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Category: General
Scott Boras To Meet With Mets
Super-agent Scott Boras is in New York this week for the introduction of Mark Teixeira with the New York Yankees. While he’s here he’ll stop by to meet with Mets executives to talk about Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.
The meeting is set to take place on Wednesday. We’ve heard news about the potential deal with Lowe for weeks now. So I won’t go on about it here. I do expect something to happen this week though. Whether Lowe strikes a deal with the Mets or moves on to greener pastures elsewhere should be decided very soon.
Report: Several Teams Talking To Derek Lowe
- Image via Wikipedia
SI.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting today that the Mets are falling behind in the negotiations with free agent starter Derek Lowe. Last week the New York Times reported that the Mets made an initial offer of 3-years/$36 million to Lowe.
Since then, Heyman writes, that the Phillies, Braves, Brewers, Angels, and Red Sox have engaged in talks with Lowe’s agent Scott Boras. Heyman says that the Braves aren’t likely to better the Mets offer, and the Phillies still have Adam Eaton’s spot in the rotation to fill. The Angels already have solid starters but haven’t re-signed Jon Garland.
I think the Brewers are the most likely destination for Lowe. They were ready to spend big money on CC Sabathia. And they haven’t re-signed Ben Sheets. They’re in severe need of a number one starter. They could get Lowe for half of the $100 million they offered to Sabathia and still be in decent shape.
The Brewers just have a greater need for Lowe than the Mets do. Although the Mets have a bigger wallet, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to use it on a pitcher that will be 36 years old next season. I like Lowe but I wouldn’t go to $80 million for him, as he’s reported to be looking for. The Mets will be just fine with Randy Wolf, Ben Sheets, or Jon Garland joining Santana, Maine, and Pelfrey. The fifth spot in the rotation could be settled in a spring training competition between Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Nelson Figueroa, Pedro Martinez, or Freddy Garcia. The fact is that the Mets only need the fifth starter probably twice during the month of April. They have plenty of time to settle that position in the rotation.
Andruw Jones Restructures Contract; Mets Still Pass On Deal
Several media reports today have indicated that Andruw Jones has restructured his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in an attempt to facilitate his exit from LA. The deal with allow the Dodgers to pay Jones his $15 million salary, that he was scheduled to make this year, over the next six years. The Dodgers will pay no interest on the deferred funds.
Obviously, both Jones and the Dodgers don’t want him to be in LA for the 2009 season. The word is that Jones has requested a trade and if he can’t be traded the Dodgers will likely release him.
Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that a Mets source is telling him that even with the Dodgers paying Jones’ salary this year there’s no chance that the Mets will trade for Jones.
As I wrote last week, this deal barely makes sense for the Mets even if the Dodgers would take Luis Castillo in the trade. Carlos Beltran IS the Mets center fielder and Jones won’t be happy playing a corner. There’s no question in my mind about that. Not to mention the fact that Jones is overweight and just plain hasn’t hit for two consecutive seasons now.
Report: Mets And Dodgers Talk Andruw Jones Trade
- Image via Wikipedia
Buster Olney is reporting at ESPN that the Mets and Dodgers are talking about a deal that would send Andruw Jones to New York. Olney writes that the Dodgers would be willing to eat some of the money left on the last year of Jones’ contract.
Jones has been terrible for two seasons in a row now. He gained a lot of weight and lost several steps in the outfield. Olney surmises that the Mets would put Jones in right field supplanting Ryan Church.
I can’t figure out how this makes sense for the Mets unless the Dodgers are willing to take Luis Castillo in return. But Olney writes that the Dodgers likely have no interest in Castillo because Blake DeWitt is playing second base.
Omar Minaya has made some bad signings during his career but he’s usually pretty saavy in the trade market. I’ll be surprised if he’s willing to take on Andruw Jones at this point in his career.
Mets 2009 Spring Training Schedule
I added the 2009 spring traing schedule to the site. For those of us planning to be in Florida this spring, it’ll give us dates and times for each of the games. I’ll continue adding to the schedule by adding maps to the specific locations of each stadium so you can easily get driving directions from Google Maps.
You can also access the schedule on the navigation above. Just click “Spring Training Schedule”.
Add a comment below if you’re planning on a trip to Florida for spring training.
Report: Mets And Lowe In Talks
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
This story from Yahoo writer Gordon Eades really got a lot of press yesterday. Eades reports that the Mets and Derek Lowe’s agent are in “deep negotiations” for Lowe to come to New York.
It’s the typical story without substance that happens this time of year. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Heyman have mastered the art of reporting rumors. It sounds like Eades is trying to make a splash by using the language “deep negotiations” in the story.
I’m sure that Omar Minaya has kicked the tires on Lowe. But I suspect that Lowe will end up back in Boston. Now that the Yankees have landed Mark Teixeira, Boston will need to start collecting some big-time players. Lowe is the best pitcher left on the market, so Boston should go hard after him.
Mets fans, don’t get your hopes up about Lowe coming to Queens. I suspect he’ll be back in Boston again next season.
The Mets Report 