Nov
30
2011

Buzz: Mets Closing In On A Closer?

An article by Hojo's Mojo

Sandy Alderson has made his intentions clear regarding his pursuit of a reliver who can assume the closer’s role for the team next season. Despite missing out on relievers Joe Nathan and Jonathan Broxton (who they really wanted), the Mets still have several options remaining in Octavio Dotel, Brad Lidge, Matt Capps, Frank Francisco and a few others.

Broxton signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Royals, which the Mets felt was was too high, given the injury histroy and the potential risk.

While it was originally thought the Mets would not pursue anyone until they knew where they stood with Jose Reyes, that does not appear to be the case according to Steve Popper of The Record, who writes:

Alderson recently said that waiting out the Reyes decision could affect the decision on a closer, but the Mets have numbers in mind they will spend anyway.

“We have an independent sense of what a closer would be worth to us based on what’s out there,” Alderson said. “So if we have Jose, would we opt for somebody lower in that range rather than higher in that range? It’s possible.”

Last week Alderson did say that he “expected his offseason work to intensify after Thanksgiving” according to Andy Martino of the Daily News, who also writes:

According to one source familiar with the Mets’ process, the team is still still “kicking the tires on quite a few things” in its search for one or two late-inning relievers.

It looks like the market for relievers is moving rapidly, so it’s a wise move for the Mets to try and secure something that could help the team next season before the better options start to vanish.

About the Author: Rob Johnson

9 Comments + Add Comment

Amazin86er November 30, 2011 at 10:50 am

Ramon Ramirez would seem to fit considering his rumored availability, late-inning ability, and salary. Whether San Francisco is looking for much in return other than salary relief is anyone’s guess or if the Mets possibly match up with them in a possible deal.
Metsie November 30, 2011 at 12:10 pm

LOL Kicking the tires…
Try putting gas in the damn tank!
- Bayonne Mets Fan November 30, 2011 at 12:30 pm
  
  “kicking the tires” is my new most hated phrase.
  
  How about taking the initiative and TRYING TO WIN!!!
Bayonne Mets Fan November 30, 2011 at 12:40 pm

Chicago Cubs
#Cubs have signed OF David DeJesus to a 2-year deal w/ club option for 2014. DeJesus bats/throws left-handed and plays all 3 OF positions.

2 years guaranteed at 10 million. So if the Cubs are paying him 5 mil this year couldn’t that have fit in the Mets budget and isn’t DeJesus an upgrade over Pagan?
- Donal November 30, 2011 at 2:47 pm
  
  DeJesus isn’t that much an upgrade over Pagan offensively and he hasn’t been a regular CF since 2007
- XtreemIcon November 30, 2011 at 2:47 pm
  
  No.
Sach November 30, 2011 at 2:04 pm

Trying to swing a trade for the Rangers Koji Uehara and the Giants Ramon Ramirez (although he is a FA after next season) is a good idea compared to the FA reliever options on the market that are affordable to the Mets. But who can Sandy offer in trade. IMO, the fastest way to improve your team especially if you have a leaky bullpen is to remake and retool your bullpen. Look at the Diamondbacks last season who went from a 65 win team in 2010 to a 94 win and playoff team in 2011 just by basically remaking and retooling their bullpen last offseason with JJ Putz, David Hernandez, Brad Ziegler, Joe Paterson and Alberto Castillo without adding any impact bat or impact SP last offseason ( except for the rise of their own Ian Kennedy).
- Rickeybobby November 30, 2011 at 7:22 pm
  
  I SOOO agree that a good bullpen can turn a team from a loser into a winner, add in we have a pretty competitve offense and if we get some quality starts and a return to form in the second half of the year from Santana and..dare to dream ..well need to have a contructive offseason first..
Sach November 30, 2011 at 2:10 pm

Acc. to Mike Francesca on the FAN today, a team source told him we’re still in on Reyes and we’ll be there at the end to take a shot at him.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	24	18	.571	-
Nationals	23	20	.535	1.5
Phillies	20	23	.465	4.5
Mets	16	24	.400	7.0
Marlins	11	32	.256	13.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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