New York Notes: Martin, Beltran, Silva
Let's check out the latest updates out of New York, as the Yankees and Mets prepare for their rubber matches against the Red Sox and Nationals, respectively.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday says most baseball people he spoke to this winter "wouldn't have believed" that Russell Martin would play this well to start the season. Martin, who homered twice in the Yankees' win yesterday, was viewed by many as a bad signing.
- Carlos Beltran, who also belted two home runs yesterday, is showing he could be a valuable trade chip this summer, writes Kevin Kernan of the New York Post.
- Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild contextualized the team's signing of Carlos Silva by saying, "You have a few guys and you hope you catch lightning in a bottle with one or two, according to this New York Daily News report. Silva had harsh words for Cubs pitching coach Mark Riggins on his way out of Chicago, but Rothschild says he has a good history with the right-hander: "We worked well together. I didn't have any problems with him."
- For whatever it's worth, Bernie Madoff reiterated that he believes the Mets owners were unaware of his Ponzi scheme, according to Teri Thompson and Wayne Coffey of the Daily News.
Quick Hits: Collins, Red Sox, K-Rod, Dodgers
Links for Thursday, as the minor league season opens and Bryce Harper and others make their pro debuts…
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan explains how 5'7" left-hander Tim Collins went from being an aspiring carpenter to a promising rookie in the Royals' 'pen.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports know the winless Red Sox aren't as bad as they've seemed for the first five games of the season, but he argues they aren't as good as they seemed in January.
- The Mets and Francisco Rodriguez continue to say they aren't worried about the reliever's vesting option for 2012, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. Rodriguez finished his first game of the season last night and with 54 more games finished, he'll have his $17.5MM option vest.
- MLB’s main concern with the deal Dodgers owner Frank McCourt recently proposed is that it would relieve McCourt’s debt without necessarily improving the product on the field at Dodger Stadium, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney.
- ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick anticipates some milestones that players may reach in 2011.
Acosta, Merklinger Clear Waivers
We'll keep track of players who clear waivers right here:
- The Mets announced that Manny Acosta cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo (Twitter link). They designated the reliever for assignment last Tuesday.
- Dan Merklinger has cleared waivers and the Brewers have assigned him to Double-A Huntsville, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Milwaukee designated the left-hander for assignment yesterday.
New York Notes: Pavano, Posada, Mets
Links for Wednesday, before Carl Pavano faces some former teammates in the Bronx…
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi confirmed to Spencer Fordin of MLB.com that the Yankees were considering Pavano last offseason, despite his injury-riddled stint with the club from 2005-08. "He's resurrected his career," Girardi said. "He's pitched well for the Twins, and he's given them innings. When we've faced him in the playoffs, he's pitched well. The guy knows how to pitch. The big thing for Carl is he's been healthy."
- Neither the Yankees front office nor Girardi seems to assume Jorge Posada will re-sign in New York after the season, when his contract expires, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Posada, who turns 40 in August, does not want to leave and intends to produce and force the Yankees’ hand.
- Newsday's Ken Davidoff looks back at the Mets' recent GMs and managers and says the organization hasn't come close to maximizing its resources because of ineffective leaders. Sandy Alderson is the Mets' best hire since Frank Cashen, according to Davidoff.
- MLBTR's Howard Megdal ranked Cashen as the best GM in Mets franchise history during the offseason.
Selig On Mets, Contraction, Realignment, Playoffs
Commissioner Bud Selig told Chris Russo on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio that he’s confident in the Mets, not considering contraction and open to realignment and expanding the playoffs. Here are the details and other highlights:
- The Mets asked for and obtained a loan from MLB, but they have not asked for a second loan, despite reports to the contrary.
- Though Selig did not tell Mets owner Fred Wilpon to hire new GM Sandy Alderson, he encouraged the Mets to hire his longtime friend. “He’s very competent," Selig said of Alderson. "Very, very, very smart.”
- MLB has “not discussed contraction at all.”
- However, Selig is open to changing the structure of baseball's leagues and divisions. “Realignment is something that in the future I really want to look at particularly before I leave.” It’s not currently a priority for Selig, who likes some geographical realignment.
- MLB is “working on” adding two teams to the playoffs and we could see changes as soon as 2012.
Quick Hits: Pelfrey, Wandy, Beato, Bennett
Links for Monday, before Josh Beckett makes his 2011 debut. Will he live up to his extension?
- Rival executives don’t expect Mariners ace Felix Hernandez to be available this summer, but they’re eyeing Wandy Rodriguez and Mike Pelfrey as potential trade targets, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark.
- If you want to look a little further ahead, check out Tim Dierkes' preview of which starters will be available next offseason.
- ESPN.com's Keith Law suggests the Orioles will regret leaving Pedro Beato off of their 40-man roster last fall. The Mets nabbed the reliever in the Rule 5 draft and he's now on the team's active roster.
- Former Braves reliever Jeff Bennett is trying to revive his career after seeing it hit rock-bottom, as Greg Sullivan of the Tennessean writes.
New York Notes: Feliciano, Reyes, Harris
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
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
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
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.