in Josh Fogg. If Fogg can't find an appealing job elsewhere he'll report to Triple A Colorado Springs for the Rockies.
- Via the Twitter feed of John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer…the Reds have talked about Geoff Jenkins and Frank Catalanotto but nothing is close.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker has a Sports Hochi report saying recently released pitcher Ken Kadokura is reaching out to the Cardinals and Orioles.
- Ryan Shealy cleared waivers and was sent to Triple A, clearing up the Royals' first base/DH logjam.
- The website FINalternatives.com says Rangers owner Tom Hicks defaulted on more than $500MM in loans.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks at the payrolls for the Mets and Yankees.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says Hal Steinbrenner "told close friends he plans on hiring Lou Piniella as a consultant when his managerial contract with the Cubs runs out after the 2010 season."
- According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres GM Kevin Towers said he still might add another starting pitcher.
- Albert Chen of Sports Illustrated writes about the advanced defensive metrics that are becoming prevalent in the game.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs writes about the ethics of service time manipulation.
- SI.com's Jon Heyman noted yesterday that "The Giants like Xavier Nady and wouldn't mind bringing the University of California product home at some point."
Gary Sheffield Rumors: Friday
It seems that the Mets may join the Phillies and Reds in the Gary Sheffield sweepstakes. According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, "Sheffield's availability intrigues team officials." Rubin cautions that an internal meeting about the subject has yet to take place. Rubin believes Sheffield would have to start with a bench role, and the Mets might have to release Marlon Anderson to clear that spot. MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone would like Anderson to be replaced with Frank Catalanotto instead.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post also thinks Sheffield is on the Mets' radar, and does believe they "have held some in-depth discussions on if they should sign the guy."
How about the Dodgers? Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News talked to Joe Torre, who said it wouldn't make sense.
Click here to catch up on yesterday's Sheffield happenings.
Rosenthal On Sheffield, Repko, McPherson
A look at Ken Rosenthal's column from yesterday afternoon…
- The Marlins chose Ross Gload over Frank Catalanotto, but are still considering signing Cat for the minimum now that he's been released.
- The Braves are not interested in bringing back Gary Sheffield. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets (as well as the Phillies and Reds) have an eye on Sheffield.
- Sheffield is apparently the only right-handed hitter on the Phillies' radar. Rosenthal learned that the Rockies' asking price for Jeff Baker is high.
- The Braves almost made a deal for Dodgers outfielder Jason Repko, but backed off recently.
- The Yankees will pass on Dallas McPherson, but the Giants may consider him.
- The Yanks don't seem desperate to move Melky Cabrera. They've received multiple calls on him but Rosenthal says "the team will only move him for the right price."
Offseason In Review: New York Mets
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Mets. Here's what we wrote about the team on October 14th. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Francisco Rodriguez, J.J. Putz, Sean Green, Darren O'Day, Oliver Perez (re-signed), Tim Redding, Connor Robertson, Alex Cora, Carlos Delgado (exercised option), Jeremy Reed, Cory Sullivan, Fernando Tatis (re-signed), Freddy Garcia, Casey Fossum, Livan Hernandez, Ramon Martinez, Bobby Kielty, Rob Mackowiak
Subtractions: Pedro Martinez, Moises Alou, Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, Scott Schoeneweis, Claudio Vargas, Jorge Sosa, Luis Ayala, Joe Smith, Damion Easley, Endy Chavez
Last year the Mets tied for 2nd in the NL with 4.93 runs scored per game. Despite a similar lineup, CHONE projections and the lineup analysis tool put them at 4.69 per game for '09. Rather than any one player, the projection system sees small declines for multiple guys. Should Omar Minaya have brought in a corner outfielder?
The rotation hasn't changed much either. Last year's group posted a 3.98 ERA in 971 innings, 5th in the NL. The front four of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Perez, and John Maine may again be followed by a revolving door of fifth starters. This time the candidates are Hernandez, Redding, Garcia, and Jon Niese. It's inexact, but using CHONE I have the Mets starters around a 4.20 ERA in '09. The system does not see Santana and Pelfrey repeating their ERAs (2.53 and 3.72).
The focus of the offseason was to revamp the bullpen. Minaya signed K-Rod and traded for Putz and Green. These improvements should make up for any slippage by the rotation. The Mets played strong defense in '08, and that should hold true in '09.
The bullpen should add a few wins, but will that improvement be balanced out by a slightly worse offense and rotation? If so, the Mets are an 86 win team.
Bottom line: Minaya may not have done enough by revamping his bullpen and bringing in a new fifth starter cast. The Mets could be players at the trade deadline.
Mets Moves: Valentin, Armas, Spivey, Nieve
4:01pm: Hubbuch says the Mets put Nieve on waivers and will keep Rule 5 reliever Darren O'Day. Nieve, who is out of options, was claimed from the Astros recently.
12:20pm: According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, the Mets released veterans Jose Valentin, Tony Armas Jr., and Junior Spivey today. Valentin could return to the organization as a coach eventually.