Baseball Guru
11-01-2006, 09:50 AM
I'll try to keep this updated with any offseason Mets news...
Please feel free to add anything concerning the Mets:)
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The rumors are begining to get very hot regarding the Mets big push to go after Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins. He is young, throws extremely hard and can absolutely dominate a game when he is on, which is most of the time. Some of the names mentioned as going to Florida include Lastings Milledge, Phillip Humber, Aaron Heilman and Brian Bannister.
Adam Kennedy, one of the lesser options among free-agent second basemen this winter, has spent the last seven seasons with the Angels. He filed for free agency on Sunday, however, and yesterday his agent, Paul Cohen, said he has "definite interest" in the Mets. The Mets also have had interest in free-agent second baseman Julio Lugo, who said in September that playing at Shea "would be a dream come true."
Aaron Heilman's stance remains the same: He wants to be a starting pitcher, either for the Mets or another team in 2007. Heilman has reiterated his desire to start to management already and will not be deterred from that goal. It would be really sad to see Heilman become a great starter for some other team. I wish they would just give him a shot. I mean if Duaner Sanchez comes back he can take over 8th inning duties again.
According to Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez's agent, Greg Genske, the veteran righty has spoken to the Mets about coming back. "El Duque's preference is to remain with the Mets. He loves New York and has had a terrific experience with the Mets organization," Genske said in an e-mail yesterday. "While we are in discussions about a potential return to the Mets, several other clubs have called to express interest in El Duque."
The Mets have granted permission for the Dodgers to speak with Gary Carter regarding their Triple-A managing job, according to an industry source. The source also said Carter is one of the contenders to be the Rockies' hitting coach. I wouldnt mind seeing Gary coaching for our Major League team, especially if we lose Manny Acta.
The Mets have two first-rate trading chips in Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman and may use them, in the same or separate deals, to acquire the pitcher they desire. With their surplus of starting pitching, the White Sox would be an attractive trading partner. Chicago would like to open a rotation slot for Brandon McCarthy and would not hesitate to trade Javier Vázquez or Freddy GarcĂ*a. Vázquez pitched in Montreal when Mets General Manager Omar Minaya worked there.
Among free-agent second basemen, Julio Lugo, a native of Brooklyn who played last season for Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the most dynamic option, but two other players are also intriguing. Mark Loretta, who committed four errors last season playing for Boston, is the best defensive player of the group and is a career .299 hitter. But there is also Ronnie Belliard, who played for the World Series champion Cardinals and has been where the Mets want to go.
Henry Owens pitched a perfect ninth on Sunday to earn his fourth save in four chances for Licey of the DWL. He's pitched four scoreless innings. Owens got a brief look from the Mets in July, but he was never recalled again. He's turning 28 in April, so there's no sense for the Mets not to use him if he appears ready. He could have some success as a setup man for Billy Wagner.
By the way... Gary Cohen, who this year left the WFAN radio booth to become the primary voice for SportsNet New York cablecasts of Mets games, is one of eight eligible men on the ballot for the 2007 Ford C. Frick Award. The award, first presented in 1978, is named after Ford C. Frick, the co-founder of the Hall of Fame, former commissioner of baseball (1951-65), National League president (1934-51), sportswriter and announcer. The award is given for excellence in broadcasting.
Please feel free to add anything concerning the Mets:)
**********************************************
The rumors are begining to get very hot regarding the Mets big push to go after Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins. He is young, throws extremely hard and can absolutely dominate a game when he is on, which is most of the time. Some of the names mentioned as going to Florida include Lastings Milledge, Phillip Humber, Aaron Heilman and Brian Bannister.
Adam Kennedy, one of the lesser options among free-agent second basemen this winter, has spent the last seven seasons with the Angels. He filed for free agency on Sunday, however, and yesterday his agent, Paul Cohen, said he has "definite interest" in the Mets. The Mets also have had interest in free-agent second baseman Julio Lugo, who said in September that playing at Shea "would be a dream come true."
Aaron Heilman's stance remains the same: He wants to be a starting pitcher, either for the Mets or another team in 2007. Heilman has reiterated his desire to start to management already and will not be deterred from that goal. It would be really sad to see Heilman become a great starter for some other team. I wish they would just give him a shot. I mean if Duaner Sanchez comes back he can take over 8th inning duties again.
According to Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez's agent, Greg Genske, the veteran righty has spoken to the Mets about coming back. "El Duque's preference is to remain with the Mets. He loves New York and has had a terrific experience with the Mets organization," Genske said in an e-mail yesterday. "While we are in discussions about a potential return to the Mets, several other clubs have called to express interest in El Duque."
The Mets have granted permission for the Dodgers to speak with Gary Carter regarding their Triple-A managing job, according to an industry source. The source also said Carter is one of the contenders to be the Rockies' hitting coach. I wouldnt mind seeing Gary coaching for our Major League team, especially if we lose Manny Acta.
The Mets have two first-rate trading chips in Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman and may use them, in the same or separate deals, to acquire the pitcher they desire. With their surplus of starting pitching, the White Sox would be an attractive trading partner. Chicago would like to open a rotation slot for Brandon McCarthy and would not hesitate to trade Javier Vázquez or Freddy GarcĂ*a. Vázquez pitched in Montreal when Mets General Manager Omar Minaya worked there.
Among free-agent second basemen, Julio Lugo, a native of Brooklyn who played last season for Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the most dynamic option, but two other players are also intriguing. Mark Loretta, who committed four errors last season playing for Boston, is the best defensive player of the group and is a career .299 hitter. But there is also Ronnie Belliard, who played for the World Series champion Cardinals and has been where the Mets want to go.
Henry Owens pitched a perfect ninth on Sunday to earn his fourth save in four chances for Licey of the DWL. He's pitched four scoreless innings. Owens got a brief look from the Mets in July, but he was never recalled again. He's turning 28 in April, so there's no sense for the Mets not to use him if he appears ready. He could have some success as a setup man for Billy Wagner.
By the way... Gary Cohen, who this year left the WFAN radio booth to become the primary voice for SportsNet New York cablecasts of Mets games, is one of eight eligible men on the ballot for the 2007 Ford C. Frick Award. The award, first presented in 1978, is named after Ford C. Frick, the co-founder of the Hall of Fame, former commissioner of baseball (1951-65), National League president (1934-51), sportswriter and announcer. The award is given for excellence in broadcasting.