REDDING: On the Mets' radar.
Redding will be 30 when spring training opens. His most important stat is 182 innings. He had a 120-65 strikeouts-to-walks ratio last year.
His record wasn’t great, but it’s sure to improve with the Mets’ offense.
GM Omar Minaya wouldn’t confirm Redding by name, but did say the Mets would look at “anybody that could help us.’’
Spending the afternoon getting snowed in. What better time to talk about the Mets’ pitching?
I want the Mets to bring back Oliver Perez because I still believe there is an upside there, but I also want them to add somebody else, like a Randy Wolf, because I know there will be a need.
I can’t see giving the ball to Jon Niese 33 times and having everything be all right. The Mets have upgraded, but not to where they are a slam dunk to overtake the Phillies. I want them to get two starters, and worry about slotting in guys from the minor leagues later.
PEREZ: Time to give ultimatum.
GM Omar Minaya puts the odds at 50/50 of the Mets re-signing Oliver Perez, this despite no other team linked to the erratic left-hander.
What we can expect from the Scott Boras client is to drag out the negotiations in the hope of driving up the price. Long and painful, just the way it is when the tge The Mets displayed patience last year and Johan Santana came back to them. And, because the Mets controlled the closer market, they were able to get Francisco Rodriguez on their terms.
It won’t be that easy with Perez. If Minaya’s odds are accurate, the Mets need to go in another direction, and right now, needing a left-hander, that means Randy Wolf.
Wolf, the former Phillie, has nibbles from Baltimore, Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Francisco. At $3.7 million last year with a 12-12 record, somebody will snap him up.
If you’re think 12-12 is no great shakes, remember Perez, for all his stuff, is 55-60 lifetime.
The Mets should pursue Wolf hard and make sure Perez understands that situation. I’d give Perez my best offer now and tell him the clock is ticking with a deadline. After the deadline, the offer is off the table and could go down.
Should the Mets sign both? Why not? They have two spots to fill and Jon Niese is no guarantee.
NADY: I'd take him back.
It’s been reported should the Yankees sign Manny Ramirez they’d might want to trade Xavier Nady. Well, if he were available, would you want him back?
Nady showed power and a reliable glove in the short time the Mets had him in 2006, prior to sending him to Pittsburgh in the deal for Oliver Perez.
Nady made $3.3 million last year and will be a free agent after the season. He can play the outfield corners and first base.
WOLF: Mets interested in lefty.
His name has been mentioned on this blog several times, now it appears the Mets have interest in signing lefthander Randy Wolf.
GM Omar Minaya placed the odds at 50-50 the Mets would re-sign Oliver Perez.
It’s a smart move on Minaya’s part to look elsewhere. The more he pins his pitching hopes on Perez, the longer agent Scott Boras will drag this out with the hope of driving up the price.