11/14/09

Minors Stuff




Hot Stove Target – Update:


SP John Lackey -


The Mets intend to be among the serious bidders for righthander John Lackey when baseball's free agents finally hit the open market next Friday at 12:01 a.m.


General manager Omar Minaya received a favorable first impression from the pitcher's agent when the two spoke this week, and Lackey figures to be near the top of the club's wish list in the weeks ahead.


The pursuit of Lackey could be similar to the Mets' concerted efforts to lock up Francisco Rodriguez in the opening days of last year's winter meetings in Las Vegas. The Mets identified K-Rod as their main objective, and with other big-market teams uninterested, they grabbed him with a lower-than-expected three-year, $37-million deal.



The Mets plan on bringing back Jeff Francoeur for the 2010 season, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.

Our View: He is arbitration eligible, though apparently the Mets might be considering a longer term extension for the impatient right fielder. Francoeur hit .280 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI between the Braves and Mets in 2009.




The New York Post's Bart Hubbuch has some good Mets info this afternoon, though it is unfortunately broken up into three tweets.


• Hubbuch learned that Mets GM Omar Minaya intends to watch Carlos Delgado in winter ball next month. Delgado could probably be re-signed cheaply after hip surgery limited the 37-year-old to 112 plate appearances this year.
• Cross Jeff Francoeur off the list of non-tender candidates - Minaya said Francoeur will be back and also mentioned that an extension is a possibility. Mets fans - do you believe Francoeur's 308 plate appearances with the club represent a reformed hitter?


• Hubbuch says Mets officials "plan to look hard" at the group of non-tendered players.




Ike Davis What’s your opinion on him? by swilliam on Nov 12, 2009 8:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs .


Sickles: Davis His swing was longer than I’d been led to believe. Not all scouts like him, some think he has severe problems with breaking stuff.

Jenry Mejia thoughts? by swilliam on Nov 12, 2009 3:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs .


Sickles: Mejia Didn’t get to see him. Some concern among those who have about how his stuff will play against the most advanced hitters….fastball may be too straight. He’s very young though.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/11/11/1126376/arizona-fall-league-q-a-thread#24952466


Binghamton Mets:

Stache: Who would you say is the best starting pitcher in the Mets minor league system?

Mayo: While I’m still a Brad Holt believer, I think most are looking at Jennry Mejia as the next “guy.” His stuff is absolutely electric and scouts were raving about it during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. Yes, his Double-A stats weren’t overwhelming and yes, he could improve on things like command and his breaking ball (a slider). But he has so much movement and such a live arm, it’s hard not to be excited about him. He’ll pitch all year in 2010 at age 20, so even if he starts the year back with Binghamton, he’s way ahead of the curve.



Chasing a dream is what baseball is all about. The years go by, the body and the work place change, but the mind remains focused on the dream. Edgardo Alfonzo turned 36 this past week. He is three days younger than Johnny Damon, a year older than Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui. Alfonzo still has his baseball dream. He wants to play for the Mets one more time. When his career ends, he wants it to end as a Met. The fact that Alfonzo still has that kind of loyalty to his former team tells you everything you need to know about the man. Anyone who has spent time in the Mets clubhouse the past year knows that adding a class player and person like Edgardo Alfonzo only would help. He could toss some helpful advice David Wright’s way.

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