C.J. Wilson
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, one GM said he envisioned a $75 million, five-year deal for Rangers ace C.J. Wilson. “He has been a bomb in this postseason, but the laws of supply and demand still help”, he writes. One GM suggested Wilson would do better with a non-playoff team because of his better regular-season performance. Mets anyone? I’ve already shared my thoughts on Wilson a few times in the last few weeks. 1. He would instantly upgrade the Mets rotation. 2. He’ll hold down the forst until our pitching prospects are ready. 3. He will take the stress off a bullpen that got taxed thanks to five or six inning pitchers like Capuano, Gee, Pelfrey and Niese. 4. He won’t cost as much as a typical ace. 5. He probably won’t get more than a 4-year deal.
Jose Reyes
David Lennon of Newsday tweeted that Mets are very wary of the Washington Nationals as an up-and-coming team that will target shortstop Jose Reyes this offseason. He also says that two Mets players told him they wouldn’t be surprised to see Jose Reyes wind up with the Nats. Honestly, as I’ve said all along, I’m resigned to the fact that Jose Reyes has played his last game as a Met. The only thing I can hope for now is that he doesn’t sign with a team in the National League East or the New York Yankees.
That said, if the rumors are true there’s plenty of evidence that the Marlins will be interested in Reyes as the new star to go with their new park; the Phillies just cleared a ton of payroll and if they’re going to spend $100 million why not Reyes over Rollins; and the Nationals wouldn’t surprise me in the least as their revenues are very high and Reyes could make them a contender as their young phenoms all get ready to make their marks in the majors.
Adam Wainwright
The Cardinals will assume the two-year, $21 million option on starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, barring an unforeseen complication in his return from ligament replacement surgery in February, general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Thursday night. “There is no reason for us not to assume it,” Mozeliak said. Wainwright, 29, finished second in the 2010 NL Cy Young balloting after finishing third in 2009. Too bad he’s off the market. I kind of tinkered with the idea of chasing Wainwright this offseason if he were to be available.
Yu Darvish
Tim Dierkes of MLBTR spoke to an agent who told him that it will cost $50 million in a posting bid and then another $75 million dollars in a five-year deal to sign the young Japanese phenom. That comes to about $125 million dollars, but of course this is all speculative. Darvish is 18-6 in 28 starts this season with a 1.44 ERA and a10.6 K/9 ratio in 232 innings pitched. In his last four seasons he has a 1.81 ERA, and in seven seasons in the NPB, he is 90-35 with a 2.05 ERA. Darvish has won 15 or more games in four of the last five seasons. Matt Cerrone wouldn’t touch him because there is no evidence it would be worth the risk and that he has already thrown 1,200 innings and is only 25. I’m not too worried about the innings Darvish has piled up. Those types of things become more of a concern for pitchers who don’t have a fluid arm motion with their delivery like Darvish who pitches the ball with such ease. Good examples of bad pitch mechanics or violent deliveries would include one time phenom Mark Prior, and Mets pitching prospects Jenrry Mejia and Steven Matz, both of whom are out after TJ surgery and less than 200 innings pitched.
David Wright
Troy Renck of the Denver Post says “No way the Rockies would trade multiple prospects for just one year of David Wright, but they will be willing to negotiate and as Joel Sherman reported today, the Mets are all ears. Renck adds that the Mets would likely want pitching and a center fielder for Wright, but that the Rockies will not move Dexter Fowler. He also says that Colorado will likely want Wright to extend his contract. Jon Heyman agrees with Sherman who said Mets can’t expect too much back for Wright, who makes $15 million a year and has slipped since the Mets moved to Citi Field. I think that if Alderson and Co. eventually do move Wright, it won’t happen this offseason. Instead look for Wright to re-gain some more value with the new dimensions at Citi Field which seem custom tailored for his swing, and then watch the rumor mill go wild beginning in June.
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