1-10 – Klaw Chat, Sandy-Hype, 20 Relievers

Klaw Chat –

            Doug (SF)- Keith, what's your take on Jeff Kent as a HOFer? thanks

Klaw  - He's just on the outside for me. I was floored by his lack of support yesterday, though. I thought the media would put him over Bonds.

Frank (NY)- What's Plawecki's true value? He seems to be outplaying the backup catcher projection

Klaw  - He's not a backup. He can flat-out catch.

vk (md) - Who the heck voted for Armando Benitez!?

Klaw  - He has a round red nose, oversized shoes, and a big bottle of seltzer.

Dave (NYC)- Can Dilson Herrera play SS or would that be a stretch?

Klaw  - No, 2b only for me but good there.

Lenny (Philadelphia PA) - Do you see Zach Wheeler taking a Matt Harvey-esque step forward this year?

Klaw  - The step forward Harvey took was exceptional. Few guys suddenly show up with a 70 slider. But Wheeler could take a solid step forward this year - he has the stuff and looseness, needs consistency with the delivery and better feel for the change.

tom (nj)- is it too soon to call Brandon Nimmo a bust?

Klaw  - Why in God's name would you label Nimmo a bust? I think he's at least an average regular with a chance for more. Bear in mind that Savannah is a terrible place to hit - he had a huge h/r split this year - and he came into pro ball with less baseball experience than the typical US HS kid.

Sandy Hype –

            First, there was this on Ike Davis -

"He was in a good mood. I don't think any of this talk over the winter has bothered him. I think he's anxious to get to spring training and show what he can do. I was certainly pleased by that."

“We're not going to move Ike just to move Ike -- or any other player for that matter. This is a trade market, not a yard sale, and right now we're perfectly happy to go into spring training with Davis and Duda both on the team. Frankly, we're not that actively engaged in trade discussions involving Ike at this point. I think that underscores our willingness to go into camp with both.

You can only ask someone to dance so many times before you get the message. We've been told by a variety of clubs that what we're asking is not unrealistic. But if they think they can get it or something else for less, that's what they're going to try to do. So be it. It's not like we're holding out for Babe Ruth."

            Mack – Jesus, Alderson should run for the Governor of New Jersey.

You know, this whole thing just might work. Sandy may not have asked for Ruth, but he did shoot the moon with the players he asked for’ knowing the answer he would come back no.

In return, Davis gets to stew and work on his mental game all designed to prove to the world, in general, and the Mets world, in particular, that he can come back from this and return to being the everyday Mets first baseman.

Then, this followed by Sandy on Ruben Tejada:

“The same three alternatives exist: sign a free agent, make a trade, or go with what we have subject to probably bringing in a backup to Tejada/ I’d say right now, it’s probably more likely that we will go with Option C, which is Ruben at shortstop with the addition of a backup.”

What if all this was a master hype plan to get these guys psyched for opening day? What do you do with money left in the cookie jar? Obviously, the Mets could easily go out and get themselves a quality free agent reliever plus sign a veteran utility middle infielder. You could start the season with both Davis and Tejada in the starting line-up, ‘make the budget’ so you survive the critics, and readdress the growth of this team come the all-star break.

Conservatively, we could easily see Cesar Puello, Jack Leathersich, Jeff Walters, Noah Syndergaard, and Rafael Montero by then.

We also, depending upon whether the 2014 version of this team is still in the race, could see Bartolo Colon moved in a mid-season trade. Other trade candidates could be either Davis (again) or Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores, and Chris Young.

The point is… this is a team that is still in transition and needs 2014 to round off the edges.

A Milwaukee Brewers beat writer broke out 20 relievers Sandy Alderson could target. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mil/plenty-of-free-agent-relievers-remain-available-to-brewers?ymd=20140109&content_id=66435194&vkey=news_mil 

The list is:

David Aardsma (69 career saves): The 32-year-old Aardsma had a nice comeback with the Mets last season after rehabbing from July 2011 Tommy John surgery. He made 43 appearances with a 4.31 ERA. But he has not been a closer since he saved 38 games in 2009 and 31 games in 2010 for the Mariners.

Luis Ayala (19 saves): He logged nine of his saves for the Mets in 2008 and has only one save since then, but has been a steady big league reliever since bouncing between three teams in a dismal 2010. Over the past three seasons, Ayala has made 157 appearances for the Yankees, Orioles and Braves with a 2.58 ERA and a solid ground ball rate. He spent time on the disabled list last season because of an anxiety disorder and turns 36 next week, but is seeking a Major League contract.

Andrew Bailey (89 saves): Non-tendered by the Red Sox in December, Bailey is the first of the comeback candidates on this list. He made 30 appearances and logged eight saves before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery shortly after the All-Star break, the latest of a series of medical concerns that have dogged his career. Bailey probably will not be healthy by the start of the season.

Grant Balfour (72 saves): He is the best closer left on the market and the most familiar name on this list because Balfour briefly pitched for the Brewers in 2007. The price tag is a big problem. The 36-year-old, who has posted an ERA of 2.59 or better in four straight seasons, agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with the Orioles before Christmas, but it reportedly fell apart when Baltimore had concerns about Balfour's shoulder. He insists he is healthy.

Rafael Betancourt (74 saves): The right-hander, 39 in April, was to undergo Tommy John surgery in September in attempt to save his career. He probably will have to wait until his age 40 season in 2015 to give it a try.

Manny Corpas (34 saves): Corpas preceded Betancourt as Rockies closer, but has not logged a save since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. He pitched for the Cubs in 2012 before returning to the Rockies in 2013 for 31 appearances and a respectable 1.344 WHIP. The Rockies outrighted Corpas from the 40-man roster in October.

Octavio Dotel (109 saves): Missed most of the 2013 season with a right elbow injury. As of last check in September, Dotel was trying to avoid Tommy John surgery and planned to pitch in winter ball, but has not appeared in any box scores.

Kyle Farnsworth (54 saves): Farnsworth turns 38 on April 14 and his fastball velocity has come down a bit in the last three years, but he finished last season strong for the Pirates (one run on six hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in nine appearances) and would be available on a one-year deal. MLB Trade Rumors reported last week that six to eight clubs have some interest in Farnsworth, who saved 25 games with a 2.18 ERA for Tampa Bay in 2011.

Frank Francisco (73 saves): The former Rangers, Blue Jays and Mets closer missed most of 2013 recovering from an elbow injury. The season before, he made $5.5 million and had a 5.53 ERA.

Michael Gonzalez (56 saves): He signed with the Brewers for 2012, was well-liked by teammates and led the club with 75 appearances, but allowed a.274 average against left-handed hitters and a 1.035 opponents' OPS after the All-Star break. The Brewers are not interested in bringing Gonzalez back.

Kevin Gregg (177 saves): Gregg signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs in April after the Dodgers released him, and eventually helped Chicago overcome Carlos Marmol's struggles. He logged 33 saves with a 3.48 ERA in 62 games, including two saves and one blown save against the Brewers. The Brewers have been linked to Gregg before.

Joel Hanrahan (100 saves): Another rehabber. Hanrahan, traded from the Pirates to the Red Sox in December 2012, underwent Tommy John surgery in May and reportedly will throw for teams in Spring Training to try to find a job.

Brandon Lyon (79 saves): The 34-year-old right-hander has a pair of 20-save seasons on his ledger, but has been a setup man since 2010. He made 37 appearances for the Mets last season with a 4.98 ERA and was released in July. His average fastball velocity fell from 90.2 mph in 2012 to 87.8 mph in 2013, according to data from FanGraphs.com.

Ryan Madson (52 saves): A shutdown setup man turned quality closer for the Phillies, Madson has not pitched since 2011. He signed with the Reds for 2012, but needed Tommy John surgery in Spring Training, then signed with the Angels for 2013, but never made it to the mound.

Carlos Marmol (117 saves): He was all but run out of Wrigley Field, but Marmol is only 31 (of pitchers on this list, only Bailey and Corpas are younger) and could be a good fit for a Brewers team willing to take a flier. He was very close in Chicago with Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who is entering the final season of his contract with Milwaukee and is represented by the same agent, Paul Kinzer. He was still throwing a 93.7 mph average fastball in 2013, when Marmol made 52 appearances for the Cubs and Dodgers with a 4.41 ERA, including a 2.53 ERA in 21 regular season games with the Dodgers. Melvin and Kinzer met at the Winter Meetings to discuss Marmol.

Brett Myers (40 saves): A serious elbow injury limited Myers to four appearances with the Indians in 2013, but he is looking to pitch in 2014, according to reports.

Jon Rauch (62 saves): The Brewers explored signing the 6-foot-11 right-hander last winter, but he went to the Marlins and posted a 7.56 ERA in 15 games before being released in May.

Fernando Rodney (172 saves): Life is good when a 37-save, 3.38 ERA season qualifies as a "down year," but such is life after Rodney's remarkable 2012 campaign. The fact he is seeking a multiyear deal probably puts him out of the Brewers' price range.

Francisco Rodriguez (304 saves): The Brewers have already acquired K-Rod twice; in a trade with the Mets the night of the 2011 All-Star Game, and via a Minor League free agent contract last April. Rodriguez made it back to Milwaukee and helped stabilize the bullpen, posting a 1.09 ERA in 25 games before Melvin dealt him to the Orioles for third base prospect Nicky Delmonico. Rodriguez, who turned 32 on Tuesday, is represented by Scott Boras. Another return is quite possible; Melvin said he's talked to Boras about Rodriguez this winter.

Jose Valverde (286 saves): Thirty-six in March, it appears Valverde's best days are behind him. He pitched to a 5.59 ERA in 20 appearances for the Tigers last season before the team released him in August.