On the third day of the Winter Meetings, there were plenty of rumors surrounding the Mets. However, none of them resulted in any trades or additions to the major league roster. While fans are starting to get frustrated by the Mets inactivity, General Manager Sandy Alderson remains hopeful that the Mets will make a trade before the Winter Meetings comes to an end.
“I think we’re comfortable that we’ll be doing something. It could happen today. It could happen tomorrow. It could be a little later. We still assess the market and what we think is the value of our players, and try to act accordingly. Sometimes that happens quickly. Sometimes it doesn’t.”
“We certainly would like to do something while we’re here, and cross one thing off our list,” Alderson said. “We’re hopeful that will happen. But it’s hard to predict.”
The Mets are reportedly in trade talks with multiple teams about starter Dillon Gee. The Twins were willing to trade middle infielder, Eduardo Escobar, for either Gee or Bartolo Colon, but the Mets were not interested. Escobar batted .275 this season with six home runs and 35 doubles.
Adam Rubin of ESPN NY reported that the Rockies definitely have interest in Gee. Rubin adds that the Mets like left handed reliever, Rex Brothers. However, a trade between the Mets and Rockies does not appear imminent. Brothers had a 5.59 ERA this year, but he posted an ERA under two in 2013. Rockies GM Jeff Bridich confirmed he had a discussion with the Mets, but that Brothers was never mentioned.
The Texas Ranger were reportedly close on a deal for Gee, but reports say they have backed off and no longer view Gee as an option according to MLB Trade Rumors.
On the lefty reliever front, the Mets spoke with the representatives for Craig Breslow, Phil Coke and Neal Cotts, but nothing came out of those meetings and deals are not likely with either of them. Instead the Mets agreed in principle on a deal to bring back left-hander Scott Rice, whose season was cut short in July by elbow surgery. .
It is now becoming increasingly likely that Wilmer Flores will be the Mets starting shortstop on Opening Day. Alderson believes the trade market for shortstop has become too limited and has turned his attention to free agency again, where Jed Lowrie and Stephen Drew, are reportedly receiving strong interest from other teams and could sign very soon.
Sandy also said yesterday that the Mets have not yet decided if they will post a bid for Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang. Kang hit 39 home runs and batted .354 this season in Korea, but scouts are concerned about whether his skills can translate into the MLB.
Even Scott Boras client Everth Cabrera is back on the radar for the Mets even though they expressed concerns about his “checkered past” on Tuesday. A team source previously said Cabrera was not an option. However, after a few more shortstops came off the market, the Mets did a complete 180 and now say Cabrera hasn’t been ruled out. Boras, said he discussed his clients Cabrera and Drew with the Mets on Wednesday.
Today should be another eventful day around the league. Hopefully the Mets will be involved in some of the action and make some trades to improve the team for 2015.
