Baseball Guru
12-16-2004, 11:43 AM
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20041215&content_id=922921&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp
Minaya mum on reported pursuit of first baseman
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Now that the Mets have locked up Pedro Martinez, a published report says that Omar Minaya has targeted free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado.
The Record, citing anonymous baseball executives, reported on Wednesday that New York's general manager has offered Delgado a three-year deal worth more than $40 million. Minaya, attending the club's Christmas party for New York City school children at Shea Stadium, wouldn't comment on specific free agent negotiations or trade rumors.
The club, however, announced later in the afternoon that it had come to terms with Martinez. Though terms were not disclosed, the four-year pact is worth in the neighborhood of $52 million, leaving some to wonder if the Mets have enough left in their budget to seriously pursue Delgado as well.
Delgado's agent, David Sloane, also declined to comment when reached by MLB.com on negotiations with the Mets or any other club, saying he hasn't spoken to anyone since the Winter Meetings ended. But the Orioles also figure to continue their big push for Delgado while the Mariners remain interested even after signing slugger Richie Sexson to a four-year deal worth $50 million.
"We have to fill all our holes," Minaya said. "We have to fill first base and we have to get outfield help. We need some offense. I'm also hoping to improve the bullpen. We lost a lot of games last year. One move [Martinez] is not going to make us a contending team."
Manager Willie Randolph has continually stressed that he would like a strong defensive first baseman to help anchor his young infield. Ideally he'd like to have someone who also produces like Delgado, who has hit 30 or more homers for eight consecutive seasons. Delgado had 32 homers and 99 RBIs despite playing in only 128 games last year.
If Minaya can't pull off another stunner and land Delgado, former Met John Olerud becomes a primary option barring a trade.
"We have to look at the budget," Randolph said. "We have a Plan A but we might have to go to Plan B. I don't know which way Omar is going to go. Everyone would like to have a guy like Delgado, but we may not be able to fit it into the budget."
Tom Glavine said that signing Martinez sends a positive message, one that could entice other free agents into coming to Queens.
"It [Martinez] legitimizes what we're trying to do," Glavine said. "Hopefully we'll be able to land someone else now. We were in a position to bolster our staff and build around that, but now we have to shore up our defense and add a bat or two if we can. Obviously this is not the end of what we want to do.
"Hopefully those other things will be addressed. If we put those things together, it puts us in great position. If you're going to build around pitching, you have to have the defense to go with it and have enough fire power in the offense, too."
Minaya also appears on the verge of adding outfielder Moises Alou, whose agent Fern Cuza, also represents Martinez.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Minaya mum on reported pursuit of first baseman
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Now that the Mets have locked up Pedro Martinez, a published report says that Omar Minaya has targeted free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado.
The Record, citing anonymous baseball executives, reported on Wednesday that New York's general manager has offered Delgado a three-year deal worth more than $40 million. Minaya, attending the club's Christmas party for New York City school children at Shea Stadium, wouldn't comment on specific free agent negotiations or trade rumors.
The club, however, announced later in the afternoon that it had come to terms with Martinez. Though terms were not disclosed, the four-year pact is worth in the neighborhood of $52 million, leaving some to wonder if the Mets have enough left in their budget to seriously pursue Delgado as well.
Delgado's agent, David Sloane, also declined to comment when reached by MLB.com on negotiations with the Mets or any other club, saying he hasn't spoken to anyone since the Winter Meetings ended. But the Orioles also figure to continue their big push for Delgado while the Mariners remain interested even after signing slugger Richie Sexson to a four-year deal worth $50 million.
"We have to fill all our holes," Minaya said. "We have to fill first base and we have to get outfield help. We need some offense. I'm also hoping to improve the bullpen. We lost a lot of games last year. One move [Martinez] is not going to make us a contending team."
Manager Willie Randolph has continually stressed that he would like a strong defensive first baseman to help anchor his young infield. Ideally he'd like to have someone who also produces like Delgado, who has hit 30 or more homers for eight consecutive seasons. Delgado had 32 homers and 99 RBIs despite playing in only 128 games last year.
If Minaya can't pull off another stunner and land Delgado, former Met John Olerud becomes a primary option barring a trade.
"We have to look at the budget," Randolph said. "We have a Plan A but we might have to go to Plan B. I don't know which way Omar is going to go. Everyone would like to have a guy like Delgado, but we may not be able to fit it into the budget."
Tom Glavine said that signing Martinez sends a positive message, one that could entice other free agents into coming to Queens.
"It [Martinez] legitimizes what we're trying to do," Glavine said. "Hopefully we'll be able to land someone else now. We were in a position to bolster our staff and build around that, but now we have to shore up our defense and add a bat or two if we can. Obviously this is not the end of what we want to do.
"Hopefully those other things will be addressed. If we put those things together, it puts us in great position. If you're going to build around pitching, you have to have the defense to go with it and have enough fire power in the offense, too."
Minaya also appears on the verge of adding outfielder Moises Alou, whose agent Fern Cuza, also represents Martinez.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.