Mets Sign First Round Pick Reese Havens
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Mets signed one of their first round picks. College shortstop Reese Havens, the 22nd pick, received about $1.4MM.
Heyman says negotiations have yet to begin with the Mets’ other first round pick, first baseman Ike Davis. So far three first round picks have signed: Havens, Allan Dykstra of the Padres, and David Cooper of the Blue Jays.
Mets May Pass On Millar
Kevin Millar is hitting .249/.333/.421 for the Orioles, as opposed to Carlos Delgado‘s .246/.324/.411 line. The Mets could decide not to pursue Millar simply because he’s not a clear improvement. None of the available first basemen are.
Nonetheless, MetsBlog picked up some interesting chatter from a Jon Heyman radio appearance. Apparently Millar has his detractors within the Mets organization, perhaps because he crossed the picket line in ’94.
Odds and Ends: Viciedo, Gibbons, Uribe, Danks
Today’s link collection.
- The Yankees are in the mix for Cuban third baseman Dayan Viciedo, as are 13 other clubs.
- The Mets designated Abraham Nunez for assignment. Well, it was fun while it lasted.
- Hank Steinbrenner gets a monthly magazine column…this should be interesting.
- Jay Gibbons is begging for a minor league deal. Might make sense to join an independent league and prove himself. Additionally, Barry Bonds‘ agent has talked to all teams and can’t get a bite at the minimum salary.
- Juan Uribe wants to stay with the White Sox. In the same article, John Danks sounds open to a long-term deal.
- Not rumor-related, but I found this Tom Verducci piece about Chipper and .400 interesting.
- Buster Olney says Freddy Garcia should be able to pitch a simulated game by month’s end.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Padilla, Greinke, Hatteberg
Let’s discuss Ken Rosenthal’s lastest column.
- There’s some chatter that the ’09 draft class will be weak. This could motivate teams to trade their impending free agent stars this July rather than collect compensation picks.
- Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson has "fallen out of favor with some in the organization." Rosenthal believes he’d be a hot commodity if fired.
- The Rangers are open to trading Vicente Padilla, as you’d expect. We’ve heard some crazy things about the asking price.
- While the Royals don’t seem to consider Zack Greinke untouchable, they’d have to be bowled over to trade him.
- The Yanks probably don’t have room for Ben Broussard, and the Orioles could swoop in and sign him if he’s granted free agency this month.
- Look for Scott Hatteberg to become a free agent today; interest appears to be tepid.
- The Florida teams are willing to spend money for midseason upgrades. They’re understandably reluctant to trade prospects.
- Doesn’t seem like Orlando Cabrera will be signing long-term with the White Sox.
Odds And Ends: Weaver, Mulder, Pena, Giambi
Here are a few random notes from the MLBiverse…
- Paul Hagen is reporting that the Mets are interested in acquiring a first baseman and/or a corner outfielder. Hagen says that Omar Minaya is rumored to be interested in Kevin Millar, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. Hagen must share a source with Dan Graziano, who mentions the same trio. Might Aaron Heilman be used as bait?
- According to the minor league deal that Jeff Weaver signed with the Brewers, if he was not called up by this Sunday he could ask for his release. The Brewers and Weaver’s agent, Scott Boras, have agreed to extend that deadline to June 15.
- Mark Mulder, who has made three starts since 2006, announced that he would retire if a third surgery became necessary on his ailing shoulder.
- The Royals snagged catcher Brayan Pena off waivers from the Braves.
- Rany Jazayerli proposes a Cubs-Royals trade.
- Joel Sherman wonders if the Yankees could buy out Jason Giambi for $5MM and then re-sign him.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here. Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.
Mets, Mariners Interested In Hatteberg
THURSDAY: MLB.com’s Marty Noble says the Mets have already discussed Hatteberg internally. They could move quickly to sign him after he clears waivers, but Marlon Anderson‘s injury is a factor here.
Additionally, the Mariners are "actively pursuing" Hatteberg. The Ms actually started Miguel Cairo at first last night.
WEDNESDAY: According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, "the Mets have some, but only some" interest in recently-designated first baseman Scott Hatteberg. Davidoff says the Mets will wait until Hatteberg clears waivers and then perhaps see if Hatteberg is open to a minor league deal.
Hatteberg is a left-handed hitter who succeeds against righties (as is often the case). Carlos Delgado hasn’t succeeded against anyone this year, but previously he had the same splits as Hatteberg. The two don’t match up for a platoon, but it’d make sense for the Mets to keep Hatteberg at Triple A until they decide whether to cut Delgado (.215/.294/.387 in 204 PAs).
Draft Roundup
All kinds of good draft info surfacing today. Let’s take a look.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo projects the top 30 picks. College closer Andrew Cashner moves up the rankings to the Rangers at #11, among other changes. Mayo has even heard a rumor that the Marlins could consider Cashner at #6 instead of Kyle Skipworth. Back on May 16th, Baseball America chose the Tigers for Cashner at #21.
- Mayo sees the Rangers at #11 and the Yankees at #28 as possibilities for Boras advisee Gerrit Cole. MiLB.com has compared Cole to Kyle Farnsworth. Baseball America suggested Cole could slip to the Cubs at #19 or the D’Backs at #26.
- Back to the Rangers…beat writer Evan Grant sees them springing for Eric Hosmer or Shooter Hunt.
- Jim Callis notes that raw first-round bats (Aaron Hicks for example) often do not pan out.
- Will the Mets stick to slot this year?
Julian Tavarez To Sign With Brewers
MONDAY: Tom Haudricourt reports that the Brewers are set to sign Tavarez for bullpen depth.
SUNDAY: The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo writes that Bartolo Colon, a close friend of Julian Tavarez, said Tavarez told him that he would prefer to pitch for the New York Mets. Tavarez was recently DFA’d by the Red Sox and elected free agency rather than accepting an assignment to Triple A Pawtucket.
Tavarez could make sense for the Mets in many roles. Jason Vargas and Matt Wise have been ineffective in limited use, while Mike Pelfrey has been very inconsistent over the first two months of the season. The Mets, however, have yet to indicate whether they have interest in the veteran right-hander. Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto has the Orioles and Brewers as the top suitors; I hadn’t heard Baltimore in the mix until now.
Jorge Sosa Officially Released
Designated for assignment by the New York Mets back on May 13th, Jorge Sosa was officially released yesterday (bottom of the page) after the team was unable to find any takers on the trade market. Once he was DFA’d, it was a given that he and his $2MM salary would at least clear waivers. Sosa ended up declining an assignment to AAA New Orleans and is now a free agent.
Since joining the Mets prior to the 2007 season, Sosa was primarily used as the longman out of the bullpen, during which time he compiled a 4.89 ERA. But a rough start to 2008 (7.06 ERA) was compounded by a logjam of relievers in the New York bullpen, and the team was unable to justify keeping him on the roster.
Paul Moro writes for UmpBump.com and can be reached here.
Pedro Not Considering Retirement
THURSDAY: Martinez cleared the air today, saying he hasn’t considered retirement and (barring a major injury) he wants to pitch two or three more years.
TUESDAY: Mets starter Pedro Martinez explained his thinking to Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News. Pedro is feeling good and should be back with the Mets this month. However, he is not under contract past 2008 and retirement is an option. Martinez’s father has brain cancer, and he wants to be there for him.
Mets starters are fifth in the NL with a 3.89 ERA. Johan Santana and John Maine make a great 1-2 punch, and Oliver Perez is doing fine. A healthy Pedro should give the Mets one of the league’s better rotations. They’re currently just a game back of the Marlins.