11-8-12 – Jason Bay, Greg Burke, Yazmani Grandal, Hot Stove

The Bay release was basically just that… a release. He will receive this full deal, but a small portion will be deferred, either for the benefit of one or both of the parties. I find the whole transaction kind of perplexing. Your outfield is basically below par, two of your players (Jordany Valdespin and Lucas Duda) have injuries this week that could prevent them from being ready on opening day, so what do you do? Get rid of one of the only outfielders you have left. It’s obvious that there is more to come here. “Books wise”, the Mets will be able to spread this out over 3-5 years, thus, free up some money for acquisitions now.I assume that, since the Bay contract was “on the books” for 2013 that it will now be paid off before the end of the year so it is tax beneficial for both parties.

Here’s where Flushing, Las Vegas, and Binghamton breakout on paper right now:

          Mets – Andres Torres, Mike Baxter, Lucas Duda (broken wrist), Jordany Valdespin (foot injury)

          Las Vegas – Matt den Dekker, Kirk Nieuwenhuis (DL), Juan Lagares, Pedro Zapata

          Binghamton – Cory Vaughn, Darrell Ceciliani, Alonzo Harris, Cesar Puello

          Nieuwenhuis could be elevated to the opening day centerfielder, which would give Harris the opening to take his spot in Las Vegas.

Lost in the Jason Bay announcement was the fact that the Mets signed a pretty damn good minor league closer. Greg Burke was signed to a minor league contract and invited to camp. Burke was originally drafted by the Mets in 2000, but never signed and went to Duke University. He signed with San Diego in 2006 who he pitched for six years, rising to AAA in 2011 (2-2, 5.70). The Orioles signed him last season and he went lights out as their AA closer: 1-0, 1.53, 0.85, 23-G, 29.1-IP, 20-K, 4-BB, 14-SV… he finished the season with AAA-Norfolk – 2-1, 1.53, 1.02, 21-IP, 30-K. Burke would pitch 2-13 as a 30-year old.

C Yazmani Grandal was suspended for 50-games after testing positive for high testosterone level. I fuckin’ give up on these players that turn pro at  16-year olds with a grade school education. The whole fucking system sucks. Make them finish high school (or whatever they call it down there), draft them like the Puerto Rico kids get drafted, and start them off in organized ball then instead of being taken out of school at the age of 14 by some scumbag that calls himself a scout. I don’t give a shit how well they play shortstop. 99% of the drug busts are Latin kids trying to make up for the body God never gave them. How in God’s name can MLB justify this yet, if you tried to do this with a white boy in Georgia, you’d go to jail. Moron system.

Jon Heyman‏ - @JonHeymanCBS

Mets can’t really consider trade for Ike Davis now, not after Duda injures self moving furniture

There will be no change in the MLB drug policy because of new pot legalization in Colorado or Washington. A positive test, in any state, will remain a 50 game suspension


NL Cy Young finalists: R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw. Winner announced 11/14, 6 pm ET on @MLBNetwork.

It’s always good to see ex-Mets get paychecks. Pittsburgh re-signed 1B Stefan Welsh and 2B Anderson Hernandez.

                                                Hot Stove:

Trades:

San Diego trades OF Blake Tekotte to CWS for P Brandon Kloess


Claimed Off Waivers: 

         

          Seattle claimed OF Scott Cousins from Toronto.

NYY - Claimed pitcher David Herndon off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays

NYY - claimed pitcher Josh Spence off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

Washington – C Carlos Maldonado – resigned

Atlanta – P Al Yevoli – 1-2, 2.62, Washington/Frontier League

Detroit – P Shawn Hill – 1-0, 1-G for Detroit in 2012

Players opting for free agency:    

          1B Mike Jacobs ( Arizona) – suspended 50-games – AAA: .279, 333-AB, 18-HR, 60-RBI

          RHP Clay Hensley – (SF) – 4-5, 4.62, 1.58, 60-G, 50.2-IP, 42-K, 30-               BB- $750K –  ARB-3

         

Players Released:

          1B Henry Moreno (Kansas City) – A-.197  

    

Players Signed:  

          San Diego signed International free agent, OF Euri Minaya  - $700K bonus
        
          RHP Garrett Mock signed by Arizona