According to a report this afternoon by Fargo’s Jeff Kolpack, the Mets have signed free agent catcher/first baseman Chris Coste. He writes,
Fargo’s Chris Coste is headed to the Big Apple. Coste agreed to terms with the New York Mets today on a contract that guarantees him a spot on the 40-man roster. Coste said the Mets were the only team to give him that guarantee, although he said it isn’t a given that he’ll be on the opening-day roster.
“It’s going to be a bit of a gamble,” Coste said. “They have money to spend and they could go out and get a couple more catchers.”
Kolpach posted this in Fargo’s InForum early this afternoon, but it has not been widely reported yet by any legitimate news source so for now take it with a grain of salt.
Coste batted .224 in 88 games last season between the Phillies and Astros. He has never quite lived up to the expectations of his 2006 rookie season when he batted .328 with 7 home runs and 32 RBIs in 65 games played.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
lol, that’s a great line. It really captures the moment.
THE ONLY LITERAL PORTION OF THIS “ANNOUNCEMENT” IS THE GRAIN OF SALT REFERENCE. I’VE HEARD THIS TRULY IS NO MORE THAN AN EARLY INVITE TO ST. NOTE THERE’S NO $$ OR TERMS MENTIONED.
Oh, boy!
1 more roster spot filled! How many open spots left? 4?
I guess Thoele really is playing 2010 at AAA
Coste/Santos platoon! Oh Yeah! Who needs a solid every day professional catcher when you can have 2 really really mediocre catchers instead! Sharp Omar! Very sharp!
With Murphy playing 1st base and Coste catching the Mets are a solid shoe-in for 3rd place! Oh I am sooooooo excited about 2010!
A solid shoe-in for 3rd place? How do you figure that? We’re not out of the cellar yet!
this is an interesting move and it seems as though they are trying to set something up. i could still see the team going after Benji Molina or Rod barajas as your everyday catcher and then trying to get something out of omir santos. Santos had a good year in which he broke out and took the starting job on this team. He has value now and could be used to get some kind of deal done. He did well last year and there aren’t many good catchers out there, period.
This team has made some interesting moves this past week and I am not happy nor upset, just interested to see where they go. you cant assume anything just wait and see, but i could also see this guy helping out Thole in triple A.
i am not yet ready to mail it in…or regurgitate my dinner. This may be a terrible move; it is perplexing; Andy may just be right: maybe they’re in discussion for a trade that ‘includes’ Santos.
In that case, they may either go for a Molina or a Barajas, or a Snyder (for Santos+??), pair Coste with Murphy at 1B (which i admit does not excite me), and nurture Thole in AAA for 1/2 the year.
What i’d like to see, at this point, is to use Santos in a package for Crawford. Pelfrey, Santos, Martinez for Carl Crawford! Yes! Then go sign Molina or Barajas for 2 years. Thole can be groomed for the starting spot in back half of this year and in 2011.
Omar is planning something big for next week. Don’t pan this move, yet. We shall see.
How can this guy merit any kind of guarantee? Omar once again squaunders a spot. We have already lost Darren O’Day because Figueroa needed a spot. Nobody else wanted this guy, so Omar guarantees he will push somebody younger and probably better out. The Hot Stove has barelybegun and he is handing out guarantees and millions to stiffs. Bring in a few more losers, Omar.
i hear ya jdon, but maybe Omar’s planning a package deal where a bunch of our guys go for 1 – 2 guys coming in. Presto, we’d have ‘extra’ roster spots.
i expect something ‘big’ to occur next week. The heats on Omar. He knows he MUST do something to excite the fan base (positively) AND placate ownership. If something big doesn’t happen this winter, we’ll all blast Omar.
Until then, let’s be patient.
God Bless you guys! Such optimism in the face of overwhelming mediocrity and no evidence that an effort is underway to improve the Mets 2010 circumstances. For a second there you even forced a flicker of hope to pass my minds eye. Thank you for the one second of respite. Now back to reality:
Your 2010 New York Met Starting Lineup….
ss Jose Reyes
2b Luis Castillo
3b David Wright
cf Carlos Beltran
rf Jeff Francouer
1b Daniel Murphy
lf Angel Pagen/Fernando Martinez
c Santo/Coste
P -
Looks like a3rd or 4thplaceteam to me.
FOr the LOVE of God! PLEASEEEEEEE. sign Delgado already!
Yeah because the starting line up is always concrete on November 30 of the year prior, NEVER, in the history of baseball has it ever changed.
exactly!!!!!! its still november. has anyone seen john lackey signed? how about matt holliday? WOW!!!!!!!!! i love how everyone is judging this team so quickly. the winter meetings havent happened yet to even think about making a set lineup or a rotation. if you give me a rotation or lineup the last week of spring training, then i will buy it, but its still november going into december. Delgado wont be signed till at least January at the earliest. until there is evidence that he has gotten better and has a good swing with some power, then yes. I do think he will be a Met next year but its not time to worry about that. i’ll sit and read these blogs everyday because im a passionate fan but to go crazy and make ungodly assumptions about any team now is pointless.
so in the mean time, i will enjoy football season!!!!!! and if your a giants fans, well then, im sorry for your team and your expectations. i think the lions put up a better fight at this point. lol
I’m glad you guys said it. Just because the Mets sign a guy, it doesn’t mean you have to pencil him in the starting lineup. You also have to remember that there is an entire organization that needs players, so signing a guy like Coste, might be to go to AAA and work with Thole, and then can serve as insurance if Santos or whoever else struggles. It’s December 1st. as of right now, EVERY TEAM is 0-0 and will remain in a first place tie until April.
Blanco close to deal with Mets(Ken Rosenthal)
The Mets, continuing their quest to fortify their bench, are close to a deal with free-agent catcher Henry Blanco, according to major-league sources.
Blanco, 38, would serve in his usual backup role. The Mets also are looking for a starting catcher, and free agent Bengie Molina is believed to be their leading target.
Omar Santos and Josh Thole are currently the only catchers on the Mets’ roster. Brian Schneider, a free agent, will not be back with the club.
Blanco spent last season with the Padres, batting .235/.320/.382 in 67 games. He has spent 11 of his 12 seasons in the National League. The Mets would be his eighth team
LOL! That’s a smart move, i like it. I see a couple of complaints but think out of the box. The only reason we sign Coste is pretty simple. Intel on our enemy. Who better than a catcher who spent over two years with them. Once again, smart move.
I don’t know if this is smart or not, I guess it is a sire thing Brian S. Is leaving then.
so your thinking the Mets signed Coste because they want to know how the Phillie pitchers approach terrifying Met hitters such as; Daniel Murphy, Luis Castillo, Santos, Jeff Francouer, Angel Pagen, etc etc… Are you serious? Your kidding right?
Coste just said he will always be a Phillie at heart. It has nothing to do with inside information. It just has to deal with getting more catchers because before the Coste signing, the Mets had just Santos and Thole. Clearly they need 2 more; 1 more in the minors and 1 in the majors.
With this signing, Tiger Woods sent Minaya a basket of cheer because he is no longer the lead story….WTG Omar!
You must be new to get so crazed over this, please spare me the dramatics and hate juice.