Looking back on the season as it is, and the possible free agents that the Mets could’ve signed, I figured it may be best to look at 4 pitchers and 6 hitters that the Mets didn’t sign, and in a few days I’ll do a free agents the Mets did sign recap. Pitchers John Lackey – A very rough start to the season, but Lackey has rebounded somewhat. Lackey is 7-3 but has allowed 93 [...]

On a day when a few extra coals have been added to the Hot Stove, the Phillies are close to trading for ace pitcher Roy Halladay, while Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that John Lackey will be signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. In related news, the Mets have announced the signing of Jack Squat.  Squat hasn’t done much in the past and might go unnoticed in the Mets [...]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports, free agent pitcher John Lackey may be close to signing a deal with the Boston Red Sox. He writes, Free-agent right-hander John Lackey underwent a physical Monday with the Red Sox, an indication that he is close to an agreement with the team, according to a major-league source. Rosenthal also speculates that the deal is expected to be similar to the five-year, $82.5 million contract that the Yankees awarded [...]

Steve Popper of the Bergen Record is reporting that the Mets will make two contract offers before leaving the Winter Meetings today. Based on additional reporting from Adam Rubin of the Daily News, one of those offers will most likely be to free-agent catcher Bengie Molina. Earlier reports yesterday that the Mets had already made an offer turned out to be inaccurate. Also, there is some buzz around Twitter that the second offer could be for starting pitcher John Lackey. However, [...]

Jon Heyman of SI.com got a few laughs tonight when he said the following on Twitter moments ago, Mets taking a little closer look at Lackey after getting sticker shock on middle-rung starters. Might rather pay for ace. I guess when the Mets learned that the Milwaukee  Brewers’ offer to starting pitcher Randy Wolf was around three years for $30 million, they freaked. I surmise that when the agent for Joel Pineiro mentioned the words “four-year deal” the [...]

Yesterday the winter meetings officially began in Indianapolis and as usual some trades were apparently made and then it turned out that there was no trade. In some cases the two teams involved in the trade had not even spoken to each other.  This is the joys of covering the winter meetings.  In the case of the Mets a Philadelphia paper reported that the Mets traded Luis Castillo as part of 3 team trade that had [...]

Attention, GM shoppers!  The Free Agent Warehouse is officially open for business.  Throughout our store, you will find everything to help fix your team.  From starting pitchers to power hitters.  From bullpen help to role players.  Everything is here to satisfy your needs.  Please be aware that there are no rain checks in case we are sold out of the players you’re looking for.  Also, we do not accept coupons.  Yes, we’re talking to you, [...]

Let me begin by saying that you’ll get no argument from me as to who is the superior starting pitcher between Roy Halladay and John Lackey. Obviously, it’s Halladay and it’s not even close. If Doc was pitching for a high powered offense like the Yankees, he may have been a 25 game winner this season, and the one before that, and the one before that too. He is a tremendous talent who is worthy [...]

John Lackey?  Roy Halladay?  Both are All-Star caliber pitchers.  Both could elevate the Mets to the level where we expect them to be.  Signing Lackey and trading for Halladay would look lovely, but we know that’s not happening.  After all, the Wilpons are our owners.  Acquiring one of the two appears to be the more likely scenario. As Joe D stated in a blog earlier today, John Lackey might be the wiser choice because he [...]

Last month, during a much ballyhooed appearance with Mike Francesa on WFAN, Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon seemed to indicate that the Mets would be major players in the free agent market this winter. They stated that their the top targets would be a number two starting pitcher and a big time power hitter. (Their words, not mine.)  They also made it clear that money was not an object and that Omar Minaya was free to [...]

According to an article by Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, a recent survey polled 20 MLB executives (general managers, assistant GMs, etc.) on a number of topics, including where they believe free agent pitcher John Lackey will sign.  They also revealed their thoughts on the possible length and dollar amount of his contract. Of the 20 executives who were polled, the majority believe his new area code will be 718.  However, will that be in the [...]