12/10/09

More Breakfast Links: Blanco, Evans, Lackey, Benji... and Jeff McKnight


Henry Blanco:


Just a week after signing backup catcher Henry Blanco to a one year, $1.45MM contract, the two sides have re-negotiated the pact according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff. Concerns about the backstop's throwing shoulder popped up during a physical, which lead the restructuring. Under the new contract, Blanco can actually earn more than he would have under the original deal, however most of that money is now tied up in bonuses. His base salary drops to $750K, but he can pocket another $775K in incentives tied to games started and various awards. - mlbtraderumors 


Nick Evans:

Evans had a tough 2009 (AA/AAA-.231/.302/.430/.732, MLB-.231/.275/.385/.660), and an even tougher AFL (.171/.216/.371/.588), but according to his career #’s vs. LHP, he looks to be a solid, inexpensive, young, option for the Mets in 2010. Will Evans ever be an everyday MLB player? With the lack of power for 1B, and the lack of speed for LF, probably not, but he can be a very useful, inexpensive piece off the bench for the Mets. -
Toby Hyde




John Lackey:

If nothing else, the Mets will leave Indianapolis on Thursday with a better sense of what it will take to land Lackey. They met this week with his agent, Steve Hilliard, who is looking for something just north of the five years and $82.5 million A.J. Burnett earned from the Yankees last winter. The comparison seems apt. Lackey, who is nine months younger than Burnett was at this time last year, is 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA in 234 career games. Prior to joining the Yankees, Burnett was 87-76 with a 3.80 ERA in 215 games. For a free agent of Lackey's caliber, however, the market may move slowly. With no comparable pitchers on the market and plenty of demand from teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Mariners, it's not likely that Lackey will sign anytime soon - Mets 


Benji Molina:

The Mets planned to make an offer to catcher Bengie Molina's agents before departing the winter meetings. Still, while the sides are expected to eventually hammer out a two-year deal, that agreement was not expected to come before GM Omar Minaya leaves at 3 p.m. Thursday. The Mets first sought medical information on the 35-year-old Molina after the Giants declined to offer him arbitration on Monday. One free-agent alternative to Molina apparently will soon be off the board. Yorvit Torrealba reportedly is nearing a two-year, $5million-plus deal to return to Colorado.  -  NYDN 


Jeff McKnight

It would take too long to explain why here, but earlier this year I wrote song parody called "Stuck With Jeff McKnight" to the tune of the Starland Vocal band's "Afternoon Delight". It began as such: Gonna tweak the roster/But not do it right/Gonna purchase the contract/Of Jeff McKnight. Pretty much describes the Mets' player procurement philosophy from 1989 to 1994. -  faithandfear

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