The free agent class for pitchers this off-season is simple.  There’s Cliff Lee and there’s everyone else.   That being said (sorry if I just brought back bad memories of Omar Minaya), since the Mets do not appear to be contestants on “Who Wants To Be A Lee-lionaire?”, there is one member of “everyone else” that the Mets should consider signing.  How does Jorge de la Rosa sound to you? De la Rosa might not [...]

There is plenty of interesting news and notes circulating around the Mets blogosphere for you to sort through this morning, so I’ll try to get all of you caught up as best as I can. Lets begin with this poll Matt Cerrone conducted on MetsBlog that asked the $64,000 dollar question. Obviously that is some pretty overwhelming evidence of who most Mets fans want to see as the next manager of the NY Mets, and according to Sandy [...]

Sandy Alderson will have his second round of interviews today with Wally Backman (noon) and Terry Collins (2 p.m.) then deliberate with his staff. A decision could come as soon as Sunday or Monday. “I think it is important that one have time to reflect, but I don’t think we need to sleep on this for a week and a half,’’ Alderson said Wednesday night at the GM meetings. “In fact, I think you get [...]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported today that the managerial “search” is more of a formality: I guess Hale, in particular, has a chance to throw a Hail Mary and get the job. But this is as close to a rigged event as possible with Collins as the favorite and Melvin as a very in-the-competition second choice. If this is in fact the situation, then why is it taking so long to declare [...]

Yesterday, I was quite surprised by the trade that sent Dan Uggla to the Braves for utility infielder Omar Infante and reliever Mike Dunn. The fact that he was traded isn’t what surprised me. We all knew the writing was on the wall once Uggla turned down a four-year deal worth $48 million dollars from the Marlins last week, but what I couldn’t grasp was how little the Marlins got in return for trading away one of the most popular [...]

Here is a message from Sandy Alderson to the fans. Dear Mets Fan: As you might have heard last night or this morning, we have completed the first round of interviews in the search for our new Manager. We’ve invited Bob Melvin, Wally Backman, Terry Collins, and Chip Hale back for a second round of interviews while we are at the MLB meetings in Orlando. We are meeting with Bob and Chip today; and with [...]

Things are starting to move rapidly, and it won’t be long until a new Mets manager is named. [tweeted]http://twitter.com/KenDavidoff/status/4919945662038016[/tweeted] Adam Rubin adds, Bob Melvin has arrived at the GM meetings, and will kick off the final-round managerial interviews later Wednesday. Chip Hale also goes later in the day. On Thursday, Wally Backman will interview midday, followed by Terry Collins wrapping it up. As we reported yesterday, last night the Mets confirmed that the four managerial finalists [...]

Sandy Alderson told reporters that he has no illusions that Johan Santana will be ready for Opening Day. “Really the question is, when exactly will he be ready?” Alderson said. “Nobody has told us he’ll miss the season or anything of that sort, but certainly we have to assume he won’t start the season.” Santana is coming off surgery to repair the capsular in his left shoulder. He is in the fourth year of a six year, $137.5 [...]

The Braves fired the opening salvo to the Hot Stove Season when they acquired powerful second baseman Dan Uggla today from the Marlins for utility man Omar Infante and lefty reliever Mike Dunn. Wow, that one kinda snuck up on everybody… Somebody please tell me what the Marlins were thinking? Even if you were to ignore the fact they traded him to a division rival, how can you justify a return like that for one of the [...]

Today Ken Rosenthal reported that the Brewers would listen to offers regarding several players, one of those players is Rickie Weeks.  Weeks has one year left on his contract.  In 2010 Rickie Weeks will be making $2.75 million dollars.  The Mets we know need someone at second base as it’s highly likely that Castillo won’t be playing full time if at all for the Mets in 2010.  Also I believe that Ruben Tejada would benefit [...]

In a must read article by Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Larry Bowa gives managerial candidate Terry Collins a glowing endorsement and also sheds light on one of the concerns about Collins. If there is a worry concerning Collins, it is about how his tour with the Angels ended. He managed the Angels to second-place finishes in both 1997 and ’98, just as he did in managing the Astros from 1994-96. But in 1999 [...]