Joel Sherman at The New York Post writes about Paul Lo Duca and his one your deal:
The final touches were being put on the Blue Jays’ one-year, $3 million contract with Paul Lo Duca to be Gregg Zaun’s backup. Just a hunch knowing a little about Lo Duca now: He will never fully accept being a backup.
Dear Omar:
If this was a Perez for Santana deal, straight up, or with one prospect (not named Martinez), this would be a good deal, as Santana is still, after a "down" season by his standards, the best pitcher in the game. However, Omar, you should be very proud of the fact that Mr. Perez continues to improve under your watch, and came via a brilliant trade that you engineered. He may be a bit more "Hyde" than "Jeckyl" at times, but he's still a great #2 man in our rotation and at his age, possesses huge upside. A trade that included Perez, Gomez, Pelfrey and Heilman would be WAY too much for the rights to Santana, and I'd rather see that money pumped into player development, a stop-gap starter like a Carlos Silva (another Twin who would be a good #4/5 starter for about $10 mil per season) and some additional bullpen help! If we can get Santana for prospects and Heilman, great; PLEASE don't thin out our already thin rotation in a starter for starter deal.
At Rotoworld they write about the Mets interest in Alfredo Amezaga:
The Mets are showing interest in Marlins utilityman Alfredo Amezaga.
With Damian Easley, Ruben Gotay and Marlon Anderson as their reserve infield candidates, the Mets could stand to get stronger defensively there. Of course, they could carry Anderson Hernandez, but Amezaga isn't quite as much of a zero offensively.
At Rotoworld theywrite about the Twins and them reaching out to different teamsfor Johan Santana:
Appearing on ESPN News Wednesday morning, ESPN.com's Keith Law reported that the Twins have again reached out to the Mets, Angels and Dodgers regarding Johan Santana.
The Mets might struggle to beat the Red Sox's reported offerings, but the Dodgers and Angels would have little trouble putting together very attractive packages for Santana if they're serious about acquiring him. With the Yankees' interest potentially gone, the Twins may simply be trying to find another team to play the Red Sox against.
At Rotoworld they write about what the Blue Jayscould ask from the Mets for A.J. Burnett:
He'd likely come cheaper than similarly talented pitchers, though for good reason. He's injury-prone and he can opt out of his deal in a year, hurting his value. The Blue Jays would still demand a significant price, as they're hoping to contend next year. They'd probably ask for Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman or Joe Smith.
At MLB Trade Rumors they write about the Mets and their meeting with Livan Hernanedz's agent:
Omar Minaya met with Hernandez's agent, and the Mets seem plenty interested. However, if Hernandez is the only starter the Mets come away with this winter, fans will be quite disappointed.
A few other clubs like the Nationals and Phillies have some interest in Hernandez.
From Ed Ryan at Mets Fever (Network Member):
Meanwhile, the reps for David Wells are trying to get an audience with the Mets, noting that the ex-Yankee is seeking only a one-year contract and is a good influence on young pitchers, but they've yet to get an audience with Omar Minaya. The Mets GM did meet yesterday with the agent for Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon, and at least is talking with Carlos Silva's rep. The Mets had bid on Japanese free agent Hiroki Kuroda, but he's expected to wind up with theMariners, Dodgers or Diamondbacks after visiting all three teams next week. source Daily News
At Rotoworld they write about the Tampa Bay Rays and their interest in Shawn Green:
The Rays are looking at Shawn Green, Brad Wilkerson and Geoff Jenkins as right field options.
Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan believes they'll target Green, as the other two are seeking multiyear deals at about $7 million per season. The Giants are also showing some interest in Green, who would prefer to play on the West Coast.
At Rotoworld they write about the Blue Jays and them possibly getting ready to offer Paul Lo Duca a contract:
The Blue Jays plan to meet with Paul Lo Duca's agent, but they're prepared to offer only about $2.5 million for a second catcher.
Interest is limited, but Lo Duca still figures to do better than that elsewhere. If he were to join the Blue Jays, he'd share time with Gregg Zaun.
David Lennon at On The Mets Beat writes about an American League Scout who isn't too fond of Philip Humber:
Just talked to an American League scout who watched Philip Humber extensively last season and was not impressed. In fact, when his team suggested making a deal for Humber, as part of a package for one of their regular starters, this scout helped shoot it down. While Humber's curve ball is definitely a plus, he's not viewed as a top quality prospect by other clubs, and that's hurting the Mets' efforts to include him in a deal for an elite starter like the Orioles' Erik Bedard or the A's Dan Haren.
Marty Noble at Mets.com writes about the Mets at the Winter Meetings and where they stand:
"The Mets probably didn't have enough to compete for any of the big names out there [Bedard, Johan Santana or Dan Haren] before they traded [Lastings]Milledge," a National League GM said late Tuesday.
"Now it's almost like they're grasping at straws. They're just too thin. Give [Mets GM] Omar [Minaya] credit for trying, but it doesn't look like they can be taken seriously."
A person familiar with the Orioles said the Mets' offer was made weeks ago and proposed again on Tuesday morning. Minaya declined to confirm that he even had spoken the Orioles.
From Ed Ryan at Mets Fever (NetworkMember):
Orioles team president Andy MacPhail says he expects to meet with Mets GM Omar Minaya about left-hander Erik Bedard, 1050 ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand reports. “When you have had the kind of seasons that we have had, I don’t see how you can not listen,” MacPhail said. “We have to listen.” This may be a good thing… Bedard may be the most marketable guy on the team. We have to start somewhere and build. I guess here is as good as any. 
At the Oriole Insider they write about the meeting that has been set up between the Orioles and Mets regarding Erik Bedard:
Chances are, the Mets will NOT acquire a front-line starter during the off-season, and will have to settle for either a second tire starter, like Joe Blanton, with a lot of upside, or a spare part hoping for redemption, like a Bartolo Colon or Matt Clement.
Tomorrow, John and I will publish our yearly look at who we would like to make up the Mets’ 25 man roster come opening day. Today, we’ll just take a look at who we think might have a chance of being snagged by Omar this week.
NO CHANCE: Johan Santana will be either Yankee or Red Sox property by the time the day is through, and without putting Jose Reyes into the pot, there’s no way this great lefty will be wearing OUR pinstripes next year.
DOUBTFUL
Dan Haren is probably not going to be traded by Billy Beane, unless he is overwhelmed by an offer. Beane is probably posturing to make his number two starter, Joe Blanton, more valuable once he removes Haren from the market. The only way Beane trades Haren is if he’s under a mandate to cut salary further and is very happy with a package from a team willing to overpay for him, or if he feels that, as some have written recently, Haren is merely a number 2 starter masquerading as a number one for half a season last year and knows that he’ll never get more value for Haren then he will this off-season. NEVER trust Beane when trading with him- I always feel like we’re dealing with that guy who shakes your hand and you check your wrist to see if your watch is still there.
Erik Bedard is an ace with some injury history. He has great stuff and wants out of Baltimore (allegedly). There is a game going on with the O’s, and in the past owner Peter Angelos has vetoed trades (Miguel Tejada, etc.) after his baseball people had practically finalized them. If a team blows new president, Andy McPhail, over with their trade offer, he will still have to run it by the mercurial Angelos, which means that no team should get its hopes up too high. A package of Gomez, Heilman, Humber and Guerra might just get this done, unless Petey decides otherwise. Bedard DID say, allegedly, that he won’t resign with the O’s, so that might make a trade more likely. The Mets are in this one until the end, as it’s unlikely that the O’s will trade within their division to the Sox or Yankees, and there aren’t a ton of teams who could both pay Bedard what the market dictates as well as supply the O’s with enough top-tier prospects to make the deal make sense. Bedard will remain in the “doubtful” category mostly because I still doubt that he will be traded.
POSSIBLE
Joe Blanton, in the NL East, pitching half his games in Shea Stadium, might bring his ERA down from 3.95 to 3.35, with the potential to win 15-18 games and strike out 150 batters in the NL. He’s only 27, and is one of the faster pitchers in the game when it comes to length-of-game (twice having broken the 2 hour barrier). Blanton would cost at least Heilman, Gomez and another top prospect, and probably should be our main target as he will cost the least, has a high ceiling and is still quite young. Beane, again, is hard to deal with, and you always wonder if you might get damaged or inflated goods from him. He epitomizes the need for the phrase “let the buyer beware”; let’s hope that, if we do indeed acquire Blanton, we’ll get the best of the deal for once. Earlier this morning, in his blog on ESPN, Peter Gammons wrote that Beane has disqualified the Mets from contention for either Haren OR Blanton- this could be posturing by Beane, or it could be sincere, in which case Omar may indeed have to settle for one or two lower rung players.
I’ve heard the name Bronson Arroyo of the Reds thrown around, but the Reds seem to want to add pitching, not divest it, and it’s hard to know if the Arroyo they have is the 2006 version who won 14 with a sub 4.00 ERA, or if he is more like last years’ model with a 4.00+ ERA and a losing record. Arroyo’s name will probably come up more during mid-season, when the Reds will better know what kind of team they actually have.
PROBABLE 
Livan Hernandez, Bartolo Colon, Shawn Chacon, Octavio Dotel, Matt Clement, Carlos Silva & Kyle Lohse are the remaining free agents left to choose from, and each is fraught with his own problems. Colon, who wouldn’t cost a draft pick and could probably be had for a one year, incentive laden contract, has the most upside from this list and wouldn’t cost us any young players. Chacon reminds me of Jorge Sosa, and we already have one on the roster. Dotel has been hurt forever, and at best would be a seventh inning reliever. Clement is another wildcard like Colon, coming off of injuries and having been well sought-after prior to his injuries. Silva, Lohse and L-Hern are at best fifth starters who will cost too much in the way of years and money for their potential return, and I’d rather see a Mulvey or Pelfrey in the starting rotation with Colon then any of the other alternatives from this list.
DARK HORSE 
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they have a former all-star outfielder, in Jason Bay, and two very talented starters, in Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny, to trade for a package of talented young players. The new regime in Pittsburgh is looking to build a talented team for the longer-term and packaging Gomez, Heilman, Humber and Church for a combo of Snell and Bay might be a great deal for both teams. Maybe, since we haven’t heard the Bucs mentioned at all, they might just be a team that Omar is already speaking with and able to pull off a deal with….stranger things have happened.
Remember one thing- Omar is under pressure to win now, as his bid to renegotiate his contract to add more than one more year was turned down by the Wilpons just recently. The only sign I’m willing to take from that is that Omar (and Willie) better do whatever they have to do to win NOW, and not to worry about young talent that may or may not pan out in 2-4 years. This seems like it will be the make-or-break season for Omar, so let’s hope for everyone’s sake that he’s able to pull another rabbit out of his hat…
Remember- tomorrow, we'll provide our roster predictions!
John Donavan at SI.com writes about the Top 10 names you'll hear about at the Winter Meetings this year and Omar Minaya is one of them:
He was the man everyone needed to talk to in Nashville back in '02, and he'll be plenty popular this time, too. Minaya's crosstown rivals, the Yankees, have stolen a lot of attention this winter while his on-field rivals, the Braves, have stolen one of his starters (Tom Glavine). Minaya made a big play last week in trading away one-time uber-prospect Lastings Milledge to the Nationals, but now he's looking for starting pitching (though the Mets don't seem to be a match with the Twins for Santana). With money to burn and a willingness to make something happen, Minaya will be a factor yet.
Dan Graziano at The Star Ledger writes about the Mets, Omar Minaya and how he needs to be extremely aggressive in this years Winter Meetings:
Right now, in fact, you can make the case that they look like a third-place team in the East, behind the defending champion Phillies and maybe even the Braves. To get better, they're going to need to improve the pitching staff at the front end, and that means they'll need to make a major move for somebody like Bedard or Haren, and probably also sign a free agent like Livan Hernandez or Carlos Silva.
Atom Feed (xml)
