Category: Latest News

Report: Mets-Royals Trade Talks

May 09, 2010 - Queens, United States - epa02150708 New York Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez firing a pitch to home plate to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Citi Field, in Queens, New York, 09 May 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsFox Sports Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Mets and Royals are still talking about an Oliver Perez for Gil Meche deal. That isn’t news. It’s been out there for a few days. It wouldn’t be an earth shattering trade considering both pitchers are considered diminished goods with bad contracts.

The big news is that there are several other names included in the discussion including Jeff Francoeur, Luis Castillo, Kyle Farnsworth, and Jose Guillen.

It would be interesting to see if they could work out a deal that was a minor facelift for the Mets. I’m not sure that a trade like this would have any major implications for the season other than to shake things up. But sometimes, that’s all it takes to get things moving in the right direction.

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Chone Figgins To Mets Trade Could Work

Jul 16, 2010; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Chone Figgins (9) bats during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. The Angels defeated the Mariners 3-2. . Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIf Omar Minaya was smart, he would contact the Mariners’ Jack Zduriencik about trading bad contracts before the non-waiver trading deadline. I have to imagine that the Mariners would love to dump Chone Figgins after the fight in the dugout on Friday with manager Don Wakamatsu. Obviously, the Mets would love to unload their own bad contracts, i.e. Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.

The funny thing is that the money is pretty even. Castillo and Perez are owed a combined approximately $25 million over the next year and a half. Figgins is owed about $29 million through 2013 plus he has a vesting option for 2014 for $9 million if he gets 600 plate appearances in 2013. The money is fairly close.

The Mets would appear to be getting the better player in the deal but they’d be absorbing more money and potentially more risk if Figgins continues to be a problem. He’s also 32 years-old and his offensive numbers have fallen off a cliff this year. There’s the added risk that he’s in a severe performance decline and the Mets are stuck with a long-term contract for him.

I think it’s a nice “change of scenery” deal for both teams that the Mets had luck with last season when they moved Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur. I don’t think it would be as easy as the deal with the Braves. But the Mets would probably have to throw in a prospect to make it work. Continue reading “Chone Figgins To Mets Trade Could Work”

John Maine Surgery Ends 2010 Season, Mets Career

NEW YORK - MAY 09: John Maine #33 of the New ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The beat reporters are all writing that John Maine had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder yesterday and is done for the season. His career with the Mets is done as well. It’s a virtual lock that the Mets will non-tender Maine after this season. He has absolutely no value to the organization anymore, especially being arbitration eligible.

Maine’s career with the Mets started with such promise after being acquired from Baltimore in the Kris Benson deal in 2005. The highlight of his Mets career was his 2007 season going 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA.

His Mets career stats are below:

Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WHIP
2006 25 NYM NL 6 5 .545 3.60 16 15 1 1 1 0 90.0 69 40 36 15 33 71 1.133
2007 26 NYM NL 15 10 .600 3.91 32 32 0 1 1 0 191.0 168 90 83 23 75 180 1.272
2008 27 NYM NL 10 8 .556 4.18 25 25 0 0 0 0 140.0 122 70 65 16 67 122 1.350
2009 28 NYM NL 7 6 .538 4.43 15 15 0 0 0 0 81.1 67 42 40 8 38 55 1.291
2010 29 NYM NL 1 3 .250 6.13 9 9 0 0 0 0 39.2 47 29 27 8 25 39 1.815
NYM (5 yrs) 39 32 .549 4.17 97 96 1 2 2 0 542.0 473 271 251 70 238 467 1.312
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/24/2010.
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Report: Dwight Gooden Abandoned Family

Jan. 20, 2010 - New York, New York, United States - Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry press conference.Citi Field, NY 01-20-2010. 2010.DWIGHT GOODEN and DARRYL STRAWBERRY.I15089KBA. © Red Carpet Pictures

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThis is the perfect storyline ahead of next weekend’s induction into the Mets Hall of Fame for Dwight Gooden. Doc’s wife tells the NY Post that she hasn’t seen him since June 22 and he’s left her and their two young children without financial support.

It sounds like Doc and his wife have been in family court recently, so they may be going through a divorce. His wife, Monique, may be talking to the media in an attempt to embarrass Doc before the Mets Hall of Fame ceremony. Who knows?

His wife’s side of the story paints a pretty ugly picture of substance abuse and abandonment of a young family by Doc:

“He’s left us with no money,” his slighted spouse said. “When I got here to Maryland, I had to go apply for social services, food stamps and health insurance for the kids. He has offered no financial assistance to us.”

We all know that Doc has had his up’s and down’s in life. It seems like whenever he starts getting to a point that the Mets organization can really bring him in something like this comes up. His arrest in March for driving under the influence with his 5 year-old son in the car didn’t help either.

I hope Doc can get his life back on track. But I feel like I’ve been saying that for years now though.

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Mets Perez Returns, Turner Out

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Starting pitcher #46...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

In a surprising move, the Mets activated Oliver Perez and shipped out Justin Turner. Turner heads back to Triple-A Buffalo. The Mets will continue to carry three catchers plus Alex Cora, Chris Carter, and Jeff Francoeur on the bench.

Keeping three catchers on the roster seems like an unsustainable strategy. Josh Thole has earned the right to be on the Mets roster. Rod Barajas has earned a trip to the waiver wire. It’s that simple.

As far as Perez goes, we’ll see how Manuel uses him. I have a feeling he’ll be doing mop-up duty and that’s about it.

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Video: Oliver Perez in Arizona

May 09, 2010 - Queens, NEW YORK, United States - epa02150562 New York Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez firing a pitch to home plate to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Citi Field, in Queens, New York, USA, 09 May 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe day we all feared is here. It looks like Oliver Perez will be activated from the disabled list today. Likely, Josh Thole will be sent down to Triple-A Buffalo but we’ll find out for sure later this afternoon.

Perez threw in the bullpen in front of Dan Warthen and Jerry Manuel yesterday. From their comments, they didn’t sound impressed. Manuel said that Perez will be the second lefty out of the bullpen and he’ll try to find spots to use him. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Perez’ return to the team.

I’m really disappointed to see Thole leave, if that’s what they decide to do. I understand that he has options and that’s a factor. But Rod Barajas certainly isn’t in the Mets long term plans. And there’s hardly anything left on his 1-year contract. They could easily release Barajas and go with Thole and Henry Blanco.

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

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Mets Oliver Perez Bullpen Session Today

New York Mets pitcher Oliver Perez reacts after giving up a double to Florida Marlins batter Cody Ross during the third inning of their MLB National League baseball game in Miami, Florida May 14, 2010. REUTERS/Rhona Wise (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsOliver Perez arrived in Arizona yesterday but hasn’t been activated from the disabled list yet. The plan is for him to work a bullpen session this afternoon and be evaluated by the team. Perez has the right to demand that his rehab period end but hasn’t done that yet. If the Mets don’t like what they see, they may ask him if he’ll extend his rehab.

Perez has been on the DL since June 1 with knee tendinitis. The injury and DL trip was so suspicious that MLB investigated but ultimately decided it was legitimate.

We’ve heard comments from Jerry Manuel that Perez will return to the bullpen when he comes off the DL. Hisanori Takahashi will make his next start in Los Angeles on Thursday despite his ineffectiveness.

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