Randy Wolf (MLB Headshots)

With a nod to Duran Duran, the Mets have opened up to free agent Randy Wolf in order to fill the void in the rotation.

According to Marty Noble, Wolf acknowledged that interest and is also intrigued about returning to the northeast.

As you may remember, Wolf, 32, spawned the Wolf Pack in Philly where a group of fans would wear werewolf masks when he pitched. Hopefully that doesn’t come to Citi Field.

Wold pitched for San Diego and Houston last season and went 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA, but was 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA with the Astros.

Posted under New York Mets

LAS VEGAS – After meeting with closers Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman yesterday, the Mets seem to be close with free agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez.

After offering the bidding Sunday night with a 2-year deal for around $24 million, the club has upped the offer guartanteeing the third year to make it a $36 million contract.

With Mets COO Jeff Wilpon on the trip with Omar Minaya, the Mets seemed determined to come away with a closer and Rodriguez is the best one on the market. Originally the former Angel wanted a five year contract worth about $75 million, but because the closer market was satuated, the Mets seemed willing to wait as the money dropped.

Now after two meeting with Rodriguez and agent Paul Kinzer, the price seems to be in the Mets comfort zone and by getting him so cheaply, it opens up doors for the club to revamp the entire bullpen, which was one of the worst in the National League last season.

Last season, the free agent reliever went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA and a Major League record 62 saves.

A deal may be announced later today.

Posted under Commentary, Free Agency

LAS VEGAS – Mets manager Jerry Manuel arrived at the Bellagio late last night [around 11:30 p.m.] in advance of his conference with the media at 4:00 p.m. today.

- The Yankees will reportedly offer Ben Sheets a two-year offer today.

- The Mets will meet with free agent reliever Chad Cordero today. They met with closers Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman yesterday. They will probably want Cordero in a set-up role.

- The Red Sox seem to be interested in Brian Schneider.

- Adam Rubin reports in the Daily News, Fuentes could also recieve a two-year deal.

- There seems to be a lot of clubs asking the Mets about Aaron Heilman.

Posted under Free Agency, Hot Stove

Not too much to report from the weekend, but this story in the Denver Post, mentioned Brian Fuentes will be visiting the Mets soon as part of the free agent process.

Also the Mets have until today to offer arbitration to the free agents they plan on retaining. Of the 11 that filed, Oliver Perez is the most likely to get an offer. Of the others only Pedro Martinez and Damion Easley played significant roles with the Mets last season.

Personally, outside of Perez, I would expect Easley to be offered something, but not Pedro, because the Mets would be in a pickle if he accepts.

Posted under Hot Stove, Link, New York Mets

Not much to report here, except the Mets are increasing their deliberate ways to get a free agent closer, be it K-Rod or Brian Fuentes.

It should get interesting come Monday, since general manager Omar Minaya wants to set himself up for the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where he will have dicussions with K-Rod’s agent Paul Kinzer.

Of course, no one can blame the Mets for not doing anything, yet, because they don’t want to bid against themselves. In fact, they rather wait for the market to come to them and sign a closer on their terms.

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets

Not much in the papers. Ken Davidoff in Newsday went over the options for the Mets again, including closer, starter and outfield.

Pretty much it’s K-Rod  or Brian Fuentes for the ninth.

“The Mets expressed some interest in free agent Kerry Wood, and they asked in trade discussions about the White Sox’s Bobby Jenks, Seattle’s J.J. Putz and Colorado’s Huston Street. However, they are wary of Wood’s injury history, and they’d rather pay the money for the free agents than give up prospects in a trade.”

If anything else comes about I will post it.

Posted under Hot Stove

A very interesting article in today’s Post. Joel Sherman writes that K-Rod registered a 1-2-3 inning only 29.2 percent of the time [Courtesy of Elias] and that’s a career low.  

The quote:

“Rodriguez registered 1-2-3 frames in a career-low 29.2 percent of his innings (all figures courtesy of Elias). That ranked 151st out of 253 pitchers who worked at least 60 innings in 2008. Fuentes (41.3) was 13th, Wood (38.1) was 28th, Street (38.0), even with diminished stuff, was 29th, and another free agent, Brandon Lyon (37.7) was 31st.”

Could be a red flag. That said, at the end of the day, I expect Brian Fuentes to be the Mets closer in 2009.

Posted under New York Mets

Ken Davidoff in Newsday reports the Mets are looking at a trade for the Whits Sox Bobby Jenks over free agents Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes.

To quote:

“But people in the loop say Omar Minaya is wary of investing a huge contract in free agent Francisco Rodriguez and is intrigued by the idea of trading young talent to Chicago for Jenks. An official from an American League club – not the Angels or White Sox – opines that the Mets would be better off giving up high-level prospects for Jenks than throwing big dollars at K-Rod.”

Personally, I would like to see a younger player like Jenks, who would be a Met for years, but is it worth giving up Daniel Murphy, Jon Niese ,and/or Fernando Martinez, especially after emptying the farm for Johan Santana last year?

Posted under New York Mets

I was thinking about this at breakfast: If the Mets were to sign just one free agent, who would it be? Immediately, I discarded CC Sabathia, K-Rod and Manny Ramirez, because I don’t see them paying that much.

They need bullpen help, and you could look at it a couple of ways. One, is to get reliable starters to shave the BP innings, and if Maine comes back healthy, they’ll have three. Should they sign Lowe, theoretically that’s four reliable starters, which cuts the BP innings, but still leaves you vulnerable on a fifth day and in the ninth inning throughout.

So, if I’m forced to pick one, I’m going with the closer. I know it’s tempting to think K-Rod, but my confidence level in him is he’ll break down. The next best closer on the market is Brian Fuentes. No Mariano Rivera, but who is?

My choice, if to sign just one free agent, is to go with Fuentes to plug the leak in the ninth inning. Seven games got away. If all else remains equal and Fuentes cuts that in half, that should put them ahead of the Phillies.

Remember, this exercise is about adding just one player. If you have somebody different, let’s hear it.

Posted under New York Mets

The following Mets have filed for free agency as of today:

Today (Nov. 1):
-RHP Orlando Hernandez: Nice knowing you.

Friday (Oct. 31):
-RHP Pedro Martinez: Would want him back as a fifth starter.
-Moises Alou: Say good-bye, but you know Omar.
-RHP Tony Armas: No interest.
-RHP Luis Ayala: Would re-sign for bullpen depth, but if it doesn’t work out no real loss.
-INF Ramon Martinez: Would be interested for bench depth, but no worries if it didn’t happen.
-LHP Ricardo Rincon: Being lefty helps him.

Thursday (Oct. 30):
-LHP Oliver Perez: You know what he is. Will be pricey.
-INF Damion Easley: I’ve always liked him, but don’t see him returning.
-RHP Matt Wise: Good-bye.

Posted under New York Mets