Archive for Free Agent Signing
Mets Give Jose Garcia Sandwich-Round Money
Posted by: | CommentsOn July 2nd, International Signing Day, it was reported the Mets had signed 16-year-old switch hitting catcher Jose Garcia. Today there is a little bit of an update. While the terms of the contract were not immediately available Baseball America had an update that the Mets gave him “sandwich-round” money. That means it is the upper six figures around $700-$900k.
Baseball America had Garcia ranked as the 24th best prospect available and said talked about him as a terrific defensive catcher.
He’s good mechanically behind the plate, with good hands and a solid arm that plays up because of his quick release. He gets high marks for the catching intangibles that scouts and managers like to see.
The offensive skills are supposed to be lacking a bit, but at 16 there is still plenty of time for that to come around. This organization needed a shot in the arm in the catching prospect department so this is very good news.
Mets Sign Jason Botts
Posted by: | Comments[tweeted]http://twitter.com/AdamRubinESPN/status/71328193470136320[/tweeted]
Botts is now 30-years-old, but some years ago he was considered a pretty top prospect for the Texas Rangers. He was well known for his power and patience, but had some significant holes in his swing that got exploited in the Major Leagues and resulted in a low batting average and high strikeout numbers.
In a perfect world he won’t see the majors, but with all the injuries that have surrounded the team you just never know so the depth can’t hurt. Understanding that he was facing much worse competition Botts cut down big time on his strikeouts during his time in the Independent League. Small chance he just matured with age and moved himself from a AAAA player to a bench player.
Mets Sign Luis Mateo
Posted by: | CommentsBaseball America first reported that the New York Mets have signed 21-year-old international free agent Luis Mateo from the Dominican Republic.
This is the third time Mateo has agreed to a contract with a Major League team.
First he agreed to a contract with the Giants in July 2008, but it was voided because of bone chips in his right elbow and then again in November 2008 after he agreed to a contract with the San Diego Padres when the MLB found out Mateo lied about his age and he was really a 1990 and not a 1992. He was suspended for a year because of this.
Mateo is a big, strong kid who sits in the low-to-mid 90′s with his fastball and compliments it with a slider and changeup.
Paul DePodesta seems to be the key to all this. He was all but certainly the cause for this signing, presumably first signing Mateo as a member of the Padres and now again with the Mets.
At 21 Mateo is older than the typical IFA, but he is still equivalent to a college junior who will be drafted in June so the Mets are getting a 3rd round college pitcher without having to use any draft picks. Can’t complain about this I just hope Mateo isn’t too raw having to pitch in the Columbian winter league, which is not a very high level of competition.
Mets Sign Izzy to Minor League Deal
Posted by: | CommentsOver a decade after last pitching for the team the Mets have signed RHP Jason Isringhausen to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Yesterday it was announced the Mets were going to give Izzy a tryout. One would guess he did not look to bad this morning prompting the Mets to give him a chance to make the bullpen.
Izzy is the last remaining member of “Generation K”, it would be a feel good story of Isringhausen could make a comeback with the Mets. While it would be nice if he could contribute to the team it is probably a longshot because of the health of his injury.
Isringhausen last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Rays when he pitched in just 8 innings struggling with his command yet posting a 2.25 ERA before going down with torn ligament in his pitching elbow. In 2010 he pitched in AAA for the Reds with a 9.53 ERA in 5.2 innings. He walked 7 batters and struck out 5.
Angel Pagan Agrees to 1-Year Deal
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After filling for arbitration the New York Mets and Angel Pagan avoided that situation by agreeing to a 1-year $3.5 million dollar contract. Pagan had requested $4.2 million in arbitration while the Mets were asking for $3 million dollars. Pagan is still under team control through 2012.
After posting a breakout season in 2010 with a stat line of .290/.340/.425 and a 4.9 WAR, Bill James has Pagan projected to hit .289/.340/.425 an almost identical line. Even if Pagan posts the same line with no improvement he will be worth every penny of this contract plus more thanks to his defensive value. The one thing to be watch with Pagan is the injury with and this season with prove a big step toward seeing if he can put back-to-back healthy seasons.
R.A. Dickey Signs 2-Year Extension
Posted by: | Comments[tweeted]http://twitter.com/SurfingTheMets/status/31371749660565505[/tweeted]
The New York Mets and starting pitcher R.A. Dickey avoided arbitration by coming to an agreement today on a 2-year deal that will pay Dickey $3.75 million per year with a club option for 2013.
Dickey had been asking for $4.7 million in arbitration while the Mets were offering $3.35. These numbers are a big increase from the $600k base salary Dickey earned last season. Last year Dickey went 11-9 with a 2.84 ERA in 27 games while throwing 174.1 innings with a 104/42 K/BB.
…I’m a huge Dickey fan. Knuckballers are a rare breed and take a while to develop their craft and it appears Dickey has done just that. When you combine his AAA and MLB numbers from last year he has a 2.68 ERA in 235 innings. That is a true workhorse. When you listen to him in interviews you can tell he is just a great guy and can’t help but cheer for him. The interviews also give me a sense of why he is doing so well that he has finally matured mentally as a player and knows what he can do well and we he can’t…
Mets Sign Juan Urbina for $1 Mill
Posted by: | CommentsBaseball Prospectus has reported that the New York Mets have signed left handed pitcher Juan Urbina to a igning bonus in the range of $1 million dollars.
It’s been confirmed to me that the Mets have signed Venezuelan LHP Juan Urbina, son of former big leaguer Ugueth Urbina. I have also confirmed that the bonus is for over $1 million. I’ll try to track down the specific amount. Sources also indicate this will be the only Mets signing today.
And boy Kiley McDaniel was right about everything. The Mets have signed him and the did not sign anybody else on the July 2nd signing date. They are still linked to a couple high priced shortstops like Jairo Kelly, but have not signed anybody else.
Urbina has a fastball that sits at 88-89 but reaches 91 to go along with an advanced curveball for his age. This helps bolster the Mets left handers inj the sytem, which is a pretty slim area with only Jon Niese, Robert Carson, Eric Niesen, and Darin Gorski as serious prospects in that area. I really like that Urbina has a solid fastball, good curve, and pitchability. Pitchability is my favorite tool he has as it i the hardest thing to teach someone and can take years to develop, but to have it at such a young age is just great.
Sorry for posting this so late like I said I moved to a paid host which took some time and then my computer broke. Not good.
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