The Mets have reportedly had on-and-off talks with the D-Backs about outfielders Justin Upton and Jason Kubel through this off season, however reports continue to suggest Sandy Alderson is unwilling to meet Arizona’s asking price.
Last week in a conference call with reporters, Alderson said the Mets are not yet in a position to trade their best prospects.
The Rangers, Orioles, Padres and Braves have reportedly all shown interest in Upton and/or Kubel, though follow-up reports indicated all four teams were also unwilling to meet Arizona’s asking price.
Jan. 13: Kevin Towers is in no rush to deal Upton. He will only move him for a similar or better deal than what he agreed to with Seattle (Heyman , CBS Sports).
Jan. 13: The Mets are more interested in Upton than Kubel. Arizona has known since before the Winter Meetings that Alderson will not part with Zack Wheeler or Matt Harvey in a deal for Upton. The Mets will gladly get involved if the price drops, but talks will never pick up if Arizona continues to want Wheeler, Harvey or Travis d’Arnaud (Cerrone, MetsBlog.com).
Jan. 12: The Mets and D-Backs have resumed trade talks, though there is still no indication Sandy Alderson will include Wheeler or Harvey (Carig, Newsday).
Jan. 12: The Mets are not interested in offering a similar package to what Seattle offered Arizona for Upton (Martin, NY Post).
To see previous updates and information about this story, click here...
Jan. 11: Arizona initially wanted the Mets to give up a combination of top prospects (Wheeler, Travis d’Arnaud, Wilmer Flores, etc.) and big-league talent (Harvey, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, etc.) in a deal for Upton; while Kubel will likely cost just two upper-level pitching prospects (Cerrone, MetsBlog.com).
Jan. 11: The D-Backs are shopping Upton and Kubel at the same time, to the same teams, and whichever player nets the better value, Arizona will likely make a deal (Cerrone, MetsBlog.com).
Jan. 11: Upton used his no-trade clause to block a deal that would have sent him to Seattle for four of the team’s top 10 prospects (MLBTR). The Mariners were ‘clearly overparing,’ and they’re fortunate the trade fell through, said a team executive (Crasnick, ESPN).
Jan. 7: The Mets talked to the D-Backs about Upton and Kubel, but found the price to be too high (Heyman, CBS Sports).
Contract: Upton will earn $9.75 million next season, during which Niese will earn $3 million. Upton’s salary bumps up to $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015, after which he is eligible to be a free agent.
Stats: Upton hit .280 with a .355 OBP and .430 SLG with 17 home runs and 67 RBI and 121 strikeouts in 554 at-bats in 2012. In his career, Upton has hit .307 with a .937 OPS, 67 home runs and 219 RBI in 1297 at-bats at Chase Field, while hitting just .250 with a .731 OPS, 41 home runs and 144 RBI in 1366 at-bats on the road.
The Mets have not ruled out a reunion with righthanded reliever Jon Rauch, writes Marc Carig of Newsday. However, he says, with choices on the pitching market, they believe they can afford to wait.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Rauch was generally very good for the Mets last year. He battled bone chips in his elbow and knee pain seemingly all year long, but he got through all of that and put together a terrific season. He did struggle at first – he was throwing a lot of breaking pitches and falling behind hitters as a result. But after May he got back to a fastball approach and was able to throw more strikes, get ahead of hitters, and be pretty dominant through the end of the season.
Rauch now knows the Mets and has a very good relationship with Sandy Alderson dating back to his Olympic days. In fact, Rauch told me last year his previous relationship with Alderson was a key for him joining the Mets before the 2012 season. With the Mets going with a lot of young internal options for the bullpen in 2013, Rauch’s veteran presence could prove very valuable once again.
Statistics and information on Jon Rauch...
Stats: Rauch went 3-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 73 relief appearances in 2012, having allowed 45 hits and 12 walks while striking out 43 in 57 2/3 innings. He pitched to a 3.08 ERA in 36 second half appearances, allowing just 22 baserunners and holding opponents to a .165 average in 26 1/3 innings.
Contract: Rauch signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Mets during the 2011 Winter Meetings.
The Mets are interested in re-signing free-agent OF Scott Hairston, but they would prefer to bring him in on another one-year deal, according to multiple reports.
Jan. 11, 1:36 pm: The Mets like Hairston, but they would like to acquire a bigger name outfielder first. If that falls through, they will move on signing Hairston (Heyman, CBS Sports).
Jan. 10, 3:06 pm: The Mets are hoping that, by waiting him out and by offering him the playing time they have available, Hairston will eventually agree to a one-year deal (Davidoff, New York Post).
Jan. 9, 2:53 pm: The Mets could give Hairston a two-year deal (Rubin, ESPN New York).
Jan. 9, 9:00 am: Yankees no longer seem as involved with Hairston as they once were (Heyman, CBS Sports).
Jan. 8, 7:30 am: Hairston is seeking a two-year deal, but a team official thinks he will consider a one-year deal if the money is right (Puma, New York Post).
Jan. 7, 10:00 pm: Hairston is deciding between the Mets and Yankees, and a decision could come in a matter of days (Matthews, ESPN New York).
Hairston hit .263 with a .299 OBP, 20 HR, 25 doubles and 57 RBI in 377 at bats for the Mets last season, during which he hit .286 in 189 at bats against left-handed pitchers.
To read analysis on Hairston, click here...
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
As of today, Hairston’s best chance to start would be with the Mets. That could change if the Mets acquire another outfielder. If they don’t, I really worry about Hairston in a regular role. He is a career .229 hitter against right-handed pitching and his OPS is 121 points lower against righties than it is against lefties. I like Hairston and the Mets need someone like him, but he is more valuable as a platoon player, not just for the Mets, but for any team that signs him.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
I feel the same, but bet he ends up a platoon player with the Mets any way. At this rate, unless the Mets make a surprising trade, the early-season outfield is likely to be some rotating combination of Lucas Duda, Mike Baxter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Hairston, Andrew Brown, Colin Cowgill and anyone else who owns a glove and flip-up sunglasses.
According to Dan Martin of the New York Post, Sandy Alderson said while Frank Francisco is the team’s current closer, he continues to weigh options which remain on the open market.
“Confident? I’m willing,” Alderson said in regards to Francisco’s ability to close. “There’s still a lot out there and we’re looking.”
In late December, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports said the Mets were “scouring the relief market,” noting there were plenty of good options left including those who can close, such as Francisco Rodriguez, Matt Capps, and Jose Valverde.
Francisco – who will earn $6.5 million in 2013 – recently underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow. He is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Francisco went 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA in 48 relief appearances in 2012, having allowed 26 earned runs, 47 hits, 21 walks with 47 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings in 2012 – he was shutdown after September 16 after being diagnosed with right elbow soreness.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Between what happened last year with Francisco and the status of his elbow, the Mets need reinforcements for the back-end of the bullpen. Francisco started off strong last year but began to falter almost immediately. He reached a low point in Miami in early May when he blew two saves in three days. He seemed to bounce back after that, but then he injured his oblique, missed six weeks, and never got on track. He was intended to solidify the back end of the bullpen, but he did anything but in 2012.
As far as options are concerned, Valverde could be an intriguing alternative for the Mets. After a dominant 2011 season, Valverde struggled in 2012 and ultimately lost his closer job late in the year. He began pitching to a lot more contact. His velocity dipped a little bit which might have contributed to his struggles, but he still throws hard, and has been both a colorful and intimidating closer in his career. I wonder if Valverde might be interested in taking a one-year deal from the Mets to rebuild his value; Valverde could have a pretty good shot at becoming the team’s closer almost immediately, especially if Francisco suffers any setbacks and isn’t ready to start the season.
The Mets are interested in re-signing free-agent OF Scott Hairston, but they would prefer to bring him in on another one-year deal, according to multiple reports.
Jan. 10, 3:06 pm: The Mets are hoping that, by waiting him out and by offering him the playing time they have available, Hairston will eventually agree to a one-year deal (Davidoff, New York Post).
Jan. 9, 2:53 pm: The Mets could give Hairston a two-year deal (Rubin, ESPN New York).
Jan. 9, 9:00 am: Yankees no longer seem as involved with Hairston as they once were (Heyman, CBS Sports).
Jan. 8, 7:30 am: Hairston is seeking a two-year deal, but a team official thinks he will consider a one-year deal if the money is right (Puma, New York Post).
Jan. 7, 10:00 pm: Hairston is deciding between the Mets and Yankees, and a decision could come in a matter of days (Matthews, ESPN New York).
Hairston hit .263 with a .299 OBP, 20 HR, 25 doubles and 57 RBI in 377 at bats for the Mets last season, during which he hit .286 in 189 at bats against left-handed pitchers.
To read analysis on Hairston, click here...
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
As of today, Hairston’s best chance to start would be with the Mets. That could change if the Mets acquire another outfielder. If they don’t, I really worry about Hairston in a regular role. He is a career .229 hitter against right-handed pitching and his OPS is 121 points lower against righties than it is against lefties. I like Hairston and the Mets need someone like him, but he is more valuable as a platoon player, not just for the Mets, but for any team that signs him.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
I feel the same, but bet he ends up a platoon player with the Mets any way. At this rate, unless the Mets make a surprising trade, the early-season outfield is likely to be some rotating combination of Lucas Duda, Mike Baxter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Hairston, Andrew Brown, Colin Cowgill and anyone else who owns a glove and flip-up sunglasses.
Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post says the Nationals have agreed to re-sign Adam LaRoche.
Amanda Comak of the Washington Times says the two sides agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with a $12 million mutual option for 2014 with a $2 million buyout.
Now that LaRoche is returning to Washington, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Nationals are speaking to teams about OF Michael Morse, and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the Mariners, Indians, Rangers, Rays, Yankees, Phillies, Mets and Orioles are all still looking for bats.
Jim Bowden of SiriusXM says the Nationals are seeking a left-handed reliever in exchange for Morse.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
The Mets have two pitchers on the active roster who might fit the criteria for what the Nationals are reportedly seeking for Morse:
Robert Carson and
Josh Edgin. However, I wonder if the Nationals would consider dealing Morse inside the division.
Morse had a breakout season in 2011, hitting a career-high 31 home runs with 95 RBI. He suffered through an injury-shortened season last year, but maintained his power upon his return. He has developed into a good power source from the right side and has shown he can handle the pitchers parks in the National League East, but he doesn’t walk very much and strikes out a ton as well. He is a poor defender, although he has experience at both corner spots and at first base. However, Morse is better than anything they have at the moment and could help fill a massive void from the right side.
Statistics and information on Michael Morse...
Stats: In 102 games with the Nationals in 2012, Morse, 30, hit .291 with a .321 OBP and .470 SLG, 18 home runs and 53 RBI with 16 walks and 97 strikeouts in 430 plate appearances in 2012.
Contract: Morse signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract before the start of the 2012 season. He will earn $6.75 million in 2013, and can be a free agent after the season.
Free-agent RHP Carl Pavano is talking with six teams, including the Mets, Anthony McCarron reports in the Daily News.
“The Mets obviously have a need,” Pavano’s agent told the Daily News. “Carl has an interest in that situation if they have an interest in him. I don’t know where he is on their priority list. … He’s confident he’s going to be in a rotation and throwing a lot of innings.”
Jan. 7, 12:46 pm: The Mets have had very preliminary discussions with the agents for RHP Carl Pavano, but there is mutual interest, reports Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Pavano has had one of the strangest pitching careers in recent memory. He has historically pitched to a lot of contact but is a control artist who limits bases on balls which in turn limits the damage allowed. When he’s right, Pavano can be one of the more solid and dependable right-handers in the game. But I’m not sure how he might fare back in New York, considering how badly his first go-around was in this city with the Yankees.
Statistics and information on Carl Pavano...
Stats: Pavano, who turns 37 in January, went 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA in only 11 starts in 2012, allowing 80 hits with eight walks and nine home runs in 63 innings. He missed most of the season with a bone spur in his right humerus bone.
Contract: Pavano just completed a two-year, $16.5 million contract he signed with the Twins before the 2011 season.
Ken Davidoff of the New York Post believes it’s more likely the Mets will acquire a pitcher for the rotation than a notable outfielder.
Davidoff believes Carl Pavano could be a good fit, but the most intriguing options could be either Chris Capuano or Aaron Harang, who would have to be acquired in a trade from the Dodgers.
Davidoff also says the Mets remain interested in Chris Young.
In regards to the outfield, Davidoff doesn’t believe the Mets match in a trade for Diamondbacks’ OF Justin Upton, saying, “they’re not in a position to give up major prospects for someone whose arrival alone wouldn’t vault them into the playoffs.”
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
I agree with Davidoff, as I’ve been saying the Mets are not a match on paper since the rumors started about Upton. You never know, but there are better fits for Kevin Towers in Texas and possibly San Diego, who reportedly discussed trading 3B
Chase Headley for Upton recently.
In regards to the pitching, Harang is especially intriguing. In fact, I thought he would have been a good signing for the Mets before he joined Los Angeles last winter. He has a consistent track record, and therefore would be among the safest bets for the Mets to take. He’s not an ace and would come at a cost of both money and players in trade, but he would be a very strong fifth starter in an already improving rotation. Harang pitches to contact, is prone to the home run and has seen his walk rate increase over the last couple of years, but he could thrive in Citi Field as he has in the big parks in southern California in recent years.
Statistics and information on Aaron Harang...
Stats: Harang, 34, went 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA in 31 starts for the Dodgers in 2012, allowing 167 hits, 85 walks and 14 home runs in 179 2/3 innings.
Contract: Harang just completed the first year of a two-year, $12 million contract he signed with the Dodgers before the 2012 season. He will earn $7 million in 2013 and there is an $7-8 million mutual option for 2014 with a $2 million buyout.
In a post to Mets Merized Online, Mitch Petanick explores the possibility of the Mets signing RHP Jair Jurrjens.
“At this point, the Mets should be all over this guy. They should buy low on Jurrjens and see if he can regain the form that once led him to be an All-Star,” Petanick writes.
In 11 games and ten starts for the Braves in 2012, Jurrjens, 26, went 3-4 with a 6.89 ERA, allowing 72 hits, eight home runs, 18 walks and 19 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings. He was demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett and went 4-6 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 starts, and battled a knee problem which sidelined him during the season.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
There is a lot of upside with Jurrjens. Last season was a total loss for him, but he’s still young and is just one year removed from a 13-6 season. He’s a four-pitch pitcher with a fastball which has historically sat in the low 90s and a sinker with heavy movement down and in to righties. He had offset that with a hard change-up and slider, but he has mostly relied on his two primary pitches for success. In the last two years, Jurrjens’ velocity has dipped, and he dealt with a shoulder problem in 2011 which might have contributed to that. He hasn’t made more than 23 starts since 2009, and he’s really struggled to re-establish himself as an up and coming pitching star as a result.
In listening to Sandy Alderson after he traded away R.A. Dickey, it sounded like he’s looking for more certainty than Jurrjens would provide. That’s not to say Jurrjens isn’t an option and can’t or won’t rebound and find his way again, but the Mets might be looking for a safer presence for the back of the rotation. Jurrjens is also represented by Scott Boras, and so he will look to get him a guaranteed Major League deal, something which could be scaring off a lot of teams right now.
“Chris Young remains a viable option to be re-signed to fill the rotation void,” writes to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
Rubin says the Mets could fill their need through a trade as well.
In December, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post said the Mets were interested in bringing Young back, but were also considering signing Shaun Marcum and Carl Pavano.
In addition, Davidoff said the Mets are exploring a trade for one of Chris Capuano or Aaron Harang from the Dodgers.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
The little buzz I’ve heard from Citi Field, regarding this pitcher, is they’re looking to replace R.A. Dickey’s innings, not necessarily acquire an ace to replace his stature. Dickey pitched 233 innings last season. Young would probably give 150 innings, but only if he’s 100 percent healthy, making 30 starts and improving his stamina. So, who makes up those missing 80 innings or so? Worse, who makes up those 100 plus innings if Young (etc.) gets hurt? Zach Wheeler on a pitch count? Probably not. The rest of the rotation? That’s doubtful. More likely it will fall on the bullpen, which, let’s be honest, we didn’t want on the mound all that much last season even when they were pitching well. The thing is, of the pitchers on the free agent, there is no horse, which is probably why a guy like Harang must be in the mix, because at least he’d likely get up around 170 innings or so.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Young showed he was a six-inning pitcher with very little margin for error last year. He relies on commanding the top of the strike zone with a below average fastball; and when that pitch falls below the letters, he finds big trouble. But, when he’s above the letters, he induces soft contact in the air and can get quick outs. He admitted all year he was still in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery in May, 2011, so I wonder if his stamina might improve with a normal winter routine and a normal Spring Training.
Statistics and information on Chris Young...
Stats: Young, 33, went 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA in 115 innings over 20 starts for the Mets in 2012.
Contract: Young signed a Minor League contract with the Mets last March, and had his contract purchased by the Mets in June.
D-Backs GM Kevin Towers might decide to hold onto both Justin Upton and Jason Kubel, reports Richard Justice for MLB.com.
According to Towers, instead of making a deal, he could keep Upton and Kubel and send Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollack to the minor leagues to start the season.
“Unless the Texas Rangers blow Towers away with an offer,” Justice explains, Upton is likely to with Arizona on Opening Day.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
Toward the end of the Winter Meetings, the talk coming from Arizona was that Kubel could be had for pitching prospects, so long as the team acquiring him payed all of his $7 million salary. However, reading Justice’s article, it now sounds like a deal for Upton or Kubel will only occur if it helps Arizona in a meaningful way. They clearly have specific needs they feel these guys can help fill in trade. But, if that can’t happen, so be it. Towers will punt before making a deal just to make a deal.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
I wonder if Eaton could interest the Mets? It seems like the Mets want to acquire and develop players that are under control for a long period of time. There’s no room for him right now in the Arizona outfield, and – as Justice says – he is probably big league ready at this stage of his development. He is small, doesn’t hit for much power and is left-handed, but Eaton has a .456 OBP in three Minor League seasons with 83 doubles, and he has posted a .966 OPS with stolen 98 bases in 122 attempts over the same time period. He’s fast, has a strong throwing arm and has gap-to-gap capability. In the big parks of the NL East, he could be a great catalyst for the top of the order.
