According to Matt Cerrone and Chris Coste’s hometown paper of Fargo, ND, the Mets have signed Coste to a an apparent one-year deal. This deal does not guarantee him a spot on the major league club, but does put him on the 40-man roster.
From the Forum of Fargo-Morehead:
Coste agreed to terms with the New York Mets today on a contract that guarantees him a spot on the 40-man roster.
Coste said the Mets were the only team to give him that guarantee, although he said it isn’t a given that he’ll be on the opening-day roster.
“It’s going to be a bit of a gamble,†Coste said. “They have money to spend and they could go out and get a couple more catchers.â€
——————————————————————-
Not a spectacular move, and money was not mentioned. His offense has declined steadily since his surprising rookie year, and he will be 37 on opening day.
Hard to figure this one. Perhaps a deal is in the works with Santos and/or Thole and catching depth is being amassed? Stay tuned.
88 comments
trs86
11/30/2009-8:17pm at 8:17 pm (UTC -4)
Pretty good pickup for a guy on a minor league contract basically. Yes he is old but his career line against LHP is .294 .345 .476 .821 not bad and he does know the Phillies hitters and pitchers quite well. Not a bad guy to have as Santos backup worst case or as your AAA guy replacing Cancel best case.
gipperpdx
11/30/2009-8:38pm at 8:38 pm (UTC -4)
No issue with this one.
CaseStreet
11/30/2009-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
wouldve prefered Bako. On to bigger and better things.
GravediggerHebner
11/30/2009-9:45pm at 9:45 pm (UTC -4)
Assuming this is a contract pretty darn close to the ML minimum, I have no issue with the financial impact, although if I were going to burn half a million dollars I would’ve preferred to burn it on Andruw Jones.
But why tie up a 40 man roster spot prior to the rule 5 draft (hell, why tie one up before the New Year?) for a guy who presumably will be spending lots of quality time in Buffalo, a guy whose skill set is not remarkably better than 10s of other guys who will be available to be signed in the coming months?
The Cora and Coste moves both strike me as unnecessary at this stage of the offseason, unless someone can show me that all the worthwhile backup MIs and all the AAAA catchers are gone. I even scratched my head when the Phillies signed Wilson Valdez. Are the Phillies and Mets seriously concerned that no one with these skill sets at these prices will be available in late December?
Hopefully next week’s winter meetings will bring about more positively consequential signings.
trs86
12/1/2009-7:43am at 7:43 am (UTC -4)
I don’t have a problem with it. Could not imagine there being 4-5 guys in the Rule 5 draft that could make the team AND stay on it all season. I am not really that concerned with 40 man spots right now as long as we leave 2-3 open and I think currently we have a bunch.
prismo
12/1/2009-4:37am at 4:37 am (UTC -4)
Firstly, my apologies to everyone for being MIA for so long. I was on vacation for a week, and subsequently sick. Mostly feeling better today though.
I have to see the terms of this deal before I make a judgment.
trs86
12/1/2009-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
I ask again today as it seems more and more appropriate. Would you consider taking on Wells contract if it brought in Halladay and they took Perez? Wells is only owed 12.5 million for 2010 so his salary would be the same as Perez. The problem is after 2010 as his contract balloons to over 20 million for the following 4 years. IF you consider Perez lost cash then the Jays taking Perez would lessen the cost for Wells to around 5/75 or 15M per. The Jays would still save LOTS of money in the long run and Halladay’s salary for 2010. However, if you are the Jays, is shedding Wells contract worth the loss in prospects? If I were taking on Wells and sending Perez I would not be offering a package of 3-4 top prospects maybe one and some B guys.
Wells has been terrible sense signing the contract but there have been mentions of an injury that Wells says is finally healed.
fongy2
12/1/2009-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think I’d want any part of Wells and think its a mute point anyway.
I have a feeling Hallady will be a Red Sox.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
I am just not so sure. I think they will add a hitter first. Not to mention I still don’t think the Jays WANT to trade him in division and are desperate for the Angels, Dodgers or Mets to get involved.
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
Yeah but Toronto already
said they’d strongly consider trading him within the Division.
I just think no one can offer more than the RedSox
and they should be pretty motivated to improve this off-season.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
I agree that they COULD offer more than anyone else. However, I still think that the Jays are saying that to up the bounty of what is traded. IF they came out and said Yankees and Redsox are not in it because they are in the division the other teams could offer them basically nothing. I will believe that they will trade him in the division when I see it.
I also believe that neither the Yanks nor the RS really want to trade prospects and pay the cash they just don’t want the other team to get him. Very similar to Santana.
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
maybe.
stickguy
12/1/2009-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
I say no. That contract is just too bad a combo of money and lousy player.
Now, if you could comehow guarantee that he would rebound to an .850 OPS with 30 HRs and GG D in LF, then OK. But I am not going to risk that much on him rebounding.
it also screams of a all or nothing shot at 2010, since the payroll by 2011 will be scary. They will be paying at least 65 mill to halladay, johan and wells. Add in beltran and K Rod and you are pushing 100m for 5 guys. Reyes and wright push it to 125.
So, that pretty much wipes out any chance of adding any more talent with more than a minimal salary, so the rest of the team will be murphy, thole, pagan, etc.
Is that enough of a core, considering the real possibility that Wells continues to be dead weight? And of course, the chance that Hallady does what 34 YO pitchers often do (and it isn’t getter better and stronger!)
getting rid of perez is a nice idea, in that it frees up some $ this year, but it does create another hole to fill, which again, costs money, and quite possibly it won’t be given to anyone better than old ollie (for some reason, I am looking for a bounce back year from him).
trs86
12/1/2009-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Depends on what you have to give up. Taking Wells you may be able to hold on to guys like Mejia, Davis, Fmart, Tejada, Niese or at least some of them.
Does trading Perez really create a hole? You would still have Maine, Nieve, Niese…
stickguy
12/1/2009-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
If you want me on board, better add castillo to the outflow!
ANd if they are taking wells back, it better be for a package like Stoner and Tejada (along with Ollie). And I am not sure I want to give up Tejada!
I also think that Wells gets pencilled in to replace Beltran after 2011 for salary relief for the mets (say F Mart or Kirk N. is finally ready and takes over LF.
2011 though would be the wallet buster year, but if you empty the farm in addition to taking on 45m+ in LT deals, you will never fill all the holes.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think you would have to discard Beltran at all. It could be that RF gets filled by the prospect pending on Frenchy. Also if Murphy/Davis are playing 1B and you still have someone to play the extra OF position and Catcher and the fact that some of your other players could be cheaper you could get by.
fongy2
12/1/2009-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
My first thought with the Cora and Coste signings is that the Wilpons
are doing a nice job putting together
a fine coaching staff for Tim Teufel!
I have no problem with either signing though.
I am wondering if the FO feels
they pretty much already have their
Catching combo for 2010 in Santos
and Thole, which I also don’t have
a problem with.
If nothing else, Cora and especially Coste are easy guys to cheer for.
trs86
12/1/2009-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
I figured you would like them. They are good clubhouse guys. LOL. I like the signings too but it was funny when one reporter said Cora was getting paid .05 for baseball and 1.95M for being a good guy.
As for the catching situation I would not read ANYTHING into this signing. Cancel is gone as far as I know so they need someone to play AAA or worst case be the backup for a while to give Thole more time.
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
I do disagree with any of this.
I do think though as far the the Clubhouse in concerned,Omar may want to think about signing an everyday
player whos a “good-
guy”,not just a couple of guys who
shouldn’t get more than 150ABs on a good
team.
Also with Buffalo from
what I read,ownership was none to happy with
the Mets FO and maybe
they are indeed trying
to make sure The Bisons have enough
guys who don’t mind
playing at AAA while
helping to develop guys coming up from Bingo.
metsfan4decades
12/1/2009-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
I agree with this as well.
There needs to be depth, even if that depth is at the minor league level. We saw what happens when more than half the team goes down and the only thing in the minors is prospects not yet ready and the rest not ML caliber….
I still would have loved F. Lopez but knew that wasn’t happening.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
Well it still could. Lopez could easily take Tatis spot or Castillo’s if traded.
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
Isn’t he a type A FA??
trs86
12/1/2009-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Lopez? Yeah. But it depends on who else we get. Say we get Lackey and Molina (not that I want him) that would mean that Lopez is costing us a 4th round pick.
We better be offering Tatis arbitration. That’s only a 2 million dollar gamble on a chance to get a compensation pick.
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
Agreed.I still don’t understand how Billy Wagner is classified as a type A & Delgado isn’t.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Over values saves AND puts 1B in with OF.
* Group 1: first basemen, outfielders, and designated hitters based on PA, AVG, OBP, HR, RBI)
* Group 2: second basemen, third basemen, and shortstops
* Group 3: catchers
* Group 4: starters
* Group 5: relievers (Total games (total relief appearances + 2 * total starts), IP (weighted slightly less than other categories), Wins + Saves, IP/H ratio, K/BB, ERA)
That is why guys like Darren Oliver end up as a Type A. If I was Oliver I would HATE this system. It basically forces him to play in LA for at most 20% more than his current salary. It’s almost like the franchise tag.
stickguy
12/1/2009-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
still have to see who gets offered arbitration today (deadline is at midnight). Could be interesting.
If nothing else, it should open up the flood gates, especailly for guys that won’t be costing a pick! Unless teams wait a few days for the non-tenders (that’s the end of the week, right?)
trs86
12/1/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
I expect there will be a few small signings this week but most will wait until after the GM meetings and a lot of non tenders will be a the meetings campaigning for jobs.
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Still amazing how that nicely works out to screw us. No?
trs86
12/1/2009-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
Which part? LOL>
fongy2
12/1/2009-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
We let Wags go for a fringe prospect,he gets an “A” tag,
Stick it out through Gado’s injuries,pay him and don’t get the benefit of the “A” tag
once he becomes a FA.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
I would still be terrified that Wagner would have accepted arbitration. 10M gamble would be like offering Delgado arbitration. I don’t think we would or will offer either one.
wannybackstra
12/1/2009-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Coste will make a fine AAA catcher.
trs86
12/1/2009-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. Is it possible that IF they don’t get another guy he could hold the fort until say June and then bring up Thole?
fongy2
12/1/2009-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
Unless of course Thole
comes to spring and does what he did all of last season.
Also, I like carrying 3 Catchers,this way you can actually use
one to PH.
Also, I’m surprised
no one’s mentioned the Wayne Krivsky signing here.
Seems pretty solid, no-brianer type move.
Actually, I’d feel alot better about 2010
and beyond if HE was already the GM and Teufel was already the
MGR.
trs86
12/1/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Krivsky signing is big. I hoped someone would pick it up. I can’t seem to post from work today.
I hate carrying 3 catchers. To me considering that most catchers are not very good hitters it is a waste of a productive bench spot because very rarely do you need that 3rd catcher.
I know you love Thole Fongy but can we at least let him prove himself on the AAA level for a few months before we say he is ready? It’s not just offense, defensively too. Best case maybe Coste can tutor him in AAA for a few months.
fongy2
12/1/2009-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
I think you keep missing the fact that AAA isn’t what it was yrs ago.
More than ever its filled with AAAA/MLB fringe type players. Also,unlike FMart this
kid just tore-up
AA pitching over a full season.
Further,he’s not 20
like FMart and you don’t have to worry much about him being overwhelmed in NYC.
Now if he goes 3for25 in the spring
and doesn’t look good behind the plate,you let him start in Buffalo BUT if
he hits and looks good handling the Pitchers in ST..whats the point of sending him out?
trs86
12/1/2009-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
You know, I did some investigating on that last year Fongy and found that was not as true as what I thought and was more drivel coming down from the Mets FO. I would not base that much on ST either as success there often has no correlation at all with performance during the season.
As I said I know you love him but I just don’t think he is ready. Especially defensively as to me I thought he looked very much below average.
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
I’m more into the ‘don’t rush the guy’ thing, but for the Mets the point could be as simple as repairing a fractured relationship with Buffalo by allowing an actual prospect to spend a couple months there.
There is a real possibility that Buffalo will not renew it’s agreement with the Mets and then the Mets would be working with their 4th different AAA affiliate in the last decade.
A little organizational stability could really help after the Bernazard fiasco.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
This is an extremely interesting and good point…
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
More on this topic below where it’s wider.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
Cool…seems like an excellent topic to be investigated; especially by you!
Maybe the problem is that Buffalo needs to have a lot more pictures and monuments around the stadium memorializing the team’s history??
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
I have never visited Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo so I can’t say one way or the other but my gut feeling would be they have more of a historical presence there.
From the one pic and brief description I’ve seen/read, they have a strong “Coca-Cola” presence due to the corporate sponsorship, they have one of the largest scoreboards in the minor leagues, and atop that scoreboard they have a miniature Buffalo city-scape.
It sounds like a junior Citi-Field in those respects.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Grave buddy, I meant it as a joke in reference to our perhaps biggest disagreement in all of the time we have been here and on Mattsblog together…
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
Understood. The double question marks and smiley face made that clear, but I was already in ‘research mode’ so I thought I’d see what I could find out.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Gotcha…and you or Case in “research mode” make some of my very favorite contributions to this here site of ours….
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
I just got online, as far as writing anything about Krivsky I’m holding off because I have nothing factual. By that I mean I have no idea what his job/role is with the club. All I’ve seen in print is “will now work under Omar Minaya.”
That hardly narrows it down. Doesn’t every employee of the Mets work “under Omar Minaya?”
As far as Thole goes, if I were choosing I’d prefer to start him off at AAA and hope he does so well he forces the Mets to bring him up, rather than start him at ML and risk him doing so poorly that he has to be replaced.
He’s young, it’s widely acknowledged that he’s defensively deficient, and he has spent significant minor league time the last few years NOT catching. I’d just like him to catch a bit more first. IMO the Mets have been guilty of rushing minor leaguers a lot, I’d love to see a more patient approach. Personal choice, nothing more.
trs86
12/1/2009-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Agreed
stickguy
12/1/2009-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
that’s why having guys like santos, coste, lanco handling the catching to start the season makes sense. Cheap, and if/when thole is ready, nothing blocking him.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
No way on Wells…absolutely no way.
Even if he rebounds, he is not worth anything close to 20 mil/per unless every year would be like his ONE excellent year, which was 2003, a long time ago.
He has never equaled any of his key numbers from that year, and for the last three years he has been nothing like what he was in 2003. Mike Cameron is the same player right now, just older.
He has been injured for 3 years? No way.
I want Halladay more than any other available player, but taking Wells on–along with including Johan/Wright/Reyes/Beltran–are the definite deal-breakers for me personally.
Trade anyone else, take on Overbay, but no way on Wells.
Ollie’s contract is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to Wells’ and Ollie might get better. Ollie AND Castillo’s deals don’t come remotely close to covering Wells’ deal.
Overpay for Holliday before taking on Wells.
fongy2
12/1/2009-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
Agreed Brock.
And I just hope that I start to hear the same statements
about FMart that are made about Thole.
Seems to me that for two or three years now most of my
fellow fans have just wanted to give him an OF spot despite
not only still being a teenager but one whos done very little to warrant it.
More than anyone on the farm, FMart,given his age,injury history and overall lack of production needs a full season
playing in the high minors before we should even consider him our LFer of the future. And as for Thole’s D, while my sample of seeing him last yr in AA was small, 5games, he seemed very involved as a Catcher, trying
to control his pitchers and
has a fairly strong arm. I also don’t recall and terrible
flubs with him behind the plate in September. Frankly, all we heard about Scheider for yrs was what a wonderful Defensive Cather he was and watching him daily in a Met uniform,he seemed anything but that.
As I’ve said before,with a limited amout to spend and seeing that its unlikely Omar can move Castillo and/or Ollie
I think it would be wise to address LF and a #2SP behind Johan as well as getting a BP
guy who can be projected to Pitch the 8th before worrying too much about 1B or Catcher.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
I agree, especially about Thole…he looked good at the plate, and has not been catching very long if I am not mistaken. Would hate to see him go, but if it brings in Doc, I will help pack his bags….
fongy2
12/1/2009-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Again, I still have Frankie Viola nightmares.
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
Regarding the whole ‘relationship with Buffalo’ thing, I think the Mets are genuinely trying to heal that. This is from the Buffalo News Inside Pitch column of 11/24, regarding the hiring of Terry Collins:
“—The Buffalo factor: Collins, of course, is revered in Buffalo. Especially by ownership and the front office. I’ve talked to him a few times in the years since he left and he talks about his time here wistfully. It’s widely known he was going to be Bob Rich’s choice as manager if the Herd had gotten a 1993 NL expansion team. You would think he would make sure the Bisons are taken care of the right way (Memo to the Mets: A full roster is a requirement every night in Triple-A).
Now that J.P. Ricciardi is gone in Toronto, an affiliation with the Blue Jays in 2011 is certainly plausible if the Mets flame out here next year. Collins can help bridge the gap between the folks at Citi Field and the folks at Coca-Cola Field. Somehow, I doubt he’d sit by idly if the Triple-A team in his system was 2-17.”
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
The same columnist wrote this on 11/23:
“Here’s hoping the Mets move faster on the minor-league free agent front than they did last winter. Barring injuries (no sure bet in this organization I realize), Oberkfell should have Fernando Martinez and Nick Evans for full seasons. And other hot prospects like C Josh Thole and 1B Ike Davis should be impact players here as well.”
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for this interesting info.
prismo
12/1/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
I have to say, I could not agree more with Joel Sherman (yuck), Jesse Spector, and Ken Davidoff (re:links on MLBTR) about the Cora signing. Wouldn’t mind having Cora on the team, but $2 million is absurd for a 34 year old back-up coming off multiple off-season surgeries. And sure, $2mil doesn’t sound like much – but when you make a few of these low million contracts each offseason to players that you could probably replace with minimum salary guys, it adds up, and can prevent you from signing someone with much more value to the team.
fongy2
12/1/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
Yeah but he brings Heart, Grit
and Baseball Smarts….
Not to mention leadership skills to the team.
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
Fongy you’ve just described an excellent manager.
I agree with you and those columnists Prismo. This signing, at this time and for that amount, doesn’t strike me as smart. I guess it’s too bad Krivsky wasn’t here to prevent it.
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Was just joking homey!
Like I said in my 1st post-Thanksgiving…
err…post,
My 1st thought on the Cora and Coste signings were that they’d make great coaches on Timmy Teufel’s
new Met staff.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Teufel as manager and Backman as bench coach.
They won a title platooning at 2B, and winning one while platooning in the dugout clearly is next!
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, but based on his past, Krivsky might trade him for someone valuable…
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Dont know about that…
He got Arroyo and Phillips in seperate deals for nothing.
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
I read Kong’s comment to suggest that maybe Krivsky could trade Cora away for someone valuable.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
Yes sir, that is what I meant…doubt it will happen, but who knows?
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Good point. I don’t know all his transactions, but the three they list on Wikipedia look like two wins for Krivsky and one in which he received damaged goods.
He got Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena (and I STILL read Met fans suggesting picking up Wily Mo!), and he got Brandon Phillips for a PTBNL.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
The more the chattering blabbermouths like Sherman and Davidoff dislike something, the better we should feel about it.
The Mets spent plenty last year and until we see differently, they can be counted on to spend plenty next year.
Cora is a fine backup, and was just exposed by starting too much last year, as was Tatis.
Far too early to begin the “Omar overpaid!!” chants.
Let’s give the offseason a chance first. It is Dec. 1.
trs86
12/1/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
How much did they overpay him? Would you have been comfortable with 1 million? OK so they overpaid him by 1 million. If you are the Mets and 1 million dollars actually impacts your big decisions then it is hopeless anyway.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
+ 5
trs86
12/1/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously what does this matter? Do we really think they did not sign Abreu last year because they could not afford him? I don’t. Also, so they don’t go out and sign Rob Macowhatever and other fillers.
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Da budget TRS,
Da Budget…
trs86
12/1/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Da budget is flexible as I have already said. Even I think we have 28-32 million to spend to MATCH last year’s payroll. Do you actually think Wilpon has gave Omar a debit card and said that’s all you got buddy.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
And I must also point out that the Wilpons may have MADE money with Madoff, and not lost a cent, let alone billions of cents.
We were the highest spending team in the NL last year and until Halladay, Lackey, Bay, and Holliday are all elsewhere, let’s give Omar a chance. And Krivsky has been responsible for some good deals too, so if he just perches on Omar’s shoulder, we have a pretty good team.
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
They’re also getting a sh*t ton of cash from the taxpayers for the naming rights to CitiField. No?
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
It belies a philosophy which does not include allowing the market to shake itself out. Who were the Mets bidding against? Was Cora the last useful backup MI available? The signing strikes me as premature at best, and at worst unnecessary.
They passed on the potential power and quality OF defense for a position of need in Andruw Jones for $500,000, but gave Cora 4 times that to fill a lesser role with lots of other possibilities available? I understand it’s early, but so far I would’ve been more impressed by abstinence than what they have done.
prismo
12/1/2009-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
This seems like common sense to me, I’m not sure what people are missing. You don’t throw away money…even if it’s just a buck.
trs86
12/1/2009-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps the guy they wanted the most to fill the backup spot was Cora and they slightly overpaid to get him?
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
But we should rest well,as this pretty much confirms that Omar has lost some power.
If not,
it’s likely Cora would have rec’d a 2 or 3 yr deal
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps that’s true, but that doesn’t exactly make me feel better about their judgment.
prismo
12/1/2009-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
But WHY did they overpay him if it wasn’t necessary?
trs86
12/1/2009-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
By how much? How do we know if it was necessary or not? Perhaps sitting on the Mets bench cost more money.
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Hellooo!!..It’s the Jeffy and Omar show!
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
Why do you insist he is overpaid when you have no idea what the market for him might have been?
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Fair question. I look at it the other way: why establish the market?
Omar has shown in some instances that he is willing to let things come to him, such as with Santana.
But with these smaller, more interchangeable (in my opinion) players such as Coste and Cora, why rush in?
stickguy
12/1/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
OK, plan switch of the day. I am back on the keep the farm for another year/get ST pitching help bandwagon.
Was poking around, and saw the harang card being played (some piece about the reds preferring to trade him over Arroyo). I still like Harang, and really want Philips (at the expense of you know who).
So, my current fixation is to marry ST “go for it all now” with building for the future. This means signing a few ST plugs, and keeping the farm, and making sure any younger guys that cost talent are also part of the future.
So, I want the harang/philps deal to go down, then sign Harden for the assumed 1+1 deal. Even with Philips, the salary relief (Mets eat all of it) should require a minimum talent return. Then dump Castillo for whatever the cubs or dodgers will offer (urinal cakes are fine, can never have too many of them).
Not going to cost much more $ in 2010 than Lackey alone, and you fill 2 spots with no exposure past 2010.
Harang has an affordable option for 2011 if he turns out to have regained his stud stuff, and likely a Harden deal would have a team option too.
best case, they both stay healthy and dominate, and you can carry them over to 2011, again with no future commitment. If either one falters, cut them loose.
I know people want guaranteed 220 IP studs, but they don’t exist (and the ones you think will be, cost a fortune). The next best thing can be to accumulate a lot of very talented guys and mix/match when needed.
I would love for the Mets to hae sure things everywhere, but with all the holes (and relatively limited budget) you have to take some gambles. And if they keep the farm intact, this is the year to go for it all.
harang/harden/maine/pelf/ollie for 2-6, with Neise in the wings? I think they can form a very good rotation behind Johan with that crew.
And Philips would be such a huge upgrade over Castillo, it would be worth some extra risk just to get him.
Kingman 26
12/1/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Have you taken a good look at Harang’s numbers the past two years? They are quite nauseating.
I would love Harden, but after we get Halladay or Lackey.
fongy2
12/1/2009-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you on Harang.
I want NO PART of
Harden. C’mon, let’s move away from these
types.
We ain’t the yankees, these things never
work out for us.
GravediggerHebner
12/1/2009-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
I agree that his 2008 was horrible, especially after a May incident in which Dusty Baker used Harang to throw 63 pitches in relief on two days rest after throwing over 100 pitches in a start.
His 2009 peripheral numbers all head back in the right direction, though he didn’t win a lot despite that. His FB velocity came back which was good to see after ‘the May incident,’ his Ks went up, BBs went down, and he’s a flyball pitcher which in Citi with Luis around seems good.
He’s not great but IMO he’s not as bad as the last 2 years have gone. He had appendicitis last year, not a ‘baseball’ injury, so he should be healthy.
stickguy
12/1/2009-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
oh, and might as well sign Cameron for LF (if he is willing) if they aren’t going to get holliday.
I also think it will help the pitching immensely, adding a good defender out there, along with upgrading at 2B.