-Carlos Delgado, traded to the Mets in the middle of a multi-year deal, has the right to demand a trade. He again declined to rule that out yesterday, though he may just be angling to get the Mets to guarantee a 2009 option. Delgado is owed $30.5 million over the next two seasons, though the Marlins will pay the Mets $6 million of that sum...
Asked about the importance of the Mets picking up the option, he said: "Would you like your boss to give you another year?
-Tom Glavine has until Nov. 10 to declare his intention as far as a $7.5 million player option, while the team has until Nov. 20 to exercise its $14 million option. Glavine gets a $3 million payment if both are declined, and is still free to re-sign
This article had info on how Soriano will be pursued by the Mets. It also had the following tidbits:
-Starters:
Randolph and Minaya both want Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez back -- badly. Glavine is a family decision while El Duque is a financial one. With Pedro Martinez sidelined at least the first half of the season, the Mets need these two to stabilize the rotation.
With age at the top of the rotation, the Mets can afford to take a flyer on potential at the back end, and there are plenty of options here. While the past three drafts have been topped by starting pitching -- Philip Humber, Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Mulvey -- the Mets have plenty of stop gaps to fill space until they are certain the highly touted arms are ready.
Oliver Perez and John Maine moved faster than expected, a point driven home by Maine taking the ball for 51/3 shutout innings of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series and Perez pitching six innings of one-run ball in Game 7. Those two figure to be the frontrunners for a rotation spot, along with Dave Williams, who pitched well after his call-up, and injury-plagued Brian Bannister, who is starting over again.
Figure this deep crop to create a much more soothing option when the Mets have to dip down to the minors...
The market for a top-of-the-rotation starter is weak this season, but the Mets will be involved.
Barry Zito makes sense with pitching coach Rick Peterson already a huge supporter from their days in Oakland, but he's going to cost a lot -- maybe too much for what he's accomplished. Jason Schmidt is another possibility, but he also would not gain so much interest in a deeper pool of talent.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA in Japan, sounds like a potential ace and who wouldn't want a purveyor of the gyroball, but the Japanese import will cost even more -- requiring a huge bid just to gain negotiating rights.
-Relievers
While closer Billy Wagner is signed on for three more seasons, the free agent list includes Guillermo Mota, Chad Bradford, Darren Oliver, Pedro Feliciano and Roberto Hernandez.
Barring a trade, Aaron Heilman will be back -- and almost certainly be back in the bullpen. Duaner Sanchez is expected to be healthy again by spring training. Heath Bell and Royce Ring got experience the past few years and are still under the organization's control.
But the Mets want to keep the free agents -- particularly Mota, who found himself again after joining the Mets, and Bradford, who was a consistent force as a set-up man. Oliver said he definitely will pitch again this coming season after finding success in New York and the Mets would like him back, too.
3 comments:
MUST re-sign: Delgado, Glavine, Mota, Bradford, Feliciano, and Oliver. Delgado has indicated in other interviews that he definitely wants to be back with Mets.
I would love to get Matsuzaka. However, I would be SHOCKED if he ends up anywhere other than Yankees. Three reasons: Steinbrenner has the cash, Steinbrenner desperately needs starters, and presence of Hideki Matsui will be big plus for Matsuzaka. Consider this deal done, Steinbrenner will move early and strongly to lock it up, especially with the rest of the pitching free agent market being weak. Only other option I could see is LA, since they have big Japanese fan base.
I guess the Post has an article on Matsuzaka today.
I don't consider Oliver a must-sign. He did a great job for us this year, but with all the ML ready talent that will be at AAA next year, we'll be able to weather an injury or two in our rotation. Without needing Oliver to spot start, the long-man role is not that make or break. I'd bring him back for the right price, but could just as easily see turning that role over to Bannister, Ring, or Bell.
Agreed on Matsuzaka to the Yanks. If for no other reason than every host on the FAN seems convinced its going to happen. And they're never wrong.
Delgado, Glavine, Mota and Bradford would be key in my book, and Feliciano also would be nice to have back.
It appears unlikely Omar wants to go with youth in the rotation, but it's still what I'd like to see. Glavine, Pelfrey, Humber, Maine and Perez would be great, in my book.
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