When yesterday’s midnight deadline finally came and went, the Mets decided to stand pat and did not offer arbitration to any of their six remaining free agents.
Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis, both Type B free agents, are not totally out of the picture yet, and the Mets could still opt to bring both of them back.
As much as I like both of them, I just think it’s time to move on and change the complexion of this team. If worse comes to worse and we can’t find a power bat, than I will concede on Delgado, but my preference is that we try to sign Adam La Roche first.
J.J. Putz, Gary Sheffield, Elmer Dessens and Ken Takahashi were the other Mets free agents who were not offered arbitration. Dessens could still be brought back on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. As for the others, it’s hast la vista.
Here is the complete scorecard of players who DID get offered arbitration before the deadline.
Type A (10 players)
Chone Figgins
John Lackey
Jose Valverde
Marco Scutaro
Mike Gonzalez
Rafael Soriano
Matt Holliday
Billy Wagner
Jason Bay
Rafael Betancourt
Type B (13 players)
Justin Duchscherer
Rod Barajas
Joel Pineiro
Mark DeRosa
Adrian Beltre
Ivan Rodriguez
Marlon Byrd
Brian Shouse
Gregg Zaun
Jason Marquis
Brandon Lyon
Fernando Rodney
Carl Pavano
The Mets can sign any of the Type B players without losing any draft picks. If they sign any Type A player, it will cost them a second round pick.
Thanks to MLBTR for the list.
Adam LaRoche is going to want $15-20 million for a couple of years.
No way.
Interesting note to add: Bengie Molina (who would have been Type A) was NOT offered arbitration.
OHH NO!! LOL!!-If the Cubs go through with this trade they are looking at two poor left fielders who both swing righty – Burrell and Alfonso Soriano – on the roster. So this is totally my speculation, but I wonder if the Cubs would then do a trade built around Burrell for Luis Castillo.-NYPOST