Lennon: Mets discussing numbers on pitchers [Twitter]

Mets fans say: “FINALLY!”

Sherman: Mets targeting Willingham and Rivera [Winter Meetings]

With Jason Bay and Matt Holliday on the free-agent market and fairly free to set their own demands, the Mets may look to trade for a player to fill their hole in leftfield.

Josh Willingham from the Nationals and Juan Rivera from the Angels are two players they have interest in, according to Joel Sherman.

River has two years left on his contract, worth a combined $9.5 million.  Willingham is still under control by the Nationals, and earned $2.95 million last season.  He is a free agent following the 2011 season.

I think the Mets should take a look at both of these players, though I prefer dipping into the free-agent class first.  Both would be decent additions to the club.

I like Rivera.

Meche and the Mets? [Winter Meetings]

Could Gil Meche be a target for the Mets as they move forward in the off-season?

Meche, 31, has two years left on his contract and is owed $24 million.  According to Joel Sherman, the Kansas City Royals will listen for deals on their pitcher and the Mets may be interested.

But is Meche worth dealing for?

With four question marks already behind Johan Santana in the rotation, would Meche compound an already very-apparent problem?

In 2007 and 2008, Meche started 34 games.  Last season, he started only 23.  In the last three seasons, he started 91 games, throwing 555 innings.  He posted a 4.12 ERA, 109 ERA+ and a 1.367 WHIP.

As Nick Migliore points out on Twitter, Meche has a full no-trade clause for 2009.  That would have to waived before any trade, obviously.

Would you make a deal for Meche?  Hit the comments to vote and comment.

Link: Omar interview in Indy

Head over to Surfing the Mets to read the transcript of a quick interview with Omar Minaya in Indianapolis for the start of the winter meetings.

Best part…

Is there pressure on you to pull the trigger on something and satisfy the fans?

There’s no doubt because of last year—I don’t want to say you feel pressure to do something—but there’s no doubt we have to find a way to improve our club if possible. -snip- But as far as the pressure, I don’t feel like I have to do something.

Is this good or bad for the Mets? Share your thoughts in the comments.

A sneak peek at Omar Minaya's notebook [Updated]

I was lucky enough to get a photo of Omar Minaya's notebook for the Winter Meetings thanks to a source in Las Vegas. Take a look!
Hopefully he can check off that first item very soon.
Update - 12/9: Deal is done, pending physical.

Update - 12/11: Bullpen help -- Check!

What's next for Omar? Stay tuned!

Why I want to do what I do

Last night, or all of yesterday for that matter, was a very exciting time for me and the blog. It was great to cover things real time and feel like a real reporter, breaking news and all that. Ben Shpigel has a really awesome post on The New York Times Bats blog, only making me want to do what I do even more.

Omar Minaya was set to hold his daily briefing with reporters on Wednesday, but the phone rang before things got under way. Here's Shpigel's take:

Minaya’s daily briefing with the beat reporters was scheduled to begin around then in his hotel suite. Soon after we walked in and settled into the couches and chairs, a telephone in the suite rang. Minaya walked behind the couch where I was sitting to answer the phone. His voice lowered instantly, but I heard him say, “Uh-huh, uh-huh.” He mentioned something about “players who we’d get” and I heard him say, “Heilman.”

He told the person on the other line that he’d get back to him and hung up. Then he asked John Ricco, the assistant G.M., and Adam Wogan, the team’s director of minor league operations, to join him in an adjacent room. Minaya closed the door behind him, and they stayed in there for about 15 minutes.

That is just too cool.

Along with a few of my friends, I'm already planning a trip to Indianapolis next December to attend the 2009 Winter Meetings. Not only will it be awesome to cover them live, but it's also a great place to land a job with a team.

Mets trade for J.J. Putz

In a deal that took only a few hours, at least that we know, the Mets have laded their set up man for 2008.

The Mets have traded a handful of players, landing J.J. Putz for the 8th inning in front of Francisco Rodriguez.

The three team deal breaks down as follows:
Seattle Mariners get: Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Mike Carp, Maikel Cleto, Ezequiel Carrera, Jason Vargas, and Franklin Gutierrez.
Cleveland Indians get: Luis Valbuena and Joe Smith and minor leaguers.
New York Mets get: J.J. Putz, Sean Green and Jeremy Reed.

To make it simpler:
Mets give up: Heilman, Chavez, Carp, Cleto, Carrera, Vargas and Smith.
Mets get: Putz, Green and Reed.

Omar Minaya moves at the speed or light, I must say.

Originally, I disliked the deal, but the more I look at it, the more it makes sense. The Mets are really not giving up much for this. Chavez is a fourth outfielder, and between Angel Pagan and now Reed, they seem to have the outfield more than covered.

Cleto and Carrera were minor league guys. I don't know enough about them to miss them. I've heard their names, which must mean something.

Vargas was a possibility to make a play for the rotation after starting fall and winter ball with a bang. He seems to have come back down to earth a bit, but we'll have to see how he plays when he's not with the Mets.

Heilman was on his way out the door, it was only a matter of time. Carp was billed as the first baseman of the future, but never really blossomed into what the Mets thought he could. He's still young though.

Smith is the one guy I will miss the most here. Green could step in and replace him nicely, just a little older.

The 2009 team is quickly taking shape. Quite a few days for Mets fans.

Update - 11:36pm: Minaya will address the media around 12:30am Eastern time.

Update - 12:33am: Dan Graziano on the phone with SNY.

• Green for Smith a "wash."
• Reed hits more than Chavez, doesn't know him in the field. (Chavez is better, but Reed is no scrub.)
• Likes the deal. Seems to be unanimous.
• Getting rid of Heilman was "no longer viable in New York."
• Still need starting pitching. Will fill one from within with Jon Niese or Bobby Parnell.
• Will look to bring back Oliver Perez.
• Jon Garland in Mets sights.
• Still talking to Raul Ibanez.
• Want to move Schoeneweis and Sanchez. (No surprise there.)

Live from Las Vegas:

• Minaya at the podium now, congratulating Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik.
• "Pure baseball trade," says Minaya.
• Thanking scouts and minor league system for being able to hone talent to be able to complete trade.
• "To Mets fans: We've addressed the bullpen."

I hope that last one doesn't mean the man is done, and I doubt it does. Well done everyone. So far, I'm yet to see one negative comment about this. From minor leagues up, this trade seems to please all Mets fans.

• Back to the press conference. First question to Minaya is in Spanish. I just took my Spanish 102 final today, and I have no idea what he just was asked or responded with.
• Heilman to get a chance to start in spring training with M's.
• And that's it. Shortest press conference ever.

And I think it's time for everyone to go to bed. What a day, Mets fans! K-Rod deal goes official and Putz to Queens all in one day.

Mets, K-Rod close to deal

The Mets and free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez are reportedly "close" to agreeing on a deal, supposedly for three years and worth $37 mil.

Per Jon Heyman:

"It's going to get done,'' said a person familiar with the talks.

Per Joel Sherman:

[Paul] Kinzer indicated that a deal could get done before these Winter Meetings end Thursday. He said, "we will know more in the next 24 hours, but so far everything has been positive."

Per Anthony DiComo:

"I am more optimistic than I have ever been," Rodriguez's agent, Paul Kinzer, told the New York Post late Monday night.

Again, the deal for K-Rod is supposedly worth three-years and worth around $37 million, which is not far off from my little mock up yesterday.

I don't want to count the eggs before they're in the Mets basket, but if this does go through, and it's could happen as early as today, Rodriguez better be thinking of a new number. 57 is taken.

Mets Rumor: Steak dinner with K-Rod

Hopefully Omar Minaya knew in advance whether Francisco Rodriguez was a vegetarian or not.

According to sources, Minaya and K-Rod (and his agent, I assume) had a lengthy sit-down at a steakhouse last night. David Lennon reports the meeting was over four hours long. He also wrote "Minaya only smiled when asked whether an offer had been made."

Sly, Omar. Very sly.

I'm anticipating a quick signing of a closer so the Mets can move on to other things.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Mets will not make simultaneous offers to K-Rod, Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman. Instead, they will likely offer it to their first choice (Rodriguez), and move down the line from there (Fuentes, Hoffman).

If nothing comes of that, I'm sure they'll turn to Kerry Wood before they look into a trade, as they don't want to give up any of their young talent if they don't have to.

Mets to make offer to K-Rod tonight?

According to Jon Heyman and Sweeny Murti, Omar Minaya and the Mets are wasting no time in Las Vegas.

After arriving at 5 pm local time, the Mets have already scheduled a few sit-down meetings with free agent closers. Their first choice, Francisco Rodriguez, is supposedly meeting with the team officials as early as tonight.

That could mean that right now, in Las Vegas, the Mets staff is pitching numbers to K-Rod and his agent Paul Kinzer.

It'd be a nice hurdle to get out of the way if they can sign Rodriguez early, but unless the deal is exactly what he wants, expect him to shop around a little before making his decision.

Welcome to insanity.

The Winter Meetings have begun.
This means rumors will be flying, news flashes everywhere, and the most rediculous ideas will come from people you once thought were sane.

I'll try to keep you up to date on the ones that seem credible and relevant to our team.

If any news breaks...and I am sleeping or something...
Post it in the comments!