Today's Transactions

Friday, October 31, 2014

Scott Hairston -  Granted free agency
Rafael Furcal -  Granted free agency
Mark Ellis -  Granted free agency
A.J. Pierzynski -  Granted free agency
John Lackey - (St. Louis Cardinals)  Cardinals exercised option for 2015 ($0.5m)
Justin Masterson -  Granted free agency
Jason Motte -  Granted free agency
Pat Neshek -  Granted free agency
Kyle Kendrick -  Granted free agency
Mike Adams -  Team option declined, declared free agent
Wil Nieves -  Granted free agency
Jared Burton -  Team option declined, declared free agent
Mike Pelfrey - (Minnesota Twins)  Activated from DL
Joba Chamberlain -  Granted free agency
Phil Coke -  Granted free agency
Max Scherzer -  Granted free agency
Joel Hanrahan -  Granted free agency
Kevin Gregg -  Granted free agency
Jose Fernandez - (Miami Marlins)  Activated from DL
Denard Span - (Washington Nationals)  Nationals exercised option for 2015 ($9m)
Nate Schierholtz -  Granted free agency
Asdrubal Cabrera -  Granted free agency
Bobby Abreu -  Announced retirement
Daisuke Matsuzaka -  Granted free agency
Jose Veras -  Granted free agency
Jesse Crain -  Granted free agency
Matt Albers -  Team option declined, declared free agent
Emilio Bonifacio -  Granted free agency
Gerald Laird -  Granted free agency
Ryan Doumit -  Granted free agency
Gavin Floyd -  Granted free agency
Ervin Santana -  Granted free agency
Aaron Harang -  Granted free agency
Brad Penny -  Granted free agency
Reed Johnson -  Granted free agency
Jim Johnson -  Granted free agency
Torii Hunter -  Granted free agency
Munenori Kawasaki -  Granted free agency
Brandon McCarthy -  Granted free agency
Chase Headley -  Granted free agency
Kevin Youkilis -  Announced retirement
Alex Rodriguez - (New York Yankees)  Reinstated from suspension
Alexi Casilla -  Granted free agency
Andrew Miller -  Granted free agency
Darren O'Day - (Baltimore Orioles)  Orioles exercised option for 2015 ($4.25m)
Wei-Yin Chen - (Baltimore Orioles)  Orioles exercised option for 2015 ($4.75m)
Joe Saunders -  Granted free agency
Johan Santana -  Granted free agency
Nelson Cruz -  Granted free agency
Delmon Young -  Granted free agency
Kelly Johnson -  Granted free agency
Koji Uehara - (Boston Red Sox)  Signed to 2-year contract for 2015-2016 ($18m) Extension
Ryan Dempster -  Granted free agency
Burke Badenhop -  Granted free agency
Chris Capuano -  Granted free agency
Rich Hill -  Granted free agency
Colby Rasmus -  Granted free agency
Victor Martinez -  Granted free agency
Santiago Nessy - (Kansas City Royals)  Traded from Blue Jays to Royals for Liam Hendriks
Liam Hendriks - (Toronto Blue Jays)  Traded from Royals to Blue Jays for Santiago Nessy
Casey Janssen -  Granted free agency
Melky Cabrera -  Granted free agency
Edinson Volquez -  Granted free agency
Francisco Liriano -  Granted free agency
Russell Martin -  Granted free agency
Clint Barmes -  Granted free agency
Stephen Drew -  Granted free agency
Derek Jeter -  Announced retirement
Ichiro Suzuki -  Granted free agency
Chris Young -  Granted free agency
David Robertson -  Granted free agency
Hiroki Kuroda -  Granted free agency
David Ross -  Granted free agency
Michael Cuddyer -  Granted free agency
Josh Beckett -  Announced retirement
Roberto Hernandez -  Granted free agency
Jamey Wright -  Granted free agency
Paul Maholm -  Granted free agency
Kevin Correia -  Granted free agency
Chris Perez -  Granted free agency
Hanley Ramirez -  Granted free agency
Jake Peavy -  Granted free agency
Ryan Vogelsong -  Granted free agency
Sergio Romo -  Granted free agency
Mike Morse -  Granted free agency
Pablo Sandoval -  Granted free agency
Patrick Corbin - (Arizona Diamondbacks)  Activated from DL
Matt Reynolds - (Arizona Diamondbacks)  Activated from DL
Daniel Hudson - (Arizona Diamondbacks)  Diamondbacks exercised option for 2015 ($0.8m)
David Hernandez - (Arizona Diamondbacks)  Activated from DL
Dan Haren - (Los Angeles Dodgers)  Exercised option for 2015 ($10m)
Tim Stauffer -  Granted free agency
Franklin Morales -  Granted free agency
Nick Masset -  Granted free agency
Matt Belisle -  Granted free agency
Ryan Ludwick -  Team option declined, declared free agent
Homer Bailey - (Cincinnati Reds)  Activated from DL
Sean Marshall - (Cincinnati Reds)  Activated from DL
Joey Votto - (Cincinnati Reds)  Activated from DL
Jack Hannahan -  Team option declined, declared free agent
Ramon Santiago -  Granted free agency
Mark Reynolds -  Granted free agency
Lyle Overbay -  Granted free agency
Yovani Gallardo - (Milwaukee Brewers)  Brewers exercise option for 2015 ($13m)
Tom Gorzelanny -  Granted free agency
Francisco Rodriguez -  Granted free agency
Zach Duke -  Granted free agency
Carlos Villanueva -  Granted free agency
Bronson Arroyo - (Arizona Diamondbacks)  Activated from DL
Jason Giambi -  Granted free agency
Joe Beimel -  Granted free agency
Jason Frasor -  Granted free agency
Scott Downs -  Granted free agency
Luke Hochevar -  Granted free agency
James Shields -  Granted free agency
Norichika Aoki -  Granted free agency
Alex Rios -  Team option declined, declared free agent
Colby Lewis -  Granted free agency
Scott Baker -  Granted free agency
Neal Cotts -  Granted free agency
John McDonald -  Granted free agency
Joe Thatcher -  Granted free agency
Brian Moran - (Los Angeles Angels)  Returned to minors
Huston Street - (Los Angeles Angels)  Angels exercised option for 2015 ($7m)
Jason Grilli -  Granted free agency
Paul Konerko -  Granted free agency
Matt Lindstrom -  Granted free agency
Raul Ibanez -  Granted free agency
Josh Willingham -  Granted free agency
Michael Mariot - (Kansas City Royals)  Activated from DL
Chris Young -  Granted free agency
Franklin Gutierrez -  Granted free agency
Humberto Quintero -  Granted free agency
Chris Denorfia -  Granted free agency
Endy Chavez -  Granted free agency
Kendrys Morales -  Granted free agency
Jed Lowrie -  Granted free agency
Kyle Blanks - (Oakland Athletics)  Activated from DL
Alberto Callaspo -  Granted free agency
Jonny Gomes -  Granted free agency
Luke Gregerson -  Granted free agency
A.J. Griffin - (Oakland Athletics)  Activated from DL
Jason Hammel -  Granted free agency
Jarrod Parker - (Oakland Athletics)  Activated from DL
Jon Lester -  Granted free agency
Geovany Soto -  Granted free agency

WAIVED - C - Juan Centeno

Outfielder Andrew Brown and catcher Juan Centeno have been lost by the 

Centeno

Brown

Mets after they were placed on waivers for the purpose of removing them from the 40-man roster. 

Brown was claimed by the Oakland Athletics. Centeno was claimed by the Milwaukee Brewers. 

The Mets also removed Scott Rice, Josh Satin, Buddy Carlyle and Dana Eveland. Those four, although technically outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas, will become free agents. 

CLAIMED - OF - Andrew Brown

The A’s announced that they’ve claimed outfielder Andrew Brown off waivers from the Mets. 

Brown, 30, received 49 plate appearances for the Mets this season and batted .182/.245/.341 with a pair of homers. He’s seen action in parts of four big league seasons between the Mets, Rockies and Cardinals, compiling a batting line of .220/.281/.390. As indicated by that .170 ISO (slugging minus average), Brown does possess some pop that likely appealed to the A’s. His Triple-A numbers are indicative of that power as well, as he owns a lifetime .298/.380/.555 slash at that level.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/athletics-claim-andrew-brown-from-mets.html 

Ernest Dove - "We Need This In Queens"

   Amongst all the hoopla, energy and fire that surrounded Kansas City and their field during game 7 of the world series stood a...... Mets fan?

   For those not in-the-know, the man in question was one Darren Meenan, founder of The 7 Line http://www.the7line.com/ which has gone from a funny t shirt website, into what has become a brand, and transformed into what are called 'The 7 Line Army'.  The Army consists of any/all dedicated, loyal and (sometimes) raving mad Mets fans, who gather together to attend Mets games, either at a home game, or a designated road game. 

  I actually had the pleasure of being part of the 7 Line Army last year, during a game at Marlins Park.

Hey who Snook the Marlins fan in there?

     Anyway, back to the world series.  Seems like the Royals and Giants fans sure had a lot recent excitement, drama and energy this past week.  Well, how about some plans on seeing our beloved Mets return to glory on this biggest of baseball stages?

     Say what you want about Mets ownership, the fact remains that Mets fans are not Mets fans because of who owns the team.  Mets fans are Mets fans because..... well, theres millions of stories of why one is a Mets fan.  My heart became a flutter in the mid 80s, like may I suppose.  And, no matter the season, record or results, Mets fans continue to arguably be the greatest and most loyal fans in all of sports today.  When I was at that game at Marlins Park, after the final out which secured a Mets victory, you would have thought the team just won the world series.  Nobody wanted to leave.  I believe this feeling is exactly what belongs back in Queens, back in Citi field (Shea) and across the nation of dedicated fans everywhere.

     The Mets organization, and its fans, are ready for a playoff push.  The town is ready to pack the field with 40,000+ stark raving mad fans, and erupt with the kind of joy that flowed through Kansas City and San Francisco this year.

     We may not be 'America's Team', but it sure feels like it when you find yourself in an opposing teams ballpark, and see a group like the 7 Line Army treat every pitch and at bat like its game 7.  They say everyone needs a hero.  Well, in sports, and for Mets fans, we just need a contender.  The plan appears to be coming together.  The Mets are stacked with pitchers who can conceivably ensure many 3-2 wins, which just won the Giants another pennant. Lagares will be manning center field (seemingly with even less ground to cover this coming season as well). David Wright will look to be healthy and be...... David Wright.  Curtis Granderson will look a sneak a few more homers over that apparent shorter fence in right, and Lucas Duda will look to continue to hulk smash another 30 next season.  Add that to Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler and company throwing some 'quality starts' every 5 days, and you got yourself a contender.

     The days of questions, arguments, theories and stress about ownership and mismanagement are ready to be put to rest, because we need this in Queens. We need this in New York. We need this in our individual living rooms throughout the country where we watch our beloved team toss the old ball around. We need this............... Question is, are you ready to have it?



2014 Winter Leagues: 10/30/2014 Results

Arizona Fall League

- Surprise Saguaros 5 - 4 Salt River Rafters

- Glendale Desert Dogs 4 - 1 Peoria Javelinas

- Scottsdale Scorpions 7 - 5 Mesa Solar Sox

Venezuelan Winter League

- Aguilas del Zulia 6 - 0 Tigres de Aragua
- Caribes de Anzoategui 6 - 2 Leones del Caracas

• LF/1B Brandon Allen: 2 for 5, 2B, RBI, 3 K

- Cardenales de Lara 0 - 1 Navegantes del Magallanes

• DH Jairo Perez: 0 for 4, K

- Tiburones de La Guaira 5 - 6 Bravos de Margarita

• RHP Ryan Reid: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• SS Wilfredo Tovar: 3 for 6, R

Side Note: RHP Edioglis Villasmil has been added to the Tiburones de la Guaria roster. RHP Ryan Reid will no longer be followed as he is expected to be declared a minor league Free Agent on November 3rd according to his agent. 

Mexican Pacific League

- Tomateros de Culiacan 1 - 6 Mayos de Navojoa

- Aguilas de Mexicali 14 - 6 Naranjeros de Hermosillo

• C Xorge Carrillo: 3 for 4, 3 R, 2 HR(#2 & #3), 7 RBI

- Caneros de los Mochis 6 - 3 Venados de Mazatlan

• LF Brian Burgamy: 0 for 4, BB, 3 K

Dominican Winter League
- Aguilas Cibaenas 6 - 7 Tigres del Licey

• RHP Hansel Robles: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Roberto Clemente Puerto Rico League

- Criollos de Caguas 7 - 3 Indios de Mayaguez

• 3B T.J. Rivera: 0 for 2

Side Note: RHP Jon Velasquez has been added to the Cangrejeros de Santurce roster. RHP Giancarlo Alvarado has been added to the Gigantes de Carolina roster. RHP Randy Fontanez has been added to the Indios de Mayaguez roster. RHP Seth Lugo has been added to the Indios de Mayaguez roster.

The Morning Report – October 31 – Comments, Fixtures, Matt Harvey, Dayan Viciedo, 5 Wishes

Darin Gorski ‏@darin_gorski20  12 minutes ago

Excited for my first winter league start! Shout out to @NB_Baseball and @RawlingsSports #lookgoodplaygood #Tiburones

Tom asked –

Mack, I noticed that you haven’t been leaving comments on your posts until later on in the day. What gives?

            Mack – Hey Tom.

Yeah, I’ve had a major change in my sleep pattern for a bunch of reasons not worth going into and boring you. My pattern now is write up until I go to sleep around 12am-1am, which is when my pain and sleep medication kicks in.

            The downside is I usually don’t get up now until around 11am.

Luckily, Blogger allows me to schedule in advance what I write, but I do miss out on timely issues that happen overnight.

One more thing about my Morning Reports…

I thank those of you that are emailing me individual questions. First, I will only identify you with your first name in the reports.

Secondly, this process allows me to give you my opinions in a more professional manner that can be addressed by all of you the next day via comments.

This is supposed to be a fun place to visit and all I’m trying to do is generate some intelligent subjects to yak about the next day.

Okay… let’s move on…

Derek asked -

Mack, For three years in a row we have witnessed a good prospect become great (Harvey) and 2 supposedly AAAA players become fixtures (Lagares, deGrom). What if we have a fourth in Reynolds, or den Decker? What do you do then? I know terrible problem. 

            Hey Derek.

Reynolds seems to not be missing in any opportunity he is being given. Now, the nest question is the most important… will he get that opportunity with the Mets? It seems to me that it will first be Wilmer Flores turn at short which, if it goes well, he could be that ‘fixture’ you are looking for.

            Me? At this point I just want another fixture J

As for den Dekker, he has always been used as a platoon outfielder so it seems that is the best you’re going to get here. If you truly are a fan of this guy than wish the Mets would leave him back in AAA for one more season and let him bat every day against all pitching… then again, that will be Nimmo time… no, I’m not sure there’s a chance left for him other than to platoon with someone else for a productive 2015 until Mr. Nimmo comes along.       

Here is another question/scenario: You ask Harvey whether he wants to be the opening day starter or get the ball in the first game of the playoffs due to innings limit this year (this would tell me the mindset on being a long time Met) Hopefully is option 2 so you can go with Colon and trade when Harvey is ready to come back up. If ego and his agent say he wants the ball opening day knowing he won’t make it to September, do you trade him instead of Wheeler or Thor for a top flight outfielder? Especially of the reports of "miscommunication" between player and front office (We seem to have options at SS now) The rotation could be Thor, Wheeler, deGrom, Gee and Neise. He is the most expensive, will get to ARB first and will bring back someone good?

You bring up a very interesting scenario here that would first get you burned at the Mets-Twitter stake. That being said, only Harvey and David Wright could bring you the kind of outfielder you want long term.

A lot of this depends on just how much the Mets feel that Brandon Nimmo is one of their future long term starting outfielders. You have to respect the length of the Curtis Granderson contract and we can assume that Lagares is going nowhere. So you then have to ask if you are really looking for a long term outfielder or just someone to be productive in 2015.

Me?  Sorry, but my vote is for Harvey, Wheeler, and deGrom from the get-go with Harvey being limited to six innings tops each start. I want to see the dream rotation I’ve been writing about for years.

However…

It’s very hard to determine what Harvey’s value is right now. Is he a starter coming off TJS or is the  ex-starter of the All-Star game? What would ask for from, let’s say, Boston? Mookie Betts seems too little, too untested… Allan Craig not talented enough.

Marty asked –

Hi Mack, There has been a lot of talk about Michael Cuddyer, but he seems too expensive for the Mets unless he takes less to play with the Captain. As cheaper alternatives, what do you think about signing Michael Morse or trading for Ryan Ludwick, who is coming off a down season and only played in 112 games? Another trade possibility could be Dayan Viciedo, who is 25, but also coming off a down year.

                        Mack – Hey Marty.

This is sort of an extension of the question above this about the need of a long term outfielder signing in 2015. I’m going to continue to operate under the plan that the Mets have Brandon Nimmo inked into a starting outfield position, latest opening day 2016. This would place him out there with Lageres and Granderson, creating a need in 2015 for only a one-year deal for ‘somebody’.

Cuddyer is going to demand a 2-year deal. I would be wiling to pay a little extra for a one-year plus a team option, but at his advanced age, and taking in the park dimension factors, that’s the best I could do.

After this playoff series, Morse will be offered at least 2-years from a multiple amount of teams.

Ludwick will play 2015 as a 36-year old and, frankly, I’d rather platoon den Dekker with Cesar Puello than commit decent money here.

But I love the Viciedo idea if I could get him for one year. He’s young and hitting 21 home runs in a bad year is a good place to start.

‘Tank’ reminds me, body wise, of Puello.

Conrad asked –

              Mack- In a leisurely Pub conversation last night, the hypothetical question was aired, “If you owned the Mets & had infinitely deep pockets, WWYD?”

Much of the supposition centered around expensive FA’s and trading high-ceiling prospects for high-priced stars (replacing the losses eventually with more high-priced FA’s).  This from a number of my companions who are SABR geeks.

My only contribution was that I’d buy an IL franchise (Charlotte?), and maybe Savannah too, to control & stastabilize the pipeline.  That seemed off-the-wall to my colleagues.

Would like to hear your thoughts on this and on the general fantasy of “if $$$ had no bearing?”

            Mack – Good question. Things I would or wouldn’t do:

1.     Buy minor league teams to accommodate all four ‘full season’ seasons. Enough of worrying if the owners of Buffalo are happy or if someone should be held back for the Savannah playoffs. I want team owned minor league teams.

2.      Double the amount of money that is currently invested in International scouting. This is where there still is some unmined gold in this game and you need to spend well above the levels given you before a penalty comes into play. Eat the penalty. America is turning everybody over 6-2 into a pitcher and Latin America is where the big bats still exist.

3.     Never, I repeat, NEVER, trade a prospect that is going in the right direction, unless you have an amount of depth that would prevent that player from having a decent career. If that happens, go out and find yourself a positional replacement that exists in the market. Kevin Plawecki may wind up to be the best example here.

4.     Look for your leftfielder problem in the FA pool (see point 3)… call up the agents for Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis, Colby Rasmus, and Alex Rios. Tell them you are making an offer to the other four outfielders and you would like him to bring to your table the top offer he receives by other clubs. Then tell him you will match +10% that offer for 2-years plus a 4^th year team option. First one that calls gets the deal. Put this position behind you so you can move on someday to who plays in the 2016 outfield, Nimmo or Granderson.

5.     As crazy as it sounds, stay in the FA pool and go out and get one of the top starters that’s available out there this off season. Make this run for a playoff and desire for increased attendance a lot easier… how about a rotation of (in no particular order) Harvey, Wheeler, de-Grom, Syndergaard, and Jon Lester?

            

Perfect Game –

           Highest Peak Fastball Velocities

Rk.     Pitcher           Top MPH      Avg MPH

1        Donny Everett         96.3   93.8

2        Austin Bergner        95.0   93.0

3        Beau Burrows          94.9   93.0

4        Nick Neidert            94.8    92.5

5        Dakota Chalmers   94.2   92.2

6        Marrick Crouse        94.1   91.3

7        Wesley Rodriguez  93.9   91.0

8        Jiovanni Orozco      93.9   91.2

9        Jordan Hicks            93.6   91.4

10      Pablo Salizar                      93.5    91.0

           http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=10678