Several sources are reporting that Matt Diaz has signed a two-year deal with the Pirates.
Though Diaz rakes LHPs it’s kind of a puzzling move in that the Bucs aren’t going anywhere in ’11 and Diaz will be 33 in March. Wouldn’t they have been better off holding on to Lastings Milledge, who is 7 years younger with a more complete skill set? Maybe the Pirates see Diaz as a more valuable piece of trade bait come July.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs have signed slugging first baseman Carlos Pena to a one-year, $10M contract.
Since the Cubs are struggling to stay under a tight budget, the signing could spark them to make a salary dump deal, possibly involving Kosuke Fukudome or Tom Gorzelanny.
Last year, the Mets had a high pick in the Rule 5 Draft and inexplicably sold their rights to it to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who plucked pitcher Carlos Monasterios from the Phillies organization.
Monasterios wound up making the Dodgers and sticking around all year, spending half of his time in the bullpen and the other half in their starting rotation. He’s no Johan Santana, but Monasterios did show some promise — certainly, the Mets could have used him and wouldn’t mind having him now.
But bygones are bygones, and the Mets have a new, and purportedly more efficient front office in place — the type that may take advantage of a high pick in the Rule 5 Draft.
It’s hard to say who stands out — there are so many players available — but let’s go over a few intriguing players who may pique the Mets’ interest. Continue reading
According to various reports, the Mets have reached an agreement with reliever D.J. Carrasco on a 2-year, $2.5M deal.
Though I’m not terribly excited about this move, it’s a cheap, fairly low-risk contract for someone who is more or less filler material in the bullpen. I have to say I’m a little surprised the Mets gave a two-year deal to a fairly mediocre pitcher who will turn 34 soon after Opening Day. But I guess that’s what the Mets can afford right now, and they don’t have much MLB-ready help for the ‘pen down on the farm.
Carrasco is a tall (6’4″) righthander with a wicked slider and inconsistent command of a low-90s fastball. He’s been durable and has improved his numbers every year since returning from a year in Japan and moving to the bullpen full-time (he was originally a starter with the KC Royals) in 2008. He’ll get swings and misses (7.5 K/9 last year) but he also gives away free passes (3.9 BB/9 in ’10). In addition to his durability, another positive is that he can go more than one inning at a time and he rarely gives up the longball. Every once in a while he drops his arm angle, which is nice for entertainment value but practically useless from a performance standpoint (think: Oliver Perez dropping down).
The Mets need all the arms they can find, and this one should help them get through the rough times over the next two years.
By the way, you might remember D.J. Carrasco for helping the Mets win on July 31st in his first appearance as a Diamondback. Also a bit of trivia: former Met farmhand Mike Carp hit his first MLB homerun off Carrasco. Don’t ask me how or why I know this.
According to an article posted today by The Wall Street Journal, the trustee recovering money on behalf of victims of Bernard Madoff’s fraud sued New York Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon and his real-estate investment firm, Sterling Equities Associates.
From the article:
Sterling Equities and its partners are among the so-called “net winners” whom Mr. Picard claims withdrew more than they originally invested with Mr. Madoff.
In a court filing last year, Mr. Picard alleged a partnership associated with the baseball team, Mets LP, gained a net $48 million through its investments with Mr. Madoff.
The partnership deposited about $523 million over the years with Mr. Madoff, a longtime friend of Mr. Wilpon’s, and withdrew about $571 million, Mr. Picard said at the time.
So while many rumors circulated that the Wilpons lost a significant amount of money as a result of the Madoff scam, the truth could be the opposite — if these allegations are proven.
Though, I imagine it’s possible that some of Sterling Equities’ assets may have been frozen as a result of the investigation. If there are any financial types out there who can provide some insight, please do so in the comments.
For what it’s worth, Sterling Equities has issued a statement:
“Regardless of the outcome of these discussions, we want to emphasize that the New York Mets will have all the necessary financial and operational resources to fully compete and win,” Sterling Equities said. “That is our commitment to our fans and to New York.”
The Mets’ payroll for players is already nearing $140M, so I don’t think this news significantly affects the current state of affairs; it’s not as though the team was looking to spend far beyond the current budget.
NBCSports is reporting that Ty Wigginton has reached an agreement on a 2-year deal with the Colorado Rockies.
The former Met will be getting $7.5M over the two years, which includes a 2013 option for $4M.
Wigginton split the year among first base, second base, third base, and DH for the Orioles in 2010, hitting 22 homers and posting a .727 OPS in 154 games. It was only the second time in his career that he played in more than 150 games — the last time was in 2003 with the Mets.
Some may wonder if the Mets would have considered Wigginton as at least a part-time option for second base — he did play the position 40 times in ’10 and has been there 168 times in his career — while also filling in at the outfield and infield corners. For one, the Mets likely wouldn’t have offered Wiggy more than a one-year deal, and, after toiling for some bad teams in Baltimore, Houston, Tampa Bay, and Pittsburgh, playing for a team positioned to win now was probably a consideration for Wigginton. The Rockies may not be a guarantee to make the postseason but they don’t appear to be in rebuilding mode.
Adam Rubin at ESPN-NY is reporting that the Boston Red Sox are “talking internally” about the possibility of obtaining Carlos Beltran.
I wondered if the Red Sox would be interested in Beltran a few weeks ago, but a friend of mine from Boston (and diehard Bosox fan) convinced me that Theo Epstein had enough injury-prone outfielders to worry about. Plus, there is the cost of Beltran — a hefty $18.5M.
It would seem that the Mets would need to eat a significant portion of Beltran’s salary for such a deal to happen. I still think the Mets are better served by keeping him now, but look to make a deal at the July deadline.
Though, it would be ironic to see Beltran go to Boston, and platoon in an outfield corner with Mike Cameron.
According to ESPN’s Jorge Arangue, the Mets are close to signing free-agent catcher Ronny Paulino.
If indeed this deal becomes reality, it gives the Mets a very good backup to Josh Thole — and one who, if motivated, can challenge Thole for the starting job.
Of course, that’s a big “if”. Paulino has always had the physical talent to be a solid, perhaps above-average, Major League catcher. He has a strong and accurate arm, balanced setup behind the plate, and can move his feet pretty well for a man his size — when he’s at a good playing weight. Offensively, he has the physical tools to hit for power and has at times shown an ability to get on base.
However, Paulino has also been something of an enigma. He’s been wildly inconsistent, both behind the plate and at it. Part of it, I’m sure, has been bouts of lazyness, an inability to stay focused, and a chronic weight problem. In some ways, he may remind one of Ramon Castro, though I think Paulino has better all-around defensive skills. He also reminds me a bit of Javy Lopez — another catcher who perpetually underachieved due to issues of motivation and concentration (though, Lopez was far more gifted offensively).
Maybe Paulino can reach his potential under a strict disciplinarian like Terry Collins, who knows? Maybe someone on the Mets’ medical staff will find out the guy needs medication for A.D.D.
At worst, the Mets get a RH-hitting catcher who hits very well vs. LH pitchers and provides solid if inconsistent defense — a good foil to Josh Thole. At best, the Mets may catch lightning and have an everyday catcher similar to Miguel Olivo.
Assuming the Mets sign Paulino to a cheap, one-year contract, it’s a good deal for them — particularly considering the dearth of catching available on the free agent market. Though, I’d still like to see them make a play for Dioner Navarro.
Adam Rubin has more on Paulino here.