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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Mets acquire Putz in complicated trade



BLOCKBUSTER TRADE






The Mets, Indians, and Mariners have completed a blockbuster three way deal . The Mariners send closer JJ Putz, RP Sean Green, and OF Jeremy Reed. The Mets sent starter/reliever Aaron Heilman, OF and fan favorite Endy Chavez, higly regarded 1B prospect Mike Carp, lefthander Jason Vargas and prospects Maikel Cleto and Ezequiel Carrera to Seattle. Also, the Mets sent, arguably, the best relief pitcher they had last year in Joe Smith, to the Indians. The Mariners also received Cleveland outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.

I'm shocked to see Smith traded, because he's so young and was so great with the Mets for the past year and a half. It's sad to see Endy Chavez go, a fan favorite at Shea. His defense will be missed. Mike Carp, who was rumored to be the future 1B of the Mets, was also suprisingly traded. I am happy that Aaron is gone, for our AND his sake.

I really like Putz, I think he's perfect to setup K-Rod. A Putz+K-Rod 8th and 9th is a one-two punch that could be one of the best in the majors.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Other happenings



Here's a look at some other winter meeting action:

  • The Yankees have signed CC Sabathia to a 7 year deal worth around $160 million according to John Heyman of SI.com reports.
  • Closer Kerry Wood has signed with the Indians for 2 years, with a vesting option for 2011.
  • The Braves and White Sox are talking about a deal that would send Jermaine Dye to Atlanta, reports WFAN reporter Sweeny Murti.
  • The Mets and other teams are interested in SS Michael Young.
  • The Mets, Angels, Phillies, Braves and Nationals have been in touch with the agent of Raul Ibanez. The Mets had dinner with his agent at the meetings.

BOTTOM LINE: K-Rod and the Mets set off this hot stove.

K-Rod is a Met!

ALERT!

Omar has done it. Fransisco Rodriguez is now the closer of the New York Mets. He was signed to a 3 year contract worth $37 million, with a vesting option for a fourth year.
BOTTOM LINE: A bargain price for a guy of this magnitude.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Mets make offer to K-Rod


Finally! Omar Minaya, Mets GM, has made a contract offer to closer Fransisco Rodriguez. The deal is worth $12 million a year for 2 years, with an option for a third year.


Rodriguez, 26, saved a Major League-record 62 games last season, and is the top closer available on the free-agent market.


BOTTOM LINE: Yeeeeeessssss!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Blue Jays owner dies


Ted Rogers dies of congestive heart failure


Our heart goes out to the Rogers family and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Article

The Latest

Here are your latest headlines:

The Mets say when they open their doors in April to their brand new stadium, it will still be called Citi Field. Read

At the GM's meetings next week in Vegas, Omar Minaya will be focusing on pitching, according to the Mets website.

"It is all but certain" that the Mets will host the 2013 All Star Game, reports Newsday.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Guest Blogger James: Last win at Shea Stadium memory

A special guest blogger, James, is sharing his memory of his last game at Shea, and the last win ever at the stadium.



Shea Stadium has closed and come to a sad end, but the 2nd to last game will never be forgotten. Johan Santana pitched an amazing game, his best game since he has been on the New York Mets, a shutout. Fans wittnessed history that day, the stadium was vibrating with cheers for the Mets ace. I'll never forget that game as long as I live.


Do you want to guest blog? Email nymx5793@yahoo.com for more details!

Some incredible CitiField video

I invite all our readers to check out an amazing video that was shot by SNY and Metsblog.com Check it out

It's been a slow day on the blog my friends, hopefully we'll have some fresh information to post tomorrow.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Mets expected to offer arbitration to Ollie


The Mets are expected to offer SP Oliver Perez arbitration, making it clear the Mets would like him back in New York.

According to http://www.mets.com/ :
The Mets, in hopes of re-signing Oliver Perez, are all but certain to offer salary arbitration to the free-agent pitcher before the midnight ET Monday deadline and thereby assure themselves of a degree of compensation should Perez opt to continue his career with a different club.

The Mets are not expected to offer arbitration to Ramon Martinez, Damion Easley, Luis Ayala, Moises Alou, and Pedro Martinez, among others.

BOTTOM LINE: The Mets have guaranteed two draft picks should Perez sign with another team.

Mets sign C Rene Rivera

The Mets have signed 25 year old catcher Rene Rivera to a minor league deal, according to the Seattle News Tribune.

Rivera batted .227 with a .252 OBP in 53 major-league at bats with the Mariners.

BOTTOM LINE: A nice young guy to have armed and ready in our farm system.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

The Mets catching situation

Here's an article that appeared in today's Newsday, about a possible Mets trade for a catcher.

Ken Davidoff/Newsday

"Earlier this offseason, the Mets asked the Rangers about catcher Gerald Laird, just as they did last year, a person familiar with the situation said.There hasn't been much discussion there lately; the Mets, as we all know, have prioritized the renovation of their pitching staff. But the fact that the Mets checked in speaks to how difficult it is to build a good catching crew.Last year at this time, the Mets thumped their chest about putting together the tandem of Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro. After suffering through nearly a full decade of Mike Piazza and Paul Lo Duca behind the plate, the Mets looked forward to having strong defense at catcher.The tradeoff, not shockingly, was poor offense. Schneider, Castro, Raul Casanova, Robin son Cancel and Gustavo Molina combined for a .324 on-base percentage, 12th-best among catching corps in the National League, and a .378 slugging percentage, which placed them eighth. Thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau for the 411.

Laird put up a .329 OBP and .398 SLG in 95 games for the Rangers, a rare team with catching to trade. They have Laird, Max Ramirez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden and are looking to trade from this surplus in return for young pitching.It's also interesting to note that Schneider did indeed help the Mets defensively. According to a statistic called "probabilistic model of range," compiled by David Pinto at baseballmusings.com, the Mets' catchers put up the majors' second-best defense, behind only the Brewers."

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving


As we all head out for the holiday, I'd like to wish all our readers a Happy Thanksgiving. Be safe, and check back next Sunday for more Mets Hot Stove.
Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

The Latest

  • MLB.com says that Jermaine Dye is able to block a trade to 6 teams shoulds he be traded, those including the Mets and Phillies. According to an Ohio radio station, the Reds are interested in Dye.
  • Omar Minaya has contacted the agents of Fransisco Rodriguez, and Brian Fuentes. It is believed that contract offers may be offered in the coming week or so.
  • Rumor has it that Omar Minaya has reached out to the GM of the Rockies about acquiring RP Huston Street. Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano have been named as being targeted by the Rockies.

BOTTOM LINE: This hot stove is starting to heat up.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Furcal rumor is just that


We have no learned that the rumor about SS Rafael Furcal receiving a very "tempting offer" from the Mets, is just a rumor.
BOTTOM LINE: Furcal will end up on the West Coast, reportedly with the Giants.


Monday, November 24, 2008

Mets lukewarm on Furcal; Hudson likes Mets

According to baseball sources, the Mets have made a contract offer to SS/2B Rafael Furcal. But, according to baseball-mega insider John Heyman, the Mets are not at all interested in the former Dodgers shortstop, who only played 36 games last year due to a back injury.

In other news, Orlando Hudson said it would be his "first choice" to play for the Mets next year.

BOTTOM LINE: Forget Furcal, sign Hudson! Hudson wants to play here. I think he'd be a perfect fit at CitiField (or whatever it may be called) next year.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Weekly Recap

This week on Mets Hot Stove:

-The Mets favor K-Rod as closer
-The Cubs re-sign Ryan Dempster
-Omar Minaya states that Luis Castillo "probably will" be our second baseman in 2009.
-CitiField could be renamed if CitiGroup is bought.

More Mets Hot Stove news ahead!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

A CitiGroup takeover would mean a name change for Mets ballpark

According to the Mets website, their pact with CitiGroup will stay, even with the downturn in the economy. One thing that could change though, is the name of the ballpark. If CitiGroup is taken over, a name change would most likely occur, affecting the name of the park.

Source

BOTTOM LINE: Don't get used to CitiField just yet.

Minaya: There is a "good chance" Castillo will be our second baseman

Omar Minaya wants Luis Castillo back at second base next year. Or so it seems.

Thats according to a Newsday article published this morning. I think this is BAD NEWS. I speak for most fans when I say that Castillo should be gone. I don’t care if you get a player who won’t ever make it to Triple-A ball, just get this guy out of New York!

BOTTOM LINE: Sign Hudson, trade Castillo to a team in need of a second baseman. You might not get much in return, but to shake up the team, this is what you need to do.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Cubs re-sign Dempster

Mets reportedly had "minor" interest.

Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012.
He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.
Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season, then became a free agent after making the switch from the closer to starter.

Source

BOTTOM LINE: The Cubs have bolstered down another good pitcher for their rotation.

Mets favor K-Rod

According to WFAN/SI.com reporter John Heyman, Omar Minaya seems to be favoring Fransisco Rodriguez over Brian Fuentes, to fill the role as closer.

Heyman says "K-Rod loves the spotlight, and would love to pitch in New York."

There have also been reports surfacing that say the Mets are interested in Rockies pitcher Huston Street, who was the closer for the Athletics last year, to be a setup man for their bullpen.

BOTTOM LINE: A K-Rod/Street back end of the bullpen would be a potent one-two punch to close out games.

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