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Mets Rumors: Wolf, Fuentes, K-Rod, Street, Pedro

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11:37am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets are eyeing Randy Wolf, in addition to Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.

Heyman adds that some Mets people are concerned about their catching, but others aren’t thrilled with the free agent options.

9:20am: All kinds of Mets rumors this morning.

  • Let’s begin with the closer situation.  The Mets are interested in Brian Fuentes, but Omar Minaya will not rule out Francisco Rodriguez. He makes a great point: contract numbers are tossed around early, but the player often fails to reach that amount. 
  • Joel Sherman says the Mets also want to speak to the A’s about Huston Street.  However, his sources say the A’s feel they match up better with the Indians, Rockies, and Brewers (all interested parties).  Rosenthal has Kerry Wood and Joe Beimel in the Mets’ sights as well.  Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog believes J.J. Putz could be a trade target, with interest on the Mariners’ side. 
  • Ken Davidoff explains how the Mets could end up signing K-Rod – the Fuentes market blows up, while Rodriguez settles for less.  I’m on board with that.
  • The Javier Vazquez rumors were addressed in this post.  Elsewhere on the starting pitching front – Minaya will talk to Pedro Martinez’s agent, but he’s unlikely to return.  Aaron Heilman won’t be moving to the rotation.
  • We’ve heard about the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez, but Minaya does not seem to consider the offense a problem.  He even spoke optimistically about a Luis Castillo rebound (though he did not give Castillo a ringing endorsement).

Battle For Teixeira

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ESPN’s Buster Olney gives his take on the Mark Teixeira situation in his blog this morning.  Olney believes the Yankees will "bid heavily" on Tex, perhaps $120MM over six years.  Teixeira turned down $140MM from the Rangers last year, though that was for eight years.  Ken Davidoff of Newsday believes that since the Yanks are prioritizing pitching, they’ll probably go with cheaper options like Casey Blake or Kevin Millar.

Olney says there’s debate about Boston’s level of interest in Teixeira – do they truly want him, or are they trying to drive up the price for the Yankees?  He suggests a scenario where the Sox sign Teixeira and keep Mike Lowell – Kevin Youkilis goes to left field, Jason Bay to right, and J.D. Drew to center (pushing Jacoby Ellsbury to a utility role and leaving Coco Crisp out of a job). 

Meanwhile, the Angels told Francisco Rodriguez’s agent that their initial focus this winter is signing Teixeira.  Dylan Hernandez and Mike DiGiovanna see the Halos in the six-year, $120MM range.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Fielder, Beimel, Eckstein

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Ken Rosenthal is on the scene at the GM meetings, and as usual has all kinds of new info.

  • The Brewers are unlikely to trade Prince Fielder, and reluctant to trade J.J. Hardy or Alcides Escobar.  It’d be smart to retain those three players.
  • Rosenthal still likes the Braves as the favorite for Jake Peavy, but wonders if the Cubs or another team could incorporate a third team to get it done.
  • The Cubs will need to spend much of their available money on pitching, which may leave little payroll room for an outfielder like Bobby Abreu.  They could backload contracts and move some of Jason Marquis’ salary though.
  • The Mets are interested in lefty reliever Joe Beimel, as well as usual suspects Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood.  They also like Raul Ibanez.
  • The Cardinals could move forward with a Ryan Ludwick/Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel outfield, or trade one of them.  Ankiel, entering his contract year, seems most likely to go if Rasmus is ready.
  • David Eckstein is marketing himself as a second baseman for 2009.
  • Don’t look for the Phillies to move Shane Victorino in a Matt Holliday deal.
  • The Cardinals and Nationals are not contenders for A.J. Burnett.  Still no word on Burnett’s opt-out.
  • The Marlins may wait until some of the top free agent starters sign before shopping Scott Olsen.

Mets To Explore Trade For Closer

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday has a new article up discussing possibilities for the Mets’ closer vacancy.  He says the Mets will check in on free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, but remain wary of the price.  I’m wondering if K-Rod will have to back off the five year demand if he wants to get multiple serious bidders.  Davidoff says the Mets feel that they have the minor league depth to swing a trade for a closer rather than buy one.

Davidoff goes on to speculate that the Mets could look at J.J. Putz, Huston Street, George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, and Kevin Gregg.  Gregg would be the easiest to acquire.  Not sure why Soria is mentioned here.  The Mets had several young players emerge this year who weren’t necessarily highly touted (Dan Murphy, for example).  Davidoff says the Mets feel they have more such hidden gems to use as trade chips.

Davidoff also tosses out two more free agent possibilities: Jeremy Affeldt and Chad Cordero.  Affeldt is starting to generate buzz as a more affordable closing candidate, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Indians get involved.

Cafardo’s Latest: Hot Stove, Twins, Gordon, Pedro

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Nick Cafardo from the Boston Globe has a nice article up catching up on some Hot Stove news, with a few other odds and ends tied in. Let’s hit the highlights here:

  • Cafardo seems to think the Yankees could entice C.C. Sabathia to pitch on the East Coast, and that the Angels would be crazy not to re-sign Mark Teixeira at whatever the cost. He also points out Joe Maddon’s connection to Francisco Rodriguez from his days as a coach with the Angels, and covers other top names such as Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, Manny Ramirez, Pat Burrell, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins.
  • The Minnesota Twins were ranked as the #1 team in young talent by the 2009 Bill James Handbook. Minnesota had ten players in the top 150: Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, Justin Morneau, Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, Carlos Gomez, Nick Blackburn, Jason Kubel, Denard Span, and Glen Perkins.
  • The article includes a Q&A with Tom Gordon, who has high praise for the Phillies, particularly Brad Lidge. Gordon says that having avoided Tommy John Surgery, he feels he can continue his career, and would love to pitch in Philadelphia next year. Gordon will understand if his option is declined, but is emphatic in saying he’s "going to pitch somewhere." Plenty of teams need bullpen help, and even with his injury, I can’t imagine him having a hard time finding work.
  • Cafardo likes the idea of either Rocco Baldelli or Gabe Kapler as a fourth outfielder for the Red Sox.
  • Would Pedro Martinez consider an incentive-laden contract to be Boston’s fifth starter next season?
  • Red Sox catching prospect Mark Wagner has shown improvement the Arizona Fall League. This only adds to the Jason Varitek dilemma that Boston is faced with.

Perrotto’s Latest: Red Sox, Mets, Burnett, Blalock

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John Perrotto over at Baseball Prospectus has his weekly column up… let’s take a look at what he has to say:

  • Couple of notes about the Red Sox: Perrotto expects Theo Epstein to re-sign Jason Varitek to a two-year deal in the $16MM range. This seems like drastically overpaying for what Varitek has become, in my opinion, but as Perrotto points out, there’s very little on the free agent market. Epstein will then look to trade for a young catcher who can become the starter in 2010 or 2011. Additionally, he’ll try to move Mike Lowell to open up a spot for either Mark Teixeira or Garrett Atkins, but that won’t be an easy task most likely. On a Manny-related note, Terry Francona said the last couple months of 2008 were the "most fun he’s ever had" in Boston, calling them "tremendous." He didn’t mention Manny specifically, but does he really have to?
  • Perrotto says the Mets have decided to pass on Francisco Rodriguez, and will instead pursue Brian Fuentes, as well as Derek Lowe. The Red Sox may also make a strong pitch for Lowe.
  • The Padres will likely take some gambles on rehabbing pitchers for 2009. Perrotto lists Mark Mulder, Matt Clement, and Mark Prior as candidates.
  • Toronto’s interim president Paul Beeston is making A.J. Burnett the organization’s top priority, and Perrotto feels that Burnett wants to stay. Personally, I’m in the other camp and see Burnett opting out and cashing in on a big payday.
  • The Rangers will almost certainly pick up Hank Blalock’s $6.2MM option for 2009.

Mets Eyeing Lowe, Fuentes

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post talked to an NL executive who has spoken to Mets officials.  That official says the Mets plan to pursue free agent pitchers Derek Lowe and Brian Fuentes this winter.  Sherman believes they will check in on C.C. Sabathia and Francisco Rodriguez, but won’t be willing to match their prices.

Lowe and Fuentes would fill two of the Mets’ three offseason needs for roughly $30MM in ’09 salary.  That could be all of the available money, unless the Mets backload the contracts, raise payroll, or shed salary via trades.  Left field would be the team’s remaining question mark.

Davidoff’s Latest: Mussina, K-Rod, Manny

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday has some new hot stove info in a blog post.

  • Davidoff would be shocked if Mike Mussina does not retire.  He expects a news conference after the World Series, and gives a 1% margin of error for his prediction.  Bold prediction; Buster Olney felt differently in his blog a week ago.  Yankees beat writer Peter Abraham agrees with Davidoff that Mussina will retire.
  • The Mets apparently do not believe Francisco Rodriguez is worth his asking price.  They’re also not intending to pursue Manny Ramirez.  Not exciting news for fans, but Omar Minaya can’t acquire players based on media or fan pressure.

Mets Eyeing K-Rod?

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According to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand (via MetsBlog):

An executive with knowledge of the Mets thinking says the Mets plan to be in on the Francisco Rodriguez sweepstakes, but are "unlikely" to bid on C.C. Sabathia.

So far, the Mets seem like the most reasonable candidate to give K-Rod a record-breaking contract.  Maybe they won’t meet the 5/75 demand, but it’s hard to see other teams coming close.

Heyman’s Latest: K-Rod, Furcal, Blalock

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Non-Manny notes from Jon Heyman’s latest…

  • The Angels and Mets "appear hesitant" to give Francisco Rodriguez five years.  There’s not an obvious suitor to overpay K-Rod, but the Mets are the closest.
  • Heyman sees Brian Fuentes getting about $11MM per year.  Ken Rosenthal recently suggested even more money.
  • Doug Melvin could become a candidate for the Mariners job if the Brewers aren’t able to extend him.  Doesn’t seem to make sense since Melvin is signed through 2009.
  • Heyman believes Chris Antonetti in Cleveland is contractually guaranteed the GM job in the future.
  • The Dodgers will try to re-sign Rafael Furcal, no surprise there.
  • A scout sang the praises of Hank Blalock’s second-half hitting (.281/.324/.532 after the break).  Blalock may be on the trading block.
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