According to a source close to Newsday’s David Lennon, the New York Mets have hired Terry Collins as the team’s next manager. New York Posts’ Mike Puma reports that Collins has approved the two-year agreement. Collins will be officially announced at a press conference on Monday.
Collins has been competing with Wally Backman, Bob Melvin and Chip Hale as the finalists for the open position. GM Sandy Alderson liked Collins’ experience as a previous Major League manager and his understanding of the Mets’ farm system, according to sources close to Puma.
Collins was believed to be the favorite for the job earlier this month. The 61-year-old previously managed the Houston Astros form 1994-1996 and the Los Angeles Angels manager from 1997-1999. He compiled a career 444-434 record. His only downside is that he’s never managed a team to the playoffs before.
“Derek’s significance to the team is much more than just stats. And yet, the Yankees’ negotiating strategy remains baffling.”
“They continue to argue their points in the press and refuse to acknowledge Derek’s total contribution to their franchise.”
New York has supposedly offered Jeter a three-year, $45 million offer. This could provide negotiation room to climb toward $57-60 million on a three or four-year deal.
Jeter, a free agent for the first time in 10-years, signed a $189 million contract that began in 2001. His 2010 numbers were arguably the worst of his career, and that’s likely playing a big part in the Yankees decision to offer a lower valued contract.
As Kevin Towers became the new GM of the Diamondbacks, he knew he was faced with numerous tasks. One of those things he has to correct and fast is the fact that the bullpen sported the worst ERA in the league at 5.74. No lead was ever safe with the Diamondbacks bullpen on the mound. According to Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune, Towers has contacted White Sox free agent and Arizona native (Peoria) reliever J.J. Putz.
Putz sported a 2.83 ERA in 60 games and limited opponents to a .204 batting average last season. Putz has said he is open to closing but is also willing to pitch in the middle innings as well.
It is possible that the White Sox could non-tender closer Bobby Jenks a contract. Jenks who is coming off an injury season, is in the last year of arbitration and could receive a salary north of $8 million. If this does happen, the Sox could have interest in bringing Putz back as their closer.
According to PRO Rumors contract data base, Putz has made $13,875,000 over his 8 year career.
Former New York Mets’ GM Omar Minaya has received multiple offers from Major League teams in the last few weeks, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com.
“I have many offers for different positions, including a few as assistant general manager, but I’m in no hurry,” Minaya said.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Minaya had been offered a position as special assistant to the Arizona Diamondbacks’s GM Kevin Towers. At the time, nothing was imminent with Minaya, but he had planned to meet with Mets’ GM Sandy Alderson to see how he could fit in the new Mets’ front offer.
“That doesn’t necessarily have to be that way,” Minaya said. “I’m basically a free agent that will try to return, but right now I’m taking care of family affairs, resting and soon I will make a trip with my family to the Dominican Republic. After that, I will make a decision.”
Minaya, 51, is under contract with New York through 2012, but he has not decided what he will do. He’s good friends with owner Fred Wilpon, and he says that he would like to stay in New York. It’s believed that he was being paid a little more than $1 million per season as the team’s GM.
– Looks like the San Francisco Giants are considering bringing back infielder Juan Uribe. The Giants need a shortstop, and could use help at third base and the occasional second base relief duty. If the Giants stay true to their threat on Pablo Sandoval, the Giants should re-sign Uribe immediately. The Giants said earlier this off season that they would send Sandoval back to the Minors if he did not lose weight.
– The Giants are interested in Tampa Bay Rays’ Jason Bartlett. Bartlett is also drawing interest from the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. The Orioles are also interested in J.J. Hardy, but they could bring back Cesar Izturis.
– The Boston Red Sox’s Marco Scutaro could draw trade interest. Last week, CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam said that six teams are interested in the shortstop. Cafardo says the Giants and Cincinnati Reds could use him as a shortstop and the Los Angeles Dodgers could see him as a second baseman. Earlier today, PRO Rumors’ writer Ryan Todd mentioned that the Dodgers’ interest in Scutaro, likely means that second baseman Ryan Theriott will be non-tendered by Los Angeles.
This morning’s Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe triggered a question to ponder over this hot stove season. Pretend if you will, you are your team’s GM for a day, so do you go for 28-year-old power hitting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez this winter or do you bet the farm and take the 23-year-old Justin Upton in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks?
Consider the following for Gonzalez:
– One year left on his affordable contract for 2011 – so it’s more or less a rental. Do you give up some of your best guys for a first baseman that will be around for only a year?
– Or do you wait until Winter 2011 and open your pocket books. He will command a nine-figure salary come free agency. However, an oversupply of first basemen such as Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder could change the financial situation.
– Coming off shoulder surgery that will limit his training until March.
– Gathering interest from the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox
And now for Upton:
– Affordable contract through 2015
– MVP potential
– Considered immature
– Will cost you a serious amount of prospects that could destroy your farm system for years
– Drawing interest from 15+ teams including the Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins and Kansas City Royals
There are lots of plus and minuses. So you, armchair GM, what do you do? Do you pull the trigger and for who?
-The Yankees are looking at a 5-year deal in the range of $115-$120 million for Cliff Lee. The Rangers are determined to match any decent offer the Yankees make. I imagine the Rangers will have no problem matching that offer. Earlier in the week, Nolan Ryan said that the Yankees would probably outbid the Rangers.
-Johnny Damon hasn’t received any offers or any legitimate interest in his services. Damon has even gone as far now to say “Boston would now be a good spot.’’
-The Red Sox have placed Marco Scutaro on the trading block to see what interest they can create. The Giants, Reds and Dodgers have shown varying levels of interest in Scutaro. The Dodgers have looked into Scutaro as an option at 2nd base. This probably means that Ryan Theriott as many have speculated will be non-tendered by the Dodgers thus creating a vacancy at 2nd base.
-The Rays Jason Bartlett is drawing lots of interest from the Giants, Orioles, and Nationals. The Rays are dangling him in the hopes of acquiring bullpen help or a prospect or two, since they feel Reid Brignacready to take over the shortstop position.
At last weeks GM meetings, the Angels’ GM, Tony Reagins was very hush hush on the teams desire to sign Carl Crawford. “I don’t think that’s an appropriate comment to make in the media,” Reagins said. “We’re out there talking to a number of people, and we continue to do that in order to get better.”
A major league source close to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, said the Angels have entered into serious talks with Crawford, who will fill many voids on the roster. The Angels’ brass prefer to do their negotiating behind the scenes compared to other teams like the Red Sox or Yankees that always negotiate under the public spot light. The Red Sox are also said to be doing their homework behind the scenes with Crawford but could be more focused on signing fellow free-agent outfielder Jayson Werth.
“It’s very possible that Carlos could opt for a one-year contract,” said Cafardo. “He’ll try and re-invent himself as a hitter, after his .196 season in 2010. And he really likes the Tampa Bay area.”
It’s also possible that the Washington Nationals could go after Pena if they don’t re-sign Adam Dunn. Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo has a strong relationship with Peña’s agent, Scott Boras, and Peña has a solid defensive reputation.
In a team press release, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed 21-year-old Kazuki Nishijima and 18-year-old Kazuka Takano to Minor League contracts.
“These two amateur signings from Japan mean a lot to us and I am very excited to bring them into the organization,” said assistant GM Logan White. “Choosing to play in the United States is not an easy decision for young foreign players to make with the language barrier and cultural differences, but I’m confident that both Nishijima and Takano will succeed in America with the help of our player development staff.”
In Nishijima’s college career, he was 6-5 in 31 appearances with a 1.91 ERA. He has a good curve ball and good location of his fastball.
Takano is currently a senior at Buntoku High School in Kumamota, Japan. Dodgers’ supervisor of scouting, Keiichi Kojima, says that Takano has a “very smooth delivery and flexibility.“
According to a source close to Newsday’s David Lennon, the New York Mets have hired Terry Collins as the team’s next manager. New York Posts’ Mike Puma reports that Collins has approved the two-year agreement. Collins will be officially announced at a press conference on Monday.
Casey Close, Derek Jeter’s agent, has called the New York Yankee’s negotiation strategy, “baffling”.
