New Met - LHP Jon Switzer

LHP Jon Switzer –

August 13,1979 Bowling Green, Kentucky - 6-3 190 Bats: Left Throws: Left - High School: Clear Lake (Houston, Texas) - College: Arizona State University - Drafted: Selected by Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2nd Round (47th overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft (June-Reg) -

Prospect Rankings per Baseball America : 2003 - 7th ranked for Tampa Bay Devil Rays

MLB (4 seasons): 2-4 6.11 1.79

2008 – PAW-AAA: 5-1 4.40 1.37

Mack: Okay, this was a second rounder… but why not… the Mets can always cut him after ¾ outlings…

New Met - RHP Kyle Snyder

RHP Kyle Snyder –

September 9,1977 - Houston, Texas - 6-8 220 Bats: Right Throws: Right - High School: Riverview (Sarasota, Florida) - College: University of North Carolina - Drafted: Selected by Kansas City Royals in 1st Round (7th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft (June-Reg) -

Prospect Rankings according to Baseball America: - 2000 - 70th ranked MLB - 2000 - 3rd ranked for Kansas City Royals - 2001 - 10th ranked for Kansas City Royals - 2002 - 8th ranked for Kansas City Royals - 2003 - 7th ranked for Kansas City Royals

MLB (5 seasons): 8-17 5.57 1.55
2008 – Boston: 0-0 21.60 2.40

Mack: Like I said many times before, sign as many 1st rounder to minor league contracts as you can… you never know if they were managed correctly by their last pitching coaches…

Mets Sign 1, Release 3

The Mets signed RHP Tim McNab and released RHP Jason Lavorgna, 2B Michael Parker, and OF Darren Clark

Oliver Perez Met deal done by Saturday

Sources tell me the deal will be dne by Saturday night, Sunday the latest.

4 years + a 5th year team option

No amount of monies have been disclosed as of yet

If this is done... and I assume my info is accurate... OP will be slotted into the SP2 slot. Slotting is a big thing in negotiating. Many people think it is only money and amount of years, but players want their suites, and red jelly beans, as well as an earlier slotting.

The Mets may; however, slot him SP3 to mix up the lefties and righties. If they do, Pelfrey probably gets the SP2 because of his proven ability last year to last a little longer than Maine.

Maine would be pushed to SP4 followed by Redding, with Garcia and Figueroa in Buffalo, being flown up for the spot starts.

Watch for both Garcia and Figueroa not to pitch back to back in Buffalo. They will spread the two of them out so all ends of a possible slot start become available to them without missing a rotational spot.

As for Niese, bummer dude. You go back and pitch SP1 for the Bisons with Holt and Gee right up your arse.



Mack

Inside Pitch Top 20 Mets Prospects

1. Fernando Martinez - - 2. Wilmer Flores - - 3. Jonathon Niese - - 4. Bradley Holt - - 5. Eddie Kunz - - 6. Dan Murphy - - 7. Nick Evans - - 08. (Mike Carp) - - 09. Bobby Parnell - - 10. Tobi Stoner - - 11. Brant Rustich - - 12. (Ezequiel Carrera) - - 13. Scott Shaw - - 14. Dillon Gee RHP - - 15. Matt Bouchard - - 16. Ruben Tejada - 17. Juan Lagares - 18. Reese Havens - - 19. Mike Antonini - - 20. Greg Veloz

Mack: This is supposedly a new list. If so, why not remove Carp and Carrera? Also,they ranked Bouchard and Tejada in the top 20 prospects… are they watching the same games as the rest of us? How do you rank Matt Bouchard 15th and Jenry Marte 26th? The list was 51 players on the list, but I stopped listing them here after continually getting annoyed at the names being listed here. A real bad job.

Mets Mack Attack - 1-27-9

MLB – NY Mets:

John Sickles scouting report in 1994 on:

Ramon Castro, Puerto Rico HS: First Puerto Rican ever drafted in the first round. 1996: Grade B-; 1997: Grade C; 1998 Grade C+; 1999 Grade C+; 2000 Grade C+. Castro is still hanging around as a reserve due to his defense, but lack of offensive consistency prevented him from living up to first round status.

Mack – never realized he was the first 1st round P.R…. still consider him a great find as one of the best backups in the game


The State of Met’s SPs:

Michael Salfino on Jonathan Niese: - “Yes, he’s a curve ball specialist and you can count those guys in the Majors now on two hands. But his velocity keeps increasing. He’s not physically mature yet. I can see him being a guy who can throw 92 or 93 consistently with that curve and a decent cutter. But he’s not likely to peak until age 27 or 28. Then, I think he can be a middle-of-the-rotation starter on a championship-caliber club. This year, I’d have no problem beginning the season with him as my No. 5 starter even though he’s a contact/command guy at the moment.”

Mack: Sounds good to me. His lips to God’s ears.


Prospect News:

Michael Salfino on: SS Wilmer Flores (Mack’s Mets Prospect #1):

Flores ceiling right now at the plate is Miguel Cabrera — he had the most projectable power in the Appalachian League despite only turning 17 in August.

Mack: That’s quite a compliment and a lot of people are now jumping on the Flores bandwagon. God, I pray he comes to Savannah in March.

Michael Salfino on: Jenry Mejia (Mack’s Mets Prospect #14):

But the worst case for him, barring injury (an awfully big caveat), is to be a Brad Lidge-type of two-pitch closer.

Mack: I don’t know how anybody can predict a kid with this little experience. Ya know, we make prospect lists based on what we see and, yes, many young kids get ranked high because how they start out, but I would never try and predict where someone who has only played at the rookie level or below would wind up in the majors. Frankly, I seldom predict people that last played in Brooklyn or Savannah. You just don’t know until they reach the A+ or AA level (exception being Brad Holt).

P - Jeurys Familia – Mack’s Mets Prospect #8 - From Toby Hyde:

Familia ranks here on the basis of a nice pitcher’s frame and a fastball that boasts average to plus MLB velocity already. Familia, despite inconsistent velocity, consistently threw strikes. In his first start of the year, Familia was throwing 93, 94 mph while that was down to 89-92 in his second appearance. The previous fall, scouts reported that he was consistently in the mid-90s. Familia’s off-speed stuff, a slider at 78 mph and a change at 84 are both about as far away from MLB caliber as one might expect from a 19-year old. 2008: Familia had a nice 11 start run in the GCL, striking out almost three times as many batters as he walked and walking fewer than 2.3 batters per nine innings. Dr. Pangloss Says: Familia’s potential plus fastball and youth allow one to dream of seeing him in a big league rotation a few years from now. On the Flipside: Familia is largely fastball and size. He is a long way away. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah or XST on the way to the Kingsport rotation.

Mack: I’m big on this kid and agree with Toby that he’s a long way away. It will be interesting to watch if he moves to the bullpen the next couple of years.

SS – Jose Coronado (no longer ranked on Mack’s Mets Prospect List) – from Toby Hyde:

Big league skills at shortstop, one of the two most difficult defensive positions to play. Coronado has average MLB range and arm to go with fine hands. He’ll play 2009 as a 23-year old in AAA. Over the course of the last year, the switch-hitter has shown steady, modest improvement with the bat culminating in a VWL season in which he hit .308/.373/.429 in 27 games. Coronado makes contact, rarely striking out and can take a walk. There’s something to the argument that Coronado’s bat is just starting to catch up with the pace at which the Mets have rushed him through the system. In 2004, he played in 33 games in the VSL. In 2005, the Mets reasonably moved him to the GCL where he hit .404/.429/.468 in a whopping 11 games. That prompted the Mets to promote him to Kingsport, where he hit a more modest .266/.338/.382 in 39 games. Nothing strange about moving a guy who was off to a hot start in the GCL up to the Appalachian League, but what follows is harder to justify. The Mets had Coronado finish 2005 in the SAL in Hagerstown where he hit .225/.295/.282 in 18 games as a 19 year old. With no indication that he had conquered the SAL, the Mets promoted Coronado to the FSL to begin 2006 where, as a 20 year old, he hit .226/.283/.278 playing every day in 138 games. To begin 2007, for the second year in a row, after struggling at the previous level, the Mets promoted Coronado, this time to AA Binghamton. Predictably, he struggled to a .212/. 284/.257 line in 81 games. Coronado improved on that in ’08 both in Binghamton and in the VWL. While fans have focused on Mets propensity to push higher profile players, such as Fernando Martinez and Francisco Pena, few players have been hurried through the system as quickly as Coronado. 2008: Coronado hit .253/.330/.291 in 340 AB before the All-Star Break and .275/.346/.359 in 167 AB after the break. Sure, a .084 isolated slugging percentage isn’t usually something to brag about it, but it’s sure better than the .038 he put together before the ASB. Even better, Coronado showed incremental progress in the area, with an isolated slugging percentage of .119 in the winter in VWL to go along with his first .300+ AVG since 11 games in the GCL in 2005. Projected 2009 Start: AAA Buffalo where he’ll be looking to prove that his VWL showing was no fluke.

Mack: I, like many, was a big fan of Coronado, but I can’t believe Hyde would waste all this space for a guy that obviously has not developed into a major league prospect. Coronado is no, and forever will be, an organizational player a la Michel Abreu.

From Dom DiFucci: - OF – Fernando Martinez (Mack’s Mets Prospect #3)

Last season, Fernando Martinez played in only 86 games at the Double A level. While he had moderate success there, hitting .287 in 352 ABs there are some that feel he can benefit from more time in the minors, and a slower promotion through the minors. In 2007, Martinez played in only 60 games because of nagging injuries. Most likely, the Mets will start him in Double A for the third consecutive season and promote him to Triple A at some point. My guess would be that the Mets are not willing to commit more than a one or two year deal to an outfielder given the fact that they plan to promote Martinez to the major league club in either late 2010 or 2011. Clearly, Martinez has the skills to ensure a successful big league career. The biggest obstacle in his career appears to be whether or not he can remain healthy.

Mack: Frankly, I’ve seen this kind of slow growth before, first with Jay Payton, and followed with Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez. This was supposed to be that 50 home run hitter the Mets never has developed, and it just isn’t. I’m not saying he won’t be a decent major leaguer, and he stil could be a decent Mets outfielder, but my guess is he will wind up the same place the three guys that I mentioned in this paragraph did… on another team.

From Patrick Hickey, Jr. – C Doc Doyle (Mack’s Mets Prospect #34)

Doc Doyle- With Jason Jacobs and Jordan Abruzzo being the guys behind the plate to lead the team in the locker room and on the field the past few years, a guy like Doyle [who's timid nature doesn't give his hard-working attitude on the field it's due] is a bit of a weird choice as the starting catcher in Brooklyn next season. Nevertheless, his offensive prowess and business-first attitude make him someone that can and will flourish in Brooklyn if given an opportunity. A .300 hitter in Kingsport, Doyle can reproduce those numbers in Keyspan.

Mack: word is that C Francesco Pena will repeat a third year in Savannah, which does open the possibility of Doyle going straight to Lucy. It all depends if the Mets decide to give either Abruzzo or Sean McGraw another shot at A+ ball. At thi point in his career, Doyle is nothing to scream about, but he is off to a good start,

Kyle Suire- (Mack’s Mets Prospect #33)

Spending a cup of coffee in Brooklyn last season, Suire was nursing a sore hamstring and was never capable of showing the league what he was truly capable of. A more than solid hitter, I see Suire as a dependable six hitter and someone that will not hurt the team on the field. Not an amazing fielder, Suire does have good range and a capable arm, but makes the plays he has to, very similar to one of my favorite second baseman’s in Cyclones history, Jon Schemmel. If Wilmer Flores starts the season in Brooklyn like many expect him to, the Cyclones will have a middle infield that can hit and play the field with anyone in the NY-Penn League.

Mack: I disagree here, but who know’s at this point. I expect Flores and Suire to be in Savannah, but since I’m the beat reporter there, sometimes my predictions are more like wishful thinking.

Mike Powers- (Mack’s Mets Prospect #23)

Leading the K-Mets in saves last season, Powers, who was close to a strikeout an inning in 21 frames of work, may be one of the only players from Kingsport’s bullpen to be a real member of the Brooklyn staff next season.

Mack: I hope not. Powers will pitch as a 23-year old and needs to be pushed to Savannah for the 2009 season. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Jonathan Sanchez- (not ranked on the Mack’s Mets Prospect List)

The former Cyclones outfielder had a solid season with the GC Mets last season and may make his return as a middle reliever. If that is the case, you can expect a few stories on his progress throughout the season. Extremely confident in his first go round with Brooklyn despite sub-par numbers, it’ll be interesting to see how the tides of time have changed the youngster.

Mack: I hate when writers use the word “solid”. “Solid season” means not great. And not great means, no prospect. Sanchez didn’t even make my honorable mention list.

Stefan Welch- (not ranked on the Mack’s Mets Prospect List)

Aside from Suire and Flores, Welch was one of the K-Mets best hitters. Able to play both corner infield positions and the outfield should make him one of Edgar Alfonzo’s favorite players and should give him the type of versatility that put former Cyclone Eric Campbell in the lineup so much last season. Should be an interesting guy to watch.

Mack: Another guy I have on my Savannah board, but we’ll see. I’m not that big on Aussie kids, mainly because everyone the Mets have ever signed went nowhere.

Too Many Bisons

Too Many Bisons

One look at the projected Buffalo Bisons (AAA) board and one quickly comes to realize that a bunch of failed ex-prospects may be out of work before the season starts.

Starting pitcher wise, there are six names penciled in: Tobi Stoner, Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Freddy Garcia, Nelson Figueroa, and Adam Bostick. That’s fine if Niese and Parnell make the parent roster, but there isn’t any room to send guys like Stoner back to AA when they are stacked with the likes of Dillon Gee, Mike Antonini, Dylan Owen, Jake Ruckle, and Eric Niesen.

But the real log-jam is in the pen, which currently lists Eddie Kunz, Rocky Cherry, Carlos Muniz, Darren O'Day, Connor Robertson, Edgar Alfonzo, John Madden, Eddie Camacho, Casey Fossum, Tom Martin, Sal Aguilar, Brandon Knight, and Eric Brown. That’s 13 relief pitchers, which is far more that will eventually break camp.

The Mets Mack Attack - 1-24-9

MLB – NY Mets:

John Sickles on: - Brian Schneider, 10 win shares - Drafted in the fifth round in 1995 out of high school in Pennsylvania. Prospect Grades: 2000, Grade C+. 2001: Grade C. I compared him to Darrin Fletcher in the books. Schneider is a career .253/.325/.376 hitter, +83 OPS. Fletcher hit .269/.318/.423, +92 OPS.

Sickles’ Top Catching Prospects – 1995-2004:

1995 (Eddie Epstein list) - Raul Casanova, Grade A-: Career .236/.304/.379 in 1081 at-bats. - Casanova never lived up to his early potential, partly due to injuries, but is still hanging around as a backup catcher

2003 - Justin Huber, Grade B+: Career .220/.273/.302 in 159 at-bats. - Huber moved to first base, has had some nagging injury problems, and looks like a bust right now

The State of Met’s SPs:

I have no problem with the current pitching staff.

A rotation of Johan Santana, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Tim Redding, and Jon Niese is okay in my books. The addition of Freddy Garcia may work out, but I expect him to start the season in AAA-Buffalo so everone on the Mets can make sure he is healthy and sound. In addition, veteran Nelson Figueroa will be next to him, waiting for the phone to ring if and when a sixth starter is needed.

Relief wise, I expect this to be the best bullpen in many years. The eighth and ninth innings are a lock for J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriquez, allowing both Pedro Feliciano and Duaner Sanchez to concentrate on the middle innings. Don’t be surprised this group doesn’t turn in the best stats in the league.

Don’t get me wrong… I would love to have Oliver Perez back. He would slot in at SP4, allowing the development of Niese to continue in Buffalo. In turn, it would slow down the growth of prospects Bradley Holt and Dillon Gee, which also would give the Mets a needed bargaining chip when trade talks come around.

But, if this is our staff, then this is our staff.

So, for the off season, the Mets signed a couple of relief pitchers, two questionable starters, and a bunch of second string guys.

Fits my plan for predicting for the third year in a row that that they’ll finish third.


New Mets:

Freddy Garcia - Positions: P-346 - Full Name: Freddy Antonio Garcia - Born: October 6,1976 in Caracas, Venezuela - Height: 6-4 Weight: 235 Bats: Right Throws: Right - Drafted: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Astros in 1993 - Signed by Scout: Andres Reiner - MLB Debut: April 7,1999 - Prospect Rankings: 1999 - 61st ranked MLB - 1999 - 2nd ranked for Seattle Mariners (according to Baseball America)

Major League Totals - 10 Seasons 118-77 4.07 1.29 1,264 K’s in 1,716.2 IP
2006: 17-9 4.53 1.28 135 216.1
2007: 1-5 5.90 1.60 50 58.0
2008: 1-1 4.20 1.13 12 15.0

Rob Mackowiak - Positions: 3B-319, RF-279, 2B-262, OF-186, CF-174, LF-151, 1B-52, SS-7, DH-2, C-1 - June 20,1976 in Oak Lawn, Illinois - 5-10 168 Bats: Left Throws: Right - High School: Oak Lawn Community (Oak Lawn, Illinois) - College: South Suburban College - Drafted: Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 53rd Round (1498th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft (June-Reg) - MLB Debut: May 19,2001

Major League Totals - 8 Seasons 856 G 2,328 Abs .259/.332/.405/.737
008: Wash. 38 G 53 Abs .132/.254/.208/.462

Mack’s Prospect List Update:

Player rankings continue to be updated based right now on results from the winter leagues, injury reports, and general opinions from the many Mets writers who turn out lists like this.
The current top ten goes as follows:

1. SS Wilmer Flores
2. SP Brad Holt
3. OF Fernando Martinez
4. 3B Jefry Marte
5. OF Cesar Puello
6. SP Eric Beaulac
7. SP Robert Carson
8. SP Jeurys Familia
9. SP Dillon Gee
10. 1B/OF Nick Evans

There are currently 46 Mets minor leaguers on the list because, in my opinion, that is the extent of the talent pool. Recent additions were 1B Giovanni Ortiz, at #40,and P Kyle Allen at #39.

Rotoworld: - According to ESPN Radio's Andrew Marchand: The Mets will eventually be willing to go to four years for Oliver Perez. Meanwhile, the Mets have growing interest in Ben Sheets. A source says that the Mets don't think Sheets' arm is perfect, but it is not terrible either. Marchand's source expects the Mets' negotiations for Perez to continue to drag. If there's another club willing to go to four years for Perez, that info has been kept away from the media thus far. Sheets, as you know, met with Rangers brass yesterday. Dan Graziano provides his take on the Mets' plans over at his blog.

It simply amazes me how this Hot Stove season works… the Mets obviously have no intention of signing any other starting pitcher than Oliver Perez, yet we all have to sit around with our thumbs up our ass waiting for King Scott to place his sword on our shoulders and knight us. It’s pathetic. And, it’s a statement on the importance of signing and drafting the right youngsters each year. The Mets wouldn’t have to go through this shit if they didn’t empty the farm for Johan Santana. Trust me, in two years, this won’t happen again. Brad Holt, Dillon Gee. Eric Beaulac, Robert Carson, Jeurys Familia, Tobi Stoner, Scott Moviel, Brant Rustich, Mike Antonini, and Jenrry Mejia are all coming down the pipeline and the Mets will be in the driver seat, starting pitcher wise, come 2011.

Prospect News:

All from Toby Hyde:
SP Brad Holt – Mack’s Mets Prospect #2:
There’s still lots of speculation where SP Brad Holt (Mack’s Mets Prospect #2) is going to start the 2009 season. The experts are pretty slit between AAA-Buffalo, while the other half say AA-Birmngham. Either way, it will not be the warm weather of St. Lucie or last year’s AAA-team, New Orleans.Actually, there is still speculation if Holt is a non-roster invitee for the Mets ST team. Holt told his local college town newspaper that pitchers are due to report on February 13, but he plans on being there two weeks early. Holt’s Low-A Clones stats last year were: 1.87 ERA with 96 Ks and only 43 hits in 72.1 IP. Holt is, by far, the Mets top SP prospect and should be Queens-ready to compete for a rotational spot in 2010.

3B Shawn Bowman (not ranked on Mack’s Met Prospect List due to age):

Finally healthy after missing the better part of the previous two and a half seasons with a chronic back problem, Shawn Bowman showed that he still possessed significant tools. Bowman has soft hands and a strong arm at third to go along with average range. At the plate, he has average power and some batspeed, but a longish swing that pitchers in AA found ways to exploit. Understandably, Bowman was more interested in staying healthy in 2008 than in making major mechanical adjustments. Whether he both stays healthy and adapts in 2009 will determine whether he has a big league career or not. 2008: Shawn Bowman announced his return to health with a 3-5 performance in Jupiter for St. Lucie on June 17th. Bowman raked his way through the FSL for a month and a half before a late July promotion to Binghamton. While tearing the cover off the ball in St. Lucie, Bowman was very aggressive, drawing just four walks, an approach that would be exposed as too simple in AA. Once again as a B-Met, Bowman got off to a quick start, going 2-4 with a homer in his AA debut that sparked an eight-game hitting streak. However, in his last 84 AB in AA, Bowman hit a paltry .214/.209/.333 with no walks. Bowman was hitting well again in the Arizona Fall League before heading home to be with his ailing father. Projected 2009 Start: AA Binghamton

P Steve Clyne (Unranked on Mack’s Mets list):

P Steve Clyne flashes two average pitches – a fastball and a slider – out of the bullpen. His fastball was 89-93 for Brooklyn and the slider had average movement showing nice depth and tilt. 2008: Clyne began the year with St. Lucie where he posted ERAs above nine in April and May while fighting his own mechanics. He began to right himself in June and the early part of July before he was dispatched to Brooklyn where he had pitched in 2007. As Brooklyn’s closer, Clyne posted a ridiculously good 4.86 gb/fb ratio. Projected 2009 Start: St. Lucie bullpen, although a jump to Binghamton is a possibility too.

SS Wilmer Flores (Mack’s Met Prospect #1)

Keith Law of ESPN.com and Scouts Inc. ranked SS Wilmer Flores as his 55th best prospect in baseball, second best Mets prospect, and the seventh best middle infield prospect. Overall: Flores’ calling card is his bat — he has quick wrists and is very short to the ball, squaring very well except on balls toward the bottom of the zone. On Flores’s Defense: Flores plays short now but is below-average already, and he’ll move to another position as he fills out, probably third base given his arm strength and the fact that his bat will play there. On Flores’s Power: His power potential is an open question. He has some power now because he makes such hard contact and has loft in his finish; if he fills out physically, he should end up with plus power, topping 30 in his best years.

Alumni:

Two baseball fantasy camps are going on this week on the Treasure Coast, giving attendees a chance to rub elbows with former major league players and coaches from their favorite teams. The New York Mets are holding their camp at the Tradition Field complex in Port St. Lucie through Saturday. It will conclude with the annual campers versus instructors games, which runs 9 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. The camp is open to the public all week. Former Mets in camp: Bobby Wine, Doug Flynn, John Stearns, Joe Pignatano, Duffy Dyer, Bernard Gilky, Steve Henderson, Anthony Young and others
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jan/22/spring-comes-early-tradition-field/?partner=RSS

John Sickles on: - Jesus Flores, 10 win shares - Signed as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2002. Prospect Grades: 2005 Grade C; 2006 not in book due to poor performance; 2007 Grade C. Flores showed power in the minors but his plate discipline was quite dismal. It remains to be seen what his career is going to look like as that remains a major weakness

The Mets Mack Attack - 1-21-9

MLB – NY Mets:

John Maine and the New York Mets are $800,000 apart in contract negotiations for the 2009 season. The 27-year-old Stafford County right-hander asked for $3 million yesterday, the deadline for arbitration-eligible players to submit requests. The Mets offered $2.2 million. Maine earned $450,00 last year, when he went 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts for the Mets. He spent two stints on the disabled list and did not pitch after Aug. 26 because of a bone spur in his right shoulder. He had the spur surgically removed Sept. 30 and is expected to be ready for spring training next month. Arbitration hearings will be scheduled between Feb. 1 and Feb. 21 if the two sides cannot reach agreement before then. The Mets have gone to arbitration only once since 1992--last year, when left-hander Oliver Perez was awarded nearly $7 million. The Mets agreed yesterday to deals with outfielders Ryan Church ($2.8 million) and Angel Pagan ($525,000).

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/012009/01212009/440474

Alex Cora will be the backup middle infielder, Duaner Sanchez slots into a bullpen role somewhere and Jeremy Reed will hopefully be taking the Endy Chavez role as the first defensive replacement in the outfield. These are all minor moves, but important to consider when you look at how the roster is taking shape. I continue to say that there is no room to add a free agent outfielder - even if our general manager wasn't running around with blinders on - unless Marlon Anderson is traded or released. Even if you get cute and consider Tatis the corner infield backup and Cora the middle infield backup, there's still only room for five outfielders on the roster. Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church are the likely starters and I can't imagine Jeremy Reed was just given over $900,000 to start in center field for Buffalo. That still leaves Anderson, Angel Pagan and Nick Evans as outfielders on the 40-man roster fighting for the fifth spot. Evans is almost certainly ticketed for Buffalo and it wouldn't be surprising if Pagan was asked to join him, although I suppose it would be equally unsurprising if Pagan beat out Reed for the defensive backup job with a hot Spring Training. The Mets still can't add Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu or any other free agent outfielder unless they deal with the Anderson issue.

http://productiveouts.blogspot.com/2009/01/roster-moves-mets-sign-cora-sanchez.html

Scot Gregor of the Arlington Daily Herald expects free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia to make a decision sometime this week. The White Sox, Mets and Rangers appear to be the only serious suitors. Gregor provides some analysis on the White Sox' interest:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/01/freddy-garcia-c.html

I was talking to a well-placed baseball person this week, and he made two points that made me reconsider the Mets’ winter. The first is that the team is effectively under new ownership. The second—and it goes to a point they’ve been kicking around over at Faith and Fear—is that there’s no real pride in ownership in Flushing. I haven’t seen the new offices, for instance, but I understand that rather than what you might expect—a World Series trophy, a Tom Seaver jersey, life-sized prints of an ebullient Jose Reyes—they’re decorated with blueprints of the Fed. Which is fine enough, but conveys a certain ill ease that the Wilpon family has always betrayed, a nostalgia for a dead team and a disdain for the live one.

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/improve_conditions_marchman

Carlos Beltran thinks GM Omar Minaya's work is unfinished, that the Mets need to use the rest of winter to find another quality starter and perhaps even an outfielder. Manny Ramirez anyone? "You hear anything about Manny? Where he's going?" Beltran asks a reporter. Told Ramirez, who is represented by Beltran's agent Scott Boras, is still looking for an employer, Beltran smiles at the vision of having the free agent patrolling the outfield to Beltran's right at new Citi Field. -- NY Daily News

AAA – Buffalo:

The New York Mets today announced that they have signed LHP Casey Fossum, LHP Tom Martin and C Omir Santos to minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training. New York also announced the signings of INF Argenis Reyes, INF Mark Kiger, C Salvador Paniagua, and RHP Julio De La Cruz to minor league deals.

Fossum, 31, was 3-1 with a 5.66ERA in 31 games in relief for the Detroit Tigers in 2008. In 234 career major league games, the southpaw is 40-53 with two saves and a 5.47ERA with the Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Rays and Tigers. Fossum pitched with Tampa Bay from 2005-2007 and won 19 games. He was originally a first round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 1999.

Martin, 38, last pitched in the majors for the Colorado Rockies in 2007. In 2008, he appeared in five games for the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League. He injured his right oblique in May and did not pitch the remainder of the year. Martin has an 11-9 major league record with three saves and a 4.92ERA in 376 games, all out of the bullpen for the Astros, Indians, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, Rockies and Mets. In 2001, Martin was 1-0 in 14 games for the New York Mets.

Santos, 27, spent most of last season with the Norfolk Tides before making his major league debut with the Orioles (10 games). With the Tides, Santos hit .269 with one home run and 36RBI in 84 games. He has hit .258 with 32 home runs and 260RBI in 661 career minor league games.

Reyes, 26, batted .218 with 13 runs scored and three RBI in 49 games with the Mets last season. Hit also hit .283 with 11 doubles and 22RBI with New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League. Reyes spent his first seven professional seasons in the Cleveland Indians system.

Kiger, 28, hit .223 with three home runs and 40RBI in 109 games for the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Mariners system) in 2009. Originally a fifth round draft pick of Oakland in 2002, he hit .312 with 10 home runs and 50RBI with the Mets’ Double-A Binghamton club in 2007.

Salvador, 25, played 45 games with Double-A Binghamton last season and hit .248 with 7 home runs and 19RBI. He holds a career .242 average in 418 minor league games.

De La Cruz, 28, spent last season at the Rich Baseball Operations owned Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League. With the Naturals, he was 0-1 with a 4.23ERA in 14 relief appearances. For his career, De La Cruz has struck out 316 and allowed just 358 hits in 401.2 innings pitched.


Low A – Clones:

I feel bad for not talking about something related to this team this week, but I felt the need to address the recent promotion the Cyclones announced a few days ago. In June, the team will have a promotion in which they will wear jerseys sporting a combination of Brooklyn and the first name of our current President-elect for one night. While some people think it’s a great idea and are huge supporters of this promotion, I have a serious problem with it for one simple reason. You don’t mix politics with sports.

http://www.dembrooklynbums.com

Fantasy:

Top 10 NL 3Bman

1. David Wright-he's a 5-category producer, and perennial 1st round pick in snake drafts. Bill James Projection: 33-120-113-17-.311-.402-.552

2. Aramis Ramirez-am I the only one who thought he lost alot of weight last year? Due to Mitchell report? Bill James Projection: 31-111-88-.291-.364-.524

3. Chipper Jones-when healthy, he provides very good numbers across the board-minus the SBs. The question remains-when does his body shut down and bury fantasy owners? Bill James Projection: 23-82-82-4-.315-.420-.532

4. Troy Glaus-Glaus is another guy, who, when healthy, provides solid numbers across the board, with a decent avg. Bill James Projection: 31-97-83-.260-.367-.490

5. Mark Reynolds-his avg will kill you, but has tremendous power, and could reach double digits in SBs again in 2009. Could break the top 3 in 2009 if he hits close to what James projects. Bill James Projection: 32-105-101-10-.269-.350-.515

6. Ryan Zimmerman-went with Zimm here, as Atkins declining power scares me, especially without Holliday. Zimmerman is younger, and will be hitting is a slightly better lineup in 2009. Bill James Projection: 22-87-84-3-.290-.351-.484

7. Garret Atkins-I was going to put Jorge Cantu here, but went with Atkins. He isn't as bad as 2008 says he was, is he? Bill James Projection: 22-105-90-.297-.359-.473

8. Edwin Encarnacion-this guys hits a ton of flyballs. If he can increase his HR/FB
%, he could go 30-90 one year.Bill James Projection: 25-85-83-.278-.356-.490

9. Kevin Kouzmanoff-James likes this guy, but he plays in SD. He's coming off shoulder surgery, so keep an eye on him in spring training. Bill James Projection: 25-94-76-.283-.332-.479

10. Jorge Cantu-was 2008 a fluke year for Cantu, or a sign of things to come? Bill James Projection:24-92-76-.268-.315-.467
http://www.faketeams.com/2009/1/19/727669/fantasy-baseball-top-10-nl

International:

Mets that are playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC):

Australia - IF Stefan Welch
Canada - 3B Shawn Bowman
Dominican Republic - SS Jose Reyes
Panama - LHP Angel Antonio Cuan - IF Ruben Tejada
Puerto Rico - IF Alex Cora - LHP Pedro Feliciano - 1B Carlos Delgado - OF Carlos Beltran
OF Jesus Feliciano - RHP Nelson Figueroa
United States - RHP J.J. Putz - C Brian Schneider - 3B David Wright
Venezuela - RHP Francisco Rodriguez - LHP Johan Santana

Alumni:

The Baltimore Orioles signed 1B Craig Brazell.

The Houston Astros signed OF Jason Tyner.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed P Matt Ginter