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9/30/09

Minors Stuff




New York Mets


(Anderson) Hernandez, who was acquired from the Nationals on Aug. 6 for minor-league infielder Greg Veloz, has demonstrated he doesn’t have the aptitude to play shortstop at the major-league level—even if he could handle second base. The likelihood is the Mets re-sign Alex Cora as the backup middle infielder, which would leave Hernandez and Wilson Valdez as extras who could potentially fit at Triple-A.


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When New York Mets outfielder Nick Evans began his Major League career in May 2008 he did not do so quietly. In Evans' first game in the Majors, he went 3-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs against the Rockies. His performance had Mets fans hoping that they have found a cornerstone outfielder for years to come. In 2009, however, Evans has not been much of a factor. He has struggled throughout the year, and over the course of the past month has seen his plate appearances disappear, getting just three at-bats since Sept. 12 and only 64 on the year. On the season, the 23-year-old from Phoenix has hit just .219 with seven RBIs and one home run, a far cry from what was expected of him when the season began

Jerry Manuel has received enough assurances from Mets ownership to be confident this atrocious season won't cost him his job. But he also knows the unspoken truth about his situation. With only one more year on his contract, Manuel won't survive another losing season. And if the Mets get off to a slow start in 2010, he'll be on the hot seat in a hurry. "I know how this particular situation works," Manuel said Monday. "I understand that. It'll be important for us to hit the ground running playing good baseball and giving a feeling that there is a chance of a championship. That has to be established early. I understand that. "I'll be fighting that battle, but at the same time I know I have to have a team in position to get off and play well."

Extended Camp:

The Mets have struggled all season to find a second lefthanded reliever to pair with Feliciano, although they continue to try to identify southpaws for that role. Lefthander Mike Antonini, who primarily pitched as a starter in Double-A Binghamton this season, should get a look in spring training because he has an above-average changeup, which he consistently throws for strikes

Top 20 NY-Penn Prospects:

1. Ryan Westmoreland, of, Lowell (Red Sox)
2. Alexander Colome, rhp, Hudson Valley (Rays)
3. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp, Staten Island (Yankees)
4. Sebastian Valle, c, Williamsport (Phillies)
5. Jason Kipnis, of, Mahoning Valley (Indians)
6. Victor Black, rhp, State College (Pirates)
7. Ramon Benjamin, lhp, Jamestown (Marlins)
8. Arquimedes Caminero, rhp, Jamestown (Marlins)
9. Alex Wilson, rhp, Lowell (Red Sox)
10. Kyle Lobstein, lhp, Hudson Valley (Rays)
11. Anthony Hewitt, 3b, Williamsport (Phillies)
12. Adam Warren, rhp, Staten Island (Yankees)
13. Destin Hood, of, Vermont (Nationals)
14. Jimmy Paredes, 2b, Staten Island (Yankees)
15. Derrik Gibson, 2b/ss, Lowell (Red Sox)
16. Leandro Castro, of, Williamsport (Phillies)
17. Kyle Conley, of, Batavia (Cardinals)
18. Neil Medchill, of, Staten Island (Yankees)
19. Michael Almanzar, 3b, Lowell (Red Sox)
20. Jim Fuller, lhp, Brooklyn (Mets)


Blogs:

The most glaring hole with the Mets, outside of starting pitching, is what to do with first base. I'm sure Adrien Gonzalez's name will be bantered about this offseason, but the reality is the Mets probably won't be able to get him if they plan on trading for a top notch pitcher. So you have really three options.

Option 1: Do nothing. With this option Daniel Murphy is your 2010 first baseman for better or worse. Maybe you sign a veteran backup/pinch hitter to relieve Murphy on occasion or you resign a guy like Jeremy Reed who's an OF/1B. You're hoping hear that Murphy develops into the player we dream he can be. The free agent market for first baseman is rather thin so you keep Murphy instead of paying big bucks for a Paul Konerko or the often injured Nick Johnson. The Mets would be power weak at first base and have a mediocre glove. Going with this option requires an upgrade in left field to make up for the power drought at first.



Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur would like to discuss a multiyear deal with the team to buy out his arbitration years, according to Newsday's David Lennon. Francoeur, 26 in January, has a .308/.333/.491 line in 291 plate appearances for the Mets since coming over in the trade with Atlanta.Francoeur is already under team control through 2011. Given the limited sample of playing time, the Mets might be inclined to focus on a 2010 contract. Francoeur earned $3.375MM in '09, and he shouldn't expect a huge raise as a second-year arbitration player for hitting .277/.306/.418 overall. Even if Francoeur offered to sign a two-year, $8MM contract, the Mets would be guaranteeing unnecessary millions.

Think Jeff is regretting turning down that Granderson type deal? Thanks for that, by the way. Jeff fooled the whole city of New York when he went in there with no pressure to perform. Next year he'll be back to the same ol' Jeff, beating himself up over everything that goes wrong and send himself right back to the bottom of the totem pole.

Nearly three months after becoming eligible to sign, Miguel Sano has agreed to terms for a $3.15 million bonus with the Twins. The deal will be officially signed today. Sano, 16, is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound shortstop from the Dominican Republic. Excluding Cuban defectors, Sano’s bonus is the largest bonus given to a player this summer for an international amateur player. It’s the second-largest Latin American signing bonus ever behind Dominican righthander Michael Ynoa, who signed with the Athletics last year for $4.25 million, and the largest ever for a Latin American position player.


Below is the top 25 Latin American prospects from baseball america and their signing status:

1. Miguel Sano, SS, Dominican Republic - signed with Twins for $3.1 million
2. Wagner Mateo, CF, Dominican Republic - Cardinals voided their $3.1 million contract with him because of a pre-existing injury.
3. Gary Sanchez, C, Dominican Republic - Yankees signed him for $3 million
4. Guillermo Pimentel, CF, Dominican Republic - Mariners signed him for $2 million.
5. Jose Vincio, SS, Dominican Republic - Red Sox signed him for $1.95 million
6. Luis Sardinas, SS, Venezuela - Rangers signed him for over $1 million
7. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Nicaragua - Royals signed him for $1.35 million
8. Juan Urbina, LHP, Venezuela - The son of Ugueth signed with the Mets for $1.25 million
9. Daniel Sanchez, RHP, Venezuela - age concerns could be the reason for no signing info
10. Jose Pena, RF, Dominican Republic - signed with Brewers for $400,000
11. Edgar Ferreira, LHP, Dominican Republic - lots of interest from Padres and Braves but no signing info.
12. Jochi Ogando, RHP, Dominican Republic - no reported signings
13. Jacob Beltre, C, Dominican Republic - no reported signing but lots of interest
14. Victor Payano, LHP, Dominican Republic - Red Sox signed him for $900,000.
15. Jurickson Profar, RHP/SS, Curacao - signed by Rangers
16. Luis Jolly, CF, Dominican Republic - no reported signings.
17. Johendi Jiminian, RHP, Dominican Republic - no reported signing.
18. Santo Aybar, SS, Dominican Republic - no reported signing.
19. Leonardo Perdomo, RHP, Dominican Republic - no reported signing
20. Rosel Herrera, SS, Dominican Republic - Rockies signed him for $550,000
21. Wilfredo Solano, SS, Venezuela - signed with Atletics
22. Santiago Nesi, C, Venezuela - blog reports a $750,000 signing with Blue Jays, but I’d like to have another source
23. Jorge Polanco, SS, Dominican Republic - Twins signed him for $700,000
24. Jairo Kelly, SS, Dominican Republic - signed with Indians
25. Humberto Valor, SS, Venezuela - signed with the Reds
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