A recap of today’s hot stove news. According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Cubs have traded Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks for prospect LHP Scott Maine and 1B Ryne White. Heilman finished 2009 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 70 relief appearances. The Cubs may have also found a suitor for outfielder Milton Bradley. Bob Nightengale reported that the Tampa Bay Rays are close to acquiring the problematic, but talented outfielder. [...]

Tonight when the clock strikes twelve, general managers everywhere will begin negotiating with free agents of their liking. The exclusive window for teams to negotiate with their own free agents expires at midnight tonight, beginning what will be another busy and very active hot stove season full. I have read several reports that although Omar Minaya still holds the title of general manager, his power to move and act freely has been taken away. Anything he may want [...]

Last night on the MLB Network, Jon Heyman said that the Mets won’t go after Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez because they have Ike Davis waiting in the wings. Strange, because only a couple of days earlier he tweeted that the Mets would be contacting the Padres about Adrian Gonzalez according to a baseball executive. Does this qualify as a split verdict? Also, I loved his choice of words… “Ike Davis waiting in the wings”. [...]

Back in August, the Mets celebrated the 40th anniversary of their 1969 World Championship team.  Players such as Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan returned for the on-field celebration while wearing their 1969 home jerseys.  As long-time Mets fans know, these jerseys were not the white jerseys we’ve become used to seeing.  They were cream colored. About seven weeks ago, I wrote this post about the Mets considering some changes to their home jerseys [...]

Some fresh news to report that involves a few names that may be of interest to Mets fans. On Friday, the excursive window that teams have to negotiate with their own free agents comes to an end. You can expect things to really start reaching a frenzied peak after that. Today, Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post had an exclusive interview with free agent starting pitcher Jason Marquis who considers himself a perfect fit with the [...]

It’s not always easy to find things to write about this time of year other than hot stove talk and trade/free agent rumors.  So I decided to look at some of the final stats from 2009.  You know, those dismal numbers that contributed to one of the worst seasons the Mets have had in years.  And while we all know too well about the power outage that had Daniel Murphy lead the team with 12 [...]

Yesterday, Adam Rubin of the Daily News reported that the Mets have some interest in free agent pitcher Joel Pineiro. The Mets, in search of an innings-eater to stabilize their rotation, are particularly intrigued by free-agent righthander Joel Pineiro, according to a team insider. Pineiro, 31, had 15 wins with the Cardinals in 2009, one shy of the career high he set with Seattle six years earlier. While tossing a career-high 214 innings, Pineiro produced [...]

Johan Santana had long been considered the best pitcher in baseball.  From 2004-2008 there wasn’t a pitcher who could touch him, posting some remarkable numbers, especially when you consider that he called the AL home up until 2008: Struck out 200 or more batters every season Had a sub-3.00 ERA in four out of five seasons (the other year saw him at 3.33) Posted three WHIPs of 1.00 and better (and the other two season’s [...]

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has reported that Dave Jauss has been named bench coach for the New York Mets. He writes, Dave Jauss is the Mets’ new bench coach, according to major-league sources. An announcement is expected Wednesday or Thursday. Jauss, 52, previously has worked as a bench coach for three teams — the Red Sox, Dodgers and Orioles. Former Indians manager Eric Wedge, former Mariners and Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin were among the [...]