Archive for Rumors
Mets Ask Izzy to Remain in St. Lucie
Posted by: | CommentsThe New York Times is reporting the Mets have asked Jason Isringhausen to stay behind in extended spring training.
The Mets have asked the right-handed reliever Jason Isringhausen to remain in extended spring training for a week or two to increase his arm strength and reassure them that his elbow is healthy. The Mets have also discussed the idea of asking another right-handed reliever, Blaine Boyer, to accept a minor league assignment.
This was one option that was mentioned among the buzz prior trying to get Izzy to remain in extended spring training to strengthen his elbow while in reality it is more of a one to two week tryout for Blaine Boyer. I would still try to get Boyer to accept the minor league assignment before getting Izzy to remain in extended, but if either one works it allows the Mets to get a little 2-for-1 for at least a couple weeks.
It is going to be interested to see how this plays out over the next couple of days. Stay tuned.
Brad Emaus to be the Starting Second Baseman?
Posted by: | CommentsAndy McCullough of NJ.com believes that, Rule V draft pick, Brad Emaus is now the front runner to win the starting job for opening day.
2011 starting 2nd baseman? (Michael G. Barron)
Yet effort alone could not save Castillo, once his speed evaporated and a malignant perception enveloped him. The Mets see potential in Emaus, a 24-year-old Rule 5 pick from Toronto who has emerged as the favorite to play second base on Opening Day in less than two weeks.
While the piece in particular appears to be pure speculation the buzz surrounding the Mets second base job is moving away from Luis Hernandez and back to Emaus. In the article McCullough points out all the things I have been saying about why Emaus will win the job come April.
The other candidates are not very well suited to win the job each having a bigger glaring hole than Emaus. Daniel Murphy has his defense, Justin Turner has options, and Hernandez just isn’t very good at anything except defense. Then there is the most overlooked factor in my opinion that Emaus is the atypical “moneyball” player which is everything Sandy Alderson preaches.
The smartest baseball and business decision would be to use Emaus because if Emaus is not used he will have to be returned to the Blue Jays as part of the rules for the Rule V draft. Hernandez will all but surely clear waivers so if Emaus wins the job the Mets will have Emaus and Murphy on the big league club with Hernandez and Turner in the minors in case those two struggle, however, if Emaus is returned there will only be one option left down in the minors. Depth is something that can not be overlooked in the MLB.
Adam Rubin also predicted Emaus to win the starting second base job.
A Look at Possible Rotation Trade Candidates
Posted by: | Comments
1. Cliff Lee – Lee is by far the best pitcher in the group and having a fantastic season. He had a late start to his season because of an injury, but he is already 5-3 on a really bad team with a 2.55 ERA. The most staggering thing about Lee’s season so far is his K/BB statistic. Right now it sits 16.75. The next person on the list is Roy Halladay with a 6.13. Lee is on base to shatter the MLB record because frankly he just isn’t walking anyone. He has walked just 4 batters all season, which is good for a .46 BB/9. Lee is just doing everything you can ask of an ace pitcher. Winning games, giving up no runs, no hits, walking no one, striking guys out, and pitching deep into games. Right now he is averaging nearly 8 innings per start and already has 3 complete games in 10 starts.
The problem with Lee pitching so well is that it is going to cost a lot to get him. The Mariners don’t have to Lee because they will get 2 draft picks when he leaves via free agency. The one thing going for the Mets is that the Mariners were asking for bats in return so the Mets can still keep Jenrry Mejia. With Fernando Martinez just coming back from his injury two weeks ago it was perfect timing for the M’s to get a good look at him. The other main prospect being thrown around in talks is Wilson Ramos of the Twins. The Mariners are in need of a catcher, but F-Mart is certain;y the better prospect and the Mariners outfield isn’t too great either so he could surely help them up.
I understand the Mets have been reluctant to trade F-Mart in the past, but if there was ever the perfect opportunity to trade him this would be it. Martinez is highly unlikely to match Lee’s success in the majors and Lee is going to put the Mets over the top. Going into a playoff race with a rotation of Cliff Lee-Mike Pelfrey-Johan Santana is just devastating and will dramatically increase the Mets’s chances of getting to the ship.
2. Fausto Carmona – I really like Carmona and actually traded for him last season in my dynasty league (I am the Mets in the league). He reminds me a lot of Big Pelf. Both of them rely heavily on their sinkers that have similar velocity and get similar horizontal and vertical movement, each of them complements their fastball with a nice slider, and change up. The only difference is Pelf’s change up is now a split-fingered fastball while Carmona uses a more traditional change. It is interesting to note when Carmona had his best season in 2007 was the last time he threw a splitter regularly so it would be interesting if the Mets acquire him if they have him go back to throwing the split.
The problem with Carmona is that he is signed cheaply for a couple years so he is going to cost a pretty penny. I am not sure what the Indians would be looking for in return, but if it Jenrry Mejia I would balk at their asking price. This is a case where I would consider trading Fernando Martinez, but I would never be able to sell myself 100% on the idea.
3. Jeremy Guthrie - Guthrie is a very sticky situation. He is a solid middle rotation who will be under control until 2012, but the O’s are going to be looking for a return on a #2 type of pitcher. I like Guthrie and like Carmona traded for him in my dynasty league. His stuff is likely to play better in the National League and Citi Field where his fly balls aren’t going to carry out as much as they do at Camden. If he can be had for a reasonable price without having to give up any top notch prospects I am all for, but something tells me the O’s are going to want someone like Wilmer Flores for him and I just don’t think it would be smart for the Mets to do something like that.
4. Ben Sheets – I have always been a huge Ben Sheets fan and when the A’s signed him in the off season you know the only thing Billy Beane had in mind was to have Sheets show he was healthy so he could trade him for a couple of prospects. Sheets is having an okay season. He is 2-7 with a 4.95 ERA, but almost all his other numbers are on par with his career numbers. He is actually getting more ground balls than usual, the problem has been his control. He is walking way more batters than usual all the way up to a 3.81 BB/9 compared to his career average of 2.08. Part of the reason for the high ERA is the amount of home runs he has given up. His HR/FB percentage is all the way up to 12% since moving to the AL in Oakland compared to 7.7% over his last 3 years. I think a moved back to the NL could certainly help his numbers and like with Guthrie playing in Citi Field would definitely help his home run rate. I would really like if the Mets got Sheets because when he is on he is one of the best pitchers in the game and would certainly cost less than someone like Lee.
Dontrelle Willis to be Released?
Posted by: | CommentsEd Ryan at Mets Fever speculates that former Florida Marlin superstar Dontrelle Willis could be released by the Tigers after this spring. Ryan believes that if the Tigers do indeed end up releasing Willis for salary reasons even though he is finally finding some success in spring training (1-0 0.90) then the Mets will swoop in and sign him to a minor league deal as a reclamation project.
The old saying goes “you can never have too much pitching”, but I still don’t see a D-Train in New York even if it is on a minor league deal. The Mets have an 
abundance of starters right now just like Dontrelle. There is Jon Niese and Fernando Nieve competing for the #5 spot on the Mets rotation. New comer Hisanori Takahashi turning heads and then there is Nelson Figueroa and Tobi Stoner. And I would probably take all 5 if not definitely at least 4 of them over D-Train.
The only way the Mets need to bring in a starting pitcher is if he is an established #3 or better. Plus despite the gaudy ERA D-Train’s command has been a bit erratic with 5 walks and 2 hit batsmen in just 10 innings. Sorry we already have enough erratic lefties with past success on this team(I’m looking at you Oliver Perez). Let’s take a pass on this one.
Mets Seek Relievers
Posted by: | CommentsThe Mets are currently being linked to a couple relivers including Fernando Rodney, Matt Capps, and Japanese import 
Ryota Igarashi. The one thing all of these relievers have in common is that they all bring the cheese. Rodney averages 95 mph on his fastball, Capps 94 mph, and its been said Igarashi sits 93-96 mph with a hard splitter in the high 80′s and has hit 90 mph (not sure if that is accurate though).
As it stands now the Mets probably have no shit with Capps as he is coveted by pretty much the whole MLB and he will probably be able to find a role closing. The Mets seem like the most likely suitor to get Rodney as of now, but the Mets official site is reporting that the Mets are on the verge of signing Igarashi to a two year deal. The deal is supposed to be worth about $2.5 million dollars. Igarashi should be able to take over the spot of J.J. Putz and serve as the Mets set-up man.
Mets Make Offers for Bay and Molina
Posted by: | CommentsDespite previous reports that the Mets were not interested in signing Jason Bay it has been reported by Jon Heyman that the Mets have offered him a 4 year $65 million dollar contract. If this is an accurate offer it is only $5 million dollars more than the contract Bay rejected from the BoSox a while ago. Since he has stated he loves it is Boston and would like to return I do not really see $5 million moe changing his mind. With his annual salary of at least $17 million for Bay I do not think there would be enough money left for the Mets to also sign John Lackey. If the Mets are going to be investing that kind of money I would want it to be in either Lackey or Matt Holliday. Even though Bay is a really nice hitter, Holliday is a special kind of hitter and younger. Either that or spend the money and get both Bay and Lackey, which would be beastly.
Adam Rubin reports that the Mets will also offer a deal to Bengie Molina. It was a matter of time before this happens, but I was still trying to hold out hope that they would get Dioner Navarro.
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