16
2012
Mets Not Worried About d’Arnaud’s Knee, Still No Closure On Deal
An article by 
Updated by Joe D. at 12:30 PM
Good news for anyone concerned about Travis d’Arnaud’s knee which he injured last June and resulted in missing the rest of the season.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, club sources have told him that the team have reviewed the medical records and are not concerned about the knee, saying “it’s fine”.
Meanwhile, no new updates on the progress or what the hold-up is.
Original post by Joe D. at 8:50 AM
It’s Sunday morning and R.A. Dickey is still a Met. While the framework of a seven player deal with the Toronto Blue Jays seems to be in place, there’s lots still going on as the Jays have formally requested medical records for Dickey, there’s an extension that still needs to be resolved, players need to be notified, etc. Here is what we know:
According to published reports, the Mets would get top catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud (.333, 16 homers, 975 OPS in Triple-A Las Vegas), righthanded pitcher Noah Syndergaard (8-5, 2.60 ERA in Class A) and veteran catcher John Buck (.192, 12 homers, 41 RBIs), whom the Jays recently acquired in a deal with the Marlins, for R.A. Dickey and catcher Josh Thole. A prospect from each team also would be involved, according to reports.
Published reports indicate that Toronto will not make the trade without a contract extension and have asked to speak with Dickey about one. Some speculate that this is why the deal is taking so long to be completed. Dickey is reportedly open to a contract extension with the Blue Jays, but whether they come to an agreement on his terms remains to be seen. Initially, Dickey had asked the Mets for what he called a less than fair offer to remain with the team, reportedly two years for $26 million..
The key to the deal for the Mets is D’arnaud who is 23 and considered to be baseball’s top catching prospect. The Phillies selected him in the first round of the 2007 draft before trading him to the Blue Jays two years later as part of a package for pitcher Roy Halladay.
In each of the last three seasons, d’Arnaud has been sidelined by injuries, the latest a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last June that wiped out the rest of his season. He also missed half of the 2010 season with two bulging disks in his back. It’s not certain that he could immediately step into the Mets’ lineup until mid-season which was the plan for him in Toronto.
Yesterday was a harrowing day for the teams and fans as well who anxiously awaited some resolution either way. There seems to be at least some confusion by some who think the state of Mets finances is the driving force to this deal. I would remind them that Dickey is only owed $5 million and John Buck who is coming back is owed $6 million. The $13 million a year that Dickey would have gotten if they agreed to his terms would not kick in until the $25 million a year Johan Santana contract came off the books.
Yesterday I floated the possibility that the Wilpons simply didn’t want Dickey back and that they waged a campaign to shift the fan base’s mindset on him by attacking his character and integrity with leaks to the media.
It’s okay if you disagree with that, but some Met fans resorted to throwing everyone at MMO under the bus, questioning my loyalty to the team, insulting my mother who is in a medical facility and in the final stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, and even two Met fans who asked me to “die already”. And we wonder what is wrong with the world. I guess there are sick and crazed individuals in all groups who just can’t control their emotions and feel the need to lash out and attack others, even over something as innocent and unimportant as baseball. This is why we see the so many tragedies that we do.
Anyway, I suspect R.A. Dickey will eventually agree to a contract extension and that a deal will get done today. We can digest, review and debate everything about the deal once it happens and we know all the final details.
In the meantime, be good to each other and say a prayer for the victims of the tragedy in Newtown, CT. that took the lives of 27 victims including 20 children. Many of their services are being held today. God bless them and give comfort to them all. Great job by Saturday Night Live who began their show last night with a choir of children singing Silent Night. They get it.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
104 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- Mr North Jersey: on Sandy Disappointed With Some Of His Moves And The Team’s Performance: Again I don't know who "we" is...
- Alex68: on Sandy Disappointed With Some Of His Moves And The Team’s Performance: Chris Capuano - Good, didn't want him...
- Heybatter: on Sandy Disappointed With Some Of His Moves And The Team’s Performance: I saw the interview last nite and...
- Alex68: on Sandy Disappointed With Some Of His Moves And The Team’s Performance: How long are we supposed to wait?...
- DrDooby: on Sandy Disappointed With Some Of His Moves And The Team’s Performance: The difference between # 75 and #...
MMO Mets Chat
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5381 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
Sorry Joe for those mean-spirited slings at you and your family. And yes, the tragedy in Newtown, CT are heinous and unfathomable. I luv this Site and your insights are always thought-provoking,even if i disagree sometimes.
God Bless. Good post: Back to trival pursuits like sports. Your caption of “Contract Extension With Jays Could Be Why” worried me until I read your post and the metsblog take on delay of finalizing this deal. This trade will be a classic good trade for both sides. Yes there is risk by both teams that it could end of as a trade bust. Now is the Jays time. They deserve it maybe even more than the Mets. If this trade goes through we will be going in the right direction.
Interesting read:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/mlb/article/1302871–toronto-blue-jays-close-in-on-r-a-dickey-trade-with-new-york-mets
Joe, money is the issue. Please let me tell you why.
Because, even with keeping him this year and next, they still would have enough money or help from their farm to field a team capable of making the playoffs.
Yeah, you loose Santana’s 25 mill, but if dickey get 13, your left with 12. Frank Fransisco comes off the books to right? Add 6 mill, and now your at 18. Add Jason bays contract too and you might be up to 25 depending on what they’ve deferred.
25 million would not fill your outfield, closer, and catching positions with good players in today’s market.
They have pitching on the way, and expect Dickey to be expendable. Without him, you’ve fill a premium position at minimum cost with what’s hoped to be a great player and you’ve subtracted 13 million from the books by not retaining RA. Now that 25 is closer to 40 million.
Snydegaard automatically becomes their second best pitching prospect behind wheeler and ahead of guys like Fulmer and Montero. How is this deal not about money and making this team better over a much longer period of time?
I hope you and your mom get well, I’ll pray for you both.
It’s been about the money and nothing but the money for the past 3 years.
Between the Wilpons having one foot in bankruptcy court with the Mets, and the fact that we’ve got no starting position players close to ready to come up and fill holes, is the reason this is all going down.
We should have been enjoying the rare find of RA Dickey for years to come. Instead, we’re forced to sell to the highest bidder.
Guest_for_Today posted a comment in on Metsblog “Mets-Jays still working to finalize 7-player deal around Dickey” · 2 hours ago
“Mets finally making deals with their heads, not their hearts or wallets. That’ll make for some good baseball in the years to come.”
I agree and he is listed under best post for the referenced thread..
*” still wouldn’t have enough money”I meant to say, that is important to my point.
Ah Joe, the kooks are sitting around the hot stove running amuck. No need to insult you or the staff here at MMO, who are of the finest caliber.
This shoe Dickey situation reminds me of the great story Ralph Kiner tells about Branch Rickey. Kiner went in to ask for a raise after winning the home run title, and Rickey tells him we could have finished last with out you. Same thing with Dickey. In order to improve the team, Sandy feels they may need to dump R.A. while his value is high. Agree or disagree, thats baseball, and Sandy is the guy sitting in the big chair right now.
Taking personal pot shots at you and your family simply because of your opinion on this trade?
For crying out loud…..what is wrong with some people?
Sorry you had to put up with that crap, Joe. Ignore those tools.
Reading that Rosenthal is saying D’Anaurd and Syndergaard – even w/o the other 2 – are an overpay for Dickey. If this trade goes through, looks like it will be a real coup for the Mets.
Still pissed that we have to lose Dickey though.
Keep in mind that some reports Have the Jays paying Buck’s salary. So Yeah most likely money is always a factor.
Saw that too, but sounded like it was in lieu of the other prospect? I dont remember where I read it because I was all over the place yesterday looking for updates on this trade which I hope becomes final today!
Hey Joe – I really appreciate MME website and all of your hard work and contributions. Unfortunately, people sometimes say and do the nastiest things and engage in road rage on the internet under the cloak of virtual anonymity. The best advice I can give you is to pray for them, as they need it, and don’t drink their poison.
You don’t need me to tell you that you’re a good Dude, ’cause you’re not.
YOU’RE A GREAT DUDE, HOMIE-HOMES!!!
My goodness, what is the matter with some people? I for one enjoy this site and I got hooked on this site because of you many years ago. Anyone who can devote so much of his life to this site as you do doesn’t need to respond to those who question your loyalty. Ignore them and dont let their remarks dwell on your mind. You have a goodhearted way about you that many appreciate.
Even if money is the issue, this would be a great trade for the Mets: the top catching prospect in MLB, a backup catcher who can show him the ropes and teach him some valuable lessons, and a top pitching prospect to boot. I will miss R.A., as I think he’s one of the classiest guys to put on a Mets uniform in a long time (despite what Ken Davidoff says, which is garbage). But from a purely baseball standpoint, how can you NOT make a trade of this caliber if it is offered to you?
Back to the Mets:
My greatest concern at this point is that Toronto’s GM is going to wake up and wonder what the heck Sandy gave him to drink, and pull Snydergaard off the table.
Or that Dickey will quibble over the details of an extension with Toronto (which would have been obviated completely had Alderson met his modest demands, without a ‘no-trade’ clause..”Here RA, just sign here, we’re so please that you’ll be competing the Eastern Division, RA, as we know how much you like the northeast… And that’s when Ashton Kuchter comes out and exclaims, “RA, you’ve been PUNKED!!! You’re going to Toronto, Dude, and your locker is going to be next to Jose’s – Good luck learning all those handshakes, PAL!!!)
Anyhow, let’s not worry about things beyond the scope of our control. There’s a lot of football to watch today.
Hey, nobody is saying how long the window is to work out ext deal with RA. Is this indefinite or is there a deadline? Thanks and sorry about that other stuff.
I dont think the window begins until the teams make trade official first. Isn’t that how it was done with Johan deal? Something else might be the delay.
It’s obvious the NY Mets have waged a smear campaign against Dickey the past several days.
Am I the only one who is seriously concerned with D’arnaud’s health. Back problems in 2011 and a blown knee in 2012. I know the knee was a play related injury but good grief, is this guy going to be able to play a full year behind the dish? With Ike at 1st there is no room for him to move to another position even if he can. The pitching prospect looks good but is a ways away. What happened to going after an outfielder? Instead we are going after a guy who, more than likely, won’t be on the Major League roster on opening day. I’m not sold and if Dickey gums up the works then so be it. We may be better off.
I wouldn’t be said to see Dickey stay either. He’s a pleasure to watch. However, I like this deal as it is now. Both the key players from the Jays have the potential to be impact players. There’s too little history on d’Arnaud to know if he’ll be injury prone. If he does end up to be like that and needs to be moved to first, at worst the Mets can trade him if they want to keep Ike.
For the short-term, they should just put Duda, Niewenhuis, and a cheap free agent (like Hairston) out there everyday. They can always upgrade the OF in the future.
I agree that his bat should translate well to the Majors; however, I do not see it being smart to start him in the ML this year. He has had a long hiatus from playing and had only begun AAA. Maybe you are right and he and Flores can bring back an outfielder if he doesn’t work out but I have a gut feeling, nothing more, that we are gonna get saddled with damaged goods and his trade value will plummet. Maybe he could be flipped for Stanton this year LOL.
It’s not a completely insignificant area of concern, but I don’t think there’s enough there at this point to make calling off the trade a good idea. Hell, who knows; maybe Alderson’s using that history as leverage to get even more on the table.
Hopefully the kid isn’t injury prone. I hear that the knee injury should not be a future problem if he strengthens his legs…and he should be able to strengthen his back as well. IF the toils of catching are too much for his frame, why not move him to 1B and Ike to RF?
iim still hoping Gose will be included in this deal. Some blurbs say the Jays think too highly of him to move him. Baloney, he was in Toronto’s original offer: JPA & Gose for RA!
There’s got to be a way he can be included. I know he’s not Willie Mays, but the kid can fly, plays great D, and looks like he could rattle some other teams when on base. Maybe we give up RA, Thole, Kirk, Murphy for d/Anaud, Syndergaard, Gose, Buck.
CHICAGO, DID U SEEK THE GOAT’SADVICE ON YOUR SUGGESTED ROSTER CONFIGURATIONS? IKE TO RF? PERSONALLY I’VE COME TO BELIEVE THE ONLY LIVING THING ACTUALLY SLOWER THAN DUDA IS DAVIS, FORE THOSE OF US OLD-TIMERS, THINK KRANEPOOL ON DOWNERS…LMAO. CHICAGO, LET ME SEE, SOMEHOW U THINKPOTENTIALLY HAVING d’AROUD ON 1B, DAVIS IN RF, GOSE I PRESUME IN CF WITH A VACANCY @ 2B IS SOMEHOW A SOLUTION?
I UST ASK. EXACTLY WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM U WERE SOLVING, IF THAT WAS THE SOLUTION? HOW TO SECURE 5th PLACE?
Ha, that’s funny Mets62…5th Place, noooo! Ike is slow afoot, but RF was considered a potential spot for him when he was breaking in a few years ago. He played it in college at least and has a very good arm. Turner can fill in at 2B until Tovar is ready or Havens stays healthy or Flores gets a shot…or Muno at some point.
i think Gose would be our CF for the next decade and be a great defensive CF-er. But, we’re not likely getting him so that’s academic. I’m not as high on this trade without him.
Just to clarify I am not condoning moving D’arnaud. I really am apprehensive about trading a pitcher of Dickey’s caliber for a catcher who has been significantly injured the past two seasons and has not been ML proven. The kid looks like a good prospect so maybe he will have value in that regard through next season. So maybe it would be wise, if he lands here, to not get attached to him as he may be used to get something like an outfielder which is my obvious preference. Who knows the kid could turn out to be a monster but it’s a high risk maneuver.
Joe, I disagree with you that the Mets embarked on a “campaign” to smear Dickey. While Dickey’s invitation to the party had the potential for him to say something like that, no one could have predicted it, especially since in all public appearances in the past, Dickey has not said anything like that before. It’s not like they invited someone like Anna Benson to the party, knowing she is likely to do something wacky.
Having said that, I would never attack you personally for your opinions, and I hope your Mom does fine., It’s too bad some see an internet forum as a place fit to attack others personally. Pretty sad.
Nice comments about the tragedy in Connecticut. Such a sad day for those families. They need to enact stricter gun control.
You are living in a fantasy if you say the Mets didn’t smear. They have smeared every player who left on their own or who was traded away. Wilpon is a pathetic excuse of an owner and a disgrace to baseball. Think otherwise all you want, but first check Met smear history.
Were they unhappy at the things Dickey said at the party? Yes. Did they voice their displeasure to the media? Yes. However, that is not the same thing as embarking on a premeditated organized “campaign” to discredit someone. And there is a big difference between an actual smear “campaign” and simply voicing displeasure at something.
And while the Mets have smeared some players, they have not smeared “every” player who has left on their own or been traded, as you say. Moreover, smearing a player now and then is what most organizations will do. The Yankees and Red Sox have done similar things.
There’s no joy in Mudville. Sometimes doing the right thing hurts. Trading Dickey is bittersweet but it’s clear this team is not able or willing to compete and so it goes. At some point I hope a winning atmosphere will return to Queens, but we’re in for a long wait. Look how long it took KC to rebuild.
evolve_already_monkey_man28 minutes ago
Post to John Harper’s article that Sandy did well but Mets caan;t be taken seriously for 2013 on acount of outfield which in 2014 with money off books will be easier to fill than catcher:
…………………… premise of this article is kinda funny considering the Mets of 2000 got toe (sic the World Series with Timo Perez, Jay payton, Benny Agbayani, Bubba Trammell and Joe McEwing manning the outfield.
they had 50 HR out of 3 OF positions that year…an avg of 16 HR per OF spot
but they got Power out of C + 2B that made up for it
I still say not signing Olerud was one of the WORST transactions ( along with Oliver/Chad ) that we did not do
I still think we win the WS with Olerud
Why? I dont know…
I just do
I’VE LONG BELIEVED THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT Re. DICKEY IS JEFF WILPON WHO IMHO HOLDS A GRUDGE BETTER THAN MOST & HAS HAD IT IN FOR R.A. SINCE DICKEY TURNED DOWN JEFF’S LAST MINUTE REQUEST TO CANCEL HIS PKLANED KILAMANJERO TRIP AS JEFF’S HANDS ARE ALREADY STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF PHILLIPS, DUQUETTE, RANDOLPH,BERNAZARD, MINAYA ANOTHER, EVEN WELL LIKED PLAYER IS NO GIANT EAP OF LOGIC.
IN MY BEST TOLEINISTIC CASTING, I IMAGINE JEFF AS THE GALLUM PERSONAGE DURING THE NYM QUEST FOR A RING
it wouldnt shock me at all
RA basically said F-U to the Mets…then went and got a Cy Young to boot
And unlike the administration…does not have a NDA agreement and can air out these folks…
I CANT WAIT FOR THE TRADE !!!!
METS62FAN, is it really necessary to write each post in CAPS? Can you please unlock the Caps key?
Russel can you please shuhe hell up and or turn the volume down on your font controls if it bother you?
The guy has reasons and if you don’t know him well enough to know then you don’t know him well enough to complain!
GFY all you idiots that think a capital letter means SHOUT!
Get over your psychological reading issues!
Letters are letters and they have NO VOLUME!
If it’s hard for you to read then I suggest School not complaining about the world you have difficulties in!
hey Russell – as an FYI, most times when people type in call caps like that, it’s actually due to disability not due to wanting to get a point across. I assume based on your response that you didn’t know that, so i’ll save 62fan from tellin ya
Good story. The injury-prone D’armaud is a poor choice for the Mets.
In return for the best pitcher in the the league, get at least one sure-thing.
Mets should have signed Dickey with no trade restrictions to 3 year contract.
There are 2 possible futures in alder son’s plans.
1-team can compete for wildcard in 2013 like they did for half of 2012.
If so, dickey is needed.
2-team cannot compete until 2015-16 in which case dickey is tradeable at higher signed value or he comes off books at a time when his 13 mil might get key player.
Trading him without extension and with negativity about his off field exploits is bizarre.
Gose, the of, would be better than d’armaud. Gose is only 22 , made majors last year and is great fielder and has great speed.
D’armaud will be part-time c at best due to injuries.
If the Mets had extended Dickey now, he might have fallen under the sign-and-trade restrictions of the CBA. In which case, they wouldn’t be able to trade him until June 15th without his permission.
So I think there’s a good case to be made for Alderson NOT extending Dickey before attempting a trade.
No Metro he would not have because he would be extended not newly signed….
He has already been on the team for Two years so there is no restriction on extending and trading him at all.
The rule is in place to cover players you sign away from some other team just so you can trade him.
This is not a SIGNING per se it is an extention of something that was signed a year ago.
Sign and trade rules would not apply to Dickey
Are you sure? Because I thought when you extend a player, you essentially tear up the existing contract and write a new one that includes the final year of the previous contract. So for all intents and purposes, it is a new contract. You can’t have 2 contracts at the same time. At least I don’t think so.
First off no you don’t tear up the existing contract…you COULD but doesn’t mean that you do.
Second, How long does a player have to be with his current team in order to qualify as around long enough to not be a sign and trade….
Then ask how long has Dickey been a met?
You are correct that any player with 5 years of MLB service can demand a trade or barring that be declared a Free Agent if he is traded by the team that signed him.
But thats not our problem thats a problem Toronto would have to deal with. And any extention THEY sign with him would be limited under sign and trade because he would not have time enough on thier roster to be traded under those rules.
The hold up is all on the Dickey negotiations! If we had negotiated the extention a month ago this trade would have been done and we might have gotten even more back in trade…
We didn’t do it.
And now the deal is being held up because Sickey is negotiating with Toronto and likely asking for more from them than he was asking from us.
“he hold up is all on the Dickey negotiations! If we had negotiated the extention a month ago this trade would have been done and we might have gotten even more back in trade…”
Absolutely not. That is such a load of bs Metsie.
There isn’t a major league team in the sport who would negotiate with their own player, announce that he is signed and then trade him 1 month later. You can pretend all you want that this is something that the Mets would do – but it isn’t.
The Marlins signed guys and traded them a YEAR later and were the laughing stock of the league.
To even try to say the Mets were sign Dickey, put a jersey on him in a press conference, tell him he’s here for 2 years and then trade him is complete and total garbage.
Also to say they’d get MORE than two top prospects is also a friggin joke.
No? Carlos Lee ring a bell?
I’m not sure what you mean by Carlos Lee?
Lee became a free agent in 2006 and signed a contract with Houston – his 1st guaranteed contract and it was a 6 year deal. 2012 was the final year of the deal and he was traded.
What exactly does that have to do with this?
Metsie — Forget the verbiage, but when a team adds on years to an existing contract, it becomes for all intents and purposes a NEW contract. And I believe it would come under the sign and trade restrictions.
Second, sign-and-trade restrictions apply to all major leaguers, regardless of service time.
Third, sure the potential for Dickey to bolt for free agency or demand a trade after just 1 year would be the Jays’ problem, but because of that, it would diminish Dickey’s trade value to begin with and the Jays might offer less. You seem to be missing that point.
There’s another factor too — it was reported that Dickey would seek a no-trade clause in his contract.
So it may not have been just about the money. There are so many reasons why extending Dickey before trying to trade him didn’t make sense.
Post the rules that stipulates that because your making an assumpton that just is not true!
The Marlins traded away thier newly signed pitcher just this year!
Also, a player with at least 5 years of service time who is traded in the middle of a multi-year contract can request a trade or declare free agency at the end of the season. That would further throw a wrench into things if Alderson signed Dickey first before trading him.
People keep forgetting these things when they complain about the Mets not signing Dickey before attempting to trade him. Even I complained on one website about the slow pace of negotiations with Dickey, LOL, forgetting these rules could throw a wrench into things!
This is such a great trade for the Mets! I’ve been vocal for the past few years on this site about how terrible the Mets have been..and in 2013, they still will be…however, down the road, if these prospects pan out, a rotation with Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, and Niese is full of great potential. They still need some big bats (desperately) and a bullpen (even more desperately)…but if this trade goes through, the Mets future is actually starting to look a little brighter. Good job, Alderson (not something you hear to often onthis site).
i agree. Plus, Montero, Robles, Ynoa, Mateo, Fulmer, Pill are potentially + to ++ SP prospects. And let’s not forget Mejia & Familia in the mix, at lest in the bullpen.
But, i’m not as high on this deal s i was because i see Gose as also n essential piece to the trade, and not just for 2013. Or best CF prospect is probably Den Dekker who is at least 1 year away. Gose is probably ready for 2013 and has the potential to be an SB threat and a run-scoring delight.
Don’t forget Lara, verrett, and and degrom. Mets pitching depth is looking pretty ridiculous right now.
Yeah,, you’re right, it is.
…and i forgot Tapia.
In the end it is a good baseball move, they get a top pitching prospect that projects as a front of the rotation starter. They get a top prospect catcher that with his all around skill set being very rare to get, and they control him for the prime if his career. Alderson got a maximum return on dickey. Mets are building a dynasty type pitching staff with massive depth of power arms. Patience will pay off, d arnaud is a huge peice to go with Tejeda, Davis, and wright as core position players. Who knows maybe Duda breaks out this year, d’arnaud comes up in June and does his thing. Davis plays well all year which could lead to 40 dingers. There is a lot of upside here, and I am comfortable with Captain Kirk in center on a platoon. This year is probably another season of not making the post season but it is possible they do. They should add a right fielder and bullpen I think, I mean really get that bullpen strong. If Harvey does what he did last year all year and is the real deal, neise gets better, gee gets better, Santana lasts more than two months which he should, he was coming off surgery and still was great up to the no hitter, then the starters are strong. I can see them adding a starter or bringing back Pelfrey. I don’t think mejia is ready grom what i see but you never know, he was voming iff surgery to. There are veteran inning eaters they can get for 5 spot. Plus wheeler probably comes up and helps. Maybe den dekker makes his mark in July in center. There is upside and hope for this season but 2014 is when they really take off.
Great comment. Geez, i needed that boost. Thanks!
My wife’s mother is in the last stages of Altzheimers, and it is not widely understood how devistating it is, not only to the quality of life for the patient, but the impact it has on the patients’ family. I am one of those on the leading edge of the baby boomer era which had to deal with Polio as children, and is now faced with the scourge of Altzheimers as adults unless science can address it soon.
Great site and we can always agree to disagree at times in a civil manner. Happy Holidays to all.
Sorry to hear that heybatter. I know how sad and devastating that can be.
If the Dickster had to be traded and I think the final nail in the coffin here was him refusing Fred Wilpon a personal appearance- I was hoping for both a highly regarded SP prospect and bat at a scarce position at catcher not so much the OF back in trade even if Sandy had to expand the trade talks. And Syndergaard is a high end SP prospect but is still 2 and a half years away from the bigs. Love D’Arnaud but concerned more about his back than his knee. I’m sorry but I never bought the Mets FO crock that they’re not mailing in the 2013 season. The Mets are far from contending in the tough NL East even with Dickey and this deal isn’t so much about $$$ but cashing Dickey for 2 highly regarded pieces moving forward.
Give Dickey credit- he’s a lot smarter than the Wilpons give him credit for.
No matter what transpired during that meeting, they likely would have spun it to their advantage.
My only issue with Dickey has been his reported refusal to even negotiate an extension with the jays, I hope that gets resolved soon because I am stoked about the reported return here. The top catching prospect in baseball and a top pitching prospect will give the mets a couple of cornerstone pieces to add to our young core going forward.
That being said- Those personal attacks on Joe D. – there is no excuse for that – I dont even know who the culprits are but I hope they a permanantly banned here.
RAY, U’D REALLY HATE ME IF I WERE DICKEY; BECAUSE I’D USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNUITY TO REALLY SCREW THE WILPONS BEWTWEEN THE SHOULDERBLADES BY EMANDING FAIR MARKET VALUE IN ANY NON-MET EXTENSION BTW THAT TRANSLATES INTO STARTING @ 15M PER. BASED ON DEMPSTER, SANCHEZ DEALS. NEITHER OF WHICH WERE EVEN CY CONSIDERATIONS LET ALONE CONTESTANTS.
ANYBODY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT? DICKEY DOESN’T OWE THE METS ANY MORE THAN HE OFFERED A DISCOUINT THEY REFUSED TO CONSIDER. THAT SAID, IT SHOULD BE OFF THE TABLE ENTIRELY, LETS CALL IT AN INCONVENIENCE EXPENSE SINCE DICKEY WON’T LIKELY GET TO NASHVILLE AS EASY & DIRECTLY FROM TORONTO AS HE DID GROM NYC…
I sure don’t have a problem with Dickey asking for fair market and I see no reason why he shouldn’t ask for it considering his good will gesture of playing cheap was in hopes of getting the deal done to stay.
He’s not staying so why should he give up money to move?
This is a guy who moved his family around an awful lot while he worked to get to the MLB.
If you saw him on Daily Show you heard that moving to him is never fun.
Thats the only reason he was willing to play here so cheaply….
Now might as well take the money not just because he is in the drivers seat but because it is almost like a defacto no trade clause as it makes him much more difficult to trade again once he has the salary.
I never said Dickey should take less than what he is worth. Nobody knows what toronto is offering and Dickey wont know if he fails to negotiate with them. Classic red herring tactic. try again metsie. And by the way werent you saying the mets should re-sign him and then ship him off? Yes I see you really care about this player and his family.
No I said they should have re0signed him and the if anyone called and ovrwhelmed them they could listen and decide if a trade was worth it….
This deal is not overwhelming at all….
Only you guys who think BA is the be all and end all of prospect rating think that….
BA…You know that organization that had F-Mart as the tp prospect for years before they gave up on him?
I thought I read somewhere yesterday, that if we extended Dickey we wouldn’t be able to trade him before 15 June, per the rules.
Is that wrong – anyone know for sure?
If that is correct, that would have been a bit of a problem. Yes, we could have traded him at the trade deadline, but given the fact that the acquiring team wouldn’t have got a draft pick at the end of the season if Dickey didn’t extend, we probably get lesser prospects back – unless you run into a GM with the mindset of Sabean.
this is also a load of bs from you
If the Mets traded him for 2 prospects not recognized on the BA list you’d come back and say “and they couldn’t even get any top prospects!”
The fact is d’Arnaud was a top 3 catching prospect prior to 2012 Opening Day and Syndergaard was ranked right below Familia on the same list.
Stop acting like that isn’t a big deal. You’re just mad that Sandy Alderson did something andit puts a major dent in your agenda against him.
What about all that bull that we insisted on two Players who would help right away?
We aren’t even getting ONE that will start opening day are we?
Top3 Catching prospect?
Is that top 3 overall prospect who plays catcher or the third best catcher in the Minors?
You just gave away a Cy Young winner dummy!
The ONLY reason you like this deal is because it allows you to DELAY and STALL that Mea Culpa post you were setting us all up to make because there were no wholesale changes being made….
Does getting a Catcher qualify as significant change from last year to you?
Or is it good enough to go back on your post of a month ago that is no significant change to the roster is made you were giving up on him….
We lost our ACE and got a guy we can promote mid season…
And thats Significant change to you….
Your fooling no one here you only love this trade because it gives you more WAIT AND SEE to hang your embarassment off on.
Metsie – I am sorry but you’re wrong and you’re just trying to hate this deal because of who made it
“What about all that bull that we insisted on two Players who would help right away?”
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/12/looking-more-like-dickey-stays-a-met-without-an-extension.html
“Alderson want’s far too much in return for him. A difference maker or two top prospects, not one.”
Yawn…a quote from a newspaper guy giving his opinion?
Try this one and try not to choke
“Alderson has told inquiring teams that it would take a difference maker to nab Dickey”
D’Arnaud is not a difference maker….
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/12/mets-could-extend-dickey-to-improve-their-elf-image.html
Here is some more”
“But is the Rangers power-hitting prospect the difference maker Alderson said it would take for him to move Dickey?” (re: Olt)
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/12/rangers-would-trade-olt-for-dickey-id-they-fail-to-land-greinke.html
But there is yet more….
“A Mets team insider reiterated that the Mets will look to be overwhelmed in a trade proposal for Dickey ”
Do these guy REALLY overwhelm you?
A Guy with a bum knee and a pitcher in A ball?
If the pitcher never makes it to the MLB is this still a great deal?
Please tell us why!
Ingenius post. Maybe check your facts. Two flights daily direct from Toronto to Nashville….2 hr flight.
As for him screwing over the Wilpons, here is how it would work. Dickey would then not get an extension from the Mets and would have to pitch for $5.5M this year. He would be a FA after next year meaning his value would be based upon his 2013 production. People already think he is a gimmic or a flash in the pan. If he gets hurt or has a bad year, like 2010 where he pitched well but got no run support, then he would be given a lot less.
The simple fact is Dickey really cannot play hardball no matter what because of the fact that he does NOT want to risk his financial future on next years performance. There are simply too many things to go wrong. Even if he has a decent year of 14-10 (on a bad team not a bad record), then he is giving up cash. He is in a no win situation. A smart man takes the money now. You dont risk millions of dollars on revenge.
Yeah on a crop duster! LOL
Guess you don’t fly too often to know….
FYI Dickey is already playing for 5 Mil this year….
What is key is how much he makes NEXT year….
But even more important how he pitches THIS year!
Dickey is not under the same assumption as most of you that he is some fluke and just got lucky this year….
Because he wasn’t lucky at all he was just that good!
And will be for another year and probably for another 3 years despite all you idiots talking about an 80MPH Knuckleball as if it’s a 95+ Fastball….
And he will get more than 10 MIl in the open market as a FA…
So he isn’t leaving a penny on the table, he will get MORE than he asked us for AND get a choice of where he wants to move to!
So good luck thinking Dickey is as scared of his failure as you are!
Cause he isn’t he is CONFIDENT which is what you need to be to win a Cy Young!
TASKER, SORRY; BUT U ARE WRONG, RA CAN NOW INSTRUCT HIS AGENT TO NEGOTIATE WTORONTO AS IF HE WERE A F/A IF IT WERE ME I’S SETTLE FOR NO LESS THAN 15-20M PER OVER THE NEXT 2, IF NOT BOTH TORONTO & NY CAN DEAL WITH THE PLAYERS THAT ARE NOW KNOWING HOW EXPENDABLE THEY TRULY ARE. THE ENTIRE DEAL GETS SCRAPPED ALBEIT, IT WAS NOT A SOLVE EVER MET QUESTION TYPE DEAL; BUT CONSIDERING HOW OBVIOUS IT WAS THAT ALDERSON WAS LIMITED TO 20M FOR THOSE 2 ADD’TL SEASONS & DICKEY WOULD NOT COME BACK AFTER ’13
ALDERSON, EBERYONE KNEW HAD TO DEAL HIM OR RISK LOSING HIM FOR ABSOLUTELY ZERO IMMEDIATE MEANINGFUL RETURN
AT THIS POIT IN TIME DICKEY HOLDS THE HAMER & JEFF SHOULD BE THE NAIL.
PERSONALLY, I’D MAKE THEM ALL SWEAT THEN IF THE DEADLINE PASSES KILLING THE DEAL OUTRIGHT, I’D GET A PHOTO OF ME, DICKEY FROM THE CHRISTMAS PART, AND MAIL IT TO JEFF, WITH THE FOLLOWING…”JEFF, SEASON’S GREETINGS & ELF U!…RA
Why do you have a problem? He is stuck anywhere for 2013 but not for longer. Do you feel he has to live in Toronto if he doesn’t want to? Why is he obligated to surrender his free agency to make you and Wilpon happy? Please explain why a guy who offered to take a below fair market deal to stay in New York has any obligations that he is not bound to? Please tell us. Did you see him on MLB when he won CY award? He thanked Omar? didn’t mention the crappy zombie GM that resides in Queens today. Wonder why? He knows a rotten person when he sees it.
Apparently some want Dickey’s rights to be trampled on for the good of Wilpon and Alderson. That’s the Mets version of giving him a Medal of Honor. They were okay making jokes about Reyes when he got traded telling him to pack his mittens and long johns.
LOL Maniac, We all know the main reason people are taking the Sandy/Wilpon side is because by making this move they have the ability to delay thier eventual “I WAS WRONG” moment cause now we will hear about “Just Wait Till D’Arnaud and the other kids get here and then you will see the genius of Sandy”
Hello Shooting for 2015-2018!
THIS ^^^^^^^^
“They were okay making jokes about Reyes when he got traded telling him to pack his mittens and long johns.”
RA owes nothing to the Wilpons. He’s free to cut the best deal he can for him. i think the Jays realize they’re not getting that ‘hometown discount’. i think a governor on RA’s demands will be his ‘age’ and how that discounts his value and that factor also makes negotiating an extension a concern for him as well.
That’s why i think, RA will quickly agree to an extension, maybe even outlining ‘ranges’ with the Jays now, before it’s signed & sealed…and this deal gets done.
BINGO —> Did you see him on MLB when he won CY award? He thanked Omar? didn’t mention the crappy zombie GM that resides in Queens today. Wonder why? He knows a rotten person when he sees it.
Joe that is awful. Some people are just too wrapped up in a bunch of grown men playing with a ball.
Everyone’s brave when they’re behind a computer. ****ing scumbags.
Joe, don’t even classify those two people who told you to die already as “Met fans”. Call them for what they are: lowlife cowards.
D’arnaud for Dickey is a no brainer. Thank you RA for the last three years but a 23 year old top prospect at a position we have no depth at vs a 39 year old pitcher who only became good a couple years ago is a no brainer. Its about the money, but it is also about making the team better.
Something to think about. Alderson lied all along about negotiating with Dickey. After season ended they flew to Virginia for Wright there was no such trip for Dickey. Even with winter meetings in Dickey’s hometown of Nashville, if not for Dickey going to the hotel uninvited they had no desire to speak to him. When news broke out they made a lowball $8 mill a year offer for two years. Yes, that was their offer to him. This was just lies like we saw with Reyes. Alderson has no balls and is a coward. He cant be straight about anything. He always knew Dickey was gone. Like when Dickey won batting title, Alderson was hoping Dickey wouldn’t win the Cy. Did you hear his comments about it afterward, it sounded like a eulogy.
‘Alderson was hoping Dickey wouldn’t win the CY’
What? Link on that please.
Only comment I remember is SA saying his worth was not dependent on winning the CY. They expected him to win it and were going forward with that idea in mind.
Don’t know if SA had conversations with Dickey but I do know Fred requested a personal audience with him when he was in NY, which he turned down. Can’t blame him. The rumors were already out that ownership had ‘concerns with his new found notoriety’ possibly interferring with his concentration on the mound. Dickey was probably smart enough to realize no matter what that conversation was about, ownership would spin it to their advantage while leaking those details to the media.
PATRICK, TRIED REALITY LATELY? WHY SHOULD ALDERSON HAVE MET WITH DICKEY PERSONALLY WITHOUT HIS AGENT PRESENT?
QUERY, WHAT DO U CALL A GM WHO IGNORES HIS CEO”S DIRECTION?
ANSWER: UNEMPLOYED
QUERY #2 WHAT DO U CALL A BASEBALL GM WHO IGNORES HIS OWNERS’ COMMANDS OR PUBLICLY BLAMES HIS OWNERS FOR BAD DECISIONS?
ANSWER: BLACK-BALLED aka CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED!
IT SHOULD BE BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THAT DICKEY BECAME A JEFF “REVENGE” TARGET, THE MOMENT HE CHOSE TO CLIMB KILLAMANJARO AGAINST JEFF’S REQUEST TO STAY HOME!
SEE: JEFF PAST TARGETS… PHILLIPS, DUQUETTE, RANDOLPH, BERNAZARD, MINAYA.
IN FACT, JEFF’S STILL MANIPULATING SNY COVERAGE POLLUTING THE REIGN OF MINAYA AS EVEN BURKHARDT IS CLAIMING AS HE DID LAST NIGHT,”BEFORE ALDERSON TOOK OVER THE METS’ FARM SYSTEM WAS BARREN” TRUE; BUT WHY? BECAUSE THE BEST OFs WERE ALL CONTRIBUTING ON THE 25 MAN..,. NIESE,DAVIS, MURPHY, TEJADA, PARNELL. TRUTH BE TOLD IT WAS MINAYA WHO INHERITED A GHOST TOWN OF A FARM SYSTEM AFTER PHILLIPS’ CONCENTRATED ON DRAFTING A SLEW OF MODERATELY TALENTED PITCHERS, THAT JEFF WILPON SOPECIAL ASSISTANT ON PITCHING aka “PITCHING GURU”, PETERSON, HAD EARMARKED NEARLY EVERY ONE OF THEM KAZMIR PRIMARILY FOR ELIMINATION; HOWEVER NO ONE @ SNY EVER POINTS OUT HOW IOWNERSHIP HAMSTRUNG THE FRANCHISE DURING DRAFTS BY REFUSING TO SPEND OR OFFER MORE THAN SLOT ALOTMENT DESPITE NO CONTENDER ADHERING TO THE VOLUNTARY SLOT GUIDELINES RECOMMENDED BY SELIG’S OFFICE. TRUTH BE TOLD, MINAYA ASSUMED THE GM POSITION WITH A COMPLETE FARM SYSTEM COMPRISED OF ONLY ONE HIGH RANKING BA PROSPECT, LASTINGS MILLEDGE; PHILLIPS’ ADMITTED GAMBLE ON AN IMMATURE KID CONSTANTLY ON THE VREGE OF SCANDALOUS TROUBLE INCL DRUG & STATUTORY RAPE INUENDOS FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
CERTTAINLY ALDERSON LIKE PHILLIPS, DUQUETTE & MINAYA BEFORE HIM WILL BE PILLORIED AS “INCOMPETANT” WITHIN A YEAR OF HIS ULTIMATE CHANGE OF JOBS BECAUSE WE SHOULD ALL BE AWARE BY NOW THAT IN WILPONTON THERE IS ROOM FOR ONLY ONE STATUE IN THE MAIN SQUARE; THAT’S JEFF’S STRIKING HIS BEST NAPOLEONIC POSE; IT’S UP TO REAL FANS TO GET HIM SAENT TO ELBA
IT IS INSUFFICIENT TO SIMPLY BOYCOTT MET GAMES; BUT IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR TO FRED & SAUL THAT FOR AS LONG AS JEFF SITS ATOP THE BASEBALL ENTITY IN FLUSHING CITIFIELD WILL BE ATTENDED ON A PAR WITH MALAKAI , BY TOURISTS, DURING THE DAYS OF DAMIEN NO MATTER WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED, WC SOCCER, A CONCERT, AN ALLSTAR WEEK OF HR DERBY,GAME, PLAYER ACCESS, NO MATTER THE ACTIVITY IF @ CITIFIELD, TRUE MET FANS NEED TO AVOID IT AS LONG AS JEFF IS CEO. DRASTIC?GREAT SACRIFICE? CERTAINLY, AREN’T WE ASKING A MAN TO PUBLICLY EMBARASS HIS FIRST BORN SON & PRIMARY HEIR? THAT DOESN’T COME CHEAP. HOW DOES HE GET MRS. WILPON TO UNDERSTAND?
Sorry about the comments Joe. There are so many Mets fans that hate all things including certain players like Murphy. They can only inject venem to those they disagree with. They should just find other teams & leave we fans who can engage in just comments.
Post of the day.
This would remind me a tad of trading violate for Aggy/Tapani….I also recall trading Maxxilli for Darling and Terrell (who became Hojo). I adore RA but I want this trade to happen as it will make us SO better.
While most of us would be sad to lose R.A. Dickey for the obvious reasons, the proposed deal mentioned here looks like it would be a good one for the future of this team and for the Blue Jays who want to win now. They get Dickey and a guy who can catch him.in Josh Thole We get a solid catcher, a backup guy in John Buck who’s got good pop and the sleeper is Noah Syndergaard who should move up the ladder fast in the minors.The swap of prospects mentioned are most likely just positional swaps of mid level talent guys
If this deal goes through….is it possible that we just wish R.A. good luck, be glad to move Thole who has not progressed at all and hope that our new guys make us a better team?
Or, is everyone gonna start bitching and moaning, pointing fingers, and telling us that this guy sucks?
It’s getting stale!
Well Alan has it ever dawned on some of you folks that such a highly rated prospect has been traded from TWO teams already?
What do they know that we seemingly do not?
If this guy is actually CY YOUNG level good then why are they so quick to give him up for a (as others keep harping on) a 38 Year old trick pitch knuckleballer?
I suggest that “they” know more than either of us!
First off…..why don’t you accept that teams are willing to mortgage the future to win now. A World Championship or two is worth tons of money to any franchise. Toronto didn’t want to trade D’Arnaud but they had another young catcher waiting in Arencibia. It appears that the Blue Jays finally realized that they would have to sweeten the deal to get Dickey and that Sandy wanted Syndergaard to be the final piece of the deal
Secondy…..a guy who has been traded twice in a short time means he has also been wanted twice by other teams!
You need to not make this personal with any of a different mindset then yours. I am willing to admit that the Mets are not yet ready to reach the promised land.but I feel they are lots closer to it then they were before this trade was concocted.
If and when the deal is finalized then we will see if Sandy might well be able to spend a few dollars saved by trading Dickey and give some to Hairston. Maybe with some creative accounting he might well throw some money for another outfielder on the FA market.
I really believe that by 2014 we will have a starting staff that could be awesome!
I am willing to be patient…we will need to find 12- 15 wins or so from our other pitchers but the new catcher D’Arnaud should easily make things better in 2013 and will be a main cog for years to come.
Alan what did they trade to get travis?
Do you know?
Hint he is an ACE!
Did he do anything for them since then? NO!
What did they decide they needed and decide to trade him for….
AN ACE! One who seems to have less credibility with his own fans than the original guy they traded for this catcher and decided was a mistake as they needed the Ace before they needed the Catcher!
The only hold up there is right now is Toronto working on an extension with Dickey. This whole thing should be over by the end of the night.
Good news hearing about d’Arnaud’s knee and that there’s no long-term concerns.
If this deal happens as reporter it is a no-brainer “steal” for the Mets. This is exactly what Sandy needed to do–deal Dickey when his value was the highest and hold out for the best deal. Even if Dickey wins about 15 games next year–which is never a guarantee with a knuckleballer–you can replace at least half of those wins with another starter and the rest with a better offense. And long term, you could have a catcher for at least five years and another good young pitcher. Great move!
I agree it’s a good move, but by replacing “half the wins” you haven’t done the job. What does that make us a 68-70 win team? We are in NY, how long are we going to operate like the Pirates and the Royal? The ownership group had a $93 million roster last year and lost 20 million. With Wright and Bay deferred money plus Dickey’s money off the books we will most likely fill out the 25 man roster at 72-75 million, which would break the teams expenses even. This is of course not counting the SNY money (68 million which is not spent on the team but used to pay off debt on the stadium and the debt owed on SNY). I expect the mets to operate at around 70 million roster salary at least the next 3-4 years. The owners just don’t have the leverage and cash that other teams do. The TV deal pays a small amount compared to what the Dodgers and the Angels are getting.
IF I was the Gm after completing this trade I would then focus on obtaining a right handed power Hitter. With the pitching depth that we are currently building I would make a bold trade and trade Niese straight up to the Angels for Trumbo. I would sign Hairston to a two year deal and a FA starter to hold the fortress until one of our other prospects is ready to come up. I would also try to pry away Gose from the blue jays by trading Kirk, familia and or maybe Murphy. One catcher is not enough for any team specially if we are getting someone who has been injury prone. Buck is just an offensive liability at this point, the last thing to focus on would be the bullpen and for that i would sign Brian Wilson to a one year deal. Our bullpen would look something like Parnell 7th, Francisco 8th, and Wilson 9th and all of this could be accomplish by staying under a 100 million dollar payroll. We then would be a team to fear in our division.
sure…
lets name the right handed outfielder
Bourn? nope he is a lefty…
Ross ? nope he is a philly
Stanton?
Swisher ?
please…do tell
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/team-to-acquire-ra-dickey.html
Its official.
Joe D.
Sorry to hear about your mother, god bless! Sad to hear about the sorry people who attack you. I am a very longtime Mets fan who is reading your blog today to distract me from my own sadness over my brother’s wife who is on death’s door due to a hit and run driver…so it is terrible to read that with everything that has happened in the last 48 hours, you have to endure that kind of trash as well!
Hang in there and best wishes,
Jane
Jane, thank you so much for commenting and I sincerely hope your brother’s wife pulls through. You can count on a prayer from me for her. It looks like you are a first time commenter here and I hope I see you here gin in the future. God bless and you hang in there as well. Your comment meant a lot to me.
Hi Joe,
Was not aware of all the cruel and heartless remarks you’ve received. I don’t know what to say for there is nothing that can be said. And yet, despite all that abuse, you have remained a gentleman throughout. Guess, those are the only words that can be said. This is a Met blog yet you take the time to pause and remind us to remember our veterans, the John Lennons of the world and, of course those little angels we lost just two days ago.
I know you are aware of some of the belligerent remarks coming my way but never would I have imagined anyone could stoop to the level that you’ve had to endure. Please know that most of us are not that way and please do not stop MMO because of it.
But even more important, you take care of yourself and your mom. To go through your own personal health problems while your mother is at this stage of her life is too much for anyone to have to encumber at one time.
This post should not he about Dickey. It should be about the fact that you got insulted and people told you to die because they disagreed with something you said. The state of mental health in this country is in shambles. People should be mourning the tragedy in Ct not wishing for more people to die…over a baseball trade. It pains
Me sometimes to be a part of this world.
I am sorry. Happy holidays to you and your family. I apologize for the senseless people who should be in psychiatric facilities or undergoing. Hope this season brings some peace in spite of it all
Hi Saturn,
Though it wasn’t in the same realm of cruelity that Joe D. had to face, from one who was just the other day called “pathetic” I also thank you.