First, let me wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.
As the Mets head into the holiday weekend, Andy Martino of the Daily News reports that “all remains quiet for the Mets.”
Martino spoke to a team official yesterday who indicated to him that the club is currently in “exploratory mode” and that they are “not close on any signings or trades.”
The Mets official confirmed that they are seeking a late-inning reliever or two, and have discussed, but not made made any offers to Frank Francisco, Matt Capps, Brad Lidge and others. One reliever that was high on their list was Joe Nathan, who just signed with the Texas Rangers days ago.
My hunch is that Sandy Alderson will play the the offseason the same way he is going about the Jose Reyes situation which is to let other teams set the market.
So far two relievers have signed with new teams; Papelbon gets a 4 year, $50 million dollar deal from the Phillies, and Joe Nathan received a 2 year, $14.5 million dollar deal from the Rangers. So you have the market set at both the high and low ends of the potential closer market.
I don’t see the Capps, Francisco or Lidge signing for less than what Nathan signed for.
That would mean the Mets would step down to lefty and righty specialists who they will hope can be effective crossover relievers and won’t get more than $3-4 million annually.
