Mets Notes: K-Rod, Starters, Capuano
Carlos Beltran is getting most of the attention, but there are still plenty of other Mets that could be dealt before the deadline. Here's the latest from Flushing…
- Before trading Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers, the Mets spoke briefly to his former agent (Paul Kinzer) about reworking the closer's contract to include a "bi-level mutual option" according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter).
- Adam Rubin of ESPN New York hears that the recent signings of Miguel Batista and Gustavo Chacin don't necessary mean the Mets will trade a starting pitcher (Twitter link). Both Batista and Chacin are starting for the team's Triple-A affiliate.
- Andy Martino of The New York Daily News reports (on Twitter) that it is "unlikely" the Mets will move any players other than Beltran, even free agents to be like Chris Capuano. They have interest in re-signing the lefty, who has a 4.16 ERA in 110 1/3 innings.
Rosenthal On Mets: Paulino, Pelfrey, Capuano
In his latest blog post regarding Carlos Beltran, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com also has some interesting notes on some of the Mets' other potential trade candidates. Rosenthal cautions, however, that the Mets will proceed carefully leading up to the deadline, because they don't want to give up on their season altogether.
- The Mets are likely to retain catcher Ronny Paulino and right-hander Mike Pelfrey. Paulino, a righty, has split time with left-handed-hitting Josh Thole behind the plate this season. He's under team control through 2012. Pelfrey's trade value, meanwhile, is down, according to Rosenthal, and he's under team control through 2013, so the Mets are less inclined to move him.
- The Mets will be more willing to move some of their free-agents-to-be, like lefty Chris Capuano, lefty reliever Tim Byrdak, outfielder Scott Hairston and utility man Willie Harris. Each of these players were signed to one-year deals prior to this season and could be useful, if unspectacular, additions for teams looking to patch minor holes.
- Jason Isringhausen is likelier than the others to stay in New York because he has value to the Mets as a late-inning reliever and in helping to develop setup man Bobby Parnell into a closer. We heard last night that Izzy would like to remain with the Mets but would be receptive to returning to St. Louis, where he still has "unfinished business," per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Jon Heyman of SI.com first tweeted of the Mets' preference to hold Isringhausen yesterday. For the fantasy implications of closers on the move at the deadline, be sure to check out CloserNews.com.
Mets Notes: Capuano, Rodriguez, Reyes
The Mets are a game over .500 now, but they were 46-37 on this date last year. Here's the latest on the Mets before they take on the Dodgers in Los Angeles…
- Chris Capuano has started earning incentives, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The lefty has earned $175K in incentives on top of his $1.5MM base salary and stands to continue making bonus money as the season progresses and he logs more innings.
- Francisco Rodriguez appears to be available and some general managers believe his trade value is at a tipping point, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (on Twitter). The closer has finished 32 games and needs just 23 more games finished for his $17.5MM option to vest for 2012. Since teams don’t like that price tag for Rodriguez, they’re wary of acquiring him in a trade.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo that yesterday's New York Post report about Jose Reyes was "one man's opinion." Joel Sherman reported that the Mets are unlikely to trade Reyes this summer and are leaning strongly toward authorizing a substantial offer for him after the season.
- Yesterday I compared Reyes to fellow speedster Carl Crawford, who signed for $142MM last offseason.
Mets Notes: Igarashi, Capuano, Reyes
On this date in 2005, the Mets signed Carlos Beltran to a seven-year, $119MM deal. There's just one season left on Beltran's contract, so if he wants to rebuild his value before hitting the market as a 34-year-old, he'll have to perform in 2011. Here are some notes on Beltran's teammates…
- Ryota Igarashi is currently on outright waivers, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The Mets designated the right-hander for assignment last week. GM Sandy Alderson suggested this week that no team is likely to claim Igarashi and his $1.75MM salary. If he clears waivers, the reliever will battle for a spot on the team as a non-roster invitee.
- Chris Capuano, whose arrival forced Igarashi off of the team's 40-man roster, has a strange platoon split. As FanGraphs' Dave Allen explains, Capuano induces far more ground balls against lefties than he does against righties.
- Jose Reyes' agent, Peter Greenberg, repeated to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez this week that his client wants to stay in New York. The sides haven’t made progress on a potential extension for the shortstop, who is on track to hit free agency after 2011.
Mets Notes: Dickey, Capuano, Young, Reyes
Mets GM Sandy Alderson spoke with ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin yesterday to address a number of questions concerning the club. Here are some highlights..
- The Mets are scheduled to exchange arbitration figures with Angel Pagan, Mike Pelfrey, and R.A. Dickey next Tuesday. Alderson wants to maintain financial flexibility going forward but still won't rule out giving multiyear deals to any of the aforementioned arb-eligible players.
- The Chris Capuano signing does not preclude the Mets from getting another starting pitcher. In fact, Alderson says that he would like to sign another starter for a deal similar to Capuano's. The left-hander is set to make a base salary of $1.5MM but could earn more than $4.5MM through incentives in 2011.
- Rubin asks about reports in recent weeks that say the Mets have made offers to free agent pitchers Chris Young and Jeff Francis. Alderson says that the club has talked with agents for other pitchers before and after the Capuano signing but wouldn't characterize anything as being "beyond the discussion stage."
- Alderson seems open to the idea of talking about an extension with Jose Reyes during the season. The recently-crowned GM says that he doesn't have a firm policy when it comes to in-season negotiations. Earlier this month, Alderson said that he wouldn't talk about a new deal with Reyes during Spring Training.
- No surprise here, but the Mets are looking for out-of-house options when it comes to left-handed relief. Alderson summed it all up by saying that the club is looking for starting pitching, a lefty reliever, and fourth and fifth outfielder possibilities, in that order of priority.
- There's likely a position available for Omar Minaya if the former GM wants to pursue it.
Contract Details: Saito, Beltre, Capuano, Hudson
Here are some recent updates on contracts from around the majors:
- Reliever Takashi Saito will earn a base salary of less than $2MM with the Brewers but incentives could push his salary close to the $3.2MM he made with Atlanta last year, writes MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Saito could mark the Brewers' last major offseason acquisition.
- Adrian Beltre will earn $14MM in 2011, $15MM in 2012, $16MM in 2013, $17MM in 2014, and $18MM in 2015, according to Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- Left-hander Chris Capuano gets a base of $1.5MM in 2011 but he could earn more than $4.5MM through incentives, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
- The Padres agreed not to offer salary arbitration if Orlando Hudson, Brad Hawpe, or Aaron Harang end up being Type A free agents, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter).
- If they make the Bucs' major league roster, Garrett Atkins and Brian Burres will earn $800K and $600K, respectively, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. If Atkins is not on the 25-man roster on April 1 or June 1, he can request his release. Burres also has an out clause of sorts as can sign with an Asian team for $50K between now and Opening Day or for $100K during the season.
Mets Sign Capuano And Buchholz, DFA Igarashi
7:56pm: More from Rubin (via Twitter) as a Mets official says that these additions do not take the Mets out of the running for other free agent starters such as Chris Young and Jeff Francis. Rubin also tweets that Igarashi, due to his salary, is expected to clear waivers and hook on with the Mets in major league camp as a non-roster invitee.
7:41pm: Capuano's deal has a base of $1.5MM plus incentives while Buchholz will earn a $600K base salary, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter links). The Brewers all but closed the door on bringing back Capuano when they dealt for Zack Greinke and signed Shaun Marcum as Capuano wants to start. Meanwhile, Buchholz says that the Mets will use him as a reliever.
6:08pm: The Mets have signed pitchers Chris Capuano and Taylor Buchholz to one-year deals, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. In order to make room for the two, the Mets have designated Ryota Igarashi for assignment, Puma tweets.
Capuano, 32, turned in a 3.95 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 66 innings of work last season for the Brewers. The left-hander missed the 2008 and '09 major league seasons after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in May of 2008. In 2010 he made nine starts with 15 relief appearances. Capuano was never a flamethrower but his 87.4 mph fastball last season was consistent with his career average.
Buchholz, a 29-year-old right-hander, was originally selected in the sixth-round of the 2006 draft by the Phillies. Since then, he has spent time with the Astros, Rockies, and had a cup of coffee with the Blue Jays to close out 2010. In 285 career big league innings, Buchholz has a 4.39 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9. He started a combined 27 games in 2008 and 2009 but has not made a major league start since.
Meanwhile, Igarashi is owed $1.1MM for 2011. The Japanese right-hander signed a two-year deal with the club in December 2009 but disappointed in 2010, registering a 7.12 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 34 appearances.
Brewers Break Off Talks With Capuano
Brewers GM Doug Melvin says the team agreed to stop negotiations with Chris Capuano, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Now that the Brewers have added Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum to a rotation that already included Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson, they don't have room for Capuano.
The Brewers had made Capuano an offer at the beginning of the offseason and it was on the table earlier this month, but the sides have now decided to move on. Melvin says Capuano wants to be a starter, so the Brewers don't have room for him. However, the GM says he likes the left-hander a lot and has heard other teams have interest.
Capuano, 32, came back from his second Tommy John surgery in 2010 after missing the 2008-09 seasons. He posted a 3.95 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2/9 BB/9 in 66 innings as a swingman for the Brewers last year. His best seasons came in 2005-06, when he averaged 220 innings per season and posted ERAs near 4.00 with 7.4 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9.
It wouldn't be surprising to see the Orioles, Indians, Royals, Tigers, Pirates, Cardinals, Nationals or Mets show interest in Capuano. That's a speculative list that depends on teams' assessments of the lefty's health. Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner hears that the Mariners have interest.
Brewers Rumors: Weeks, Capuano, Francis, Webb
The Brewers have had some trade discussions about Prince Fielder, and inquired on Matt Garza. Here are the rest of the details on the Crew:
- The Brewers had "productive" talks with Rickie Weeks' representatives about a potential extension, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Assistant GM Gord Ash says the sides have "reason to continue to talk" to Weeks, who can become a free agent after the 2011 season.
- GM Doug Melvin told Haudricourt that he intends to meet with the agent for Craig Counsell and work a deal out soon. The Brewers have made the veteran infielder more than one proposal.
- The Brewers have another offer out to Chris Capuano and are waiting to hear from him.
- Manager Ron Roenicke says the team would like to pair Jonathan Lucroy with a veteran catcher next year, according to Haudricourt (Twitter link).
- The Brewers seem hesitant to commit to a pitcher coming back from an injury, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.
- Melvin says the Brewers haven't called the agent for Jeff Francis, though they've been linked to the left-hander repeatedly. The team scouted Brandon Webb, but their level of interest in the former Cy Young Award winner seems low.
- The Brewers have had discussions with the Braves, but Melvin says he doesn't have any ongoing talks with Atlanta.
Brewers, Braves Pushing For Eric Hinske
TUESDAY, 11:46am: The Brewers made an offer to Hinske, GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Melvin said he also has offers out to Craig Counsell and Chris Capuano.
MONDAY, 11:26am: The Brewers and Braves are making early pushes for outfielder/first baseman Eric Hinske, tweets Tim Brown of Yahoo. On Friday, MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported that the Braves made a one-year offer in the $1.5MM range in hopes of retaining Hinske. Interest is mutual, but Hinske wants a two-year deal.
Hinske, 33, hit .256/.338/.456 with 11 home runs in 320 plate appearances this year. He logged innings at left field and first base, and has also played right field and third base in his career. He's a left-handed hitter who has been shielded from southpaws by his managers in recent years. Given recent contracts given to Geoff Blum and Ross Gload, Hinske has a case for two years.