11/28/10

Cutnpaste: - Arbitration, Jenrry Mejia, Wally Backman, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jefry Marte

Arbitration:

At midnight ET, on Tuesday the first real chapter in MLB salary arbitration turned a page as it was the final day that clubs could offer salary arbitration to free agent players. On Dec. 1 – one week from today – players that have been offered salary arbitration must notify the clubs whether they wish to accept, or decline and opt for free agency. This year there 71 free agents that were part of the offer/decline salary arbitration by 23 clubs. Only the Marlins, Astros, Royals, Athletics, Pirates, Mariners, and Cardinals did not have free agent players. - BOB  

Michael G. Baron
Jenrry Mejia:

11-25-10 from: - MWOB  - 3. Jenrry Meija RHP - Myworld thought it was a mistake for the Mets to start Jenrry in the bullpen. Once the Met season started to turn south the Mets seemed to see the error of their ways and sent him down to work in the rotation. He developed arm problems, putting a slight delay to the transformation, but after he got healthy Jenrry was lights out, putting together a 1.28 ERA in nine starts at various levels of the minors. Opponents hit him at a .200 clip and he had a positive 16/46 walk to K ratio. He was called up in September to get three starts, stumbling to a 7.94 ERA. In his first two starts he gave up 17 hits in just nine innings. Jennry throws hard and would work well out of the pen, but the Mets need starters. His fastball can hit the mid-90s, but sits more comfortably in the low 90s as a starter, but with lots of movement. He mixes that fastball with a change and curveball. If he has a good spring he will begin the season in the Mets starting rotation.

Wally Backman:

"I really thought I won them over," Backman said by phone Friday from his home in Oregon. "I came out of each interview thinking it had gone better than the one with the Diamondbacks when I got the job there (in 2004). "I knew what was being said (in the media), that the other guys were the favorites, but I kept looking at it, thinking I could make them see that I was the best guy for the job. I guess I didn't convince them." - NYDN  

Jacoby Ellsbury:

Ellsbury's name is one of the first -- with future closer Daniel Bard -- that comes up in speculation about potential major deals. The ongoing din about the Red Sox getting Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego is one example, the more recent frenzy over Arizona's Justin Upton being available is another. But there are plenty of other teams that covet exactly what Ellsbury brings. The Angels want to rejuvenate their pedal-to-the-metal baserunning style. The Braves' search for a post-Andruw Jones center fielder is becoming saga-worthy. The Mets need a jump start and an Ellsbury-like dimension in their power-squashing ballpark. The Cubs would love his energy.-

usatoday  

Jefry Marte:

11-24-10 from: - mets geek  - 14. Jefry Marte. Marte appeared as the 14th prospect on all of my rough drafts. I have seen other lists not even mention Marte. I think people have very unrealistic expectations of him. He was playing very well before a leg injury robbed him of the second half of his season. As a 19 year old in the Sally, he was showing the ability to drive the ball while playing a much improved third base. During the series at Rome in June, he was putting together the best at bats of any Sand Gnat hitter, including Wilmer Flores and Cesar Puello. I think Marte is the biggest sleeper in the organization. I still like the best case scenario someone in the blogsphere made a few years ago with Carlos Guillen. Worst case scenario is never making it out of the lower minors. He should start 2011 with Savannah with an opportunity to make it quickly to St Lucie. I could see him making the jump to St Lucie to start the season too.

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