Mets Notes From Baseball Prospectus

The Mets could become suitors for Manny Ramirez, and still have interest in Jermaine Dye, Javier Vazquez, Jon Garland, Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine. The Rays will want more than Aaron Heilman for either of the starters. The Brewers could become suitors for Francisco Rodriguez.

Breaking It Down
-After many reports last week saying New York may not want to add a player to their starting lineup, the allure of Manny may be too hard for Omar Minaya to pass up, or at least make an offer for.
-I doubt they would have enough for any of the White Sox players, because Chicago is asking for players New York doesn't want to give up.
-The Rays would want one of the Mets better prospects for these guys, Minaya needs to realize that Heilman isn't a very strong commodity. Huston Street should be a Met right now.
-Now that there's competition for K-Rod, maybe the Brian Fuentes demand of 10-11 million per season isn't looking too bad.

Mets Exploring Trades Before Signing Closer

The New York Times reports that the Mets will explore a trade for a free agent closer before beginning serious discussions with free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, whose asking price was deemed a bit high by GM Omar Minaya. The Mets have had discussions, according to the article, with Jose Valverde, JJ Putz, Huston Street and Bobby Jenks. They're also considering signing Kerry Wood or Trevor Hoffman. What closer do you think the Mets should get?

Mets Match Up With White Sox, But Unwilling To Unload Prospects

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that the White Sox are looking to shake up their roster. They could deal closer Bobby Jenks, OF Jermaine Dye, and starter Javier Vazquez. The White Sox like Mets prospects Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and Eddie Kunz but "teams that have dealt with the Mets say the team from Queens is clutching tightly to them."

Mets Interested In Ibanez

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian reports that the Mets, Cubs, Phillies and Diamondbacks are interested in Raul Ibanez. This conflicts with other reports that say the Mets don't want a lefty in their regular order. Do you think the Mets should sign Ibanez?

Fuentes' Price High, Omar's Other Interests

-The NY Daily News reports that Mets GM Omar Minaya finds the 10-11 million per year price tag on Brian Fuentes "a bit high." Right now they'd be content to sign either Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez as their closer. Which one would you prefer? "Right now we're talking with the agents," Minaya said. "But we are getting a pretty good idea as far as what terms they're looking for. Once we get an idea of the terms they're looking for, we have a better idea what we think it's going to take to get these guys done, understanding that markets do change, and they fluctuate."
Minaya also said he is interested in Raul Ibanez and will contact Oliver Perez's agent at the Winter Meetings.

Not a Bad Idea

Responding to the talk of having both Fuentes and Hoffman is not a bad idea. I mean think about Fuentes in the 8th and Hoffman in the 9th. I'm pretty sure Fuentes would not mind seating in the back seat while Hoffman pitches the 9th, because he should know by now that Hoffman is more dominant, and more intimidating to hitters. Besides, Hoffman is about what 41, so Fuentes would have to ride shotgun for about maybe 2 years max. Maybe they should consider that.

Another Subject, K-Rod's agent is a fool. He thinks that Rodriguez will get whatever he wants, maybe the Yankees will but that's not their priority, but not the Mets. Yes granted, he does represent one of the best closers out there, (not Mariano level, but still good) but the Mets don't really want to spend 75 Million for five years. Maybe 50 Million for four, and an option for fifth year sounds better. So hopefully the Mets' X-Mas tree will be full of all their desired gifts.

Mets Thinking About Inking Hoffman And Fuentes?

Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown reports that the Mets internally thought about signing both Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman.
"Internally, they’ve kicked around the idea of Trevor Hoffman along with Brian Fuentes, though surely neither would lower themselves to pitch the eighth inning. The idea likely died at the conversation stage."
Let's have some conversation, what are your thoughts?

No K-Rod Talks Until Winter Meetings

Free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez's agent Paul Kinzer told the Associated Press that his client would not start discussions with other teams until the Las Vegas Winter Meetings begin on December 8th, one week from this coming Monday.
"I'll probably see the Mets at the winter meetings. I don't have anything else planned," Kinzer said.
This clearly means the Mets are the front-runners, considering no other potential suitors were named. I'm sure other teams like Milwaukee will jump in, but New York appears to be in the driver's seat for K-Rod.

Mets Should Get Rivera

Juan Rivera may not be the huge free agent splash the Mets fans would want, but if they want someone to platoon with Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy in the outfield, Rivera could be the perfect fit. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick lists him among the best free agent bargains, and he could be had for around two years at six to eight million total. If I were Omar Minaya, and based on what he rejected for Huston Street I'm surely not him, I'd go hard after the outfielder so the Mets could have a Rivera to call their own. MLB.com's Marty Noble reported today that the Mets are reluctant to add a lefty to their regular lineup, which means they probably won't go after Raul Ibanez because of all the lefty starters in the division. This makes Rivera an even better fit for New York.

Mets Reach Out To K-Rod, Fuentes

-SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Mets have finally reached out to free agent closers Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes. Show us what you've got, Omar Minaya. New York really needs a shutdown option for 2009, and Minaya needs to get one of these two guys to really justify his absurd four year contract extension.

Mets On Dye's No-Trade List

-MLB.com's Scott Merkin says that the Mets and Phillies are two of the six teams on Jermaine Dye's no-trade list. The Reds aren't one of those teams, so maybe a trade could be facilitated. The Mets balked at the White Sox's original offer for him, but knowing Omar, he wouldn't know a good deal if it hit him right in the head.

Omar Rejects Trading Worst Relievers For Street

-The NY Post reports (thanks to Jake for the tip) that the Mets offered Aaron Heilman to Colorado for Huston Street, the Rockies asked for reliever Pedro Feliciano as well and Mets GM Omar Minaya rejected that. Sounds pretty dumb to me. Add that to the list of reasons as to why Minaya should not for any reason have a job right now. "The Mets think that's too high of a price to pay for a guy in Street who might not even be their closer by the time the season starts." Said the Post.