Willie Gets New Contract

Today the Mets announced that Manager Willie Randolph signed a new three-year contract with a club option for 2010. Randolph was to have been paid $700,000 in 2007, but under the terms of the new deal, he will receive $1.4 million this year, $2 million in 2008 and $2.25 million in 2009. The club option for 2010 is $2.5 million.

Mets and Aaron Sele agree to a one-year contract

Aaron Sele, who has posted a 145-110 record during his major league career, today signed a one-year minor league contract with the New York Mets. Sele, a 36-year-old righthander who was selected to two American League All-Star teams with the Texas Rangers in 1998 and the Seattle Mariners in 2000, went 8-6 with a 4.53 ERA in 28 games, 15 starts, with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. In 103.1 innings, he gave up 120 hits, 57 runs, 52 earned, with 30 walks and 57 strikeouts. 11 of Sele's final 12 appearances last year came in relief.

Mets Increase Bullpen Depth

The Mets' pitching staff got a boost on Tuesday when the club signed Scott Schoeneweis to a three-year deal and Jorge Sosa to a one-year contract. Schoeneweis is a "bradford" like pitcher who specializes in Lefties, while Sosa can start and be used in middle relief.

Jewish Major Leaguers

If the Mets end up signing relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis they will have 3 Jewish Major League players; Shawn Green, David Newhan, and Scott Schoeneweis. Acording to www.jewishmajorleaguers.org, there are between 8-14 active Jewish Baseball players and the Mets will have 3 of them.

Pedro E. Martinez

Yesterday I found out that Pedro Martinez has a 19 year old son who is in the Mets minor League system. Pedro E. Martinez went 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 10 appearances (one start) for the Dominican Summer League Mets in 2006.

Pedro Martinez and Pedro E. Martinez

Who new? I'll keep you updated on this new Mets Prospect.

A Good Move

One move that I really liked this off-season was the signing of David Newhan. The scrappy, 33 year old, can play just about every position from second, first, third, and outfield. In 2004 Newhan had a .311 batting average in 95 games played. He also managed to put up 66 runs, 54 RBI’s, and 8 home runs. What I’ve seen with him when he was on the Orioles is he gives it his all every day. This could turn out to be a good back up plan if Valentin is not as successful as last year and Anderson Hernandez, who began last season at second base and is remembered for his catch where he is almost flying, is unsuccessful. Plus, how can he be bad with a smile like that.

In the Hall

The Class of 2007 may be the finest in history, featuring Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn. For me, this is very exciting. Cal Ripken, who played in 2,632 consecutive games, is my favorite player of all-time and one of the reasons why I love baseball so much. I know, he was not a Met. My first-baseball game was an Orioles game where I sat in the second row behind home plate, the greatest seats I have ever had. I then met Cal Ripken. Since then I have always loved baseball and followed his career intensely. Its pretty amazing how easily Ripken and Gwynn got in to the Hall. Ripken received the third-highest percentage of votes (tops for a position player) in history, while Gwynn placed seventh. Cal’s 537 and Gwynn's 532 were the top two vote totals in history.

Rich "Goose" Gossage is getting closer to the Hall every year. This year he received 388 votes, 27.2 percent. Goose only needed 26 more votes to get in. Every player that has received more than 70 percent has eventually got in. Mark McGuire was not even close to enough votes. The Baseball Writers of America, gave him only 23.5 percent of the vote, naming him on 128 of a record 545 ballots.

Another Day

As another day passes the chance of the Mets signing a starting pitcher is diminishing. The marker is at a low right now which is why the Mets are looking at mediocre pitchers like Tony Armas Jr. and Tomo Ohka. I do not believe the Mets will sign another starting pitcher. Personally, I believe they are much better off with their young guys and they don’t have to waste any money if they go with them. The quality of Armas Jr. and Okha is about the same as Maine, Pelfrey, Perez, Humber, and the rest. At best Armas Jr. and Okha would be a #3 starter for the first half of the season. I do not feel very confident having pitchers like Armas Jr. and Okha on a team that is hopefully destined for the World Series.

The Role of the Young Guns

The role of the young Mets pitchers seems to be growing as we get further and further into the off-season. As of now the Mets have failed to pick up a valuable starting pitcher. This means the young Met arms will have an opportunity to pitch. The Mets starting rotation is Glaive and Hernandez. There will be three guaranteed spots in the rotation for guys like Maine, Perez, Williams, Vargas, Soler, and Pelfrey, and Humber. I believe Maine, Perez, and Pelfrey will be the three that fill the starting rotation while Dave Williams occupies the bullpen. That does not mean Vargas, Soler, and Humber will not start or pitch. Last season the Mets used 13 different starters. Not to mention that Soler has some experience pitching in Cuba. The young guns will decide the fate of the Mets season.

The ability of the young pitchers was shown in the playoffs by two 25 year olds, John Maine and Oliver Perez. If they can pick up where they left off and if Pelfrey is as good as he is being projected to be the Mets will be set. Even if Maine, Perez, and Pelfrey are not great there are enough other good young pitchers that hopefully could get the job done. 24 year old Phillip Humber is the next option after John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Mike Pelfrey. Humber was the Mets first round draft pick out of Rice University in 2004.

The Future of Heilman and Milledge

As of lately, all I hear about are the futures of Aaron Heilman and Lastings Milledge. Since Zito signed with the Giants, the Mets have begun trying to find a way to fill the hole they lost by not signing him. Milledge has been popping up in every trade talk imaginable. I have heard his named mentioned with guys like Westbrook, Harden, Blanton, Haren, Lee, and others. But what is the future of these players that are going to be so important to the Mets success the next season and future seasons. I believe that Aaron Heilman will definitely not be traded. The Mets have talked about how they did not want to trade Heilman because he was so vital to the Bullpens success last year. Now, that the Mets Bullpen is even weaker then last year there is no way the Mets can afford to trade him. On the other hand, Lastings Milledge is in a completely different situation. The Mets top prospect, without a rookie season under his belt has high expectations. He is a five tool center fielder, but if he wants to play for the Mets he will have to move to one of the corners.

The Mets Farm System has two other big name outfielders; Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. 21 year old Carlos Gomez is a real threat on the base paths having 41 steals in 120 games, while putting up 7 home runs, 48 RBI’s and maintaining a .286 batting average. He is the next closest to the Minor Leagues following Milledge. Though, Gomez has struggled in Winter Baseball after 8 games having a .091 batting average and 6 strikeouts. 18 year old Fernando Martinez has been catching all the Mets Minor League headlines. The rising star is listed in the top three in about every Mets Top prospect list. He was the youngest player to have ever played in the Arizona Fall League and was also in the AFL’s Rising Stars. In 25 games played this winter, Fernando has a .253 batting average, 7 RBI’s, and 2 Home Runs in 87 at bats.

With all this being said, Lastings Milledges future is still vague. I do not believe he will be traded. The Mets will not be able to trade Milledge to gain a quality started because the Market is to tough. This means the Mets would have to part with another prospect like Gomez or a many of the Mets young pitchers like Humber, Pelfrey, Perez, or Maine. It is not worth it to bring in a run of the mill pitcher and give up two prospects. The only way I can see Milledge being traded is out of desperation at the end of the off-season.

What Now?

The Mets unability to sign Barry Zito has left them with some big problems which might not be that easy to fix. It seemed like the Mets only plan was Zito. Now that Zito is out of the picture by signing with the San Fransisco Giants the Mets will most likely have to turn to the Trade Market. It will be very hard to get a pitcher that will actually contribute to the Mets come the playoffs without having to give up Heilman. For Example: Jason Jennings, a mediocre pitcher who was previously on the Colorado Rockies was traded to Houston for a major League ready outfielder, Willy Tavaras, and two big pitching prospects Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh. With this being said it would be almost impossible to go after a #3 starter right now without parting with the combonation of Heilman and at least a prospect or two.

Some names that could be involved in the trades as prospects are; Carlos Gomez (fast outfielder with potential power), Phillip Humber (1rst round pick by Mets in 2004, injury plaqued), Mike Pelfrey, (Hard thrower, good build,6 foot 7, 22 yrs old, 1rst round by Mets in 2005 from Witchita State), John Maine + Oliver Perez (Both have post-season experience and a lot of potential, Maine is more accurate while Perez throws harder),Lastings Milledge (My favorite prospect, Name in every trade talk, natural center fielder but being moved to left or right due to Beltran, 5 tool player).

The trade market is also growing thin. Their have been previous talks with Oakland, Cleavland, and Washington. I believe if their is a trade it will be with the Oakland A's. Rich Harden, Dan Haren, and Joe Blanton are the three pitchers I have heard being mentioned. Recently, I have heard alot about a possible trade of Blanton for Lastings Milledge. Though, how much can Blanton really bring to the Mets. Remember he was a #4 started on the A's when their team was healthy. He is probbably no better than Maine, Pelfrey, and Perez. Haren and Harden are very good pitchers. Both are coming off injuries on the 2006 season, Harden only pitched 9 games in 2006. Oakland is asking for a lot in return in a trade. I promise the Mets will not loose that much to gain Harden or Haren. The Free Agent Market is also shrinking. The only pitcher the Mets have looked into it Tomo Ohka who is not amazing. Well, I guess we will just have to sit and wait for the Mets to fix the problem. Good Luck.