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

It’s obvious the Mets will dip into the free agent market to sign a closer over the next few weeks and with the Amazins being the only large market team, they will have their choice.

Although I have heard some in the organization still rather trade for JJ Putz, obvious choices are the “Big Four”

1. Francisco Rodriguez – Some published reports have him at No. 1, and at three years, who can blame the club for going for the holder of the single season save record. Yet, he’s not the strikeout pitcher of a few years ago and there are questions about his long term durability. That being said, if the Mets can get him on a three-year deal, it will be worth it.
2. Brian Fuentes – He’s pitched in the National League and he’s lefthanded, which is something the Mets like. Going into the off-season, he would have been the No. 1 choice, but with K-Rod’s price coming down, Fuentes goes on the back burner. If he’s out there and his price comes down, Fuentes becomes a good eighth inning option.
3. Kerry Wood - A darkhorse a few weeks ago, Wood actually looks to be the best option, because he can still come in with the strikeout, something that K-Rod may not have anymore. Yet, Wood has always been injury prone, so Wood looks like a pass unless something major happens.
4. Trevor Hoffman – Let’s see. He’s old. He has great numbers on paper and he falls apart in big spots. He’s the perfect Met closer. That said, I don’t see where he will fit into the equation.

Any thoughts on your end?

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets

Take this for what it’s worth. According to El Universal, a Venezuelan newspaper, Francisco Rodriguez is travelling to New York to be checked out my Met doctors.

This is a rough translation by Babel Fish:

“Yes, it is truth. Francisco traveled to New York to become a control medical. That is the unique thing that lacks to give course him to its contract with the Mets”, confessed a tie source to the stellar Venezuelan lock, that comes to impose a record for the Great Leagues, to the 62 rescues that it conquered during the regular drip jar.”

Anyway, I wanted to throw this out there and thanks to my loyal guys on NY Sports Day for pointing this out.  

For those that read Spanish, here’s the original article.

On Edit: Rich Coutinho of 1050 ESPN called and confirmed this with the Mets. He reported on the air, K-Rod is coming in on Tuesday. Also take a look at this from Dan Graziano, who is usually on the mark. Even though the Mets and K-Rod’s agent are denying it, it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

Posted under New York Mets

Let’s go under the assumption the Mets won’t break up their core, meaning David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and now, Carlos Delgado, will be around to hopefully torment NL pitchers or frustrate you guys with RISP.

The Mets don’t have a deep farm system, but there is talent down below.

Of this group, F-Mart, Niese, Parnell, Kunz and Murphy, who is the Met you’d least like to deal?

Posted under New York Mets

Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who is from Rhode Island, on beating the Red Sox in the ALCS: “This might sound funny to everyone, but I don’t want to go home and have to see every single person that I know rub it in my face every single day for the rest of my life. And that would happen [if we lost]. I’m 100 percent serious. To beat those guys and not have to listen to everyone where I live, it’s a nice feeling.”

Baldelli will be a free-agent after the World Series and would fit in nicely in the Mets’ outfield.

Posted under New York Mets

Pretty quiet day in Met Land. Jerry Manuel plans to finalize his coaching staff next week, so it could be that way until then.

We talked about Manny Ramirez this afternoon. But, if those topics aren’t on your mind, or you have something else you want to talk about, feel free. Pretty much anything goes. That’s why I call it “Loose threads.”

Posted under New York Mets

Just because the Mets are quiet today doesn’t mean we have to be tonight. I’ll be hosting another Mets Chat Room tonight at 7.

The season, moves they should make this winter, the playoffs are all on the table.

Hope you’ll join me.

Posted under New York Mets

Jerry Manuel has been saying his faith in Pedro Martinez is in his experience, and that his “stuff,” is as good as it is going to get. That’s around 88, not a lot to be encouraged about.

In his last three starts Martinez has worked 15 innings, and given up 13 runs on 21 hits. Two of those starts have been Met losses to Philadelphia.

Overall, Martinez has given up 10 homers in his last eight starts. That’s not just rust.

Martinez hasn’t been giving the Mets innings, either. You can look for the Mets to go heavy into bullpen tonight, which, of course, is not comforting.

 

Posted under New York Mets

I will be hosting along with Joe McDonald another episode of NY Mets Report Radio today at 5:30 p.m. on Blog Talk Radio. Among other things we’ll talk about Pedro Martinez’s start tonight at Washington and the series with the Nationals.

So go over to our Blog Talk Radio page to hear the show and if you want to call in at 347-996-5188, we will take your Met calls.

Hope to hear from you!

Posted under New York Mets