Results tagged ‘ C.C. Sabathia ’
Sabathia Signs With Yankees
C.C. Sabathia has made the hard decision of choosing between home, or money. He chose to sign with the Yankees, because of the final contract adjustments they made. The deal is for 7 years, $161 million with an opt out option after 2011. This is the new largest pitching contract in history, breaking Johan Santana’s contract signed last year. I think he’ll get hurt somewhere along the line, seven years for somebody who pitches as much as him seems like an invitation to the DL. I think he should’ve gone to California with the Dodgers or Giants, where he really wanted to be. Either way, you’ll be making over a hundred million dollars, which I honestly can’t think of what to do with, and you’ll be pitching for a big market team. I’d love to know what he plans to do with that extra $40-60 million he’s getting.
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In response to I Still Love Piazza’s comment:
I see Oliver Perez as signing with the Mets, as I’ve previosuly blogged about here.
Starting Rotation for 2009: 1. Santana 2. Jon Garland 3. Pelfrey 4. Perez 5. Maine
And start blogging again, I miss reading it. :p
I Called It Part 2; Mets Sign K-Rod; My Free Agent Signings
First, today’s transaction.
Gerald Laird to Tigers for 2 pitching prospects in return. Won’t affect Mets at all.
Dodgers sign Casey Blake and Mark Loretta. This just means the Dodgers have less cash to sign some other free agents.
Adam Everett signs with Twins. Big deal.
O’s trade Ramon Hernandez to the Reds for Ryan Freel and prospects.
Mike Lamb signed with the Brewers. This could mean they trade Bill Hall, who I recall the Mets had interest in during the trade deadline.
The Indians signed Kerry Wood. Big deal seeing as the Mets signed K-Rod.
Wait, K-Rod? Yes, its official. Well, official as soon as he passes a physical, but I can’t hold it in until then. This is a huge relief, as the bullpen was the whole reason for the downfall, and in the words of John Kruk, “WE’RE FINALLY GONNA HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE WITH THE PHILLIES NEXT SEASON! BRING IT ON!!!!!” We still need a set-up man though, and I predict the Mets will sign Chad Cordero next.
Lastly, here are my prediction for the major signings. If I forget any, let me know, I’ll add it.
Brian Fuentes – Cardinals
AJ Burnett – Yankees
Derek Lowe – Red Sox
CC Sabathia – Dodgers
Trevor Hoffman – Rangers
Randy Wolf – Yankees
Pedro Martinez – Pirates
Chad Cordero – Mets
Adam Dunn – Rays
Jason Giambi – A’s
Manny Ramirez – Dodgers
Orlando Hudson – Giants
Jason Varitek – Red Sox
Bobby Abreu – Astros
Raul Ibanez – Cubs
Mark Teixiera – Angels
If you have any questions as to my reasoning, let me know.
Time for the Explosion
If you think it, we are pretty far into the offseason already. Its been more than a month since the World Series ended, and we already know who is in the Free Agent Market. Its December already. That means that soon, everybody is going to start signing, whether its the big names or not. We have this month, but something tells me nobody will sign contracts on Christmas, and then January, when everybody is rushing to hurry up and sign a good deal, and then February, Spring Training.
So I think C.C. Sabathia is definitely going to sign in the next week, with several smaller names going along the way as well. After that, veterans like Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek will probably sign right away, just so they can relax for a while, then get ready for Spring Training and move in with their lives as long as they have baseball. I thikn Mark Teixiera will make a bunch of headlines and change his mind a lot but overall will sign fairly quickly, as he doesn’t seem like the type to make a huge deal of things despite the reported 10 years he commanded. Around this time several smaller big names like Brian Fuentes, Jon Garland, and Orlando Hudson will sign, along with a bunch of other middle and lower level free agents.
Francisco Rodriguez will want lots of money, and he obviously isn’t going to sign right away, and his price will drop. I think he will then keep dragging it out, and be one of the latest signers.
Now, there is one big name missing from here: Manny Ramirez. I think Manny will be Manny 24/7 as soon as the Hot Stove heats up, and he won’t stop until the season starts. He is going to want gigantic money, and more years than anyone is willing to give him. 5 years is a lot for a 36 year old. I honestly have no idea whether he wants to go back to LA, sign with the Yankees, or something in between, but I do know that he is going to drag this thing out as long as possible, and finally sign in the middle of February, right before Spring Training, and he will certainly get the sportswriters mad.
You can expect the Hot Stove to start burning real soon, folks.
Why the Mets WILL Resign Oliver Perez
The Mets have to resign Oliver Perez. It is as simple as that. I know he will cost a lot more than last year, but the Mets need to give him that. Here is why. (more…)
I Don’t Understand; Wakefield the Answer?
Side Note: The Astros have made their amazing run without Carlos Lee, mistake in my last entry. Now I am rooting for them twice as much! Especially since Milwaukee had the nerves to fire Ned Yost at this point in the season. Give him some confidence people! One bad stretch does not deserve a firing!
Anyway, down to business. I was at the Mets game yesterday, and they were winning the entire game by a score of 4-2. Then, before the ninth inning, a bunch of fans left to go to the last ever Mr. Met Dash (its where all the little kids get to run the bases after the game) at Shea Stadium. Well let me tell you, they certainly picked a great time to leave. The Braves scored 5 runs off the Mets bullpen (by the way its called the bullpen for one plain and simple reason: its bull****), and I left after the Norton homer. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I fail to understand, however, how in the world are the Mets still in first place? Look at how many games they’ve blown. More than 20 blown saves. They should have clinched it before the Angles did. Every time you have a bullpen meltdown, you go, it could all come down to this game once September comes, this loss could mean no playoffs, we might miss it by one game because of this loss, its August already we gotta pick up the slack, 6 weeks left this could be a crucial loss, 2 weeks left this is unacceptable, whats next? Darn if only we won that last game this is just like last year. So many times. I am sick of it. You are sick of it. A bullpen like this and we should’ve already been hoping to be at most a spoiler. But Mets have shown extraordianry ressiliance this year to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss. Heck, the surgeon is a billionare by now from all those heartsaving surgeries. Why are you guys doing this to us? Either win the division already or drop out. You are too much like Ralph Nader.
No matter who the Mets throw out in the late innings, no relief pitcher seems to work. Sure, you can sign K-Rod but then the set-up men will blow it. You can pick up CC Sabathia and have him throw complete games all the time but he will only play every fifth day. There seems to be no solution. To that, I say, there is one option. Risky, but why not? Sign Tim Wakefield. His contract is up this year and he shouldn’t be asking for that much. Make him a reliever. Insead of mixing and matching, have him come in every day (of course give him a break now and then, more like 3 or 4 games in a row, and only when you are winning) and let him pitch 2 or 3 innings. If he can pitch 6 or 7 every 5 days, lower the workload and raise his apperances. He is just about the only knuckleballer in the bigs (save R.A, Dickey of the Mariners, but his floater isn’t nearly as good), and being in the American league for the past few years, not many guys in the NL will be able to hit him. He can come in and shut down hitters, and you will no longer need to rely on Duaner Sanchez or Aaron Heilman. You can carry less pitchers and have more hitters off the bench.
But even if the Mets don’t get a bullpen soultion, don’t fire Omar Minaya. He has done a great job finding hitters, and making coaching moves. Instead, fire the Mets pitching scouts. If they still think that Heilman is fine and they can take a vacation to Barbados, they don’t deserve to be working in such a fine class that is New York, especially since the Mets have so much money.
C.C. Sabathia and All-Stars
Before I forget, let me tell you that the first big trade of the year is official. C.C. Sabathia is now a Brewer. Milwaukee understands that he is most likely to enter free agency, so they will try to make the most of his 3 month rent. In return, the Indians recieved 3 minor leaguers, Matt LaPorta the big one, and a player to be named later.
Now I’ll talk about the All-Star teams. Click here for the article on the teams.
As you can see, Billy Wagner is the only Met on the team. I am very dissapointed that the Mets couldn’t produce another All-Star this year, although in my opinion David Wright is having a good enough year, Ryan Church would be an All-Star with at least 20 homers if he hadn’t gotten hurt, and of course, Johan Santana is having another superb year, but isn’t getting the credit. Why did Billy Wagner make it to the All-Star team anyway? Not because he is doing great this year, he isn’t, but because every team must be represented. So I ask, why Billy Wagner? Johan Santana is having a great year. He just isn’t getting the run support! He could be 13-4! This is my biggest gripe about this year’s rosters.
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David Wright all the way! He is having just as good a season as Chipper Jones. Jones just had a long hot streak, but he is cooling down fast now. David Wright continues to hit in the clutch and make great defensive plays. And Evan Longoria deserves a spot on th eroster, too. He should be Rookie of the Year. Great offense, and Gold Glove defense.
Possible Trades
There is no doubt that the Mets need to make a trade before the deadline if they want to make a serious run for the playoffs. In my mind, they need to aquire a first baseman, a second baseman, another outfielder who can stay healthy, and a proven starting pitcher.
First Base
- Obviously, Mark Teixeira would be a great fit for the Mets at first base. He is a proven slugger and won a Gold Glove award for his defense. The thing is I don’t think the Braves are going to trade this guy to another contender in the division. Besides, he will cost way too much to rent for 2 months. Maybe the Mets can sign him after the year is over.
- Remember Mike Jacobs, the guy the Mets traded to Florida for Carlos Delgado? Well he is eligible for arbitration next year and he will obviously want more than the minimum wage he is currently making. With plans for a new ballpark, the Marlins might not be able to afford keeping him around long-term and he could be a possible fit for the Mets if they want him back.
- Keep Carlos Delgado! Sure, he is getting old and there are better guys on the market, but if they can sign him to a cheaper contract, I say go for it! He still has the power to hit 30 home runs a season and drive in 100 RBI, and people say his defense isn’t good but I havn’t seen anything wrong with it. In fact, I have noticed his has a great talent for picking balls out of the dirt, and with all those wild throws from Reyes and Wright, Delgado does a great job at tagging the runner out.
Bottom Line: The Mets need to do something about their situation at first base, and they need to do it fast. Otherwise, I see a long, shining career ahead in New York for Isaac Davis.
Second Base
- When the Mets signed Luis Castillo, they could have also gotten Mark Grudzielanek. Sure, Grudzielanek is 5 years older than Castillo, but he is having a solid year at the plate and is a natural number 2 hitter, plus he won a Gold Glove in 2006. Coming from Kansas City, who already have second base prospects, he can also be a cheap player to get.
- Bill Hall wants out of Milwaukee. Not only can he play second base, but shortstop, third base, and center field, too. He still can put up big power numbers, and he is just about in the prime of his career.
- The Blue Jays have a whole bunch of middle infielders on the market, notably David Eckstein. But they also have John MacDonald and Marco Scutaro to play second base. So why not try to aquire Aaron Hill? He has nice range up the middle and provides descent speed, plus he wouldn’t come at a heavy price.
Bottom Line: I think the Mets will stay with Luis Castillo for now. It was a bonehead move signing him to a 3 year extention, but it was a move the Mets will have to live with.
Outfield
- Everybody wants Matt Holliday. But should everybody trade for him? The Mets have the money for him, but not the prospects. Lots of teams are willing to give more than the Mets are, so don’t get your hopes up.
- The Mets could be looking to bring back Jay Payton. He is too old in the opinion of the Orioles, plus he will be a free agent next year, so he will be cheap. He still has the power to hit 15 home runs, but health is the question for him.
- The Angels have a very crowded outfield right now, so Jaun Rivera could be on the block. He provides a power bat and can play both left and right field.
Bottom Line: Xavier Nady remains the most coveted outfielder by the Mets, but as long as Alou and Church can stay healthy the outfield situation should be fine.
Pitching
- Don’t expect a C.C. Sabathia trade for the Mets. He would be great back-to-back with Johan Santana, but the Mets just don’t have the prospects.
- Joe Blanton is cheaper now than ever. With 11 losses at before the All-Star break (he has a chance for another tonight), Oakland may finally deal the right-hander.
- Anthony Reyes has never been a real successful guy with St. Louis, but maybe he just needs a change in scenery. He is still real young, and the Cardinals probably wouldn’t wait to trade him for someone like Chris Aguila.
Bottom Line: All the Mets need is an innings eater who won’t get hurt. With Orlando Hernandez questionable for the end of the year, the Mets would make a move fast. Keep in mind Oliver Perez could be shipped off, but I wouldn’t count on it.
If something doesn’t get done, I can see GM Omar Minaya getting the boot. I keep saying the Mets should trade a superstar for a bunch of prospects, but Reyes and Wright have to satry, and Carlos Beltran is needed for success now.
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