Thursday, November 10, 2005
Mets anticipating start of free agency
11/09/2005
NEW YORK -- In the moments that followed the Mets' 162nd game, manager Willie Randolph acknowledged how proud he was of what his team had accomplished, how unsatisfied he was with what they had accomplished and how much was left to accomplish next season. The season's final day -- and the season itself -- had prompted myriad reactions in the Mets manager and strongly suggested that the offseason would be busy and challenging.
Eleven players who participated in the 2005 season -- Mike Piazza and Roberto Hernandez among them -- have filed for free agency. They were joined by first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz and closer Braden Looper, whose potential departures must be filled well before April 3 if Randolph's team is to continue progressing.
As the game's general managers meet in Indian Wells, Calif., this week, the Mets continue their searches for, in order of priority: a closer; a run producer to play first base or, perhaps, right field; a catcher; and a second baseman. And they have kept an eye out for a reliable left-handed reliever, too. But unless they can obtain an outstanding left-handed setup man -- say, Scott Eyre of the Giants -- the Mets will be forced to make do in that specialized area and concentrate on areas that will more regularly affect the team's performance.
The Mets have players under contract who could man each vacant position except closer and run producer; they could go forward at second base with some combination of Kaz Matsui, Chris Woodward, Anderson Hernandez and/or Jeff Keppinger. But they believe an upgrade at each position is essential if they are to improve on the 83-79 record they produced in 2005.
In the best-case scenario, one in which finances are ignored and other clubs always defer to their needs, four free agents would join the Mets: Paul Konerko to play first; Ramon Hernandez or Benjie Molina to catch; Rafael Furcal to play second; and either Billy Wagner or B.J. Ryan to close. If that fantasy happened, the Mets probably would be inclined to keep Mike Cameron to play right field and maintain the level of defensive excellence attained in the outfield last season through their appearance in the 2006 World Series.
At this point, though, there is no reason to think any of those free agents are likely to play their home games in Queens next summer. Possible? Certainly. Probable? Not yet.
The White Sox aren't eager to see the batting order of their World Series championship team decimated by the departure of Konerko. The Cubs want Furcal, too, and they want him to play shortstop as he has for most of his six big-league seasons, not second base. And Braves manager Bobby Cox told Furcal last week, "I'll hang myself in center field if you leave." If the financial offers are essentially equal, Furcal probably will re-sign with the Braves.
Wagner has expressed a desire to remain with the Phillies, and neither Konerko nor Ryan nor either of the catchers has leaned in any direction yet. But their indecision doesn't favor the Mets.
If the Mets can't import a heavy-hitting free agent, perhaps they will be forced to trade for one and deal Cameron, a popular figure despite his limited play and all he endured last season. A person familiar with the contacts the club has made in recent weeks says other clubs inquire about Cameron more than any Met except Aaron Heilman. And Heilman's not going anywhere.
Exactly what the Mets are thinking is difficult to know because general manager Omar Minaya hasn't made himself available to provide insight into the plans.
Dealing Cameron would make right field a position the needed run producer could play and increase the options available to the Mets. If they were to obtain a run producer, it would add definition to their plans. At this point, what they do to bring in a run producer will have a significant impact on what they can do in other areas.
No catcher -- available or unavailable -- is likely to provide the level of offense Piazza did as recently as 2002. So that limits the positions the run producer will play to first, second and possibly right. But few second basemen can provide what the Mets need -- Furcal can't, though maybe Jeff Kent could. Minaya covets Kent, but the Dodgers were unwilling to deal him when Paul DePodesta was in charge. Who do the Mets ask now?
No matter what, it's likely the run producer will play first or right. And what they Mets pay for the new bat -- in assuming salary and dealing personnel or in signing a free agent -- will, to some degree, determine what they can afford to do in addressing the other needs. For example, if they sign Konerko and Ryan, they would have less left to pursue Furcal and a catcher. If they signed Molina and Wagner, they would be more inclined to have Mike Jacobs play first base and Hernandez or Keppinger play second.
Or if they were to trade for an expensive right fielder and sign Furcal, they would be inclined to use Jacobs at first -- perhaps platooning him with Julio Franco, if they could sign him, and ... do who-knows-what for a closer.
Sometimes Opening Day doesn't seem so far off.
Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/
NEW YORK -- In the moments that followed the Mets' 162nd game, manager Willie Randolph acknowledged how proud he was of what his team had accomplished, how unsatisfied he was with what they had accomplished and how much was left to accomplish next season. The season's final day -- and the season itself -- had prompted myriad reactions in the Mets manager and strongly suggested that the offseason would be busy and challenging.
Eleven players who participated in the 2005 season -- Mike Piazza and Roberto Hernandez among them -- have filed for free agency. They were joined by first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz and closer Braden Looper, whose potential departures must be filled well before April 3 if Randolph's team is to continue progressing.
As the game's general managers meet in Indian Wells, Calif., this week, the Mets continue their searches for, in order of priority: a closer; a run producer to play first base or, perhaps, right field; a catcher; and a second baseman. And they have kept an eye out for a reliable left-handed reliever, too. But unless they can obtain an outstanding left-handed setup man -- say, Scott Eyre of the Giants -- the Mets will be forced to make do in that specialized area and concentrate on areas that will more regularly affect the team's performance.
The Mets have players under contract who could man each vacant position except closer and run producer; they could go forward at second base with some combination of Kaz Matsui, Chris Woodward, Anderson Hernandez and/or Jeff Keppinger. But they believe an upgrade at each position is essential if they are to improve on the 83-79 record they produced in 2005.
In the best-case scenario, one in which finances are ignored and other clubs always defer to their needs, four free agents would join the Mets: Paul Konerko to play first; Ramon Hernandez or Benjie Molina to catch; Rafael Furcal to play second; and either Billy Wagner or B.J. Ryan to close. If that fantasy happened, the Mets probably would be inclined to keep Mike Cameron to play right field and maintain the level of defensive excellence attained in the outfield last season through their appearance in the 2006 World Series.
At this point, though, there is no reason to think any of those free agents are likely to play their home games in Queens next summer. Possible? Certainly. Probable? Not yet.
The White Sox aren't eager to see the batting order of their World Series championship team decimated by the departure of Konerko. The Cubs want Furcal, too, and they want him to play shortstop as he has for most of his six big-league seasons, not second base. And Braves manager Bobby Cox told Furcal last week, "I'll hang myself in center field if you leave." If the financial offers are essentially equal, Furcal probably will re-sign with the Braves.
Wagner has expressed a desire to remain with the Phillies, and neither Konerko nor Ryan nor either of the catchers has leaned in any direction yet. But their indecision doesn't favor the Mets.
If the Mets can't import a heavy-hitting free agent, perhaps they will be forced to trade for one and deal Cameron, a popular figure despite his limited play and all he endured last season. A person familiar with the contacts the club has made in recent weeks says other clubs inquire about Cameron more than any Met except Aaron Heilman. And Heilman's not going anywhere.
Exactly what the Mets are thinking is difficult to know because general manager Omar Minaya hasn't made himself available to provide insight into the plans.
Dealing Cameron would make right field a position the needed run producer could play and increase the options available to the Mets. If they were to obtain a run producer, it would add definition to their plans. At this point, what they do to bring in a run producer will have a significant impact on what they can do in other areas.
No catcher -- available or unavailable -- is likely to provide the level of offense Piazza did as recently as 2002. So that limits the positions the run producer will play to first, second and possibly right. But few second basemen can provide what the Mets need -- Furcal can't, though maybe Jeff Kent could. Minaya covets Kent, but the Dodgers were unwilling to deal him when Paul DePodesta was in charge. Who do the Mets ask now?
No matter what, it's likely the run producer will play first or right. And what they Mets pay for the new bat -- in assuming salary and dealing personnel or in signing a free agent -- will, to some degree, determine what they can afford to do in addressing the other needs. For example, if they sign Konerko and Ryan, they would have less left to pursue Furcal and a catcher. If they signed Molina and Wagner, they would be more inclined to have Mike Jacobs play first base and Hernandez or Keppinger play second.
Or if they were to trade for an expensive right fielder and sign Furcal, they would be inclined to use Jacobs at first -- perhaps platooning him with Julio Franco, if they could sign him, and ... do who-knows-what for a closer.
Sometimes Opening Day doesn't seem so far off.
Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/
