2011 New York Metropolitans

el Rafaa · Dec 7, 2011

Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco...

nice!

Matt in the Hat · Dec 7, 2011

Sandy has a plan. Not sure what it is but it definately a plan

riverplate · Dec 8, 2011

Mets Trying to Trade Niese - N.Y. Post

DALLAS — The Mets are talking to multiple teams about Jonathon Niese, with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Padres and Rockies showing the most interest, The Post has learned. In fact, even the Yanks made a call to inquire about Niese, though there were no indications it was more than exploratory. In catching prospect Austin Romine, the Yanks have just the kind of player the Mets are looking for if they trade Niese: a young, inexpensive, controllable position player in an area of need.

The Mets believe they have a stable of high-end pitching on the horizon in Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, Jenrry Mejia and Zack Wheeler, but lack the same pedigree in near major-league ready position players. Those high-end arms make Niese somewhat expendable and the Mets are looking to capitalize on a thin starting pitching market, especially short in talented youngsters several years from free agency. So the Mets want to, in the words of one of their executives, at least “kick the tires” to see what Niese can return...

The Mets are trying to collect as much young talent as possible that will blossom together, forming the cornerstone for a sustained contender, they hope, no later than 2014.
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Cascarino's Pizzeria · Dec 8, 2011

Matt in the Hat said: ↑

Sandy has a plan. Not sure what it is but it definately a plan
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It's Jeffy Boy's plan...and it's called re-building.

Would've liked to see them make a realistic offer to Jose. Didn't they just clear off $50M of payroll? No Johan, Wright is probably suicidal, Pagan gone, Bay sucks. This does not bode well and it's only Christmas

Cascarino's Pizzeria · Dec 8, 2011

riverplate said: ↑

Mets Trying to Trade Niese - N.Y. Post
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So by their own math we have to bag 2 more seasons, best case scenario? It'll be nearly a decade of losing since the last playoff game. That's unacceptable. We need new owners

riverplate · Dec 13, 2011

Cash-Poor Mets Given $40 Million Bank Loan - N.Y. Times

The owners of the Mets, needing cash and unable to turn to Major League Baseball for more financial help, received a $40 million loan from a major bank in the past six weeks. The team described the arrangement as a bridge loan, meant to aid the team as it tries to raise money through the sale of minority stakes in the club. The loan marks the second time in a year that the Mets have received an infusion of cash. A year ago, the team’s owners, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, received a $25 million loan from Major League Baseball, but they have not been able to repay it. Meanwhile, Sandy Alderson, the club’s general manager, said last week that the organization had lost $70 million in 2011 alone...

The recent $40 million loan suggests that the effort to sell minority shares in the team was not generating the cash that the owners needed in the near term. The owners, through a spokesman, said the loan had been approved by Major League Baseball and the other banks to which they are already indebted. Bank of America was the source of the $40 million loan, according to a person with knowledge of the deal...

The implications of the team’s latest outside financing are not easy to forecast. But two people with knowledge of the team’s finances said that if a full lineup of minority stake investors was not in place by next spring, and cash not in hand, Wilpon and Katz might have to confront the prospect of selling the team entirely.
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otterulz · Dec 13, 2011

Cascarino's Pizzeria said: ↑

It's Jeffy Boy's plan...and it's called re-building.

Would've liked to see them make a realistic offer to Jose. Didn't they just clear off $50M of payroll? No Johan, Wright is probably suicidal, Pagan gone, Bay sucks. This does not bode well and it's only Christmas
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At this point I don't even see the point of keeping Johan and Wright. Might as well deal them. It's the merciful thing to do. After Jose left, I don't expect anything. If you're going to rebuild, get what you can for the two biggest stars on the team. Shed some more money and keep building a moneyball team.

el Rafaa · Dec 13, 2011

hopefully Johan has a superb year, that can only help.

Cascarino's Pizzeria · Dec 18, 2011

el Rafaa said: ↑

hopefully Johan has a superb year, that can only help.
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Latest news is that he's not going to be ready for spring. It'll be 2 years before you know it. Another bomb of a contract when all is said & done

riverplate · Dec 19, 2011

Few Have Shed Payroll Like the Mets Have This Winter - Wall Street Journal

For years, the Mets operated like a typical big-market team, spending heavily on talent, if not always wisely. But this winter, their payroll is shrinking to a degree that is almost unprecedented within the industry, at least in this millennium.

General manager Sandy Alderson said recently that he expects the payroll for 2012 to come in at around $100 million and could even be slightly less than that. A $100 million payroll would represent a $43 million cut from the Mets' Opening Day payroll in 2011. Since 2000, only two other teams have cut payroll by a higher amount from one year to the next, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, an online clearinghouse for player-salary data...

It's worth nothing that the Mets will still likely rank among the top half of all teams in player salaries in 2012. In that regard, they're in far better shape than the 2006 Marlins. But such a significant payroll reduction doesn't bode well for them in 2012. Since 2000, of the 21 teams that cut payroll by more than $20 million from one year to the next, only two made the playoffs the following year. And only six finished with a winning record.
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Cascarino's Pizzeria · Dec 19, 2011

riverplate said: ↑

Few Have Shed Payroll Like the Mets Have This Winter - Wall Street Journal
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If they match '11's record I'd be surprised. I'm thinking 71-91 with no leadoff hitter & gaps in the lineup and back of rotation.

riverplate · Dec 21, 2011

Mets Cut Minor League Team - N.Y. Post

The Mets will have one less minor league affiliate next season. In a move designed to trim costs, the team announced Tuesday it plans to eliminate its rookie team in St. Lucie of the Gulf Coast League. The Mets will have Rookie teams in Kingsport, Tenn., and in the Dominican Republic.

Mets players who would have spent next season in the Gulf Coast League will be dispersed among Kingsport and the Dominican Republic. Though the Mets will still have eight farm teams (more than most franchises) the elimination of the GCL club serves as another belt-tightening measure.
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riverplate · Jan 11, 2012

Mets Bring Back Batista - N.Y. Post

Miguel Batista will turn 41 next month, one day before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Port St. Lucie for spring training. And the right-hander will be there with the Mets, who signed him to a minor league deal yesterday after he finished the 2011 season with them.

Batista split last season between the Cardinals and the Mets, going 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA in 35 games — including 5 starts. After being released by the eventual World Series-champion Cardinals in June, the Mets picked him up on July 5 and brought him back to the majors Aug. 26.
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Mets, Cedeno Reach Deal - N.Y. Post

A day after saying there was little more to do than fill up the bench, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson took a step in that direction yesterday, with the team agreeing to a 1-year deal with Ronny Cedeno, pending a physical. Though at this point, it seems the Mets are loaded with bench players.

Cedeno, who will be 29 next month, likely will back up Ruben Tejada at shortstop. His deal with the Mets is believed to be worth a little more than $1 million.
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Mets Put Prospect Martinez on Waivers - N.Y. Post

riverplate · Jan 12, 2012

riverplate said: ↑

Mets Put Prospect Martinez on Waivers - N.Y. Post
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Astros Claim Former Mets Top Prospect Martinez - MLB

The Astros added another player to compete for a spot in the outfield this spring by claiming outfielder Fernando Martinez — a former top prospect of the Mets — off waivers Wednesday.

Widely considered one of baseball's top prospects from 2006-10, Martinez was billed as a power-hitting outfielder expected to be a cornerstone of the Mets' lineup throughout this decade. But multiple injuries and an arthritic right knee have prevented Martinez from appearing in more than 82 games in any of the past three seasons.
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Cascarino's Pizzeria · Jan 26, 2012

Johnny Franco named to Mets H.O.F. People were on the edge of their seats worrying...

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/26/2738276/john-franco-gets-mets-hall-of-fame-call

el Rafaa · Jan 27, 2012

Cascarino's Pizzeria said: ↑

Johnny Franco named to Mets H.O.F. People were on the edge of their seats worrying...

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/26/2738276/john-franco-gets-mets-hall-of-fame-call
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one hell up a "change up", well deserved!

riverplate · Feb 16, 2012

MLB announced that Gary Carter has died.

RIP...

Hall of Fame catcher Carter dies at 57 - MLB

msilverstein47 · Feb 23, 2012

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/reaching-the-summit-of-kilimanjaro/