- Jon Heyman reports the Mets have expressed interest in 3b/OF/2b Chone Figgins. I have been told by “someone” that the Mets specifically asked Figgins if he is willing to move back to 2b
- This brings us to Luis Castillo. According to Phil Rogers of  the Chicago Tribune the Cubs have serious interest in Luis Castillo and he put together a 3 way deal where the Mets get 2 of Mike Fontenot, Chris Davis and Brandon McCarthy.
- “Sources” tell me that the Mets CURRENTLY feel like Holliday will remain in St. Louis
- The Mets have expressed interest in Randy Wolf and Joel Piniero (Jon Heyman-cnnsi.com)
- The Mets have discussed Chris Snyder for Luis Castillo (Joel Sherman-NYPOST)
53 comments
CaseStreet
11/11/2009-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not so sure about Figgins anymore. Wouldn’t Polanco be cheaper and play a better 2B?
I like a one year deal w/ Cameron or Winn in LF. Then Crawford is a FA next year or perhaps F-Mart or Pagan are finally able to be regular players.
Re: Castillo, the Overbay deal sounds really good, if true. However, getting a couple of prospects won’t hurt and Murph isn’t horrible at 1B, as long as he continues his 2nd half improvement.
That just leaves pitching. Lackey or Wolf and Pineiro/Penny?
wannybackstra
11/11/2009-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
I’d take chances on Chris Davis and Brandon McCarthy for Castillo in a heartbeat.
Figgins seems to me to be the riskiest of the free agents in that his game relies almost solely on his speed and he’s on the wrong side of 30.
fongy2
11/11/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
Both you guys stole my thunder!
I obviously agree completely
with both of you.
I’d take anything however,
and I mean ANYTHING to move
Castillo.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
Excellent stuff, metro. I had missed that Phil Rogers thing entirely. Based on the other players I’m guessing the third team is Texas?
As far as Cameron in LF as Case mentions above, while I LOVE the idea for the combination of defense and power he would offer, I have read that Cameron wants to play CF. I can’t blame him for not wanting to risk another massive collision with Beltran.
I also love the idea of Winn in Citi’s LF, but it seemingly requires a power addition elsewhere.
fongy2
11/11/2009-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Agree w/Cameron despite the age
BUT mes think Winn is about done as any sort of a productive player.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Hard to argue with your thoughts on Winn given that he’s 35 and coming off a down year offensively, but after watching the LF debacle at Citi last year it would be nice to see someone saving runs out there instead of giving them up.
My perpetual nightmare of the 2009 Met season includes an awful lot of LF mayhem. Which is why I am not high on Dye, despite the power potential.
wannybackstra
11/11/2009-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
Winn took a big step back offensively this season: 262 .318 .353 compared to .306 .363 .426 the season before. He also hit 300 .353 .445 in ’07.
He still plays fantastic defense and I’m inclined to believe he still has something resembling 2007-2008 left in him. I have always really liked his all around game but at this point I’d prefer him for the 4th outfielder role, especially if someone will buy high on Pagan.
CaseStreet
11/11/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
It’s very strange cuz winn was consistently solid until this year
wannybackstra
11/11/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
The negative with Chris Davis is that he really hasn’t a clue about the strike zone and struggles to make contact.
But the guy is just 23 and has prodigious power. He is the exact type of guy you take a chance on. He played only two full seasons in the minors (.306 .366 .585) before being rushed to the big leagues. .585 is slugging is serious business.
He struggled mightily to begin last season and finished at 238 .284 .442. But he has also had success in the big leagues: 285 .331 .549 in 300 at bats in 2008. And last season he finished strongly after returning from AAA: .308 .338 .496.
Also, impressively he has no home/away split at all (a potential issue playing in homer happy texas).
This deal can’t be on the table. In my mind it is too good to be true. Shedding Castillo and picking up two high ceiling young players?
CaseStreet
11/11/2009-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Davis was one of my sleeper picks I’d take him in a heartbeat
wannybackstra
11/11/2009-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
ESPN’s Rumor Mill indicates that the Mets also expressed interest in Rick Ankiel during their meeting with Scott Boras.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Ankiel was on my list of guys the Mets could acquire to add power while not costing Holliday/Bay money and years. But he brings up the same question as with Winn: what happened to him last year? At least he’s not 35.
wannybackstra
11/11/2009-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
I think, but I am uncertain, that he was dealing with several injuries.
Ankiel is another that falls into the 4th outfielder category for me.
dirtysanchez
11/11/2009-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
Man i hope that cubs/castillo thing is true…i assume its not because anyone on the planet would have moved to get that done already…then again its omar…
DNDJohan aka kistics
11/11/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know if you guys have heard this, but Fatcessa has done very interesting interview with Heyman yesterday on hot stove. If I understood Heyman correctly, Mets are basically skeptical on ANY big name FAs. Holliday/Bay are too expensive, weary of Lackey’s arm problems (which Yanks do not see), possible on Halladay but it’s a matter of Mets wanting to give up talents, etc etc.
Heyman/Fatcessa has very strong opinion on the Mets that Mets cannot come back with the same team next year with minor tweaks and “we are healthy now” mentality. Mets need to get big names if not for PR move, but to actually compete with the Marlins, Bravos and Phillies. Heyman said that some experts see the Mets as the 4th place team in the division.
I agree with most of their points. If the Mets come back next year as “we are healthy” team with Piniero and Cameron as their solution, I think they’ll lose a lot of casual fans/corporates to the Yankees. Hence less revenue. IMO ideal move is to get a co-ace or #2 in Halladay or Lackey and then get Holliday/AGonz for offensive help. And then Omar can make minor tweaks like trading for a catcher and platoon for Murphy. BUT their first priority (both PR stand point and winning stand point) Mets need to get big name guys. They have the money to do it and resources to do it. Trade for Holladay and sign Holliday OR Trade for AGonz and sign Lackey. Sitting on their butts and hoping some one will fall on their laps will not be acceptable.
DNDJohan aka kistics
11/11/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s the link if you want to listen to the segment.
http://www.wfan.com/pages/744503.php
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
I think it’s very dangerous if a GM is putting strong consideration into PR when contemplating moves. A good GM will do what’s best for the team, not what makes headlines. My problem is that even I realize Omar is not a good GM, and he has pretty much been put on notice that he may lose his job at the end of the season.
I think if a player fits on the team as an improvement AND makes a big splash that’s a bonus, but it’s shouldn’t be a priority. For example, I believe strongly that the team needs a bonafide front of the rotation starting pitcher. That will probably be a sexy name by default.
But there are lots of “good” baseball players out there that are not superstar sexy names. My opinion is that Omar has a firm grasp on who superstars are and does a good job of acquiring them. One area where he fails is in identifying and securing “good” players. This offseason, given the team’s payroll and the ownerships unyielding respect for the luxury tax threshold, is an excellent time for Omar to start collecting “good” players, not necessarily stars and sexy names.
Any fan that may be lost to the Yankees due to the lack of a “big splash” I bid good riddance to, they’re not true fans anyway.
DNDJohan aka kistics
11/11/2009-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not indicating that Omar should make a move to just to splash a headline. But getting guys like Halladay or Lackey WILL help the team in big ways. It really sounds like the Mets organization does not even want to pursue these guys to begin with. That’s what I find unacceptable.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
OK, thank you for elaborating.
My diatribe was a criticism of Heyman/Francesa’s “if not for a PR move.” “If not?” That sounds like a suggestion that in general a GM should consider a move strictly for PR, but hey if he’s not considering a move for that well then maybe he should do it for the good of the team.
I was railing against that perceived suggestion from them, not shooting you the messenger. I agree with you in finding it unacceptable that the organization will just pass on the top tier. I hope they are simply trying to publicly appear less interested for negotiation purposes.
gategem
11/12/2009-2:08am at 2:08 am (UTC -4)
No matter what the team does it will keep its core or “true fans.†Unfortunately the loss of the bandwagon fans and corporations will cause a significant drop in incoming revenue. Recall it wasn’t very long ago when Shea had more seats disguised as people than people in the stands and we haven’t even discussed the loss of the off the field sources of revenue. I’m not sure how many people would welcome the return of the $80 million dollar payroll and the second division finishes. Whether we like it or not it is part of the entertainment business and sometimes moves have to be made solely to improve public relations. Keeping the team on the back pages while putting out a winning product is necessary in a town where there is considerable competition for the entertainment dollar. But as the Yankees have found when you are successful here the financial opportunities are almost limitless.
stickguy
11/11/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
well, again, I don’t think the mets need “big names”. what they need is “more talent” or at least healthier talent!
Chris davis? For Luis? I can swing by Arlington on my way to the market and pick him up if you need me to…
Figgins will be a bust for someone if he ends up at 3/30+. Palanco for 1 year? That’s more like it. Or Lopez, the wild and crazy guy.
Just move Luis, then you can have a lot of dominos in play.
I can also see the Mets fear of the big ticket free agents. And really, that is just 3 guys (lackey, holliday, bay), right? With guys like Figgins residing at a layer below them?
All of the “big 3″ have merit, but all carry some risk or flaws, and at the propsoed prices, you are taking on a lot of risk with the contract.
Lackey at 3/45? Sure. 5/85? maybe not so sure. Ditto for holliday at 7/115.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
Dave Lennon on 1050, when asked “how short is the leash on Omar and Jerry?”
Answer: “Short. Does that make the point? If the team has a poor first month there could be changes.”
Anyone who is interested on 1050 they seem to be concentrating on Mets talk this afternoon.
http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/1050espnradio/
CaseStreet
11/11/2009-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t wait till nov 30 when the yanks can sign holliday and lackey
Kingman 26
11/11/2009-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
- “Sources†tell me that the Mets CURRENTLY feel like Holliday will remain in St. Louis
Yeah, Wainwright’s public comments are my source on that too…..
metro
11/11/2009-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t be a douchebag. I speak to writers personally and people on another site (NYFS) know for a FACT that I have legit connections with writers. If your going to be a jackass just ignore what I write.
metro
11/11/2009-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
I’m pretty close to deciding not to write for this site anymore. It’s one thing to question things but to be suck a craphead, I don’t think I want to dispense anything I hear on here anymore.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
Metro I hope you won’t let the opinions of one person drive you away.
metro
11/11/2009-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
All I’m saying is. I would NEVER make up something I didn’t hear from somebody who I respect. I openly speak to a few known writers and am friendly with a few as well (Kevin Goldstein of BP was the one who told me we had in fact signed Beltran) before anybody else reported it. I have a relationship with a known writer that eventually people may figure out but I can’t be giving names on things that aren’t going to put used in their columns or articles because they are PAID for these things. We have off the cuff conversations if the writers felt like I were using their names in things I write (in things that they didn’t publish themselves) they would likely stop talking to me. I bother a few of these guys daily and they give me what they are hearing. Will any or all of it come true? Who the hell knows.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-7:51pm at 7:51 pm (UTC -4)
And I appreciate the contributions. The stuff you posted today fostered some good conversations.
Like you said about Kingman, I also know nothing about you and that’s why I didn’t say anything in your defense in response to his mockery. I figured I have no firm idea either way so why get involved.
But please be assured that thinking you just make stuff up is not a majority opinion.
I’ve never met any of my fellow authors personally, and I don’t always agree with all of them, and sometimes we get into heated arguments with each other that can be pretty childish, but I assign that to the fact that we are kind of a family of brothers in Met fandom if that makes any sense, and sometimes brothers treat each other like crap.
But the bottom line is their common bond keeps them together, and I hope you’ll stick around brother Met fan.
metro
11/11/2009-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t put writers names to every rumor I hear because they get PAID for what they write for their papers and websites. If they knew I were putting their names to rumors they wouldn’t talk to me but I guess Kingman the genius thinks he’s so cute accusing me of lying when he knows literally NOTHING about me.
Kingman 26
11/11/2009-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
Chill out man. I didn’t accuse you of lying.
I’ve gotten tons of grief for things I have posted and for comments I have made about posts.
Impressive use of profanity though.
What does what you wrote above–â€but to be s*ck a f*ckheadâ€â€“mean?
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-8:04pm at 8:04 pm (UTC -4)
The interesting dynamic between you two makes a lot of sense.
Dave Kingman detested reporters and you’re named for him. Seems to me like you’re simply staying in character.
Kingman 26
11/11/2009-8:17pm at 8:17 pm (UTC -4)
Trust me, I am a nicer guy than Dave Kingman, and I often wish I had chosen a different name….I chose it with about 2 seconds of thought a couple of years ago when I needed a name because I had to post something on Metsblog that was really funny. I should have kept Brock Landers as my name.
Anyway, I just think the whole rumor mill is funny, and if people enjoy these things, I will definitely stop commenting on Metro’s rumors, as I do not want to chase him away.
Just seemed kind of funny to see the Holliday thing, when Wainwright’s comments have been all over the place.
I never accused him of lying, I just find humor in the rumors.
metro
11/11/2009-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
Id prefer you still commented as you are frequent poster on this site but the way you phrased your response regarding the Holliday stuff implying I concocted the fact I spoke to a writer and was going based on Wainwrights public statements surely felt like an accusation how else would someone take it?
“Kingman 26 says:
Wednesday, November 11 2009 at 4:09 pm (Edit)
- “Sources†tell me that the Mets CURRENTLY feel like Holliday will remain in St. Louis
Yeah, Wainwright’s public comments are my source on that too…..”
Kingman 26
11/11/2009-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
I swear, that is NOT how I meant it.
Yes, I was perhaps being a tad obnoxious, but what I was being rude about was just the idea that the Mets feeling Holliday would remain in St Louis was really something we would need sources to tell us, i.e., I would think we all might have seen it somewhere, probably the same places your sources might have seen it.
I really was not at all doubting that you spoke to someone who told you that; I was just doubting the secrecy or newsworthiness of it.
Kingman 26
11/11/2009-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously, my comments are all really aimed at mocking the writers/TV folk who, in my opinion, often dramatically exaggerate if not downright make things up.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-8:33pm at 8:33 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you for elaborating. I was pretty sure you weren’t doing it just to do it and you’ve confirmed that for me. I appreciate that.
As far as the names go, while mine is fairly unique and easy to remember, I am not unaware that Hebner hated being a Met and got out as soon as he could. So there is a certain amount of irony in the choice.
You may have already read what I commented to Metro in here about the “brotherhood” so I won’t repeat it, I’ll just say I have good days and bad days in dealing with it. Usually when I’m having a bad day I go off on Fongy for saying something that on one of my good days would just roll right by. But we manage to co-exist nonetheless.
Like former Met GM Lou Gorman once said, “the sun will rise, the sun will set, and I’ll have lunch.”
Kingman 26
11/11/2009-8:48pm at 8:48 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I do agree and I have my good and obnoxious days on here. And while Fong and I disagree about things sometimes, he is one of my favorites on here.
And I still feel a tad guilty for overreacting when you were eloquently questioning my obsession with the need for more Met history festooned all over Citi Field.
And I am a bit sensitive lately I suppose after taking a LARGE share of grief for my stated preference for a Phil win over the Yanks. Sure glad the WS is over…
Let’s go Nets? Yikes.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-8:53pm at 8:53 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man I forgot all about that Citi Field history thing…until you JUST REMINDED ME!!!
I’m a Knick fan but to salvage this I will say Buck Williams is one of my all-time favorite NBA players. I absolutely loved the way he played the game. I watched the Nets during his day just to see him. Dawkins, Gminski, Michael Ray, good times man.
metro
11/11/2009-7:44pm at 7:44 pm (UTC -4)
UPDATE:
[quote]– The potential for acquiring New York Mets’ second baseman Luis Castillo (two years, $12 million left on his contract) might be a matter of how the winds change in New York on a daily or weekly basis – as in, whether the Mets ultimately decide they’re adding or subtracting payroll this winter, which was anything but certain as the meetings closed. Either way, the Mets want no part of acquiring Bradley, so the only way a Castillo deal would involve Bradley is if it included a third team, either as a contingent partner in two separate deals or a bona fide three-team deal.[/quote]
http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2009/11/cubs_consider_gm_meetings_prod.html
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
I am certainly glad to read that the Mets want no part of Bradley, because I don’t want them to have any part of Bradley either. I can take or leave Castillo but I’m not interested in sending him away for the reasonable potential of having things with Bradley go really wrong.
trs86
11/11/2009-8:55pm at 8:55 pm (UTC -4)
Man I leave the blog for 5 minutes and all hell breaks loose. LOL.
Kingman give Metro a chance.
Metro you are going to have to be able to substantiate your connections in some way. I am sure you are familiar with the blog atmosphere (where many people pretend to be something they are not). You were picked for a writer here for a reason and I trust everything you put out is on the up and up. However, not all of the readers or commenters on this site know anything about you or why you would have any more connections than the rest of us.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
Sometimes I pretend to be Lili von Shtupp.
“Who can satisfy their wustful habits? I’m not a wabbit, I need some west.”
Mr North Jersey
11/11/2009-9:17pm at 9:17 pm (UTC -4)
Look Metro your posts are very good opinion pieces that I’m sure everyone will agree has been great to have on TRDMB but having said that you also should understand that as far as the blogosphere goes when you start quoting unnamed sources that are writers in your posts that say things that in no way can ever be proven.
You open yourself up to people that read you wondering are you making this stuff up.
I recommend write stuff that is your opinion and only quote people that will allow you to quote them.
If you continue quoting unnamed sources especially to private conversations that can never be proven you are opening up what can eventually become a can of worms.
Like TRS said “not all of the readers or commenters on this site know anything about you or why you would have any more connections than the rest of us”.
trs86
11/11/2009-9:22pm at 9:22 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly, I know his background and he was a great steal for the site. But other than Dirty and I pretty much no one else has any clue even his background. Maybe that is partially our fault for not getting background post out.
But as to the idea of not writing for here, I hope that is not the case. I like what he brings and he is an incredible contribution. However, on here you have to be able to back up what you say and be very thick skinned. If not Wanny and Fongy (and all of us) will eat you for breakfast. I say this from many cases of past experiences.
Mr North Jersey
11/11/2009-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
I think “you have to be able to back up what you say and be very thick skinned” should be branded into every TRDMB Author.
LoL
No, but seriously someone get the branding iron.
trs86
11/11/2009-9:28pm at 9:28 pm (UTC -4)
But you know that is the way I want it. That is the way the original Metsblog was. My first couple of years there I learned more about baseball, the Mets, blogging, and debating than in all my years previous.
Mr North Jersey
11/11/2009-9:36pm at 9:36 pm (UTC -4)
DEBATING?
I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to debating MC had nothing to do with that. That is in your D.N.A. You can’t debate enough.
I never met someone that loves to debate more than you.
LoL you can be downright scary at times. LoL
trs86
11/11/2009-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, keeps me from arguing with my wife.
But you are right MC had nothing to do with it. I was the GREAT posters who were on there. Most of them were driven away after the 2007 debacle.
GravediggerHebner
11/11/2009-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
I think you mean “It was,” not “I was” Dr. Freud.
gategem
11/12/2009-2:28am at 2:28 am (UTC -4)
You should change the name of this thread to “Dirty Laundry or What Goes On In The Board Room.†LOL
metro
11/11/2009-10:12pm at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
That fangraphs article says Holliday will get 10-15% less than Teixiera? So 150-160 million? I’d be stunned.
stickguy
11/11/2009-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
I would be even more stunned at the 8 years!
30 years old, why would anyone consider more than 5 yers? Heck, even the 5 seems to be pushing it.
If nothing else, go the castillo route. You want more years, you get less per.