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

Adam Rubin reports in the Daily News, Brian Fuentes wants a three-year $10 million to $11million per year, which is more than the Mets expected.

“Right now we’re in the early stages,” Minaya said on XM Radio. “My understanding is a lot of clubs are reevaluating this market, more so because of the unfortunate financial strain that is going on not only in baseball but throughout the world.”

It’s just a first thought and I would expect the price to come down. And now that Rubin is reporting it, I would think the money will drop over the next week, especially if the Minaya goes harder after K-Rod.

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets

This is the good people from CNBC, who knows a thing or two about finance:

Click here to watch

I don’t know if the government can come in and cancel the deal, but that may be another way the deal goes away. Personally, I don’t think it will happen, lots of banks took TARP money and their deals won’t be canceled.

Also about half of the 52,000 job cuts are coming from asset sales, meaning these people won’t lose their jobs through Citi, rather they are selling these divisions, so those jobs won’t be part or Citi anymore.

Here’s a really good article on this from ABC News.

Posted under Citi Field

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

My friend Rich Coutinho put in writing what he reported last night on 1050 ESPN. Rich mentions that an offer has been made for 3-years, with an option, and the Mets let agents for K-Rod and Brian Fuentes that they have last call when it comes to a contract.

“I do know that the Mets have given K-Rod a formal contract offer and the major sticking point is contract length with the Mets hoping for a three year deal with a 4th year club option while K-Rod would like at least 4 years of guaranteed money. It is possible that the compromise could be a 4th mutual option year similar to the deal Tom Glavine had with the team 2 years ago. The Mets have also been promised by the both the representatives of K-Rod and Brian Fuentes that they would be given the chance to match or top any offer they deem acceptable from other teams.” 
 

Anyway check out Rich’s blog on 1050, a very underated place for Mets information.

Posted under Link, New York Mets

According to published reports in all the papers, the Yankees went for a quick strike with CC Sabathia by offering him a “slightly better contract” than Johan Santana, which means something in the $140 million range.

Marty Noble reported on MLB.com, the Mets are not interested in the lefty if the money is that high, which refuted a report from the Daily News yesterday.

MLB.com also reported the Dodgers pulled their 2-year, $45 million contract offer off the table to Manny Ramirez, but said they will continue to talk.

As for the relievers, not too much to say, except the Mets seem ready to let the market come to them, figuring they can out offer any other team for a closer.

Let the games begin!

Posted under New York Mets

In a previous thread, Dave wondered about Trevor Hoffman. Well, what about him?

The San Diego Padres are rebuilding and withdrew a contract offer to Hoffman. The Mets, however, playing in New York, aren’t in a rebuilding mode despite being old in several areas.

They call it retooling.

So, should they “retool” with Hoffman if they aren’t able to land a marquee closer in the free-agent market? Hoffman is 41, and signing him does nothing about breaking away from Omar Minaya’s reputation for signing older players.

The Padres pulled off the table a one-year, $4 million deal, with a $4 million option for 2010. That’s not a lot of money. Hoffman converted 30 of 34 save opportunities, including 16 straight during one stretch.

Assuming Hoffman is willing to come to New York, and there’s been nothing written indicating he doesn’t want to, he would presumably fill the closer void until Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz are ready. That’s a plus.

Said agent Rick Thurman: “He’s a free agent. So many teams consider him to be a San Diego Padre. Not a lot of teams took him very seriously as a free agent. We’ll find out very shortly. A lot of teams need a closer. He’s the cream of the closers, and we’ll see what teams have interest in him.”

Last year’s numbers indicates he can still get the job done, but his age will be a concern, because you have to wonder when will the breakdown start?

Signing him does nothing about getting the Mets younger, but it does buy time for Parnell and Kunz, and gives them a mentor. It also addresses a need at a reasonable cost and enables them to spend most of their money on starting pitching.

While the first impression would be his age, remember the priority is winning and he’s a plus toward that goal. I know there’s not a groundswell for bringing in a 41-year-old closer, but if he makes them better it’s something they should consider.

Posted under New York Mets

Sorry again for not being able to host a Mets Chat Room last night. There’s a lot going on right now personally I must attend to. My plans are to host a Mets Chat Room Wednesday night and a Jets Chat Room Thursday night.

Again, your patience is very much appreciated.

OK …. to respond to some of your questions from last night.

Mike (1): Thanks for the well wishes. Everything will turn out alright, I am sure. Everybody is healthy, so that’s the most important thing. I heard about the Dye rumor, but can’t see it. Why make a trade when there are options in the FA market. Bottom line: Why give up players and money when you can only give up money.

Ray Sadecki (2): Trading Holliday is another sign the Rockies want to work the cheap side of the street. OK, which closer will they keep: Fuentes or Street?

benny (4): The 2009 A’s will be intriguing. I wouldn’t have made the deal unless I could sign Holliday, but perhaps Billy Beane’s thinking is he can unload salary and players he won’t bring back for a player he will dump in July for prospects. If not, do you really think the A’s will go long term for him? Probably not. Mets could be in the Holliday market in July or next winter.

Gravedigger (6): Agreed on the voting.

Harry (8): Agree with you. Why trade when you can sign somebody off the FA list. Dye should cost more than Burrell, for example.-JD

Posted under New York Mets

Sorry for the brief hiatus, but when Mother Migraine decides she wants to put you on your butt you have no choice but to go down. Slept most of yesterday and awoke to the news we have a new president and the Mets probably won’t make much of a splash in the FA market.

Been trying to catch up on the Hot Stove News and there’s really not much that’s surprising. We know the Yankees are offering money to just about everybody while the Mets figure not to stray far from their $143 million payroll from last year.

Most of the news seems to substantiate what we’ve been talking about here, that the Mets will go after pitching, pitching and somebody to throw the ball to the catcher. They’d like to keep Oliver Perez and sign Derek Lowe, and they’ve targeted Brian Fuentes as their closer.

Nothing shocking there.

The Mets don’t figure to go after a big bat because they don’t believe that’s why they lost. Their problems hitting with runners in scoring position were brought into greater focus because of the 29 blown saves. Cut that in half, they figure, and the NL East would have been theirs for the taking.

Actually, that was their same philosophy each of the last two winters. After 2006, there was the belief of entitlement, that after coming so close they would naturally take the next step. After 2007, there was a feeling the collapse was an aberration and they were still the team to beat.

Not so then, and maybe not so now.

Posted under New York Mets

Pat Burrell turned down $22 million over two years from Philadelphia and CC Sabathia is about to turn down over $100 million from Milwaukee.

All signs are pointing toward the Yankees getting Sabathia. They don’t appear to have a ceiling. The same can’t be said about the Mets. They’ll have money coming off the books with Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez and Moises Alou going, but they’ll be giving raises to David Wright and Jose Reyes.

Their payroll last year was $143 million, and I don’t see it going much higher.

We can discuss all of that tonight.

Posted under New York Mets