Non-Dickey Updates
This has nothing to do with eunuchs. Rather, we will quickly review the various Hot Stove action of which the R.A. Dickey situation has been a distraction.
Phillies Sign Mike Adams and John Lannan
Adams was spectacular in 2011, so-so in 2012, and will turn 35 shortly after the All-Star break. I think the Phillies overpaid for his services at two years, $12M, but this seems to be the going rate for setup men. I don’t see him as being much better than Jon Rauch was last year — and Rauch was paid a fair $3.5M salary.
As for Lannan, nice move, and I wonder if the Mets were ever in play for the Long Island native? He’s a lefty, just turned 28, and is a pretty solid back-end innings-eater; something the Mets are going to need assuming R.A. Dickey’s exit. The Phillies get Lannan for one year, $2.5M plus incentives — not terribly painful. Lannan should replace the hole left by Joe Blanton, and do so with better performance and lower cost.
Next up for the Phillies is a corner outfielder, and they’re reportedly in hot pursuit of Cody Ross, who would be a bad fit for the Mets, but could be a great fit in the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park.
Tigers Sign Anibal Sanchez
Sanchez spurns the Cubs to take a five-year, $80M deal with Detroit. I look at that deal and wonder how the Mets can honestly say R.A. Dickey isn’t worth a two-year, $26M extension. Isn’t Sanchez as much a gamble as Dickey? At times, Sanchez as great, but overall he’s wildly inconsistent and has dangerous mechanics. This smells a lot like an A.J. Burnett free-agent signing.
Red Sox Sign Ryan Dempster
By signing Dempster, the Red Sox are removed from R.A. Dickey rumors. Additionally, there is one less reliable starting pitcher on the free-agent market. Which is more significant for the Mets? The fact there’s one less team interested in R.A., or one more pitcher off the market? Hard to say.
Yankees Sign Kevin Youkilis
I know, I know — it seems like a week ago that the Yankees signed Youkilis to a one-year, $12M contract. It’s going to be weird seeing him in pinstripes, but the signing makes sense for both parties. Remarkably, the 33-year-old Youkilis is the youngest free-agent the Yankees have signed this winter.
Cardinals Sign Ty Wigginton
It’s interesting – Wiggy played just over 200 games for the Mets ten years ago, and we just can’t help but follow every stop he’s made around MLB. Wigginton gets a surprising two-year deal for $5M. Good for him.
In other recent Hot Stove movement that I may or may not have covered (it’s all becoming a blur), the Pirates sign Jason Grilli; Reds sign Ryan Ludwick and Jack Hannahan; Indians get Mark Reynolds; Diamondbacks sign Brandon McCarthy; Twins sign Kevin Correia; Roayls sign George Sherrill, Dan Wheeler, and Xavier Nady; Red Sox get Koji Uehara.
I think that’s it for the moment. If I missed anything, please post in the comments.
With money freed up from Jason Bay, David Wright and R.A. Dickey isn’t there enough money to sign a speedy base-stealing lead-off man who is a very good centerfielder?
Or are the Mets content with signing one or two cheap outfielders to add to their collection of “4th outfielders” and putting the rest of the money in the Wilpons pockets.
Oh, and they also raised ticket prices. Wonder where that money will go?
Just because the Wilpons have a brand-new stadium, their own TV network, and all of the opportunity provided by being in the Greatest City In The World doesn’t mean they aren’t paupers.
As you surmise, they will sign one or two cheap fourth outfielders to add to the collection. It’s all about “creating flexibility” to spend in 2014. Or 2015. Or 2016. Or maybe 2017. Well, I suppose they’ll have to wait until they get out from under David Wright’s mega-deal. When is that?
Dickey wasn’t exactly expensive and they have to pay Buck, apparently, and also probably will need to pay for a reliever or two, maybe another starter and perhaps a back-up catcher. Seeing how much even rather average players are getting this off-season, not sure how much money they have there for Bourn, who is one of the top players still available.
The Mets obtained a catcher, have an infield, the making of a starting five, some relief (but need to spend money there for more), deposed of Bay, re-signed Wright and got some good material for Dickey, but well, let’s find SOMETHING to whine about here, something to denounce.
It is not very “creative” to note that they will have 40M more in 2014, either.