The Mets are one step further in their quest to trade knuckle baller, R.A Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays will have until 2:00 Eastern Time on Tuesday to sign Dickey to a contract extension.
If a satisfactory extension is reached between Dickey and the Jays, the Mets will also be sending catcher, Josh Thole as well as an undetermined minor league prospect to the Blue Jays for top rated Catching prospect, Travis d’Arnaud, catcher, John Buck and pitching prospect, Noah Syndergaard as well as a unnamed minor league prospect. The Jays will also be paying part of Buck’s 6 million dollar contract.
Keep your fingers crossed and if this deal goes through it may prove to be a more importnat trade than the Beltran to the Giants for Wheeler deal back in 2011!!
55 comments
greggofboken
12/16/2012-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
YES! Here’s hoping! R.A. was a more than fair negotiator with the Mets….keep that same frame of mind, sir!
(Blows my mind the Jays are ponying up this much…..and paying for some of Buck to boot!)
srt
12/16/2012-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
Agree.
Don’t know how much cash we’ll be getting but that can be used for another SP – which we’ll now need.
I too hope Dickey gets every $ he deserves.
Stick
12/16/2012-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
curious who the other MiL guys are, and if there is anyone that would make you uncomfortable they are giving up. I doubt it though.
My guess, the Mets send a low level SP prospect back, and get an OF in return, maybe a little higher level though.
and I suspect that the extension is a formality, and they already have the terms in concept settled.
I also have been saying that Dickey seemed desperate to get a decent 2 year extension in place, just in case 2013 goes wrong.
anyway, I hope D’auberville is the real deal, and Synergies is fighting wheeler and Harvey for the title of ace in a few years. And that Dickey gets a WS appearance this year.
srt
12/16/2012-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
D’aubervill and Synergies – LOL
Stick
12/16/2012-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t spell either one, and never will be able to, so I will go with what works.
gategem
12/16/2012-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, changing the topic, but the Giants are playing like crap today and are getting their arses kicked. It doesn’t appear as if the Giants will make the playoffs this year. Right now the Skins are the better team and win all the tie breakers.
Stick
12/16/2012-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
they played like crap in the first half, and seemed to have taken it to another level in the 2nd half, and are now just mailing it in the rest of the game.
Only way they make the playoffs is if the only win Dallas or Skins get is against the other.
assuming of course the Giants can at least beat the Eagles, and right now, I doubt it.
though they are like Sybil now. Look like a great team one week, and the worst in the NFL the next. And you never know which one is going to show up.
srt
12/16/2012-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
I’m amazed that none of these beat writers have been able to pry the two non elite prospect names from either side yet.
Stick
12/16/2012-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
they might not be finalized. Could be in the PTBNL category almost.
darknova306
12/16/2012-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
If this goes through, I’ll be ecstatic! And also proven wrong about how the offseason was gonna be a pair of contract extensions and a front office vacation. I’d be very happy about being wrong on that.
Now let’s hope R.A. gets the deal he wants, so we can get the deal WE want.
TX
12/16/2012-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. And this, to me, tops the Wheeler trade. It’s so odd. Dickey is the man, yet I’m thrilled by this deal.
And my plan was to sign Wright and trade dickey for Danke-Shane and Gose, but Cinderwasawoman is a much better snag than him. I hope beyond hope they flip Flores for a decent OF guy. Or it doesn’t have to even be Flores in particular. Just bundle up the flotsam and snag something. Valdy + mejia for LoMo?
Prismo
12/16/2012-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
Remember when I preached patience and everyone kept yelling at me.
Love love love love love this trade. Of course, we’re still going to probably suck this season. But let’s see if Sandy can’t make a couple signings to get our hopes up.
Stick
12/16/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
we were pretty much going to suck with Dickey too, so not a big difference.
And I did think the flood of “sandy is doing nothing and the offseason is over” posts were a bit premature.
and if anything, doing this deal means they need to make even more than before, since this did not actually fill any of the holes, other than changing the starting C from Thole to Buck, and now leaves a gaping hole at the front of the rotation.
still need a bunch of OFs.
srt
12/16/2012-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
‘And I did think the flood of “sandy is doing nothing and the offseason is over” posts were a bit premature.’
They certainly were. You can’t declare the off season a failure or over in mid Dec – even if we didn’t do anything at the Winter meetings. I said I would wait until at least ST started, but even then deals get done.
greggofboken
12/16/2012-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
Time begins on opening day.
The only realistic target that we’ve missed out on is Ryan Ludwick.
I would point out something that Rubin put together on payroll. After talking to front office people regarding how they book payroll expenses, his take is that deferred salary still runs agains the payroll books in the year the salary is for.
If his contention is correct, though Bay’s $21M is deferred for cash flow purposes, for purposes of spending the payroll, it still hits 2013′s books. I’m not convinced completely that this is the case, but that’s his take.
Meaning that there’s about $10M or so left to spend above minimum.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/59445/part-ii-whats-payroll-now-whats-next
gategem
12/16/2012-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
It’s a shame you’re not an android with three arms and hands so you can have three hands patting yourself on the back.
Prismo
12/16/2012-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
Just going to copy this over from my post last night for any stragglers to read over:
Travis d’Arnaud (C): Baseball America’s #1 Blue Jays prospect. Posted a .975 OPS in 67 AAA games last season (16 HR, 62 RBI). Ended his 2012 season with knee surgery; he has since recovered from the injury. Consistently ranked as a top 20 prospect in the MLB prior to the 2012 season. If you’d like some frosting on the cake – his defense is also above average. I have not has this confirmed, but it looks as if the Mets may be able to gain an additional year of control over d’Arnaud if he wait until June to call him up.
Noah Syndergaard (RHP): Baseball America’s #2 Blue Jays prospect (since Marisnick was traded to the Marlins). Posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.080 WHIP in single A last season. His fastball sits at 94-95 miles per hour, and he can touch up to 99 mph (source). Scouting reports place his fastball as a ++ pitch, his curveball as a + pitch, his changeup as an average pitching – and I’ve read he’s working on a slider as well (source). Average control so far, but given his being 20 and in single A this has time to develop. Definitely has near ace-level talent. Syndergaard was consistently ranked as a top 100 MLB prospect prior to the 2012 season (generally in the upper 80s/90s).
John Buck (C): Controlled for 1 more season ($6.5 million salary). Likely to become the Mets backup catcher once d’Arnaud takes over, but I could see him beginning the season as the starting backstop. Buck has posted a career .708 OPS playing for the Royals, Blue Jays, and Marlins. Buck has moderate power (for a catcher), but struggles to get on base. Buck’s defense is below average. Overall I think we should be happy to get a guy like this to be our backup, but I hope he isn’t the starter for too long.
Hazmet
12/16/2012-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yes yes wait till June by all means. I say not just as a matter of waiting to start the clock on him but also to let him work with Wheeler in AAA in Vegas. d’Arnaud has a year in there so he should be able to help some of the Met’s young pitching ride out some of the transition to what I understand is somewhat of a launching pad there. Just a small side benefit to waiting and oh what a nice buzz it would be mid season to call both him and Wheeler up at the same time.
Stick
12/16/2012-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
was it BA that came out with their system rankings last week? Just a little premature doing that in early December I would think!
and how does this change the met rankings? Travis I assume becomes #1, and do Wheeler and Noah now fight it out for #2/3? Probably Wheeler since he is a level higher and a couple years older.
but the new guys have to now be in the top 3.
Q-Rod
12/16/2012-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
It seemed pretty obvious that SA was waiting out the market for Dickey. He now has so much flexibility – in terms of both money and surplus arms – to make a deal for a young outfielder who is something less than elite. Maybe Parra from AZ? There are other names, as well. If the Mets can get one good everyday OF then all the rest of these guys look a little better as platoon guys and depth: Kurk, Baxter, Duda and maybe Hairston.
Stick
12/16/2012-5:32pm at 5:32 pm (UTC -4)
If they really want to go big, they could take a run at Upton, though supposedly he is off the market.
I would love to see them pick up Carlos Gomez, but no idea what the cost would be. And highly unlikely with Boras as an agent he would be signing an extension, so would be a 1 year rental.
wanny
12/16/2012-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
Anthopolous seems to like high ceiling types (who doesn’t? But he seems to prefer them over high probability guys) so I am expecting someone like the following non elite high ceiling guys to go: havens, aderlin, marge, tapia.
wanny
12/16/2012-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
Marge is marte
Q-Rod
12/16/2012-9:52pm at 9:52 pm (UTC -4)
Yup. I’m fearful it’s Tapia. But it could be one of the Brooklyn guys. I guess it’s a pitcher – the Mets don’t have much hitting depth. We’ll know on Tuesday.
wanny
12/16/2012-11:27pm at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
Cory Vaughn is another guy I could see Toronto looking at. Logan Verrett is another.
“Non-elite” prospects that might interest the Mets from Toronto include Moises Sierra (RH Outfielder with a big time arm, some pop, but lousy K rate, probably as close to ML ready as he will be), Deck McGuire (RHP, had a lousy second pro season at AA but viewed as a good bet to be a middle to bottom of rotation starter), Dan Barnes (Princeton guy from Manhasset NY, has been a pretty dominant reliever in the lower minors) or Ryan Schimpf, a pesky 2B with some pop.
I wish drug cheat Marcus Stroman was the third guy but I would have to guess he would be considered an elite prospect as a 2012 1st round pick.
wanny
12/16/2012-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
And calm down aderlin lovers- he’s not considered a top prospect on Amy list I’ve seen. If anthopolous is looking for more immediate help I could see Armando Rodriguez, Carson or some other potential relief type striking his fancy.
TX
12/16/2012-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
You and your mobile autocorrects are cracking me up. The Amy list. Heh.
wanny
12/16/2012-8:16pm at 8:16 pm (UTC -4)
home again. no more humor from my phone now!
and congrats on the baby. i suggest Amy if she’s a girl!
TX
12/16/2012-8:55pm at 8:55 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks. A boy. Thor. Good Scandinavian name. Got the grandmother stamp of approval.
wanny
12/16/2012-9:02pm at 9:02 pm (UTC -4)
Then amy would be a lousy name.
Mazel Tov, as they say in Scandinavia.
gategem
12/16/2012-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
You got me thinking of Beowulf, Hroðgar, and Grendel. I’m humming arias from a Wagner Opera while visualizing some helmeted Norseman welding a hammer and hurling thunderbolts.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/M%C3%A5rten_Eskil_Winge_-_Tor%27s_Fight_with_the_Giants_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Hope mother and baby Thor are doing well.
TX
12/16/2012-10:04pm at 10:04 pm (UTC -4)
They are, Gate, they are. Good things happen in 3′s , correct? Baby, Dickey netting D’Acatcher, and… Giancarlo? I’m guessing Pelf signing elsewhere counts as good thing number 3.
Screw it, flip synderblock and Fulmer and about 4 more and get us some Giancarlo!
Stick
12/16/2012-7:17pm at 7:17 pm (UTC -4)
Well, forget about big poof. Just saw he signed with the Twins.
Probably perfect place for him. No expectations, and no competition in the rotation. As long as he does not care at all about being on a winner next year (and I am sure rebuilding his worth to go out on the FA market next year) might as well go there.
Not like I really wanted to see him again, so I won’t get bent out of shape over it.
Prismo
12/16/2012-7:44pm at 7:44 pm (UTC -4)
He got $4 million guaranteed! And up to $1.5 in incentives. Sorry that guaranteed money is too much for him. I figured he’d get around $2.5 guaranteed, $1-1.5 incentives.
srt
12/16/2012-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
This.
The money being given for SP this off season is way above what I expected.
And we were offering RA 10 MIL a year? No way we were ever serious about keeping him.
Stick
12/16/2012-10:05pm at 10:05 pm (UTC -4)
That offer was never serious. I think it was purely to keep some kind of dialague going, Probably just so the other teams would see that there was negotiations, and all the reports were that he was asking for reasonable money.
That does 2 things. 1 is making the other teams nervous that if they did not step up big, he would be off the table. 2 was making sure the other teams know that he wants to sign, and is not asking for the moon.
The offer itself then was never one they expected to be accepted, just a “show me”
SaltyGary
12/16/2012-7:45pm at 7:45 pm (UTC -4)
As we digest this trade, lets remember how much of a great prospect Pelfrey was considered.
darknova306
12/16/2012-7:51pm at 7:51 pm (UTC -4)
He certainly had value, but I won’t miss him. What I’ll miss is bitching about him, and watching some of the funny things he does. The nickname Big Poof is also pretty amusing to me, so I’ll miss that. Meh. Still, the Mets need to replace 200+ innings next season with Dickey going to Beaver Land.
SaltyGary
12/16/2012-8:17pm at 8:17 pm (UTC -4)
It is definitely a big short term loss. Not that I think he can equal such a amazing year, but having a guy that can put up those quality innings every fifth day is such a big deal. Especially when you are dealing with guys like Santana who we have to assume will average no more than 6 innings a game and some injury stints.
wanny
12/16/2012-9:01pm at 9:01 pm (UTC -4)
depth at SP is thin now. mejia, mchugh, wheeler and gorski are the only options on the 40 man. i imagine they will bring in a couple of vets to compete; chris young types. i can see them taking a chance on guys like jonathan sanchez or fracisco liriano. safer options might be randy wolf or joe saunders. none of these guys seem like long man pen options if mejia beats them out, though. i’d like villanueva for that reason but he is reportedly looking for a 30 start guarantee.
lots of interesting relievers available: frasor, krod, capps, durbin, saito, m. gonzalez, veras, howell, mark lowe.
greggofboken
12/16/2012-9:37pm at 9:37 pm (UTC -4)
Jeff Karstens is still out there.and can pitch in relief.
Q-Rod
12/16/2012-9:50pm at 9:50 pm (UTC -4)
Hefner is an option to start the season. In fact, if they don’t bring someone in I’d bet on him winning the job out of spring training.
Stick
12/16/2012-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
what about Stauffer? He is a San Diego guy, so has some sort of tie.
TRS86
12/16/2012-10:07pm at 10:07 pm (UTC -4)
Gorzelanny would be a good get if he’s still there. Might be too expensive though.
Stick
12/16/2012-10:14pm at 10:14 pm (UTC -4)
real, not interested in “too expensive” at this point, unless you are talking about Lohse or Bourne.
if they need to go a few extra million for a better quality SP (say 4 instead of 1.5), there must be money in the budget for it. Not like they are going after anyone significant.
greggofboken
12/16/2012-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
Depends on whether Rubin’s information about the payrroll budget and how they’re booking it is right or not. Either there’s a max of $10M to play with or $25M. If it’s really $10M as he’s saying, than those few million become an obstacle given other needs (i.e.; Mejia by default or $1M reclamation)>
wanny
12/16/2012-9:03pm at 9:03 pm (UTC -4)
dallas braden as a chris young like rehabber?
TRS86
12/16/2012-10:05pm at 10:05 pm (UTC -4)
How about Chris Young as a Chris Young type? Lol
There’s actually a lot of interesting names out there pending what direction they go in.
TX
12/16/2012-10:09pm at 10:09 pm (UTC -4)
How much you think Pavano will cost?
Stick
12/16/2012-10:11pm at 10:11 pm (UTC -4)
Tex made an interesting point above.
What about a huge play with some of the pitching depth for a guy like Stanton? Maybe they don’t have that many assets, but could there be another player that would be an impact guy that they might be able to get without gutting the farm?
It will be interesting to see if this deal + a few spare part fillers is all they are planning for the off season, or is this like ramming through the dam, with a flood more big and medium moves coming?
wanny
12/16/2012-10:53pm at 10:53 pm (UTC -4)
other than his discontent, why move him while he still makes little money and is young enough to be the center of their next competitive team?
Stick
12/16/2012-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
It’s Loria. Who the hell knows what he will do. But yes, if you want to apply logic, there is no reason to do it.
I did say, how about some other guy that will still be a big improvement, but not as hard to get.
wanny
12/16/2012-11:43pm at 11:43 pm (UTC -4)
I think the only reported guy of that caliber would have been Upton. But between his salary and AZs recent trade, I doubt he is available or desirable to the Mets.
Would Seattle pay the Mets to take the final year of Franklin Gutierrez? He’d be a good defensive player, if healthy, and for his career hits lefties at .293 .351 .479. Ideal platoon partner for Kirk (though I hate to platoon a young guy) or Baxter. Mets dont have a comparable salary to give Seattle so I think it would require seattle paying a significant amount of his contract to make it happen.
TX
12/17/2012-12:48am at 12:48 am (UTC -4)
FYI, I’m reading the pronunciation of the future HOF catcher that is soon to be acquired (no pressure kid) is Dar-No.
darknova306
12/17/2012-12:59am at 12:59 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I think I saw that pop up over on AA’s comment section at some point today. I guess it’s French. Le sigh…
And the kid’s a total bust if he doesn’t make the HoF on the first ballot. Yeah, my standards are low….