The Red Sox have dealt centerfielder Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez. Who knew the Royals had such a surplus of quality bullpen arms? The trade is the second made by Kansas City this offseason. A few weeks ago they traded reliever Leo Nunez for first baseman Mike Jacobs. A few things … Read more
The San Francisco Giants have signed Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year, $8M contract. The lefthanded reliever is the first free agent to sign on the open market this winter. From the Giants’ perspective, the signing is eerily similar to one made by the Mets during the 2006-2007 offseason. First, it’s a LOOGY coming off an … Read more
In a surprise move, Brewers closer Salomon Torres retired from baseball last week. Yeah, we’re a week late here but it takes a while for the pony express to get here from Wisconsin. Torres chose to quit baseball in order to devote more time to serving God and his family. Torres had the best season … Read more
According to Victor David Melo Zurita Jose Manuel Fernandez, the beat writer for El Universal, Francisco Rodriguez took a physical in New York City and may be ready to sign with the New York Mets. Before we get too excited, Victor David Melo Zurita Jose Manuel Fernandez isn’t exactly the Jon Heyman of Caracas. Though … Read more
Several sources are suggesting that the price for Francisco Rodriguez is falling quickly, and the Mets would do well to wait him out. At five years, $75M, K-Rod is a risk, due to his violent throwing motion and the 408 career appearances in his young career. At, say, three years and $40M, signing him is … Read more
The Mets need to add this winter, at minimum, one starting pitcher and one relief pitcher. They would like to do that without trading away any of their few near-MLB-ready prospects, and without having to commit to an overvalued, long-term contract. Enter Japanse hurlers Koji Uehara and Kenshin Kawakami. Uehara is a veteran starter-turned-closer who … Read more
According to various reports, closer Trevor Hoffman will not return to the San Diego Padres. This of course is meaningful to Mets fans because the Flushing Fabulosos are in need of a closer. And why not the most prolific fireman in MLB history? It could make sense from the standpoint that Hoffman would be relatively … Read more
Mets fans — myself included — tend to look at the winter market in a vacuum, seeing things only from the Flushing perspective. Unfortunately, there are 29 other teams in MLB, and many of them are — like the Mets — looking for a closer. When it comes to free agents, the Mets have the … Read more
