Mets Rumors

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sabathia, Yankees, Pirates, Rays

By Cork Gaines | November 14, 2008 at 1:00pm CDT

Let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

MetsBlog feels the reported interest in C.C. Sabathia is overblown. Rather, they see the Mets waiting for Sabathia to sign before making a move of their own for starting pitching.
River Ave. Blues still sees the Yankees pursuing Mark Teixeira or Adam Dunn, even with the acquisition of Nick Swisher.
Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke speculates on what the Pirates will do this winter while finding humor in this recent quote from the Buccos’ GM: "we’d love to upgrade the offense, upgrade our pitching, and rebuild the bench."
MVN Outsider takes the role of Andrew Friedman in their "Being the GM" series and proposes three moves for the Rays including trading Andy Sonnanstine and Chad Bradford for Andre Ethier.
With the Rays likely to trade pitching this winter, Rays Prospects takes a closer look at how the starting pitchers throughout the organization performed in 2008. Sonnanstine was clearly a better pitcher than Edwin Jackson.
Pinstripes Published has started a series looking at some of the cheaper alternatives that can be found in the free agent market. First up, starting pitchers.
Ump Bump is taking a look at what each team needs this offseason. They have already gone through eight teams including the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Phillies.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Mets Join Yanks In Sabathia Chase?

By Tim Dierkes | November 14, 2008 at 8:56am CDT

Bill Madden, Anthony McCarron, and Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News say the Mets will be in the mix for C.C. Sabathia:

Omar Minaya was dicussing a trade for a pitcher with a GM but said he would first have to see how Sabathia’s free agency was progressing, a baseball executive said. A Mets official subsequently wouldn’t deny interest in Sabathia.

Of course, the Yankees hope to sign Sabathia quickly. Joel Sherman believes the Mets are only trying to drive up the price for the Yankees, since both teams will be in on the same second-tier starters. Matthew Cerrone doesn’t even see the Daily News article as an indicator of Met interest in C.C.

Stark’s Latest: Abreu, Arroyo, Hudson

By Tim Dierkes | November 13, 2008 at 3:41pm CDT

ESPN’s Jayson Stark is back with a look at needs and plans for all 30 teams. I highly recommend you read the article, but here are a few highlights. He’s also got a fresh blog post here.

The Phillies are eyeing Doug Brocail and Russ Springer.
The Mets like Bobby Abreu, but not his three year, $45MM asking price.
The Reds are quietly listening on Bronson Arroyo, and the Rangers may be interested.
Contrary to previous reports, Stark believes the Mets’ first order of business is getting a starting pitcher.
Here’s a new one – the Marlins are interested in Orlando Hudson?
The Astros may be trying to move money, and Stark implies trading Miguel Tejada or Jose Valverde could be one path.
The Rockies have "actively explored" signing Jeremy Affeldt, who could also wind up back home with the Mariners. A few more interesting names for Seattle: Joe Crede (if Adrian Beltre is traded), Jason Giambi, and Ken Griffey Jr.

Odds and Ends: Ankiel, Hoffman, Mussina

By Tim Dierkes | November 13, 2008 at 3:37pm CDT

Linkage for Thursday…

Viva El Birdos tries to put a price on Rick Ankiel, and decides now is the time to trade him. Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
Derrick Goold runs through the lefty reliever options for St. Louis on his blog. It doesn’t seem like Trevor Hoffman is on the Cardinals’ radar. Hoffman wants to remain a closer, so he won’t be going to San Francisco either.
Brian Cashman explains that $6MM for one year of Damaso Marte was too much, but $12MM over three years works. Ken Davidoff still doesn’t get it.
Mike Mussina will make his decision early next week.
Tony Massarotti runs through best and worst case scenarios for the Yankees and Red Sox.
Jeff Zrebiec names ten possible free agent targets for the Orioles.
Omar Minaya spilled the beans to WFAN’s Mike Francesa. He’s not interested in Ben Sheets, but will make an offer to Pedro Martinez.
The Twins seem more likely to make trades than sign free agents, according to Joe Christensen.
Could Ted Turner buy back the Braves?

Mets Closer Plan Starts With Free Agents

By Tim Dierkes | November 13, 2008 at 10:22am CDT

Let’s try to decipher the Mets’ strategy for acquiring a new closer.

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says the Mets will pursue a free agent out of the gate, perhaps with Brian Fuentes ranked above Francisco Rodriguez on their list. Still, K-Rod’s agent noted that they’re not "wedded" to a five-year deal, and he didn’t toss the reported $15MM demand out there. Hubbuch believes the Mets will move on to trade targets such as Bobby Jenks and Huston Street if they fail to sign Fuentes or Rodriguez.
Ken Davidoff and David Lennon mention J.J. Putz as well, while suggesting the Mets don’t love Street. They agree that the Mets will try free agency first, with Kerry Wood a third target. Davidoff likes Jenks over K-Rod, but expects it’d cost Fernando Martinez and maybe Bobby Parnell. The White Sox have reportedly scouted Parnell and Eddie Kunz.

White Sox Considering Dye Trade

By Tim Dierkes | November 12, 2008 at 9:06pm CDT

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox GM and other front office members are evaluating talent at the Arizona Fall League for a possible Jermaine Dye trade. Dye can block trades to six teams, but Williams has a short list of suitors for him. He is set to earn $11.5MM in ’09 and has a $12MM mutual option for ’10 with a $1MM buyout.

Dye, 35 in January, hit .292/.344/.541 in 645 plate appearances. He plays a below-average right field, according to the plus/minus system. The Rays, Angels, Braves, Mets, Phillies, and Reds could be in the market for a corner outfielder. Gonzales says Williams hopes to build a younger and quicker team for the future.

Gonzales adds that White Sox officials watched Mets prospects Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch. The Mets could match up on Dye, Javier Vazquez, or Bobby Jenks.

Nothing Imminent On Peavy Deal

By Tim Dierkes | November 12, 2008 at 5:48pm CDT

5:46pm: Manager Lou Piniella thinks the Peavy-Cubs rumors are "only talk." At least, he hasn’t talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry much about it. Piniella remains fixated on a lefthanded hitter.

4:31pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown has an update on the Jake Peavy trade talks, though it’s not very exciting. A Padres exec says the team has options, but nothing is close. The Padres have not yet asked Peavy to approve a trade.

Interesting note from Brown – the Yankees pushed hard, while the Red Sox and Mets "inserted themselves" into the mix.

Brown notes that Peavy would probably want the fifth year of his contract guaranteed upon a trade. At that point it’d be a five-year, $81MM deal. How much worse off would a team be signing a solid free agent starter at a lower price, while preserving the farm system?

Odds and Ends: Holliday, Takahashi, Lincecum

By Tim Dierkes | November 12, 2008 at 4:00pm CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Richard Justice says the Astros should offer Andy Pettitte $7-8MM to come back.
Joe Christensen doesn’t see Huston Street landing in Minnesota.
Larry Beinfest dismissed a "cyberspace rumor" that the Marlins are planning a run at Manny Ramirez.
Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs could fit both Jake Peavy and Ryan Dempster into the payroll, and that the Peavy situation will be resolved first.
Today is the deadline for MLB.com’s Free Agent Frenzy. You have until 4pm CST to submit your picks for 15 free agents. Here are my predictions from November 3rd…I would change the Furcal and Sheets ones for starters.
Who had the Matt Holliday scoop? SI.com’s Jon Heyman broke the story, while Yahoo’s Tim Brown was the first to name the players involved.
Holliday figures to be a three to six month rental for the A’s. Over at FanGraphs, Dave Cameron takes a closer look at Carlos Gonzalez and Greg Smith. ESPN’s Keith Law says the Rockies received a "fair return" for Holliday.
Athletics Nation suggests the A’s sign Derek Lowe.
Ken Davidoff looks at the Yankees’ seesawing philosophy.
Japanese southpaw Ken Takahashi intends to sign with an MLB club, and the Mets may be interested. Nikkan Sports says the Cubs, Padres, and Giants are also in on him.
River Ave. Blues looks ahead to Derek Jeter’s next contract.
Andrew Baggarly reminds us that Tim Lincecum intends to go year to year.
ESPN’s Buster Olney talked to one GM who expects "a whole lot of bargains" in late January, given the nation’s economy.
Rany Jazayerli didn’t like the Royals’ acquisition of Mike Jacobs, but doesn’t think it’s the end of the world.
Braves GM Frank Wren on Jeff Francoeur: "We haven’t talked about him at all. It’s not to say that we wouldn’t."

K-Rod’s Agent Speaks

By Tim Dierkes | November 11, 2008 at 12:00pm CDT

Francisco Rodriguez’s agent, Paul Kinzer, appeared on WFAN this morning. Justin Terranova of the New York Post relays his comments.

Kinzer says there are "three to four" teams in the running for K-Rod besides the Mets. He doesn’t know the exact number? Obviously, Kinzer considers the Mets a good fit for his client (especially given that no other big-market team is looking for a closer). Rodriguez will require four years and perhaps $15MM annually. My guess: K-Rod tops Joe Nathan’s record $47MM for a reliever, but the deal is closer to $50MM than $60MM.

Koji Uehara Coming To MLB

By Tim Dierkes | November 11, 2008 at 9:12am CDT

Koji Uehara is officially coming to MLB, according to NPB Tracker. The free agent hurler hired SFX to represent him.

Based on Japanese reports, Newman says the Mets and Angels are eyeing Uehara as a reliever, while the Orioles like him as a starter. Newman likes him with the Cardinals as a swingman. Uehara, a 33 year-old control pitcher, was profiled here.

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