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Mets May Have Difficulty Adding Payroll

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One of the Mets' debt covenants states that the team's payroll cannot increase, sources told Josh Kosman of the New York Post.  Kosman writes that given their current financial state, the Mets may not be able to go after the ace that they seek at the Trade Deadline.

There is mounting evidence that suggests that the club, saddled with roughly $700MM in debt, is not turning a profit.  The Wilpon family continues to feel the sting of the Bernie Madoff-perpetuated Ponzi scheme, which cost them "hundreds of millions".  Sources say that the team is losing about $10MM per season when factoring in interest payments and depreciation. 

Unsurprisingly, sources also told the Post that Fred Wilpon will ultimately have to sell his beloved franchise if things do not turn around.

Mets Agree With 24th-Rounder To Over-Slot Deal

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The Mets reached an agreement with 24th-round pick Erik Goeddel on an over-slot deal, MLBTR has learned.  A source close to Major League Baseball indicated that Goeddel agreed to a contract believed to be worth just under $500K.  Goeddel, a righty out of UCLA, received third-round money.  He's one of the first over-slot signings, which is surprising since he's a college junior rather than a prep player.  Just before the draft, Goeddel had what Baseball America's Dave Perkin called an "eyebrow-raising outing" in front of scouts.

Reached by MLBTR, Goeddel's advisor Matt Sosnick denied an agreement is in place.

Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Mets, Orioles, Lee

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Links for Friday night, as Roy Oswalt and Mat Latos duel in San Diego….

Mets Sign Brian Bruney

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Well-traveled right-hander Brian Bruney will join his third team so far this season. Newsday's David Lennon reports (via Twitter) that the Mets have signed Bruney to a minor league deal.

The Nationals acquired the 28-year-old over the winter from the Yankees, but released him in May after 19 unimpressive appearances. Bruney then signed with the Brewers, but failed to crack their big league roster during his three weeks in the organization, and was released ten days ago. In 21 IP between the majors and minors for the Nats and Brewers this season, the righty has walked exactly a batter per inning.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Dawson, Ahrens, Rays, Lee

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On this date in 1995, Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo became the first Japanese-born player in Major League history to be selected for the All Star Game. Nomo, then a 26-year-old rookie, took the big leagues by storm with his tornado windup and by posting a 1.99 ERA and 11.9 K/9 in 13 first half starts. The All-Star Game was just the tip of the iceberg for Nomo, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year award and finish fourth in the NL Cy Young voting.

Nomo's big league career spanned a dozen seasons with seven teams, and he retired with a 4.24 ERA and two no-hitters to his credit. He's credited with paving the way for Japanese players to permanently relocate to MLB.

Here are a few links from around the baseball blogosphere…

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Cliff Lee Rumors: Wednesday

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9:25pm: An AL GM told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that he believes the Twins could acquire Lee with a package built around prospect Wilson Ramos. Rival GMs believe the Rangers may be better off holding onto their prospects than acquiring Lee.

4:15pm: The Mariners have not started making counter offers for Lee, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Rival executives remind Olney that the Mariners may want to deal soon, since an injury would deflate Lee's trade value (all Twitter links)

3:37pm: The Mets, Yankees, Rangers and Phillies appeared to be the only teams scouting Lee last night, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Twins and Dodgers were among the interested teams that did not attend, but it is early and Lee is a known commodity, so the lack of scouts hardly means there's a lack of interest.

10:11am: The Mariners will require a blue-chip prospect in a Cliff Lee trade, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post, even though the last two Lee trades may not have included one.  Sherman suggests the Mets want Lee badly, while the Yankees would just like the Ms to "keep them posted."

Sherman explains that the Mariners like, but don't love, Mets pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia.  He feels that a Mets trade would have to be built around Mejia or Wilmer Flores.  The Mets are willing to trade Flores in a Lee deal, reports Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.  They're reluctant to part with other top prospects.  The Mets would like to trade for a starting pitcher as soon as possible, but Cerrone says the Mariners prefer to wait until after the All-Star break to trade Lee.

From the Yankees side, Sherman recommends they make Jesus Montero available.  They've done so before when Lee and Roy Halladay were on the trade market.  Sherman also notes that the Mariners like Yankees Double A second baseman David Adams.  Baseball America ranked Adams 22nd among Yankees prospects heading into the season, and he sports a .309/.393/.507 line at Trenton.  Should the Yanks prefer to pursue Lee as a free agent, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News learned that old friend C.C. Sabathia would be happy to help recruit.

In a longer blog post, Sherman elaborates on what Lee would mean for the Mets, what the Mariners will require, and how prospects are overvalued these days.

Mets Not Interested In Millwood, Westbrook

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The Mets want to acquire starting pitching, but they’re interested in arms like Cliff Lee and Ted Lilly, not mid-rotation types. Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets are now content with R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi and are not interested in Kevin Millwood or Jake Westbrook.

The Mets have not yet had detailed discussions with the Mariners about a possible Lee deal, but GM Omar Minaya is willing to part with top prospects once he knows which ones the Mariners covet. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported today that the Mariners have not yet started telling teams which players interest them. The Mariners like Jenrry Mejia according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, so the injured pitcher could figure into talks if and when they begin.

If the Mets do not acquire Lee, they could try to pry Ted Lilly away from the Cubs. The Mets believe Oswalt is available, though they’re reluctant to take on tens of millions in salary and hand the Astros top prospects.

A Look At Wilmer Flores

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Mets shortstop prospect Wilmer Flores may figure prominently into the Cliff Lee trade rumors of the next few weeks.  Let's learn more about him.

Flores was ranked second among Mets prospects by Baseball America heading into the season, behind only Jenrry Mejia.  He placed 41st on Keith Law's top 100 list for ESPN - one spot above Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos.  BA, with more of an industry consensus approach, ranked him 88th.  Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus ranked him 84th.  All of these rankings were compiled before the season, and Flores' stock has only risen.

Flores started the season at Low A Savannah, and despite being in the midst of a cold streak was promoted to High A St. Lucie recently.  Though he's only 18 years old, and will be until August, Flores is raking in a tiny 28 plate appearance sample since the promotion.

Reading the opinions of the experts mentioned above, Flores is a special bat who will develop power. He is almost certainly going to move off shortstop, and Law doesn't see him at third base either.  He does have a good arm, leading Goldstein to view him as a future right fielder.  The prospect gurus seem most impressed that he's holding his own against much older competition. 

According to Goldstein, Flores is "at least three years and a position switch away" from the Majors.  Is he too far off to headline a deal for Cliff Lee?  John Hickey of AOL FanHouse sees the Mariners seeking players who can make an impact around 2012, particularly outfielders and left-handed starters. 

Odds & Ends: White Sox, Lee, Pomeranz, Ripken

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Another round of links, as Nick Swisher prevents Cliff Lee's trade value from getting too high…

Mets Sign Michael Barrett

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The Mets signed Michael Barrett to a minor league deal, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The catcher will report to class A Port St. Lucie and will likely be promoted to Triple A Buffalo within a few weeks, according to Rubin.

Barrett, 33, hit 16 homers three consecutive times for the Cubs from 2004-06, never posting an OPS below .824 in that time. He hasn't been nearly as productive since the Cubs traded him to the Padres midway through the 2007 season, but he still has a .263/.320/.422 career line. Barrett appeared in the majors briefly last year, backing up Rod Barajas for the Blue Jays. If he plays well in the minors and the Mets call on Barrett, he will once again be backing up Barajas.

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