NL East Notes: Rollins, Nats, Nathan, Marlins
On this day three years ago, the Phillies sewed up a World Series title by finishing off the Rays in the resumption of a rain-suspended Game 5. Here's an item regarding that Philly team's shortstop, and a few others from around the NL East …
- Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins tells CSNPhilly.com that he expects the Phils to make him an offer before he officially hits free agency (video link), though he's not sure what the terms of that offer might be.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo thinks his club can contend for the NL East title in 2012 with the addition of an outfield bat and a starting pitcher, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Washington might also pursue Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, opines Ladson, as the Nats have made "no promises" to Adam LaRoche.
- Closer Joe Nathan, whose $12MM 2012 option was declined this week by the Twins, said the Mets will be on his radar during his foray into free agency, according to Greg Logan of Newsday. Nathan is a New York native and attended Stony Brook University on Long Island.
- Marlins president David Samson said Florida plans to have a busy but prudent offseason and raise its payroll in 2012, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. "We're going to be very aggressive, but we're not going to be foolish. That's the key. When you raise your payroll, you've got to do it smartly, because if you don't, you are losing 90 games at a higher payroll." Frisaro speculates the Marlins' payroll will be roughly $85MM in 2012, which would be a $27MM increase from 2011's $58MM.
Selig & CBA Links: Mets, Draft, Successor
Let's round up some links from the business side of the game…
- Bud Selig told reporters, including Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, that the Mets are working on an "alternative financing plan." Bob Klapisch of The Bergen Record adds that Selig said the Mets have yet to repay the $25MM loan from MLB, though he's "not worried." (Twitter links)
- ESPN's Buster Olney says that changes to the draft system being discussed during Collective Bargaining Agreement talks involve a draft tax (Twitter links). It would work similar to the luxury tax, forcing teams to pay if they spend over a certain amount. There is also talk about giving lower revenue clubs additional picks, which some officials perceive to have little value.
- "There isn't a mechanism in place," said Selig to reporters (including Passan) when asked about finding his successor (Twitter link). The commissioner continues to maintain that he will retire on December 31st of 2012.
Mets To Let Other Teams Set Market For Reyes
The Mets intend to allow other clubs to set the market for Jose Reyes this offseason, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Mets officials have suggested that the Nationals, Marlins and Angels could bid heavily on the free agent shortstop this offseason and the Mets would prefer that others clubs establish the market for him.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggested a week ago that the Mets don't want to offer Reyes more than four years and Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog hears from team sources who give him the same impression. If that’s the case, there’s a strong chance Reyes’ best offer will come from another organization. The 28-year-old finished the season well and may have a case for a $100MM contract.
NL East Notes: Wilson, Brown, Mets, Hanley
Some news from the NL East…
- "Folks seem to think the Nationals are going to make [a] big play for C.J. Wilson," tweets Jon Heyman from Sports Illustrated. Heyman thinks the Nats will offer Wilson a contract worth around $75-80MM. In August, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes thought Wilson could fetch a $100MM deal this winter given the lack of quality starters in the free agent market, but Wilson's postseason struggles will probably prevent him from that nine-figure contract.
- Dealing Domonic Brown or keeping him in the minors in 2012 would be a short-sighted move for the Phillies, argues CSNPhilly.com's Casey Feeney.
- "With supply seemingly exceeding demand" on the free agent closer market this winter, the Mets can look beyond the biggest names (Heath Bell, Francisco Rodriguez, Ryan Madson and Jonathan Papelbon) and still find a solid closer at a reasonable price, writes Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. Rubin also says the Mets are looking for another left-handed reliever to pair with Tim Byrdak, as the club worries that Danny Herrera will become less effective as opponents become more familiar with him.
- The Marlins haven't discussed moving Hanley Ramirez away from shortstop or asking Ramirez about a position change, club president David Samson tells MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- From that same piece, Samson says the Marlins will be "very active" this winter with their expected rise in payroll. "We're going to be very aggressive, but we're not going to be foolish," Samson said. "That's the key. When you raise your payroll, you've got to do it smartly, because if you don't, you are losing 90 games at a higher payroll."
- The Braves haven't yet decided if they will exercise Eric Hinske and Nate McLouth's 2012 options, reports David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. McLouth's $10.65MM option will certainly be bought out for $1.25MM, that's a no-brainer. As for Hinske, he's a useful reserve — he can play first base and both corner outfield spots, and he had a .754 OPS against right-handed pitching last season. Hinske's option is worth just $1.5MM so my guess is Atlanta brings back the former AL Rookie of the Year.
Minor Moves: Dale Thayer
Here’s where we’ll keep track of the day’s minor moves…
- Right-hander Dale Thayer elected free agency, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). The Mets removed the 30-year-old from their 40-man roster last Friday. Thayer spent most of the 2011 season at Triple-A Buffalo, where he posted a 2.66 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 71 innings over the course of 54 relief appearances. Though he's probably not more than an 11th or 12th pitcher on a Major League staff, his minor league numbers suggest he may have value as a depth signing on a minor league deal.
Mets Outright Pascucci, Thayer, Alvarez
The Mets removed infielder Val Pascucci and right-handers Dale Thayer and Manny Alvarez from their 40-man roster, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). The team's 40-man roster now includes 36 players (plus five others on the 60-day disabled list).
Pascucci, 32, appeared in the Major Leagues for the first time since 2004 this year after spending most of the season at Triple-A Buffalo, where he posted a .264/.375/.476 line with 21 home runs. Thayer, 30, also spent most of the season at Triple-A Buffalo. he posted a 2.66 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 71 innings over the course of 54 relief appearances. Alvarez, 25, has never appeared in the Major Leagues. The reliever has a 4.05 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in six minor leagues seasons, but appeared in just nine games in 2011.
Mets Notes: Reyes, Wright, Rockies
The Mets' offseason will revolve, in large part, around their pursuit of Jose Reyes. The latest Mets-related links:
- Five Mets executives gave Joel Sherman of the New York Post the impression that Reyes will sign elsewhere and one of them said "I don't think it is happening with the shortstop." Reyes' injuries and the Mets' financial problems may prevent them from winning the bidding on the free agent-to-be. Sherman gets the sense that the Mets don't want to offer more than four years with an option, though they would like Reyes back.
- The Mets will be open-minded when teams inquire about David Wright.
- One team official acknowledged that it would be foolish not to explore the market for the third baseman. "However, I expect actually pulling the trigger is a long shot," the person said. If traded, Wright can void a 2013 option for $16MM, so the acquiring team would be getting him for one year.
- The Rockies, who inquired on Wright this summer, will call if the Mets are willing to listen, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (all Twitter links). The Rockies wouldn't move Dexter Fowler or be willing to trade multiple prospects for one year of Wright, so Renck suggests the Rockies will want to extend Wright if they acquire him.
NL East Notes: Reyes, Johnson, Phillies, Sandberg
Some news from the NL East…
- Two Mets players "wouldn't be surprised to see" Jose Reyes sign with the Nationals this winter, tweets David Lennon of Newsday.
- The Nationals are conducting a managerial search to abide by MLB rules, but Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets that the job is Davey Johnson's if he wants it.
- All six members of the Phillies' coaching staff have signed new contracts for 2012, according to a team press release. This includes bench coach Pete Mackanin, who has been mentioned as a candidate to become the next Red Sox manager.
- As Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, the intact coaching staff means that Ryne Sandberg (who managed Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate last season) isn't getting a promotion. Gelb predicts that Sandberg will manage or coach somewhere in the Major Leagues next year, which would mean he'll leave the Phillies' franchise unless Mackanin gets the Boston job and Sandberg is promoted to bench coach.
- Also from Gelb, he examines Ruben Amaro's plan to sign a proven closer if Ryan Madson leaves and compares it to how the Cardinals relied on unproven (and cheaper) closing options like Jason Motte and Fernando Salas to great success this season.
- Despite the Braves' collapse in September, Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks the club is close to a World Series.
Mets Release Ryota Igarashi
The Mets have released reliever Ryota Igarashi, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. The Japanese right-hander signed a two-year, $3MM deal with the Mets in December 2009 but struggled to adjust to pitching in North America. Igarashi posted a 5.74 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP in 79 career appearances with New York and was designated for assignment by the Mets last January.
Since Igarashi and the Mets couldn't agree on a new deal, Igarashi is now a free agent due to a clause in his original contract with the club. The 32-year-old has said he wants to keep pitching in the Major Leagues.
Nationals Return Elvin Ramirez To Mets
The Nationals announced that they returned Rule 5 selection Elvin Ramirez to the Mets. The right-hander spent the season on the 60-day DL after undergoing an operation on his throwing shoulder. The Nationals conserve 40-man roster space with the move.
Ramirez, 24, was sidelined all season and never pitched in a game for the Nationals or one of their affiliates. He posted a 4.16 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9 in 80 innings for two of the Mets' affiliates before the Nationals selected him in last December's draft.
Players have to spend 90 non-September days on the active roster to become official property of their new teams. Otherwise, their Rule 5 status carries forward until the players spend 90 non-September days on the active roster. For a complete recap of the December 2010 Rule 5 draft, click here.