Mets Rumors

New York Notes: Feliciano, Reyes, Harris

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | April 4, 2011 at 8:10pm CDT

Links for Monday night, as Jorge Posada hits his third home run in two days…

Pedro Feliciano told Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork that he was upset to hear that Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen suggested he was overworked last year (Yankees GM Brian Cashman says he was "abused."). Feliciano maintains that he likes to pitch a lot and predicts he'll strike out Ike Davis when the Yankees face the Mets this year. Feliciano says he didn't sign with the Mets because they weren't willing to offer a multiyear deal.
As MLB.com's Anthony DiComo explains, the decade-long partnership between Jose Reyes and David Wright of the Mets may come to an end in 2011.
Willie Harris, who is off to a hot start with the Mets, drew interest from a half-dozen other teams this offseason, according to DiComo.

East Notes: Simon, Red Sox, Feliciano, Mets

By Zachary Links | April 2, 2011 at 8:31pm CDT

Let's take a look at some items from the AL and NL East..

An Orioles source confirmed to Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun that Alfredo Simon arrived in Tampa on Saturday afternoon and will work out at the team’s minor-league complex within the next few days.
Don't get accustomed to the Red Sox signing $100MM players, cautions Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal.
Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon hasn't been totally cleared of wrongdoing in a fatal shooting, but he has been able to secure a visa which allowed him to travel to the United States. Simon's agent, Phil Issac, says that Simon will arrive in Florida this afternoon, writes Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. Zrebiec writes that it's too early to speculate about his availability, but the veteran will begin a throwing program and start preparing for the 2011 season.
Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez wants to stay with the club beyond 2011, writes Bill Ladson of MLB.com. The catcher has been brought up in trade rumors as some believe that the club could make Jesus Flores the backup after handing the keys over to Wilson Ramos behind the plate.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that Pedro Feliciano was "abused" by the Mets' use of him in recent years, tweets Jim Baumbach of Newsday.
One group of bidders interested in buying a share of the Mets includes Tampa Bay Rays minority owner Randy Frankel, writes Michael O'Keeffe of the New York Daily News.

Mets Notes: Rodriguez, Feliciano, Warthen

By Zachary Links | April 2, 2011 at 7:09pm CDT

Here are some items on the Mets as they take on the Marlins at Sun Life Stadium..

Skipper Terry Collins plans to speak with Francisco Rodriguez this weekend regarding the closer's usage in non-save situations, writes MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. K-Rod's contract has a $17.5MM option for 2012, which vests if he finishes 55 games. "I'm not going to let him go out there just to pitch an inning and jeopardize the game when I'm going to need him the next day," the manager said.
Earlier today, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that the Mets "abused" Pedro Feliciano during his time in Queens. Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen disagreed with that sentiment, but added, "That was part of the reason we decided not to re-sign him," tweets David Lennon of Newsday.
DiComo also writes that recent acquisition Chin-lung Hu will serve as the club's emergency catcher should Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas go down. Hu, whom the Mets acquired from the Dodgers this offseason, has no experience behind the plate.

NL East Notes: Reyes, Werth, Amaro

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | April 1, 2011 at 11:05am CDT

The latest on the NL East, before the Phillies, Mets and Marlins open their respective seasons…

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes tells Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger that he isn't worried about the 2011 season – his walk year. I recommend McCullough's piece for an in-depth look at Reyes.
Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal says the Mets can forget dominance and aim for competence and respectability in 2011.
Tom Verducci of SI.com praises Nationals manager Jim Riggleman for batting $126MM man Jayson Werth second.
Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News writes that past and current Phillies GMs Ed Wade and Ruben Amaro Jr. are good friends despite their professional rivalry and different personality types.

NY Notes: Hernandez, Misch, Yanks Rotation

By Dan Mennella | March 31, 2011 at 5:52pm CDT

One New York team, the Mets, rested today while the other, the Yankees, opened their season with a win over the Tigers. Here are some items of note for each of Gotham's big league ballclubs …

Luis Hernandez has decided to remain with the Mets organization after clearing waivers, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The second baseman, rumored at one point during Spring Training to be the favorite to win the starting job at second base, will report to Triple-A Buffalo rather than testing free agency.
Similarly, left-hander Pat Misch has opted to stay with the organization after clearing waivers, writes Rubin. Misch, too, will report to Triple-A Buffalo.
All the conjecture over the state of the Yankees' rotation came to an end today, at the outset of the regular season, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Despite the attention paid to the state of the Bombers' rotation this offseason and spring, Sherman writes, their starting five was hardly a sure thing in 2010, when they managed to win 95 games and reach the ALCS. As with last season, the lineup and bullpen are very strong, but it will be interesting to see how the spotty rotation plays out and whether GM Brian Cashman makes any in-season moves in the event that things don't work out between A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia. No team's Nos. 1-5 starters are perfect, of course, but as Sherman notes, the Red Sox and Rays appear to have the better rotations in the AL East on paper as of now.

Procedural Notes: Abreu, Blanco, Evans, Hernandez

By Tim Dierkes | March 30, 2011 at 5:18pm CDT

The latest procedural notes…

D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that Tony Abreu cleared waivers and is going to Triple-A (Twitter link).
The Royals told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that Gregor Blanco cleared waivers and will be outrighted to Triple-A (Twitter link).
Outfielder Nick Evans cleared waivers yesterday, GM Sandy Alderson told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). The Mets outrighted Evans when he didn't make the Opening Day roster.
Another Mets player, Luis Hernandez cleared waivers, reports MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. He's unsure whether he'll accept a minor league assignment.
Cubs catcher Max Ramirez cleared waivers and was outrighted to minor league camp, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
The Tigers outrighted infielder Audy Ciriaco to create a 40-man spot for reliever Enrique Gonzalez, tweets MLB.com's Jason Beck.
Retired reliever Billy Wagner was removed from the Braves' 40-man roster today, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wagner has no plans to come out of retirement, but if he did he'd have to play for the Braves in 2011. The AP has details.
Orioles righty Rick Vandenhurk cleared waivers, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
Mets reliever Jason Isringhausen, who didn't make the club out of Spring Training, agreed to spend two weeks in Port St. Lucie. According to ESPN's Adam Rubin, one condition of the extended Spring Training agreement is that "if another team approaches Isringhausen in the interim about a major league opportunity, the Mets must either call up Izzy or let him depart." The Mets chose Blaine Boyer over Isringhausen for the Opening Day roster, which so far has allowed them to retain both relievers.
Outfielder Brandon Boggs, outrighted by the Brewers yesterday, accepted his Triple-A assignment according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Today’s Outrights: Marquez, Mather, Rizzotti, Misch

By Tim Dierkes | March 29, 2011 at 3:49pm CDT

Several players cleared waivers and were removed from the 40-man roster today by way of an outright assignment. The latest:

Jeff Marquez of the White Sox cleared waivers and is headed for Triple-A, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
Braves utility player Joe Mather cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter).
The Phillies removed Matt Rizzotti from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to the minor leagues, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).
Mets lefty Pat Misch was outrighted to Triple-A, tweets Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger. He's expected to accept the assignment. Misch, 29, posted a 3.82 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 1.0 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, and 52.0% groundball rate in 37 2/3 innings for the Mets last year, tossing another 150 2/3 innings across 23 starts in Triple-A.
Brewers outfielder Brandon Boggs was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Boggs, 28, hit .290/.406/.470 in 439 Triple-A plate appearances last year while playing all three outfield positions. He has until Wednesday to decide whether to accept the assignment or elect free agency, tweets Haudricourt.
The Mariners outrighted southpaw Cesar Jimenez, tweets ESPN's Shannon Drayer. Jimenez, 26, missed most of the 2010 season recovering from labrum surgery.

Mets Acquire Allan Dykstra For Eddie Kunz

By Tim Dierkes | March 29, 2011 at 12:44pm CDT

The Mets acquired first baseman Allan Dykstra from the Padres for righty Eddie Kunz in a swap of former first-round picks, tweets Darren Smith of XX 1090.

Dykstra, 24 in May, hit .241/.372/.438 in 469 plate appearances at High-A last year. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Padres in '08. Two years ago, Baseball America ranked him eighth among Padres prospects, praising his "plus-plus raw power and plate discipline" while expressing concern about a hip ailment and his lack of athleticism. Dykstra did not crack BA's top 30 Padres prospects '10 or '11. He's one of Paul DePodesta's guys, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.

Kunz, 25 in April, posted a 5.34 ERA, 5.1 K/9, 5.5 BB/9, and 0.6 HR/9 in 111 1/3 Double-A innings last year, including 12 starts. Drafted 42nd overall in 2007 as a supplemental pick for the loss of Roberto Hernandez, Kunz last made the Mets' top 30 prospects one year ago at the #25 spot. According to BA, Kunz's stock plummeted as his fastball and slider regressed and he struggled with his command and conditioning.

Mets Designate Manny Acosta For Assignment

By Tim Dierkes | March 29, 2011 at 10:32am CDT

The Mets designated reliever Manny Acosta for assignment, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. GM Sandy Alderson also told reporters that Blaine Boyer and Daniel Murphy made the team, Jason Isringhausen has yet to decide whether to report to extended Spring Training, and Jason Bay and Ronny Paulino could potentially land on the disabled list to start the season.

Acosta, 30 in May, posted a 2.95 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 4.1 BB/9, 0.9 HR/9, and 41.7% groundball rate in 39 2/3 relief innings for the Mets last year. He posted similar peripheral stats in 36 1/3 Triple-A frames. The Mets claimed him off waivers from the Braves a year ago. With a strong strikeout rate and 94 mph fastball, Acosta should generate some interest.

Also, Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger tweets that first baseman/outfielder Nick Evans could clear waivers today, in which case he'd take Bay's spot if the veteran does hit the DL.

NL East Notes: Phillies, Marlins, Isringhausen

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 28, 2011 at 8:15pm CDT

It has been a busy day in the NL East as the Phillies completed a signing, the Braves made a trade and the Mets placed three players on waivers. Here's the rest of what you need to know about the division…

Alden Gonzalez previews the NL East for MLB.com and, with some help, predicts the Phillies will win the division, followed by the Braves, Marlins, Nationals and Mets.
MLB.com's Mark Bauman argues that the margin for error has shrunk for the Phillies' highly-regarded rotation, because Brad Lidge and Chase Utley have been sidelined with injuries.
Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest told MLB.com's Joe Frisaro that he isn't actively looking to make any deals between now and Opening Day, though he'll watch out for possible bargains. "You always look to see if there is an upgrade or a different fit for your club," Beinfest said. "We're not going to do something [just] to do something. It's going to have to be an upgrade over what we think we have here."
If the Marlins acquire a third baseman, it would essentially be a "place-keeper" for prospect Matt Dominguez, Beinfest said.
Like Bartolo Colon of the Yankees, Jason Isringhausen of the Mets surprised people this spring and pitched well enough to earn a roster spot despite a history of injuries. Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains the parallels between the two pitchers and the uncertainty surrounding them.

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