11/10/09

Up To Date Mets Target New in Hot Stove




Hot Stove Target – Update:


OF Matt Holliday: - Adam Rubin of the Daily News cites a team insider who says the salary demands of Matt Holliday and Jason Bay would exceed the Mets' comfort level. It's still very early in the process, but this kind of talk won't play well in Queens, especially after the Yankees just took home their 27th World Championship. Rubin reports that instead of Holliday or Bay, the Mets will look to sign a left-fielder from a second tier group of free agents, or acquire one via trade. Adding a power bat in left field is a priority for the Mets this offseason, as they plan to keep Daniel Murphy as the primary first baseman in 2010.
Source: New York Daily News

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the Cardinals are prepared to move on without Matt Holliday. The Cardinals would love to retain Holliday, who hit .353/.419/.604 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI in 63 games after coming over from Oakland, but they have yet to present an offer to his agent Scott Boras. It's a near-certainty that he hits the open market, leaving a return to St. Louis in doubt. "We have to be prepared if we can't sign him," said general manager Jim Mozeliak. "We need to have other options to pursue. And we do." Mozeliak doesn't expect to replace Holliday's production with one player, but to supplement his loss with a few moves.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/home_MLB.aspx


SP Roy Halladay: - The Blue Jays will look for quality over quantity if they deal Roy Halladay this winter, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. As one Blue Jays official says, the team will obtain two draft picks if they let Doc walk after 2010, so top young talent is a must in any trade. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com

The Philadelphia Phillies tried to trade for Roy Halladay(notes) of the Toronto Blue Jays right up until the trading deadline in July and then settle for snagging Cliff Lee(notes) from the Cleveland Indians. He turned out to be a pretty good snag, giving the team an incredible performance through the postseason. Now it appears that the Phils are right back in the hunt for Halladay, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Halladay just has one year left on his contract and the folks in Philadelphia would like him to spend it wearing red and white.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Phillies-still-pursuing-Roy-Halladay?urn=mlb%2C201357


OF Jason Bay: - Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says assumptions that the Cards will pursue Jason Bay if they fail to re-sign Holliday "may be unfounded." - http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/C5ED09E6A320FB968625766A00127926?

SP John Lackey - In their roundup of the talk at the GM meetings, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi at FOX Sports report that the Milwaukee Brewers aren't likely to land John Lackey. - http://www.mlbtraderumors.com

The premiere free agent pitcher this off season, John Lackey, will certainly be courted by all of the usual suspects: Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Angels and Phillies. However, Buster Olney of espn.com believes that the Mariners could also be an unlikely suitor involved in the bidding. The biggest factor for the Mariners seemingly unlikely involvement is the amount of money they are clearing off of their team salary heading into 2010. Adrian Beltre, Erik Bedard and Miguel Batista combined to make $29.75M last season and are all headed to free agency. That number rises over $40M with the departure of Jarrod Washburn who was traded to Detroit during the season. The Brewers and Rangers are also possible non-traditional suitors for Lackey's services
http://www.baseballrumormill.com



OF Mike Cameron: - One report listed Mike Cameron as a potential target for left field because of his power and defense, but a source close to the ex-Met didn’t see a match because Cameron still wants to play center field. A team official would not rule out Carlos Delgado returning, but portrayed it as an unlikely scenario barring Delgado’s willingness for a low-cost, one-year deal.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2009/11/holliday-bay-bidding-may-surpa.html#ixzz0WSyYuFS7

2B – Orlando Hudson: - The Mets continue to hope they can trade Luis Castillo, who is owed $12 million over two years, as a way to create room to sign Orlando Hudson. Foxsports.com reported a potential three-way deal in which Castillo goes to the Cubs - Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2009/11/holliday-bay-bidding-may-surpa.html#ixzz0WSykwFMT


C Bengie Molina: - The Mets also need to obtain a No. 1 catcher so that Josh Thole can open 2010 at Triple-A Buffalo, but the free-agent class does not excite the organization. The preference clearly appears to be Bengie Molina, although the length of Molina’s contract demand could force the Mets to turn elsewhere. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2009/11/holliday-bay-bidding-may-surpa.html#ixzz0WSz0DOEM

C Rod Barajas: - Team officials suggest they’re not enthused about fellow free agent Rod Barajas, the best apparent alternative. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2009/11/holliday-bay-bidding-may-surpa.html#ixzz0WSzAxYcj

No comments: