Tonight is the non-waiver deadline

By Steven Inman

At midnight tonight all arbitration eligible players who are still on 40 man rosters must be tendered contracts for the 2013 season. As a result hundreds of players will become free agents. The Mets have the rest of the day to find trades for Andres Torres, Mike Pelfrey and Manny Acosta or they will be non-tendered. Pelfrey has already said he will be non-tendered and will likely be on a new team next season.

It is unlikely the Mets will find trade partners for those players and they will be released into the open market. It is also possible the Mets could make a trade for another player who could be non-tendered tonight. The Mets have said that they have interest in bringing Andres Torres back in a smaller role for less money. He shouldn’t get much interest on the open market so a return for Torres to Queens is still possible. The Mets will tender contracts to Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, Josh Thole and Bobby Parnell.

David Wright agrees to an 8 year deal worth $138 million

By Steven Inman

According to WFAN’s Ed Coleman, the David Wright deal is finally done. After several long months of anticipation it is now safe to assume Wright will remain with the Mets long-term if not his whole career. The contract rips up the $16 million Wright was due in 2013. The deal is the largest contract in Mets history breaking Johan Santana’s deal in 2008 by 500K. If you included his guaranteed money that was ripped up the deal is really worth 7 years and $122 million. That’s pretty standard these days for a premiere third basemen.

That is around what we had expected for Wright. Did the Mets overpay a little? Maybe but only time will tell. It was vital for the Mets to keep their last homegrown star who leads the franchise in hits; RBI’s, walks and Runs. That homerun record that Darryl Strawberry owns is probably next for Wright. Wright has made six all star games and has a career .301 batting average.

This deal keeps the Mets best offensive player in their 50 year history in Queens until the year 2020, when he will be 37. Most importantly this gives the Mets a little more credibility. The reaction has been extremely positive for the Mets on resigning Wright. Third base is arguably the second hardest position to fill in the majors these days behind catcher. If you have a great third basemen you don’t want to let him go.

This deal is similar to the one that Matt Holliday got with the Cardinals a few seasons ago except Wright plays a more premium position so at first glance this deal appears to be better than the Holliday deal which has worked out well for the Cardinals..

Finally keep in mind the only Mets player under contract next year is Jon Niese. Yeah that’s it. The Mets would have had over $70 million coming off the books after the 2013 season if Wright had left or been traded. The Mets have to have signed someone for 2014 and beyond so why not the franchise’s best position player in their history?

This is a good move for the Mets and now it allows them to move forward in the offseason in trying to find some new talent just in time for the winter Meetings next week in Tennessee. The deal is pending a physical which likely won’t be taken until next week as Wright is currently at Daniel Murphy’s wedding in Jacksonville.

The Royals and Mets have talked about R.A. Dickey

By Steven Inman

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports the Royals, in their pursuit of an ace pitcher have checked in with the Mets about the NL Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey. The two sides have talked but nothing is close. The Mets would probably want catcher Salvador Perez or OF Wil Myers. Perez, 22, has been Kansas City’s starting catcher the last two years and is on one of the best bargain contracts in all of baseball. Myers is one of the best if not the best prospects in the game. He could step in and play right field in the majors on Opening Day.

The Royals aren’t trading Perez. He is about as untouchable as young players get. The Royals, according to Heyman would prefer to give the Mets other prospects not named Wil Myers. He is not untouchable though and has been dangled in trades for starting pitchers. They have also checked in with the Red Sox and Rays about Jon Lester and James Shields respectively. They may not be the best fits however.

Boston is looking to add pitching not subtract from it and the Rays are asking for a bounty and a half for Shields. James Shields is coming off a very strong season and the Rays would ask for more than just Myers for him.

Dickey was last in Kansas City in July to pitch in the all-star game.

Dickey is under control for just one year at $5 million. The Royals are said to only have $6 million to spend this offseason. Dickey could be a fit for KC. If the Mets were willing to let the Royals negotiate a contract extension with Dickey that might be the deciding factor in them giving up Wil Myers. Dickey is looking for a contract near what Jake Peavy got with the White Sox at two years and 29 million. The Royals just gave Jeremy Guthrie that money so if they could justify that, why not give the same contract to the 2012 Cy Young award winner?

The Mets are taking calls for Dickey while also negotiating a contract extension for him. They would love to agree to a two year deal at less than ten million with Dickey but it is uncertain if that will happen. Hopefully we will get a lot more clarity on Dickey’s situation during the Winter Meetings starting on Monday.

Denard Span heading to the N.L. East

By Steven Inman

One of the first posts here on BrokeMets was suggesting that Twins OF Denard Span would be an awesome fit for the Mets as a leadoff hitter and centerfielder. Span has dealt with concussions issues the past few seasons, but he is a very good hitter who seemed to figure it out when coming off the disabled list. The twins are known to be desperate for pitching and dealt Denard Span East, just not to the Mets.

The Washington Nationals today acquired Span from the Twins in exchange for pitching prospect Alex Meyer. Meyer is ranked 50^th on Jonathan Mayo’s top 100 prospects list. Mayo does an excellent job with these lists every year and they are constantly updated. Meyer was the Nationals first round pick in 2011. Meyer is 6’ 9” and will only be 23 years old in January. That being said Meyer just got to single A this season and won’t reach the majors until 2014 at the earliest. The Mets could have made an offer starting around Jeurys Familia and others that could have made Span a Met.

Span is a good player and I though the Twins would have gotten more for him when we talked about a trade in September. Span is under team control until 2015. Worst of all this makes the team that won the N.L. East even stronger. That’s one option taken off the Mets list for a new centerfielder.

Around the N.L. East

By Steven Inman

While the Mets have been active in trying to resign their two core players in David Wright and R.A. Dickey, the rest of the division have also been trying to get better as the calendar turns to December. Here’s the latest…

• The Marlins signed OF Juan Pierre to a one year deal worth around $1.5 million. We talked about how Pierre could have been a nice 4^th outfielder for the Mets in Andres Torres’ role.
• The Phillies today were close to a deal for right-handed reliever Wilton Lopez for prospects from the now American League Houston Astros. The deal is pending a physical. Lopez was quality dominant for the Astros last season and could be a nice option to set up Jonathan Papelbon next season. In three-plus MLB seasons, he has a 3.14 ERA with 6.8 strikeouts for every nine innings, 1.6 BB/9 and a 55.9% ground ball rate. He’s under team control through 2015.
  The Atlanta Braves signed OF B.J Upton to a five year $75.25 million dollar deal. Upton, 28 had a .298 on base percentage and has his occasional lapses in centerfield so I think this deal is a little questionable. The Braves might have overpaid a bit but they highly coveted Upton. He was their #1 target this offseason to replace CF Michael Bourn. The Phillies were considered the runner up for Upton.
• Speaking of Michael Bourn, the Nationals and Phillies have shown serious interest in Bourn. Bourn is expected to get more money than B.J. Upton did.
• Phillies Catcher Carlos Ruiz was suspended 25 games for his second violation of MLB’s performance enhancing drug policy.

Jordan Walden very much available

By Steven Inman

According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark Angels reliever Jordan Walden is “very much available”. Stark says on his twitter account “In wake of Ryan Madson deal, Angels were letting clubs know today that Jordan Walden is very available.” We talked about the Mets possibly trading for Walden in this post we made about teams that R.A. Dickey could be traded too. Dickey could be moved in a deal around some of Peter Bourjos, Hank Conger, C.J. Cron and Jordan Walden.

Walden is a dynamic reliever who has the potential to be one of the best in the game. He can thrown 100mph with a wicked slider. If the Mets had Walden he would immediately be the Mets best reliever. For Mets fans who are unfamiliar with Walden, he is like a more polished Bobby Parnell. Walden has a really good secondary pitch but both Walden and Parnell throw very hard. The Mets could use another hard throwing pitcher in their pen. Most teams could.

The 25-year-old right-hander pitched to a 3.46 ERA with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.2 walks per nine innings 39 innings this year.

Walden entered the season as the Angels closer but blew one save against the Rays in April and never got the 9^th inning back. The Angels are contenders so they probably aren’t looking for prospects and would probably want other major leaguers in a deal for Walden.

Walden isn’t arbitration eligible yet so he definitely has some value but if the Angels are telling teams that he is available, he could go quick and the Mets should keep an eye on him.

Mets seem to be making progress with David Wright

By Steven Inman

Yesterday there were numerous reports that the Mets had upped their offer to David Wright to a 7 year deal in the $125-150 range that would make David a Met through 2020. The rumors were surprising considering how the Mets made their first offer one day earlier and suddenly upped it 20-30 million. The Mets have suddenly shown a sense of urgency with the Winter Meetings just a few days away now. David Wright and his agent Seth Levinson have disputed the latest rumors.

I believe the latest reports that the Mets have upped their offer significantly but you have heard from the beginning that Wright wants the negotiations quiet. Wright sounded disappointed when telling MLB Trade Rumors about the inaccuracies to the latest rumors.“I have said from Day 1 that I want to play my entire career with the New York Mets. I remain hopeful that goal can be achieved. However, I am disappointed by the reports that I have read today which are inaccurate,“said Wright.

David Wright could get the richest contract in Mets history

David obviously wants the negotiations to stay in house and wouldn’t elaborate on which rumor wasn’t true since six or seven journalist reporting the Mets new offer, all slightly different. Wright sounded angry that these discussions have gone public.

Wright is the Mets franchise player and deserves to be paid handsomely whether it’s by the Mets or someone else. I believe the Mets will agree to a deal with Wright in the 7 year $130 million range. It hasn’t been easy but expect these negotiations to continue to heat up before Monday. The Mets plan to know how much it would cost to keep Wright by the time the Winter Meetings start.

The Mets plan to finish off the Wright negotiations before doing anything with R.A. Dickey. Dickey, who lives in Nashville, plans to join his agent at the Winter Meetings to talk to Sandy Alderson about his potential contract extension. Expect a busy week for the Mets starting on Monday. Stay Tuned…

The Mets make first formal offer to David Wright

By Steven Inman

According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNY, the Mets made their first formal offer to David Wright on Monday. The offer was for 6 years and 100 million and is expected to be turned down by Wright. The offer doesn’t include the 16 million due to Wright next year so the total of the offer is 7 years and 116 million. Wright’s camp is looking into the 140 million range if he were to sign a new contract this winter. The Mets are moving incredibly slow with Wright and R.A. Dickey and the lack of urgency is very questionable. Both players have said they would not negoatiate a contract during the season.

This contract offer is similar to the ones that third basemen Ryan Zimmerman and Evan Longoria recently signed. However the difference is neither of those guys was this close to free agency. When Longoria signed his deal yesterday he was still four years away from free agency. While Wright is older than these two similar players he is still in his prime at 29 years old and has been much more durable. Wright hit .306 this season and broke the Mets all time hit and RBI records.

Reports originally said the Mets would have the two signed by the time the World Series started. Then they said by the beginning of November and now Sandy is saying the Mets need resolution on this situation by the time the Winter Meetings start. The Winter Meetings start on Monday. I would be shocked if the Mets had a resolution on either player by Monday. By resolution Alderson means knowing if the team can sign either one. The plan originally was if the Mets can’t resign them by the winter meetings they would use that time in Tennessee to trade them.

I originally thought the Mets would sign Wright and trade Dickey but for each passing day the chances of signing either one diminishes. Time is running out on the Mets and a poor decision in the next few weeks could really set the Mets franchise back a few years.

Ryan Madson willing to take a one year deal

By Steven Inman

Ryan Madson was a dominant set-up man and closer for the Phillies but after leaving in free agency and signing with the Cincinnati Reds last winter, things didn’t go as well. Madson had Tommy john in March and missed the whole season. Madson said he is willing to sign a one year deal to any team willing to let him pitch the 9^th inning. This would allow him to reestablish himself in hope of a huge payday after the 2013 season.

The Reds are interested in bringing him back but I keep hearing the Angels are the most interested. If I had to bet I would expect him to go to the Angels who need bullpen help. Madson would be a nice fit on the Mets and he could reestablish himself pitching in Citifield. Madson, 32, pitched to a 2.37 era with a 4-2 record for the Phillies in 2011. He had 32 saves in 34 chances and would bring a legitimate closer to the Mets bullpen if they signed him.

Madson throws hard and is a strikeout pitcher, getting key strikeouts in situations when he needs them. My bet is he goes to the American League to a team like the Angels but guys like Madson who are coming off injuries but have closing experience, should definitely be on the Mets radar.

Mets resign Tim Byrdak

By Steven Inman

The Mets announced that they have resigned Left-handed reliever Tim Byrdak. Byrdak has spent the last two seasons with the Mets but underwent surgery in early September to repair an anterior capsule tear in his left shoulder, as well as surgery to repair a torn ligament in his knee. Byrdak is expected to miss a majority of the 2013 season. This is the same surgery that Johan Santana and Chris Young both recently had.

Byrdak, the funny man in the Mets clubhouse holding little Jerry Seinfeld

The signing is a minor league deal but the signing is still questionable as Byrdak is 39-years old and is expected to miss most f the season but Sandy Alderson is confident he can contribute next year. “We are confident that Tim will experience a full recovery and be able to continue his Major League career,” Sandy Alderson said after the surgery.

Byrdak pitched in 56 games for the Mets in 2012, during which he went 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. The ERA is high but it’s pretty meaningless as every time Byrdak left a base runner when he left the game, they usually scored with the Mets struggling bullpen. Terry Collins was forced to bring Byrdak to face right-handed hitters because he didn’t trust anyone else in the bullpen for most of the year. Lefties hit just .154 off of Byrdak in 2012.