OK, we just had our telephone conference call with Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon. Get used to seeing Minaya around for a lot longer. His extension is for three years on top of the 2009 season, plus there are team options for 2013 and 2014.
“Omar is our guy,” Wilpon said.
Minaya is focused on getting Manuel under contract, discussions/negotiations continue. The Mets reportedly first offered two years. Maybe that was just a negotiating tactic because you would think three years would be the standard.
Also, Minaya indicated that Carlos Delgado’s $12 million option will indeed be picked up, no surprise with a $4 million buyout. That, of course, doesn’t preclude the Mets from making a deal with him once they do. Minaya was asked if he might be open to dealing one of the big three, Wright, Reyes, Beltran, to solve multiple problems. He said he has to keep an open mind right now, but that he does think they’re winning players.
Minaya said he would have to factor into any acquisition how a player would handle the pressure of New York. Wilpon said these two collapses only fuel the suspicion that this group is lacking some intangibles to get it done here.
It wouldn’t be the most shocking thing if they moved Delgado at 36. But could you as a fan swallow them dealing Wright, Reyes or Beltran?
8 Comments
All of this talk about ADDING to the core, and not subtracting to it, ADDING a player who could handle New York.. Well, to me, that all points to Manny Ramirez.
Get Manny!
Heere’s my shopping list C.C., IROD,Manny, and a new bullpen.
Trading Wright, Reyes, or Beltran is not going to happen. That would be on over reaction unless someone offered Linecum or Webb plus an above average position player. As painful as the past two Septembers have been, this team has enough talent without much change beyond filling holes.
I don’t see a LF platoon with Murphy and Evans or Tatis as a good solution. I’d rather see someone with 20 HR power. If Murphy can play 2B OK but otherwise I see him as a bench player and very good bench option. A righty platoon 1B is also a good idea. I don’t see the need to mess with the catchers. They were not an offensive force but rarely is catchers more than average hitters. Castillos may be OK in 2009 but I hope a viable alternative is brought in in case Castillo really is shot physically.
As for the staff, let Ollie & Pedro go. Swap his draft picks with the ones lost signing Lowe, his GB tendancies are a match with this team. The 5th starter is up for grabs and I would take a shot at several scrao heap guys along with Neise and the other minor leaguers. Two relief pitchers that can handle hitters on both sides of the plate would fix the pen. Sanchez may be OK in 2009 since the first year back from a serious arm injury is usualy a down year. Heilman should be sent to winter ball to address his control issues and rediscover how to pitch to lefties. Then decide to trade him, try him as a starter (unlikely),or use him in the pen again. The difference between 2008 & 2007 looked like he was throwing 95 -96 mph without command instead of 92-93 with command and he forgot about his change-up. He was trying to be a dominant closer instead of an effective set-up man. I see him as salvagable. I wouldn’t count on both Sanchez and Heilman being effective though so at least one solid releif pitcher is needed. Then a closer is also a hole to fill. That is alot of holes to fill for such a high $ amount already committed. We will see how badly the Wilpons want to win when it is time to open the check book.
I would pick up delgado’s option, then trade him for as much as we can get. Then I would make Murphy a first baseman. Finally, I would sign Manny so we can finally have a CLUTCH hitter. This goes along with getting relief help and at least one starter to go with Johan, Pelfrey and Maine(mabye Lowe, Sheets?) no Perez.
Trading Wright/Reyes – who could really give you value, particularly when you consider that they are cheap all things considered.
Trading Beltran – probably dumb on the face of it, but he does have the potential to bring back superstar talent. I’d oppose it in the abstract-
especially because he’s so routinely undervalued-but then it’d be dumb of Omar not to listen to something. Somebody who bitterly disappointed this year might do something stupid. Still, I’m skeptical that you can get value.Re-signing Delgado – probably not an altogether horrible move; not particularly inspired though. The Mets could potentially move him though.
Starters – goodbye to Pedro (with blessings; he helped get this thing headed in the right direction), goodbye to Ollie (probably too expensive); those spots will be difficult to replace.
Bullpen – goodbye to Sho, goodbye to Heilman; Smith is back no doubt; I wouldn’t mind seeing Stokes and Ayala back; probably hello to Bobby Parnell, and Kunz could pitch his way onto the roster; I’m generally not inclined to shell out mega-dollars for a closer but there literally are two guys worth any amount and a bunch of pumpkins with directions that read “add water—return before midnight.
2nd base – pay someone to take Castillo; try Murphy there or kick the tires on Orlando Hudson
LF – look for a serious bat
theres no way they trade the best young 3b and SS who finished #1 and #2 in hits for the NL. Also beltran has become the best CF in baseball and you cant trade him either. If any of the BIG 3 are traded, consider me an ex-met fan.
Does anybody know the skinny on Mo Vaughn ? Does Minaya have plans for him as a backup 1st baseman ?
What about Felix Heredia ? Can he be a closer ?
Can Minaya get Ugeth Urbina springed from prison in Venezuela and in the Mets bullpen ?
Let’s get Bobby Bonilla back on the coaching lines in 2009.