Another rumor from the most active reporter of the day. This one from Sherman’s Twitter page: “If Burrell goes to #Cubs for MBradley, #Mets consider Castillo-for-Burrell, but r hesitant because of defense/makeup issues with Burrell”
If true, how desperate are the Mets to unload Castillo. We heard from Heyman earlier this weekend that the involvement of the Mets might actually be slowing down the trade. I don’t know if Burrell could be counted on to be Murphy’s 1B partner as well and basically take Sheffield’s spot from last year. I would hope the Mets are not seriously considering him for a full-time LF spot. So would the 3 million saved and the addition of most likely Burrell and Hudson be worth it? I guess it depends on how much Hudson cost.
Update: According to multiple reports the Mets are NOT interested in Burrell and he is NOT on the Mets. Round and round she goes where she stops nobody knows!”
142 comments
prismo
12/7/2009-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
NO THANKS. He’s a terrible fielder (and barely even fielded last season) and hit for an OPS of .682 in ’09.
trs86
12/7/2009-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
Yeah he could be done, but there is a positive. The Mets overall would save 3 million. 3 million that could be used to bring in a better 2B.
metfreak
12/7/2009-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
This is what I mean when I say that some of us Mets fans don’t mind these dumb moves .I would rather keep Castillo and sign Holliday and Lackey We are in NY not KC lets stop with these moves that won’t do much
trs86
12/7/2009-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
I can’t judge any move as dumb until it happens and we see the result of it. Perhaps that 3 million saved is important, I have no idea. Perhaps they plan on flipping Burrell for another player. I have no idea. So again, lets jump off the “some of us Mets fans don’t mind these dumb moves” before the “dumb” move ever happens.
trs86
12/7/2009-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
“While the Yanks,RedSox,and Phillies are linked to big names the Mets are talking about Meche and Burrel .2010 here we come and some fans think this is good moves”
And yet, while I have not said anything about how this would be a good move you continue to spew misinformation about how the Mets are only linked to Meche and Burrell and how suddenly the other teams are only linked to big names.
Who have the Phillies been seriously linked to? Polanco? Schneider? There are just as many rumors are the Yankees are cutting payroll as there are that they are considering big names and the Redsox have had just as many rumors saying they are not in on Holliday, Halladay or Lackey.
Settle down and lets judge these moves when uh… they actually happen.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
“While the Yanks,RedSox,and Phillies are linked to big names the Mets are talking about Meche and Burrel .2010 here we come and some fans think this is good movesâ€
WHY DO ANY OF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVEL LIKE THIS?????????
The Mets are almost certainly NOT talking about Burrell.
trs86
12/7/2009-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
I am sure they are talking about him. The fact that it is not done yet is a good thing. There is no secret that the Mets have been involved with the Cubs looking for a way to dump Castillo.
As I said I will wait until everything comes out before I judge the move to be good or bad. It’s possible that it nets us Navarro somehow too.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
I personally would be infuriated if they trade Castillo for Burrell, even if it means that the legendary Gritty McHudson comes to Citi to sit his overrated rump on the bench for the stretch run and postseason.
So at least a few of us would vehemently mind a moronic move like this, which, like most of what comes out of the mouths of the Heymans of the world, is almost certainly utter nonsense.
trs86
12/7/2009-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
I still say it would depend on the moves that follow. I can’t say that IF the Mets got Gritty McHudson (who you know I am not a big fan of) and Burrell for the same price as 2 years of Castillo that it would be a terrible move. Not saying I want it to happen at all. I just can’t judge the move until we know exactly what happens.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
Honestly, if we got Gritty for 1/3mil, I would be fine with that, but NOT if we had to have Burrell. At his peak, he was streaky, a bad fielder, and according to people I know who follow the Phils, he is a serious bonehead.
If he declined this much playing for TB, and then came to Citi, I think he would be atrocious.
I also think there is zero chance Omar is thinking of Burrell, and I will very gladly admit I am wrong if he becomes a Met. Which he won’t.
trs86
12/7/2009-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
I hope you are right but there is too much buzz around it for it to not be being discussed at least. As I said the only way I would even consider it is if the deal did not cost the Mets more money and if he is not going to be a starter.
prismo
12/7/2009-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
And what do you do with Burrell? He can’t DH in the NL, and I wouldn’t even want him to with the TERRIBLE season he had last year.
trs86
12/7/2009-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, they would have to hope that he would rebound. Not really even sure why he fell apart so quickly to begin with. As I said before I was accused of saying it was a good move, if it’s for anything more than just a bench role and a little 1B it’s a very bad move.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
3 million for which second baseman? A 1-year 3 mil deal for the King of Grit? Joe Morgan? Doug Flynn?
trs86
12/7/2009-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
Gotta remember that Gritty McHudson’s deal last year STARTED at 3M.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
Still, 3 mil for a guy to sit on the bench during crunch time is a lot.
trs86
12/7/2009-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
Yeah I agree, but we can’t look at it in a bubble either. We should, as much as I dislike Hudson, put up what the Tongue’s stats were at that time.
stickguy
12/7/2009-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Well, while last year (the playoff benching) likely didn’t increase his value, he did finally stay healthy-ish.
He also hit his incentives and actually made 8mill. So, he was not a 5 mill player either (well, he was, he just got paid more than that!)
metsfan4decades
12/7/2009-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
What you said…..
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
Does anyone really think Omar is going to trade Castillo for Burrell??
Come on.
prismo
12/7/2009-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
Highly doubt it.
metfreak
12/7/2009-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
You never know
trs86
12/7/2009-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
MAYBE?
I have no idea.
prismo
12/7/2009-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
Sherman (I HATE YOU) says it’s looking less likely that this will happen.
trs86
12/7/2009-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
From Mattsblog
Buzz: Mets trying to trade Castillo, Burrell & Pierre an Option
metsfan4decades
12/7/2009-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
Did you see his new format?
I had to take a look at his ‘personal’ blog articles. One that caught my eye was:
‘It’s all about Credibility, not Rules’……
He’s justifying not worrying about good grammar, etc. as long as the facts are correct.
Okay, dokay……
prismo
12/7/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
“Im just a bloger, i dont neede to follow grammar rulez like a real riter!!1″
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
HAHAHA!!!
metsfan4decades
12/7/2009-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
LOL!
I really need to stop picking on him. As my sainted Grandmother used to say: ‘you’re not being very charitable’…..
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Or, as Matt’s Grandma probably said:
“Your not benig very charitble.”
metsfan4decades
12/7/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Ha! Good one.
trs86
12/7/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, someone also jumped on him that he has basically taken any mention of the other contributors off the site and how their feature will occur later in the month.
I just don’t understand why he has such a large ego. You would think that someone who basically come up from nothing would have a better understanding of that.
prismo
12/7/2009-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
You have to be pretty dense to be a writer for MetsBlog who isn’t named “Matthew Cerrone.” They get paid nothing and get no recognition as writers anywhere on the site. Slave labor!
prismo
12/7/2009-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
And no link to SNY or the other SNY sports blogs. I wonder how much SNY is paying him…they should reconsider.
trs86
12/7/2009-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
Fire this guy before he does anymore damage. From Bill Madden in Sunday’s Daily News…
“Mets? Did somebody say the Mets? They won’t spend the money for Holliday, Bay or Lackey and apparently, they’re only interested in signing low-budget Latin players, having shown little or no interest in Byrd, Figgins, DeRosa, Wolf or even Staten Island’s Jason Marquis, while waiting for their markets to come to them. At the same time, the Phillie sand Braves wasted no time in addressing their needs. Sad.”
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
OK, this is the last comment of this nature I am going to make, as I know many of you enjoy this, but how the hell can you take this seriously?
Madden has a column and a deadline, and he HAS to write something.
His statement is idiotic drivel. Nothing more, and probably actually less.
Now everyone have a great day and may the first sensible thing one of these ridiculous anti-Met parasites writes be the first accurate one!!
trs86
12/7/2009-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
I agree. The Daily made him go in and correct it so perhaps there is a Mets voice standing up against this garbage.
As much as we don’t believe this stuff Kingman there are a lot that do and to me it damages the Mets and there should be some type of repercussions for it.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Agreed 100% and more.
I occasionally, when feeling masochistic, go to the Star-Ledger and Mets.com sites, and the “Omar only signs Latinos” folks live and breed there….it drives me NUTS, and I really hate it, for the racial reasons, and also for the reason that it is totally untrue.
metsfan4decades
12/7/2009-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
+1
trs86
12/7/2009-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Kingman I hope you know I am meaning that Madden should be fired because of this and not Omar. Obviously the Latin bias thing is old, played and proven not to be true many times.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Of course I knew that TRS!
I was not criticizing anyone but Madden, I promise!
I guess we should expect this from a tabloid paper, but I would seriously hope that some folks complain about it; it is just SO old, SO dumb, and SO inaccurate….last year: Redding, JJ, Reed, Green, Sheffield, Francoeur, Sullivan, Misch, Takahashi, Broadway….all non-Latino.
And last I checked, Coste was as white as me.
trs86
12/7/2009-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Damn you’re white.
LOL.
But yeah I am just tired of these media outlets getting by with everything and no one holding them accountable. Who has to hold them accountable are the teams. Print this crap, get no story from us.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
LOL! OK, he is whiter than me…I am from NJ, have some Mediterranean stock in me, and have spent lots of time at the beach, so yeah, Mr. North Dakota Coste is actually a good bit whiter then me!
And I agree 100%—Krivsky should be on the phone reaming the damn Daily News out for this drivel.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
It is an idiotic statement. But the last sentence is true though.
I still feel that Omar is playing the market game. Yes, it is smart and I don’t see anything wrong with it under normal circumstance. But this team has fumbled big time in ’07 & ’08 AND had a very disappointing season in ’09 WHILE your rival Phillies have won 1 WS ring, back to back WS appearance and would be the favorites to win the division next 3-4 years. So do something about.
RedSox are trying like hell to beat Yankees this offseason. They are making big push to get big names like Halladay. What is Omar doing????
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
You are right. The last sentence is “Sad.” And sad it certainly is.
trs86
12/7/2009-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
How do we know what anyone is doing besides reading more drivel? The Mets have been linked to the big names as often as others have.
I hardly agree that the Braves and Phillies have addressed their needs. The Braves could have brought back Soriano and Gonzalez and been just as effective. Polanco is only a slight improvement from Feliz and that is IF he can play 3B as well as Feliz. Unless you are counting Schneider as their big name.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
And Wagner is a major question mark considering his age and injury.
If Omar signed someone that old coming off a major injury to that deal, he would get reamed.
trs86
12/7/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
I just don’t understand why so many are saying the Braves and the Phillies have already gotten better? Schneider and Polanco for 5 years total is getting better? Well Omar should have it easy.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
True. We don’t know what Omar is doing behind the close door. Maybe it’s just me, but I really get a sense that the Mets are playing the FA/Trade market similar to last year. They will wait till something plays out and make their move. To me, that’s not good enough given what the Mets have to compete next year.
trs86
12/7/2009-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
What big name has signed?
trs86
12/7/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
Better question what player that has been signed did you want?
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
My point is, in order for the Mets to compete against the team that went to WS back to back years, they need to work their butt off this offseason. Be proactive and get guys quickly before anybody grabs them.
trs86
12/7/2009-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
You mean overbid and bid against yourself so people can criticize you later for deals like Perez and Castillo.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Kistics, when you say the Mets are playing the market similar to last year, do you mean that the Mets are approaching it the same way they did last year (which I think would be a mistake), or that the Mets are acting like the market is the same as it was last year, and are taking a different approach to it than they did last year (which I think would be smart)?
What I mean by that is, a lot of talent signed late and cheap last year and the Mets weren’t in on it. I am hoping that this market plays out the same, but this time the Mets ARE in on it.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
What I mean by playing the market is Omar is waiting for players to fall on his lap. Just like what he did for Johan.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
He absolutely could be doing that, but isn’t one of the alternatives to doing that overpaying and bidding against yourself?
Omar has both been savvy and used the market to his advantage (by signing KRod well below all the alleged statements of what he was looking for) and been foolish (by signing Perez to an unnecessarily large contract bidding basically against himself).
I’m hoping this year, especially considering the overall payroll, he does more of the former.
stickguy
12/7/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
what is omar doing?
Probably talking to every agent of a FA player, and every GM about every player that has been rumored to be available, and plenty that havne’t been!
IOW, doing his job.
Man, it is all rumors and conjecture still, given that the winter meeting are just about to start.
Who are the big names that have been signed or traded for so far? Wagner, alonco (3 years? really?) and figgins (4 years? will these GMs ever learn?)
I am far from being an Omar supporter (I think he should have been bounced), but come on, at least wait to see what moves he did or didn’t make before attacking him for it!
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
I just feel that Omar and Mets FO is playing the same market game that they played for Frankie and Johan. Yes, it worked for them.
But other teams/FAs/agents are not stupid. They will also look at the past history and see what Omar is doing. Heck, we can even see what Omar is doing. That is what frustrates me. Stop playing games. We all know there’s lots to be done for this team, especially going against the Phillies. Just get to your point and work at it. Don’t play games and hope for the best. Stop expecting that things will fall on your lap. Johan and KRod fell on your lap, because the Mets were competitive.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
I hope Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano are considered low budget latino players…
stickguy
12/7/2009-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
LIke I said, it’s all about driving traffic to the site now. And what better way to do that than make inflamatory (if totally bogus) claims about the Mets, or Cubs, etc.?
Get the fans in an uproar, and get them posting! Or at least hitting the site and talking about you.
It’s like the old saying about PR. Say anything you want about me, just spell my name right.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
I’d rather keep Castillo than have Burrell and Hudson. Even if the latter two were free.
That said, these reports are a lot like the telephone game. Hacks like Sherman play connect the dots with names they overhear. Front office people (and an PR savvy person) use words like “consider” very carefully.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
I agree with every aspect of your comment here Wanny.
The only remotely (and I do mean ‘remote’) positive thing I can suggest about Burrell is that perhaps he’s one of those guys that just can’t hang mentally as a DH and he may have some sort of rebound production wise if he is playing the field.
I like your use of “connect the dots,” I had this phenomenon in mind in my post last week called “Connecting Some Dots.”
Ted Berg has been running a series this hot stove season in which he carefully considers each aspect of these rumors as they come out, in terms of what words (such as ‘consider’) are used, and how the sources (if any) are referred to. Worth reading IMO.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
I knew connecting the dots was not an original idea as I was typing it. I just couldn’t remember which of my favorite writers from among, Shakespeare, Bret Easton Ellis or GravediggerHebner were the originators.
Following on the careful selection of words, in my line of work every word written is scrutinized for every possible meaning. One can “consider” something a good idea or a bad idea. One can consider something for a brief moment or analyze it in depth. You get the idea.
And as Kingman said, these hacks have to write a story.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Absolutely. That’s the funny thing about having a regularly scheduled newspaper column or radio show appearance – you have to bring SOMETHING to the table, whether it’s real or imaginary.
When your topic is rumors it’s not good form to show up without any, even if you have to fabricate them.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Thank you.
trs86
12/7/2009-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
I can’t commit to that until I know how much they would be paying Burrell and Hudson and if Burrell was going to start.
fongy2
12/7/2009-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
I agree with Wanny’s post above.
As I said yesterday, all these rumors
are driving me crazy.
Mostly liked I’ve said, I trust Omar
so little at this point that I
could see him leaving the winter meetings having rid us of Castillo
only to have signed Hudson for an even worse deal, signed Molina for
a couple years and having stuck us
with Pat Burrell as our LFer.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
I once considered drinking a cup of beer with a cigarette in it.
I didn’t do it, though.
And truthfully, I only considered it for as long as it took to smell it.
Whether I would consider it again is questionable. At the same time, since it is questionable, I guess you can write the headline “Wanny Might Consider Ingesting Filth.”
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
Here’s my point on what Omar and the Mets are doing.
You guys are probably right that Omar is doing lots of work behind the close door. And I guess I’m just a frustrated fan who wants everybody signed to win the WS. And yes, Omar’s performance should be assessed AFTER this offseason is done.
I’m just not very happy based on all the reports. I’m sure a lot of them are BS reports, but I’m also sure that some are very true. I just think that to win the division competing against the Phillies, Mets would need to go beyond their obvious needs, but I’m just not feeling that from the Mets now.
Hopefully I’m wrong.
stickguy
12/7/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
You do raise a good point that we discussed a few days ago. The Mets really do have to look for good-value upgrades at positions where they theoreticlaly don’t have holes.
Yes, they need a LF, SP and C, since it is hard to argue they have a viable incombent there.
But, they should also be looking for smart upgrades at other postions. 2B and upgrading from Castillo is the obvious case, but 1B and RF qualify too. If they have a shot at a much better potion than Frnechy or Murphy, for a reasonable cost, then yeah, do it baby!
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
I’m looking around for hometown (where the player might be coming from) views on some of these “to the Mets” rumors, here’s what ‘Royals Authority’ is saying about Meche to the Mets:
“Part of me cringes at trading Meche because a) I really like him and b) it reeks of the usual ‘trade for prospects and play for the future’ plan of action that the Royals have seemingly followed for the past twenty years.
However, any rumor that included the possibility of ridding the club of Kyle Farnsworth does ease the pain a little. We should be cautious in this instance, as this rumor also mentions Luis Castillo coming to the Royals. That puts this rumor into the pure speculation category in my mind. With the Royals already sitting there with Alberto Callaspo and Chris Getz, it seems unlikely that they would take on Castillo’s contract (basically half what Meche is owed). Of course, you could go unconventional and still trade Callaspo, let Castillo and his .387 on-base percentage lead off as the designated hitter and still play Getz (a/k/a the next Brian Roberts) at second base.
Putting all that speculation aside, the Royals have made it known that they are willing to listen on Gil Meche. That makes some sense, maybe even a lot of sense, in that Meche is expensive (for the Royals) and might well garner some decent returns to flesh out the future lineup. If the move is made this winter, we all need to hope it is because the deal is right and the other team involved is focusing on Meche’s outstanding 2007 and 2008 seasons and not his injury filled 2009 campaign.
The return simply must be good because Meche is the kind of guy we should hate to lose. He was a number three starter who got a big contract and was willing to step up and be the staff leader. This is a player who never once has sighed and said ‘well, that’s just baseball’. Gil is the kind of guy Kansas City should want on its roster, but he may be a luxury on a team that probably will not contend.
Trading Meche is not a bad idea, but what comes back needs to be good. This is one Dayton Moore has to get right.”
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the interesting perspective.
stickguy
12/7/2009-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
Hmm, the next Brian Roberts? Sounds good, throw him in!
getz/meche/farnsworth for pagan and castillo?
I love speculating on wild deals that will never happen.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe we can get Steve Busby thrown in there? Good upside….
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll only do it for Paul Splittorff.
prismo
12/7/2009-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
For those of you curious about MC’s latest post, this is the “report” in question:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/92/2009/december/07/burrell-traded-to-mets.html
And it’s BS. Obviously the author heard a rumor, took it to be an actual trade, and went with it.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
hmmmm…
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s what “Rays Report” says about this:
“Can’t get any confirmation on this since Rays executive Andrew Friedman and his staff are still flying here from Tampa. They are due to arrive here in Indy this afternoon.
A member of the Rays PR staff already in Indy said he hadn’t heard anything concerning the trade.
This might have gone down early this morning before Friedman took to the air, or it could be nothing more than a rumor.”
prismo
12/7/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Multiple Mets officials have denied this report or that any trade occurred.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
Sweeny Murti on WFAN at 12:06pm –
“As of right now, Pat Burrell is NOT a Met.”
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
It doesn’t appear to be true.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
One year of Kevin Gregg in the 8th inning would not be a bad idea.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
There you go considering ingesting filth again. 8)
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
But more seriously, here is what DRaysBay is saying about Gregg:
“Gregg was eligible for Type-A compensation but the Cubs chose against offering him arbitration due to a poor season. His career FIP is 4.00 and last year it was 4.93. Wanna know the secret behind that horrible year? It has to do with the fact that 15% of his fly balls went over the fence, his previous career high was 11.6% and his career percentage even now is 8.5%. That’s what we call a prime candidate for regression towards the mean. Ignore the home runs (i.e. use xFIP) and Gregg had one of the best seasons of his career when it came to strikeouts and walks. He misses bats and should be a bit undervalued, I suppose it really comes down to asking price.”
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Indeed. He shouldn’t have the same problems with the gophers in Citifield. And he won’t have the pressure of being tagged with the closer title.
He’s always got a good strikeout rate (8.3 per 9 for his career) Ks twice as many as he walks and usually prevents hits. His WHIP is 1.3. He’s been miscast as a closer for three years.
He’s got no L/R split whatsoever (in fact he’s numbers are little better v. lefties) so he can be that 7th or 8th inning “crossover” guy that Jerry talks about.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
This from the Chicago Daily Herald regarding the alleged 3-way trade:
“–The Mets might be the elusive third team interested in Milton Bradley. We’ve all heard the rumors of the Cubs trading Bradley to the Rays for Pat Burrell and then flipping Burrell to the Mets for Luis Castillo. I’ve heard the Cubs have talked about Castillo, but word around the lobby is that the Mets might be interested in having Bradley themselves and putting him in their outfield. Stay tuned.”
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Sounds like Omar is considering ingesting filth too.
Milton would plan Z for my outfield. One spot of Burrell who is plan Z+1.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
I agree in that if my choices are limited to Burrell or Bradley, I choose Bradley.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed…but what a choice.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Pointy stick in the left eye or the right?
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
HAHA!
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
Bradley had a bad year last year with no power. But even then managed a .370+ OBP.
He obviously can’t make it through a whole season healthy. Perhaps the best strategy at this point is for him to be a platoon player. He has assaulted lefthanded pitchers in his career: 306 .387 .497. The problem is that he’s being paid as an everyday player.
Still, when on the field, he’s generally productive offensively: .277 .371 .450 and would be a clear upgrade over what we have when he’s capable of playing and shutting his mouth.
He’s a career 6.1 UZR guy in the outfield.
Can he be productive in a corner OF rotation with Francoeur and Pagan to keep his at bats and injury exposure down?
fongy2
12/7/2009-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
He’d be adding cancer to an already fragile team.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, but at least he would most likely get injured before he could do too much damage….
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
You can overlook his poor behavior if he hits: .321 .436 .563
However, his attitude becomes a big problem if he hits .257 .378 .397 again.
fongy2
12/7/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Please God….And Omar…No!!
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
The 2007-2008 version of Burrell’s bat would be nice: .253 .383 .505.
Have we any faith he could return to that form?
The bigger problem would be his -25 and -7 UZR/150s from those seasons in LF.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
No way Omar will take a head case like Bradley. We’re talking about the Mets here. They are very PR conscience.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, “Second baseman Kelly Johnson can be had for a song, as he will likely be non-tendered later this week.”
Shouldn’t the Mets be sniffing around a guy who can play both 2B and LF?
Baseball-reference lists his similar players at the same age as people like Doug DeCinces, Kelly Gruber, Orlando Hudson and Ron Cey. Gotta at least be worth a look right?
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
He’ll only be 28 next season and is only one year removed from two seasons in which he hit a combined 282 .362 .451.
He’s worth “considering” if he could be had cheaply and with no expectations for playing time.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I mean I’d rather have him as the 24th or 25th man on the roster than say Marlon Anderson. He and (if re-signed) Fernando Tatis form a nice lefty/righty off the bench tandem.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. But can the Mets even sign Tatis before June 1 since they didn’t offer him arb?
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
I am not sure. I seem to recall May 1 being a key date in the past, but have a very fuzzy recollection of that policy being changed. Whether it was moved to June 1 or scrapped entirely I just can’t recall.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
It may be May 1. I’m just pretty sure he would have to wait before re-signing with his team. I seem to recall a similar occurrence with Tim Raines (who belongs in the HOF) in the late 90s.
trs86
12/7/2009-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
I would be all over Johnson IF he was available. A signing like that could make it a possibility to just dump Castillo instead of taking on another bad contract.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with that generally. But I’m not sure KJ would represent much of a defensive upgrade over Castillo.
But you’re right if you meant that KJ would offer security in the event Castillo could be dumped before a more suitable replacement could be found.
trs86
12/7/2009-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, after looking at years before this year you may be right.
stickguy
12/7/2009-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
we need deals, baby, delas.
Haven’t heard anything about cinci lately, so maybe that is dead? No philips for X-mas, how sad.
But, the KC rumors have me perked up. The KC GM and Omar can work a deal when they attend the next “attrocious GM summit” meeting!
Wonder if Getz could be a possibility? Interesting player at least.
I even like the Gregg option, after seeing the stuff posted above.
But please, stay away from Burrel.
I would actually rather trade for Bradley straight up, but only because there have been a few reports of teams being interested in him. Swap luis for Bradley + $$ to even up the deals (say 8 mill). Then flip him to TB, or some other team, with a cheaper contract for something else the Mets need.
castillo for bradely, bradley for Pena? Hey, why not dream big?
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
That Cincy stuff has gone cold. Nothing out of Cincy recently that relates to the Mets, unless we are considering signing Noah Lowry or Jamey Carroll, in which case the Reds are our competition for them.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Dave Cameron of Fangraphs.com has a funny “rumor guide” up. Some highlights:
“A Person Familiar With The Negotiations – Someone who has refreshed MLBTradeRumors.com constantly.
Major League Source – Charlie Sheen.
A Source With Knowledge Of The Player’s Thoughts – The player’s agent.
A Baseball Official – An engineer at Rawlings.
Guy Who Gave Jon Heyman His Information – Scott Boras.”
prismo
12/7/2009-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
HAHA!
This is the most accurate thing I have read this Hot Stove season!
Thanks Grave.
prismo
12/7/2009-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
David Lennon has a source that says there’s no way the Mets get Burrell. “Not in 3-way, not in any way.”
oleosmirf
12/7/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
this offseason has disaster written all over it.
a bunch of small improvements does nothing and what about SP. Maine is fine as a #4 SP and Ollie will have to be the #5 but what about the #2 and #3 SP. Mike Pelfrey and Joel Piniero is not the answer.
I would rather them trade Castillo for some part time LF, platoon Pagan and whoever they get in LF, Hudson at 2nd, Murphy at 1B and Santos/Blanco behind the plate and then sign Lackey and package Pelfrey and some of the over-hyped latin teenagers for Halladay.
Its all about SP, that is where they need to spend whatever money that have…
trs86
12/7/2009-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
Disaster when nothing big has happen anywhere? Well except for Figgins (Super Castillo) for 36 million.
oleosmirf
12/7/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
its not that other players are going elsewhere but the Mets are always interested in the wrong people
trs86
12/7/2009-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
And the right ones. They have been linked to almost everyone. Which means that Omar is doing his job two fold. Not letting anyone know who they are interested in and doing his due diligence on everyone.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Gee, what a shock you would think this way!
And do you count Thole and Davis among your “over-hyped Latin teenagers”.
Why throw Latin in?
Are you racist and dumb in addition to being perpetually negative??
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny we spoke above about re-signing a team’s own free agents after NOT offering them arbitration, about.com says this:
“It is then up to the player to either accept arbitration or sign with another team. The team must offer salary arbitration to the player by early December or the team will not be allowed to negotiate with or sign the player until the following May 1.”
So it would seem that my dream bench of Kelly Johnson and Fernando Tatis cannot be until May 1st.
trs86
12/7/2009-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm, something does not seem right there. That would mean the Mets could not sign Delgado until then either.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
It’s my gut feeling that this rule has been changed at some point over the last couple of years, but I can’t find anything official.
The info I copied and pasted above had no date of publication on it.
Does anybody know if the Yankees offer arbitration to Andy Pettitte last year? He was their own free agent and they re-signed him in January at a significantly reduced rate.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
I simply can’t find an official explanation from a reliable source one way or the other.
baseball.suite101.com says this:
“A club not offering arbitration may continue to negotiate with the player but does not receive compensation if he signs with another club.”
Which contradicts what about.com says. MLB rules are hidden very well on mlb.com somewhere but I can’t find them.
I believe the May 1 thing is an old rule that no longer exists but I can’t prove it except in a sideways manner.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not sure if this is right, but doesn’t that statement only apply to players that cannot file for FA (players in their 4th-6th year)?
In case of Tatis, I think he’s different. He can file for FA which the Mets can sign whenever they can. Maybe I’m wrong, but if that statement applies to all players, Mets cannot sign Delgado, which is not true.
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
Thnaks, Grave. But it appears as if our ages are showing. According to this line from a FoxSports.com article, the most recent CBA revoked this rule:
“Before 2006, players not offered arbitration could not re-sign with their former clubs from Dec. 8 to April 30, but that provision was eliminated in the latest collective bargaining agreement.”
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
OK thank you, that’s what I’ve been unable to find.
So I CAN have Fernando and Kelly! (sounds suspiciously like an American Idol-based feature film).
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Fernando to Kelly!
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
From the horses mouth, per Tampa Bay Online:
“The Rays party just landed here in Indianapolis, and Rays vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman said a report this morning on phillyburbs.com that Pat Burrell had been traded to the Cubs and then traded again to the Mets is not true.”
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/7/2009-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Good.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
Regarding the interest in Willingham, this throwaway line in the mlb.com piece caught my eye:
“Willingham is not only an outfielder. He can play first base and go behind the plate in emergency situations.”
Yes I am well aware of his back problems, but Willingham strikes me as the kind of middle ground player that I often complain about Minaya not paying attention to. In a world that seems to bring me Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana or Jeremy Reed and Ken Takahashi, but not much in between, Willingham seems to me to be a reasonable middle ground acquisition depending on the price.
Not a superstar, nor largely useless.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
I agree. For a reasonable price, a valuable piece for sure, with a lot of upside.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
If nothing else Willingham and Francoeur make a fine pair of good ole boy corner OFs. There would be more hunting, Nascar and college football talk in the Met locker room for the reporters to lap up.
Kingman 26
12/7/2009-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
Keep the humor coming my wise friend!
wannybackstra
12/7/2009-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
They might coax Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook out of retirement.
trs86
12/7/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Someone has to replace the Wagner void right?
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
I see the Nats released Saul Rivera. I could see the Mets signing him to a minor league deal with a ST invite.
Not because his last name ends in a vowel. Because he was in the Expos system when Omar was there.
trs86
12/7/2009-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
How sad is your life when you are a poor man’s Luis Ayala ?
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
As sad as playing a game you love for this plus free hotels and daily meal money:
2008 Washington Nationals $436,000
2009 Washington Nationals $475,000
Career (may be incomplete) $911,000
trs86
12/7/2009-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
True enough. But hey after visiting Washington this year that salary gets you a 2 bed 1 bath in town. Not that he would want to live in town.
GravediggerHebner
12/7/2009-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Foggy Bottom and Saul Rivera don’t mix. He was probably over more by Andrews AF base.
stickguy
12/7/2009-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Where’s TRS? One of the many rumors floating around is that the Angels were shopping Rivera to free up a spot in the OF (for Bay I think).
THis could be an interesting option. Only signed for 2 years, and owed ~10mill total. Pretty good player too.
Wonder what it would take to get him?
And hell, if say Holliday ending up getting hung out to dry and the Mets could get him for what they want to pay, they could still do it and unload Frenchy (if Omar hasn’t already signed him to a 12 year extension!), and have one heck of an OF.
If you want flexibility, and to spread the $$ around, rivera/wolf/garland/barajas/glauss(sp?) seriously beefs up the support cast, and probably only takes 25-27 mill. And, you only lose the prospects (or players) it takes to get Rivera, and no draft picks.
after that, unload Castillo, and either bring back a young 2B, or heck, get Lopez or Hudson for 2 years. Maybe get an overpriced but useful pen arm for Luis, or another SP.
tweak some of the parts if you want, but without going crazy with overpriced, over yeared FA deals, the team is much much better already.
trs86
12/7/2009-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Come on Stick, I got that up minutes ago.
stickguy
12/7/2009-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
I type slow, and it wasn’t up when I started it!