HOME | ABOUT MyTriState | REPORT ERROR | PRIVACY POLICY
MyTriState.us Mets 08-09 Off Season
Welcome! Below, you'll find our blogs on the Mets free agents and other incidents that occur during the New York Mets 2008 2009 off season. The Mets have Aaron Heilman demanding that the Mets either trade him or make him a starter... that's some demand coming from someone whose 2008 numbers were not great: he had one less hit per inning pitched and had a 5.21 ERA. Also, the Mets must not resign Pedro Martinez - he just doesn't have enough fastball anymore, not even for the National League, and he gets hurt too much. The Mets first priority this off season is to rebuild their bullpen and maybe find another starting pitcher. The Mets have a lot of holes and might find themselves in a tough division next year - the Phillies are the world champions and could greatly improve their team's outlook with the addition of another starter and you never know when the Marlins are going to reemerge again - probably not worried about the Nationals. Omar Minaya better get busy!
Mets sign Gary Sheffield
After the Detroit Tigers released him, the New York Mets signed Gary Sheffield, age 40. Before anyone gets too excited, consider this: the Tigers released Sheffield with the knowledge that he was owed $14 million dollars and that whoever picked him up would only have to pay the $400,000 minimum salary, sticking the Tigers with a bill for over $13.5 million for Sheffield to play for someone else. Also remember, the Tigers are an American League team, so they could have had Sheffield continue to DH for them rather than risk him as a defensive liability in right field, and they still didn't want him on the team. While the Mets have picked Sheffield up on the cheap, and he is what they desperately need, a right handed power hitter, they'll have to play him out in the field for Sheffield's presence to really cause the other team to make an adjustment. That's to say Sheffield can still play at this level; he hit only .178 with five home runs in 45 spring training at-bats this spring and last year played 114 games with a .225 average with 19 home runs. Still excited about acquiring Sheffield? Maybe you shouldn't be. He's tough as nails, but he's 40 years old and has a history of shoulder injuries and when you couple that with a violent swing, you can't really expect a lot. But, there is some value for the Mets to have people watching to see if Sheffield is going to hit his 500th home run - he only needs one more. You'd think that'd be worth 13.5 million to the Tigers, and release Sheffield after he hits his homer... eh, but what do we know?
Relax, Johan Santana isn't on the DL
There's a lot of stuff in the press about Johan Santana and his elbow, but everyone needs to relax. You have to understand that things aren't as bad as they may seem. First, its still spring, and Santana is still getting warmed up, like a lot of players. Second, it might be a bit of a conspiratorial thought, but there is no way the Mets want Santana to play in the World Baseball Classic, and this injury thing is a convenient way of making it impossible for him to not play and save face at the same time. Third, the Mets haven't sent Santana back to New York for XRays or, even worse, to see Dr. James Andrews. Until that actually happens, relax; its still spring, its still early, and he's not on the DL yet!
Mets trade for JJ Putz, deal Aaron Heilman, then deal Scott Schoeneweis
The New York Mets have about worn out the trade market, shipping out familiar parts for seemingly shinny new ones. By dealing Aaron Heilman, who reportedly issued a start me or trade me ultimatum and bringing in JJ Putz as KRod's setup man, the Mets have improved their bullpen, even if Putz has a history of injury trouble. We really thought Scott Schoeneweis was a good acquisition for the Mets, and his first season was pretty much a bust, even if his numbers did improve last year... but, he wasn't someone the Mets really trusted when the gave the ball, so this might be addition by subtraction here. Read more...
Mets sign Francisco Rodriguez KRod
The New York Mets have signed the best closer available in Francisco Rodriguez for a 3 year, $30+ million dollar deal. It's a really good deal for the Mets and sort of a downer for the other closers on the free agent market, or anyone who wanted to trade their closer (Seattle), because KRod's agent was saying he wanted 5 years, $75 million... but that kind of a deal is Mariano Rivera country. Read more...
Mets let free agents come to them, Francisco Rodriguez
The New York Mets have sat back so far and will continue to bide their time as free agency roles on. Read more...
Burgos, Santana and Maine - oh my! Welcome to the Mets week in hell
Jeez, can a higher power give the New York Mets a break? How about congress gives Omar Minaya a two hundred million dollar buy out? Read more...