The Mets have a lot of question marks in their lineup for 2011. Previous injuries leave it up for debate what Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright will contribute. But the Mets also do not know what to expect from Angel Pagan, who played in 151 games last year and finished second [...]
Seems to me… …there’s something missing in the Mets’ front office these days: panic. It’s beyond refreshing to have another team in the division – our arch-rival, even, if you will – make a big, splashy move and have the reaction from Flushing be…well…nothing. The Phillies, of all teams, signed Cliff Lee to a contract [...]
If you ask most fans to name a four-team deal, the one that jumps to mind is the 2004 deal among the Red Sox, Twins, Cubs and Expos that sent Nomar Garciaparra out of Boston and brought Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz and a World Series title to the Red Sox. But the one that jumps [...]
Cliff Lee signed a five-year, $120 million contract with the Phillies, which includes a 2016 option which may become guaranteed based on performance. The contract also has a limited no-trade clause. The signing gives the Phillies a starting rotation that takes a back seat to no one and further strengthens the team that won the [...]
The new bench coach for the New York Mets will be Ken Oberkfell, a 16-year MLB veteran and 16-year minor league manager, the past 10 with the Mets. Oberkfell interviewed for the managerial position this year that ended up going to Terry Collins, but was a darkhorse candidate at best due to his lack of [...]
When the Mets hired Sandy Alderson, the reaction was almost universal praise and I was certainly one of the people excited about having him be the club’s general manager. Now that the topic has moved from establishing the front office to acquiring players for the 2011 season, at least a little split has developed among [...]
Seems to me… …I’ve heard this song before. 30 years before, to be exact. The 2010 MLB Winter Meetings have just concluded and the New York Mets did…nearly nothing. I take this as a good sign. Really. Joan Whitney Payson was the Mets’ first owner and if not their Patron Saint (that would be Casey [...]
The Mets made two moves in the Rule 5 Draft yesterday, picking up infielder Brad Emaus from the Blue Jays and pitcher Pedro Beato from the Orioles. Emaus is well known to the Mets, as new special assistant J.P. Ricciardi was previously general manager in Toronto. And Beato has a history with the Mets, as [...]
Now that the Red Sox have signed Carl Crawford any chance of a deal with the Mets involving Carlos Beltran is dead. Beltran’s agent Scott Boras told reporters yesterday that his client expects to be with the Mets next year. New manager Terry Collins said it was his goal to get Beltran comfortable. As a [...]
Prior to the Winter Meetings, general manager Sandy Alderson promised he would come home with some new players. Tuesday, he kept that promise by signing free agents Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco. Paulino is a righty-hitting catcher while Carrasco is a rubber-armed reliever and both players do a nice job of filling roles on the [...]
On Tuesday evening, Adam Rubin quoted Sandy Alderson saying the following about the Mets’ payroll: "Look, I don't have any understanding about what the payroll will be or can't be going forward," Alderson said. "But, look, let's say arguably we have like $50 million or $60 million coming off next year. Do I think it [...]
As the Mets continue their search for a bargain-basement pitcher, one name being mentioned in the mainstream media is Kevin Millwood. This is a terrible idea. Yes, I know, I usually present the strengths and weaknesses first and give the reader the information to make up his mind first before I give my opinion. But [...]