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Mets 2009 - 2010 Offseason
Welcome to our blog on the New York Mets 2009 - 2010 offseason!
No Molina? No Pineiro? Gary Matthews Jr.? Fire Omar Already!
Omar Minaya probably went into the office season with some semblance of a plan, and now we're thinking it was simply a post-it with, 'get fired,' on it. Sure, he got Jason Bay signed, but we're not so sure how good or bad that is. Ideally, Minaya would have signed John Lackey or traded for Roy Halladay, and this would have made up for a multitude of sins since taking over as the Mets GM. Missing out on both of these guys was disappointing, but trading for Halladay would have been tough and Lackey may be on his way down, although probably not a bad pitcher to have at the top of an NL East rotation. The point is, Joel Pineiro was probably the third best option, and it looks like Minaya missed that boat, too. But he couldn't get Bengie Molina to sign? He took less money from the Giants to stay there after lengthy negotiations. And now he's bringing in Gary Matthews Jr. as Carlos Beltran insurance? True, the Angels are so desperate to get rid of him that they're eating the majority of his contract ( a truly un-angels like move, but Matthews is that bad) and the bets are only paying a few million for him per year on the 2 years he has left, but still, replacing an injured Beltran with Matthews is laugh out loud (also known on the internet as LOL) funny, and the Mets gave up a decent reliever to get him, which is a bad idea because their starting pitching is weak and their bullpen isn't that great either. Maybe the Mets are in a serious money crunch and they decided that the top priority was a big bat rather than pitching, but we don't agree; not in that ball park. It's time for Minaya to be put out to pasture, before he does any more damanage.
Mets sign Jason Bay
Jason Bay is expected to sign a 4 year deal worth $66 million with an option for a fifth year - physical pending, but more on that in a sec. Bay batted .267/.384/.537 for the Boston Red Sox in 2009 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. So, the New York Mets have plugged one of their biggest holes with one of the best players available, and didn't really over pay. Sure, he has knee problems and his throwing arm is suspect, but we believe that left field is a position you play with your bat, but that logic may not play in the somewhat cavernous dimensions of Citi Field. If Bay stays healthy and find a way to slug in that big park, this'll be a great deal for the Mets. If he goes down quickly with a knee injury, the 2010 season will start looking like the 2009 season in a hurry.
Jeff Passan doesn't like the Jason Bay signing, referring to Bay as 'the aging Jason Bay.' Really? He's 32 and he'll be 36 at the end of the deal... it's not like he's 36 now. True, we think the Mets first priority should have been a starting pitcher and not signing John Lackey was a mistake, but we think Bay can help this team. Time will tell. Still, Passan's article is over the top, as usual.
Mets sign Kelvim Escobar
Least. Interesting. Sign. Ever.
Help us out here, Mets fans. Escobar has had great moments in relief pitching in the past, but he hasn't made more than a handful of appearances over the last 2 years. There isn't any reason to get excited about this - in fact, this signing is conformation that the Mets' farm system stinks. Quality contemporary bullpens are built with young power arms from the farm system - guys that might be starters one day but aren't ready yet. Counting on Escobar to be your setup man is a huge risk.
New York Mets shopping list
Wow, the Mets really blew it when it came to getting a starting pitcher this off season. We doubt they had the prospects to trade the Toronto Blue Jays for Roy Halladay and now that John Lackey has signed with the Boston Red Sox. In our view, they had to have one of these guys, and, as far as we know, didn't make an offer for either. Mets fans are going to lose their shiz over this, and they're right. Horrible job by the Mets front office.
The Mets need a power hitting left fielder and have made an offer to Jason Bay that he still hasn't accepted. SI is reporting the Red Sox have signed Mike Cameron (wow, are they serious? He's 90 years old!), so its safe to assume that the Red Sox aren't pursuing Bay anymore, so maybe the Mets will get him after all. They don't seem willing to commit the dollars it would take to get Matt Holiday, and we can't say we blame them. We don't think he's as great as everyone says he is.
The Mets also need a catcher, and they have made an offer to Bengie Molina that he hasn't accepted yet, which puzzles us. Monlina may have another offer, but probably not that many. We just don't get what the deal is here.
So far, we are giving the Mets an 'F' grade for the post season. They could get it up to a B-/C+ if they get Bay and Molina, but that remains to be seen. And they still need to find a decent starting pitcher, and we don't know who that will be exactly.
Everyone is saying the Mets are about to sign Japanese reliever Ryota Igarashi to setup for closer Franky Rodriguez. We are leery of Japanese pitchers, so we'll believe this is a good deal when he has a bunch of holds on his record and the manager is bringing him in with confidence. His record in the Japanese league of 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 56 games last year for the Yakult Swallows doesn't inspire much confidence.