Some interesting potential targets this off-season for the Mets have been added/taken off the Free Agent Market due to option clauses that were/weren't exercised.
The Mets are expected decline SP Johan Santana's $25.5M option and pay the $5.5M buyout.
The White Sox exercised RP Matt Lindstrom's $4M option.
SP Jake Westbrook had his $9.5M option declined by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Dodgers declined options for 2B Mark Ellis ($5.75M) and SP Chris Capuano ($8M)
After a rough season OF Jason Kubel is a free agent now after Cleveland declined his $7.5M option.
Cleveland exercised their half of a mutual option for SP Ubaldo Jimenez but he declined his half in hopes of netting a multi-year deal.
In additions it has been announced that the Red Sox are planning to extended $14.1M qualifying offers to OF Jacoby Ellsbury, SS Stephen Drew, and 1B Mike Napoli.
(The Red Sox offering of a QO to Stephen Drew really puts the club in a bind. I do not believe Drew is worth $14.1M even though fangraphs valued his 2013 season at $16.9M. If the club still wants Drew it's going to cost them their 2nd round pick and probably a 3yr/$12-13M per season commitment. Jason Kubel is going to be an interesting 3rd tier option if the club can't land someone via free agency or trade by January. The same could be said about Capuano as well since he's already performed well in New York.)
I agree that the QO puts a crimp in our chances of going after Drew. I'm thinking he will wind up accepting the offer and returning to Boston. However, there is a plethora of possible shortstops who may be available in trades, so I am not overly worried that we will not be able to upgrade at that position.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Kubel will interest Sandy. We need 2 corner outfielders and one of them should be an impact bat (think Kemp, Braun, Bautista, CarGo, etc.) and the other a strong complimentary piece. (like Byrd, Ethier, David Murphy, David DeJesus, etc.) Sandy might also take a chance on someone like Corey Hart or Franklin Gutierrez, if deemed healthy.
Why is Montero being overlooked?
ReplyDeleteI think he should start in Queens.
How about these FA.
Kurt Suzuki-Stephen Drew-Chin Soo Choo- Josh Johnson