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Felix Hernandez’s No-Trade Clause

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Mariners ace Felix Hernandez can block trades to ten teams, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports learned eight of them: the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, and Phillies.  Morosi adds:

We shouldn’t infer from that list that Hernandez wants to avoid large-market clubs. Rather, astute players (and agents) will often protect against trades to high-revenue teams, because those clubs (a) are most likely to be interested in acquiring expensive players and (b) have the wherewithal to offer financial inducements that encourage players to waive the clauses.

Hernandez, 25 next month, is owed $70.5MM over the next four years under the contract he signed in January of 2010.  Many teams would salivate if he were made available, but GM Jack Zduriencik recently told SI's Jon Heyman, "He's not going anywhere.  We've got him. We'll keep him. We're not going to move him."

I don't see any reason to doubt Zduriencik or expect him to change his mind.  2011 may be a regrouping year for the Mariners, but they're surely expecting to contend before 2014.

Collins May Prefer Hernandez To Castillo

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Mets manager Terry Collins downplayed rumors that he wants the team's front office to release Luis Castillo and said that the second baseman has "picked it up" recently, according to Rich Coutinho of MetsBlog. Despite Collins' statements, the Mets' second base situation remains murky.

Mike Puma of the New York Post hears that Collins remains committed to making Luis Hernandez the team's starting second baseman, but Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork hears that Hernandez has just an "outside" shot at the job (Twitter links).

Hernandez and Castillo are in competition with Daniel Murphy and Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus for the starting second base job. Castillo is set to earn $6MM in 2011, the last year of his four-year, $25MM contract and the Mets appear prepared to absorb the 35-year-old's salary if he doesn't have a role on the team. He hit .235/.337/.267 last year and spent 47 days on the DL recovering from a left foot injury.

Collins Wants Mets To Release Castillo

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Mets manager Terry Collins does not want to see second baseman Luis Castillo on the Opening Day roster, a baseball insider tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  Collins, the source says, wants to limit the drama around the club and releasing Castillo potentially helps that cause.

Collins may not get his way as the decision is not solely his.  One rival executive believes that the skipper will get his way and Castillo won't be with the team by the end of Spring Training.  Meanwhile, scouts say Castillo is the best candidate to man second base, partly because his competition is less-than-fierce.

Even though Castillo might not have the manager's support, Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus has a backer in team executive J.P. Ricciardi.  The 24-year-old infielder hasn't impressed so far in the Grapefruit League.

Mets Rumors: Perez, Collins, DePodesta

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Hot dogs, green grass all out at Shea.  Here are some Mets links for you today..

  • Plenty of people in the Mets organization are ready to give up on Oliver Perez, but pitching coach Dan Warthen is still a believer, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  Sources say that several prominent voices in the organization have been wanting to cut the left-hander for weeks, but Perez is still in camp thanks in large part to Warthen's support.  Even with the backing of the pitching coach, Perez will probably be released before Opening Day as many in the front office are skeptical that Perez can recapture some of his old magic as a reliever.
  • Terry Collins and Paul DePodesta are reunited with the Mets, writes Steve Henson of Yahoo Sports.  When he was the GM of the Dodgers, DePodesta pushed for Collins to become the club's next skipper after Jim Tracy.  Owner Frank McCourt ultimately rejected the idea and fired DePodesta.  When the 61-year-old was being considered for the Mets' managerial position, DePodesta gave a strong reccomendation to his boss, Sandy Alderson.
  • The trustee in charge of recovering the money lost by the victims of the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme plans to go after more funds associated with owners of the Mets, a source within baseball told ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin.  The trustee already is seeking $1 billion from Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon and his family.

Heyman On Castillo, Beltre, Belisario, Ackley

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Carlos Silva looks like he has earned a release based on his spring performance, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Like Oliver Perez, Silva is set to earn $12MM in 2011. Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors, including the latest on another candidate to be released…

  • Heyman hears that Luis Castillo has looked better than the others in competition for the Mets second base job. Castillo's performance and the lack of a standout alternative may reduce the chances that the Mets release him.
  • When Rangers GM Jon Daniels asked Adrian Beltre why two of his best seasons came in contract years, Beltre’s response was succinct: “I wish I [expletive] knew.”
  • Ronald Belisario is having trouble getting a visa, so the Dodgers aren’t counting on him this year.
  • Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik says Dustin Ackley, the second overall pick in 2009, has “a shot” to make the team out of Spring Training.

Mets Notes: Santana, Duda, Hernandez

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Here's a round-up of the morning's Mets news, as the team prepares for an afternoon matchup with Jaime Garcia and the Cardinals.

  • Johan Santana and the Mets denied a report by Steve Popper and Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record that suggested Santana's rehab wasn't progressing and the Mets were close to shutting him down. The left-hander, who turns 32 today, told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork, "We're right on the right track and where we're supposed to be. Whoever is saying that I'm not ready I think is lying."
  • While pitching coach Dan Warthen was also positive about Santana's progress, a July return is definitely no sure thing. ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only) says the Mets consider the southpaw's rehab a long process, and aren't expecting a significant contribution from him this year. If Santana needs more time to recover, he won't be rushed back.
  • Olney's piece indicates there's some optimism about the Mets being competitive this season, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post isn't so sure. He runs through all the pieces that would have to fall into place for the Mets to become a contender.
  • Within Sherman's column, one scout says he has been pleasantly surprised by Lucas Duda this spring. As Rubin writes in an ESPN.com piece, Duda could be an important contributor for the Mets this season if Carlos Beltran's knees act up.
  • You can throw Luis Hernandez's name into the Mets' second base mix, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

NL East Notes: Rodriguez, Amaro, Manuel, Utley

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Let's take a look at some items on the Mets and Phillies..

David Wright Would Not Ask For Trade

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The Mets are in deep financial trouble and their chances of competing in 2011 seem remote, but David Wright says he isn’t interested in asking for a trade. The third baseman is under team control through 2013 (the Mets have a $16MM option for that year) and he told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that he doesn't intend on demanding a trade before then.

"I can't imagine ever asking out," Wright said. "It would feel like I was jumping ship. I want to be part of the solution.”

Wright grew up a Mets fan and has been a member of the organization since 2001, when the team selected him in the first round of the draft. The Mets made it to the 2006 NLCS after winning 97 games, but they haven't played in the postseason since and the team has posted a losing record in each of the past two seasons.

"You have the good, the bad and the ugly,” Wright told Sherman. “We certainly have had the bad and the ugly. So now I want to be part of the good. I enjoy the challenge. I want to believe that I will endure the bad times for a prize at the end."

Wright, 28, has a .305/.383/.516 line and has made five consecutive All-Star games. He hit .283/.354/.503 with 29 homers last year.

Quick Hits: Feliz, Bonser, Pavano, Mets, Overbay

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Links for Thursday, as the White Sox announce that Dayan Viciedo will miss 3-4 weeks with a fractured right thumb…

  • Scott Miller of CBS Sports says it's starting to seem likely that the Rangers will move Neftali Feliz to the rotation.
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan argues that the Rangers will keep Feliz in the rotation, where he has pitched this spring, if they know what's best.
  • Rival teams sense that the Rangers would prefer to move Michael Young before his ten and five rights kick in this May, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter). They won't give him away, though.
  • Boof Bonser has a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out if he doesn't make the Mets, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). The Mets would love to keep Bonser regardless, but he isn't sure what he'll do if he isn't on the team's Opening Day roster.
  • Richard Sandomir and Ken Belson of the New York Times report that the Mets' owners were in financial trouble before Irving Picard filed a $1 billion lawsuit against them.
  • One talent evaluator tells Olney that Carl Pavano looks like the best pitcher in Florida this spring (Twitter link).
  • Lyle Overbay told Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he signed with the Pirates because "they were going in a better direction" than some of the other interested teams. Overbay, the oldest player on the Pirates roster, says he liked the idea of playing under new manager Clint Hurdle.

Heyman On Phillies, Davis, Molina, Mets

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The Phillies are concerned about Chase Utley's injured right knee but, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com they hadn't called the Rangers about Michael Young as of this morning. Here's the latest on the Phillies and notes from around the league:

  • Phillies scout Charley Kerfeld had been watching the Rangers and may have been scouting Young.
  • Chris Davis has an option left, so the Rangers are expected to send him down to start the season in the minors, despite his strong spring performance so far.
  • 22-year-old Dodgers prospect Rubby De La Rosa is impressing with his upper-90s fastball and command.
  • Though the Padres would like Bengie Molina to return to action at a bargain price, they're under the impression that the backstop is in "retirement mode." The Padres expressed interest in Molina earlier in the week, after Gregg Zaun retired, but they don't have much left in their budget.
  • It remains unlikely that Oliver Perez or Luis Castillo will break camp with the Mets, even though the team doesn't have tremendous depth from the left side out of the bullpen or at second base.
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