Offseason Thread

[Chef99]

Upgrade over Tejada.

But honestly, I'd prefer Flores get more time at SS this Spring and hopefully play the position full-time for us come opening day.

I just hate Tejada.

Watch, I'll end up drafting Drew in every fantasy league I'm in.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Details of Valverde's contract

SUNDAY: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets the breakdown of Valverde's performance bonuses: $75K for appearing in 40, 45, and 50 games; $100K for appearing in 55, 60, and 65 games; $100K for finishing 30 and 35 games; $250K for finishing 40 and 45 games; and $300K for finishing 50 games. Valverde also has a March 26 opt-out, tweets Sherman.

And for Farnsworth

FEBRUARY 16: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets the breakdown of Farnsworth's incentives: $75K for making 40, 45, 50, and 55 appearances; $100K for making 60 and 65 appearances; $100K for 30 and 35 games finished; $250K for 40 and 45 games finished; and $300K for 50 games finished. Farnsworth can also ask for his release within 24 hours, if he is not on the Mets' 25-man roster on March 23, tweets Sherman.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Watch, I'll end up drafting Drew in every fantasy league I'm in.

If he becomes a Met, i'll draft him

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Hopefully we'll all see a new and improved Tejada this year......

Sleek Tejada tunes out Drew chatter - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

I know I'll be rooting for him.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mon.Feb. 17

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Terry Collins did not eliminate Jenrry Mejia from the fifth-starter’s competition. But the manager did express an openness to consider Mejia for a bullpen role if Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lannan or another candidate emerges as the final piece in the rotation.

“One thing we know about him is he can pitch out of the bullpen. We’ve seen it,” Collins said Monday, after the first official pitchers-and-catchers workout.

Jenrry Mejia will be a bullpen consideration if he doesn't make the rotation.




The starter-versus-reliever debate with Mejia has been going on for four years, since he made the majors in 2010 in the bullpen in Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel’s final year running things. Pitching coach Dan Warthen at one point had been blunt in saying Mejia’s max effort in his delivery made him an injury risk as a starter and more apt for bullpen use.

Collins said Monday he does feel like the 2.30 ERA Mejia posted in five major-league starts last season before requiring surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow answered the question as to whether Mejia could be a starter.

“There were some people in this organization who felt maybe he couldn’t be a starter because there’s such maximum effort in his delivery. He proved them wrong, that he can go out there and start and can get you deep into a game,” Collins said. “So he’s got that to his benefit.

“Now it’s, ‘What’s our best fit?’ Is it, ‘We’ve got five good guys. He’s the sixth. Do we have a spot in the bullpen for an arm like that with that kind of stuff?’

“That might be a fit for him.”

Asked what Mejia can do to win the fifth-starter’s role, Collins said: “No. 1, show us that he can stay healthy through camp. And the second is probably pitch better than the other guys.”

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Chris Young is receptive to playing anywhere in the outfield, but his clear preference remains center field.

“I understood the situation coming in, but I let the team know center field was where I’m most comfortable,” said Young, who signed a one-year, $7.25 million deal in November. “I made that obvious. And I understood that you have some guys out here right now that are very capable of playing center field as well -- I mean, three or four guys. With that being understood, I’ll get my work in center field. But at the same time I need to get work in other positions.”

Young’s best chance of playing center field is if Terry Collins gets his wish and uses Eric Young Jr. as the leadoff hitter. That likely would mean the outfield configuration is EY Jr. in left field, CY in center and Curtis Granderson in right field.

Chris Young addresses the media Monday in Port St. Lucie.




If Juan Lagares is the starter, Lagares likely mans center with CY in left field.

“I think we can be one of the best in baseball in the outfield,” the ex-Diamondback said. “You’re talking about guys with a lot of experience out there, a lot of speed, guys with good arms. Hopefully we can get on the good side of our pitchers, and hopefully they’ll love us out there.”

If EY Jr. is not the leadoff hitter, Collins mentioned CY and Ruben Tejada as potential alternatives.

“I’ve led off throughout my entire career,” said CY, who has a career .314 on-base percentage in 258 games (252 starts) in the No. 1 slot. “My rookie year was the year that I probably led off the most. And then I hit 32 homers and 65 RBIs. From that point I bounced around. In Arizona I hit leadoff from time to time. In Oakland I hit leadoff a couple of times when Coco [Crisp] was out. I’m comfortable anywhere.”

As for his Mets goal, CY said it is being “more consistent.”

He hit only .200 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 335 at-bats with the A’s in 2013.

“In my past, home runs have been able to be there. I’ve been able to have power,” he said. “I haven’t had a problem trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark. But it’s those in-between at-bats that I’ve had trouble with at times.

“I worked a lot this offseason with a few different guys to change my hitter’s approach to a more base-hit approach, because the power is going to be there. If I can be more consistent and get the average up, I think it changes my whole dynamic. I feel like if I can do that, I can help this team a lot more.”

 

[Chef99]

I really appreciate these news reports, Yoga and Johnny. Having been exiled in Texas for a few years now, I just don't read the Post and the News every day the way I used to, even though I can get 'em online. It just ain't the same.

Anyway, nice job!

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

My pleasure

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Tues. 2/18

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A Mets official severely downplayed a report that the Mets were engaged in continued dialogue with free-agent outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Asked if it was a stretch to say "conversations" were ongoing, the official said: "Very much so."

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.

FIRST PITCH: The first official pitchers and catchers workout is in the books. Now, it’s on to Day 2 Tuesday morning at the Mets’ spring-training complex in Port St. Lucie.

Position players officially report Thursday, with the first full-squad workout Saturday, although most of those players already are here as well.

Tuesday’s news reports:

• Terry Collins could not find enough superlatives to describe Noah Syndergaard’s bullpen session on the day pitchers and catchers staged their first official workout.

Mike Puma in the Post had a team official estimate Syndergaard’s 2014 innings cap at 145, which may mean five-inning outings with Las Vegas. Syndergaard threw 124 2/3 innings last season, including the Double-A playoffs and the Futures Game, and 30-inning jumps from the previous year are customary. So 155 innings is probably the extreme limit.

Read more on Syndergaard in the Daily News, Journal, Star-Ledger, Record, Newsday and MLB.com.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets have pretty much everyone in camp, including position players, even though those players are not required to report until Thursday.

According to a team official, the only player among the 64 invited in camp who has not yet arrived or been seen at the complex is Omar Quintanilla.

Wilmer Flores just completed a second winter stint at a training facility in Plymouth, Mich., and is due to be at the complex Tuesday morning.

Otherwise, Zach Lutz became the latest to arrive, also showing up at the clubhouse Tuesday morning.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

More......

Wilmer 'sure' he can play shortstop - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Wheeler doesn't mind being 'old news' - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Hudgens says d'Arnaud should improve - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

LGM!!

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Tues. 2/18

Would love an OF of Young/Granderson/Cruz.

Oh man, that would be fun to have in the lineup.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

“This kid is throwing 97 mph today with a hook from hell,” Terry Collins later said.
Collins, as well as most of his coaching staff, the team’s front office and Fred and Jeff Wilpon all watched Syndergaard throw.
“It was a lot of fun being on the mound, it was a little nerve-racking at times too,” Syndergaard told MetsBlog’s Robert Brender. “I feel like I did a pretty good job at tuning it out and just focus on me and Anthony Recker.”
According to Syndergaard, his goal is to make the big-league roster out of camp. However, if he doesn’t, he told Brender, “I know there’s a bigger picture involved and when the Mets decide that I’m ready my time will come.”

I'm getting more and more excited for ''Thor''

 

[Chef99]

He must be the greatest shortstop to ever play the game...

Stephen Drew rumors: 4 teams interested in the shortstop - SBNation.com

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Feb. 19

Report: Orioles still in on Ike - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Mazzoni will get bullpen consideration - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Wilmer Flores appears ticketed for Triple-A - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Collins tells Kirk he's not forgotten - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Sandy Alderson would like to continue as general manager of the Mets for two or three more years, a source said (Puma, feb. 18).

Jeff Wilpon recently told MLB.com he’s happy with what Alderson has done since taking over late 2010.

“We’re in a better state than we’ve been, and we’re ready to move forward with the plan that Sandy put in place three years ago,” Wilpon saod. “This is going into the fourth season of his plan, and we’re primed to take advantage of that.”

There have been rumors that Alderson could take over for Bud Selig when the commissioner retires in January 2015.

Alderson is under contract with the Mets through 2014 and has a team option for 2015.

Metsblog | Latest News, Rumors and Opinion about the Mets

I would LOVE for Sandy to stay, he's done a pretty damn good job rebuilding this team.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

In the corner, as FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal talked about Ike Davis, possible interest from the Pirates and O’s, and what he needs to do to be better in 2014, two Mets players sat eating, watching and listening. It was interesting to me to see these guys, teammates of Davis, consuming the same chatter we consume. It’s different for them, though. Ike is their teammate. I’m sure these players have an opinion. Rosenthal isn’t going to make it stronger or weaker. But, still, the talk is there and it must have an impact…

Matt Harvey has been cleared to begin his throwing program (Rubin).

The Mets are Red Sox are among the four teams currently showing interest in free-agent SS Stephen Drew (Bowden, Feb. 18), but the Mets are unlikely to sign him at his asking price.

Metsblog | Latest News, Rumors and Opinion about the Mets

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

YGB!!

Dice-K raring to face batters

Dice-K gets a refreshment after Wednesday's warm-up.




PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- After the other pitchers had completed their bullpen sessions around noon Wednesday at the Mets’ spring-training complex, Daisuke Matsuzaka continued, eventually throwing 50 pitches in all.

Dice-K, likely the leading candidate for the fifth-starter’s spot on the Opening Day roster, said he had a specific goal this offseason of arriving in camp ready to compete. He threw a half-dozen bullpen sessions even before arriving in Florida.

“My goal for the offseason was to come into camp ready to throw against batters,” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter Wednesday afternoon. “I was able to achieve that. I think I came in ready to be able to throw against batters at this point.

“Other than that, I worked on a lot on mechanics -- just figuring things out, the use of my body.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to spend my offseason where my body was 100 percent. And therefore I was able to spend a lot of time on maintenance, treatment and training. That caused everything to, I guess, move smoother. Everything moved forward and my preparation is a lot better this offseason.

"I'm in the process of getting back to the pitcher that I think I can be," the 33-year-old Matsuzaka added. "I think I'm making steps in the right direction so far. I’m feeling it right now."

Noah Syndergaard concentrates during a bullpen session Wednesday in Port St. Lucie.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Paul DePodesta suggested there are too many variables to give a precise number. But, as a rule of thumb, the Mets VP acknowledged Noah Syndergaard will be permitted somewhere in the vicinity of a 30-inning increase over last season’s total.

Syndergaard threw 124 2/3 innings in 2013, including in the Eastern League playoffs and with an inning in the Futures Game at Citi Field.

“I would say as a rough estimate, that’s fine,” DePodesta said. “A lot of it’s going to be on how he actually racks up those innings -- how efficient he is in the pitch counts, how much rest he’s getting between starts, how much side work we do with him.

“So there are a lot of other things that we factor into it. But, as a general marker, that’s roughly fair. I mean, we may go over that. We end up feeling we have to come short of that. But I’d say it’s at least a fair estimate.”

In order to conserve innings for Syndergaard for Double-A Binghamton’s playoffs last season, the top prospect was permitted only 59 pitches in a July 28 start, despite being in the midst of a one-hitter. A week later, he threw 66 pitches and was pulled from a two-hit shutout after five innings. Six days later it was 56 pitches. Then it was 66 pitches. Then Syndergaard was skipped for a start entirely.

This year, those second-half starts should come at the big-league level. So the Mets may be shaving his outings earlier in the season in order to ensure innings are left in the tank late.

Said DePodesta: “We haven’t laid it all out yet, but I think we are going to try to manage through the course of the season -- not just with him, but with some other guys this year -- so we don’t get to the position in August where we say, ‘OK, we want to be saving these guys for playoffs.’ So we may do some things in May and in June toward that end.”

That means more than capping outings at 60 pitches.

Syndergaard and others could find themselves in the bullpen at Triple-A for a turn or two of the rotation, pitching an inning on their regular day instead of a full start.

“When I was in Los Angeles, one of the things we did was that we took almost all of our starters in the minor leagues and we skipped them once or twice through the course of the summer,” DePodesta said. “But during the time they were being skipped, they would pitch out of the bullpen. Now, they may only go an inning. It would be a scheduled inning.

“The purpose behind it was, one, to manage their innings. And, two, was to actually give them experience of what it was like to warm up in the middle of the game and then come in and pitch in the bullpen. Because a lot of guys when they first get to the big leagues, that’s what they do. And a lot of them have never done it before. So at least give them that experience, and also give them a blow in the middle of the season and give them a chance to catch their breath and let their arms and their legs recover.”

Will DePodesta rule out Syndergaard temporarily in a major league bullpen later this year? That’s above his pay grade, DePodesta suggested.

“That’s not my call, ultimately,” DePodesta said. “There are certain guys that I would say we’re more open to it than others. But, again, ultimately that’s not my decision.”

DePodesta said all of the Mets’ upper-level starting prospects would be good bullpen candidates because of their solid command.

Said DePodesta: “They’re all above-average strike-throwers in terms of the guys that are here -- [Logan] Verrett, [Cory] Mazzoni, [Rafael] Montero, [Jacob] deGrom, Syndergaard.”

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

I can't wait to see Thor's ''hook from hell'' on the mound in the near future.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Our staff seems to love throwing to TDA. If he gets his bat going, he will easily be a top 5 Catcher in the league. I really hope he does.

 

[Chef99]

Well, here's interesting news...

Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com hears that the Mariners are likely to trade Nick Franklin or Brad Miller before Opening Day.
Rubin says that Franklin is the likelier of the two to be dealt. The Mets are looking for an upgrade at shortstop and Rubin thinks that Franklin could be a fit. However, many question the soon-to-be 23-year-old's ability to hack it defensively at the position. He played 96 games at second and three at shortstop last year for the Mariners but has more minor league experience at short (261 games) than second (122 games).


I'd much, much MUCH rather have Miller, but Franklin can hit. I'd take the shot.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Well, here's interesting news...

Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com hears that the Mariners are likely to trade Nick Franklin or Brad Miller before Opening Day.
Rubin says that Franklin is the likelier of the two to be dealt. The Mets are looking for an upgrade at shortstop and Rubin thinks that Franklin could be a fit. However, many question the soon-to-be 23-year-old's ability to hack it defensively at the position. He played 96 games at second and three at shortstop last year for the Mariners but has more minor league experience at short (261 games) than second (122 games).


I'd much, much MUCH rather have Miller, but Franklin can hit. I'd take the shot.

As they say.....Stay tuned.