Mets have high asking price with Davis

The Mets have spoken to multiple teams this off-season about Ike Davis, and have yet to find any sort of agreement. The Orioles, Brewers, and Pirates are reportedly the three teams most interested in the 26 year old slugger. The Mariners had initial interest in him as well, but went on to acquire Logan Morrison and Corey Hart to fill their void instead. 

Just like Sandy Alderson has done in the past, he has held out in negotiations to ensure that he gets what he needs. Two years ago he did this with the Carlos Beltran-for-Zack Wheeler swap, and last December he managed to acquire two big-named prospects (d'Arnaud and Syndergaard) as well as others for R.A. Dickey. Here, the difference is the Mets do not have too much leverage with these Davis talks, since he didn't exactly have a great season by any means in 2013. 

Earlier this winter, it was reported that the team was pushing to acquire pitcher Tyler Thornburg from Milwaukee in a one-for-one swap. The Brewers, however, declined the offer, but this was before Corey Hart landed in Seattle, so perhaps they felt like they still had a chance to bring him back.

Thornburg, a 25 year old starter, had a fair amount of success in 2013, posting a 2.03 ERA in 18 major league appearances, 7 of which were starts. With the varsity squad he filled the swing-man role for some time, and in Triple-A he struggled. With the Nashville Sounds he had an ugly 5.79 ERA in 15 starts. 

From a Mets point of view, Thornburg would've actually been a solid return for Davis. Apparently Milwaukee was hesitant to buy into the Ike Davis hype, so they held onto Thornburg, but I can see the two teams still coming together for a trade. 

The most recent trade rumor with Davis involved the Orioles, and was surprising to say the least. They reportedly attempted to acquire young prospect Eduardo Rodriguez from Baltimore in exchange for Davis. Rodriguez, 20, ranked 3rd on the Orioles' 2013 Top prospect list, according to MLB.com. He had a combined 3.41 ERA in 25 starts with Baltimore's Single-A and Double-A affiliates last year. MLB.com projects that he will be up in the Majors in 2014, and has the potential to be a finesse lefty starter once he blossoms.  

That's a steep price to ask for, but I don't disagree with Alderson's tactic here. Davis can be an exceptional player when he's at his "A" game, and shouldn't be just dealt away for the sake of getting rid of him. I still feel like he will ultimately be traded off, especially after the long-off season of trade rumors that have surrounded him. 

Mets claim Reid off of waivers

The Mets have claimed pitcher Ryan Reid off of waivers from the Pirates. Reid, 28, was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh sometime last week. 

Reid made his major league debut in 2013, where he posted a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings of work. He spent most of the year in Triple-A, however, posting a 2.73 ERA in 59 1/3 innings pitched.

Reid was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in 2006, and remained with the organization until 2012. He then inked a deal with Pittsburgh. 

The right-hander has a combined 3.87 ERA in 308 career minor league games. 

This has the potential to be a very solid signing by the Mets here. They are taking a good approach in building this bullpen, as they are adding players that they hope will catch lightning in a bottle. Reid presents a no-risk, potential high-reward player, and should be given every opportunity to make the team out of camp. 

His minor league numbers demonstrate good strikeout numbers, but his walk ratio (career 3.7 BB/9) may show a little of a control problem. Either way, this seems to be a nice addition to the team, and considering all he needs is a roster spot, there is really no danger in bringing him in the mix. 

Mets to meet with agents for Axford and Gregg

The Mets plan to meet with agents for free agent relievers John Axford and Kevin Gregg. As well as them, the team has also been linked to Chris Perez and Mitchell Boggs. 

Axford, 30, split the 2013 season with Milwaukee and St. Louis, posting a combined 4.02 ERA in 75 relief appearances. He played significantly better in his brief stint with the Cardinals, as he had a 1.74 ERA in 13 games. 

From 2010-2012, the right-hander was known as one of the more dominant closers in the game, putting up a 3.04 ERA during that time while notching 105 saves. There have been some criticisms over his control, as he does sport a 4.0 BB/9 ratio, but his strong strikeout numbers (career 10.8 K/9) tend to overshadow that. 

Gregg, an 11 year veteran, spent the entire 2013 season with the Cubs organization, and had a solid comeback season. The 35 year old had a 3.48 ERA in 62 relief appearances, while racking up 33 saves and finishing 52 games.

He put up similar numbers back in his prime with the Marlins from 2007-2008. During that time, he posted a 3.48 ERA with 61 saves in 146 relief appearances. 

The Mets are clearly concerned about Bobby Parnell heading into the 2014 season. As you recall, he underwent neck surgery that ended his 2013 season a little early, but it was expected that he would be ready for Opening Day of this coming season. 

To me, Axford is the more appealing option, simply because of his track record. Not too long ago he was one of the best closers in the game for the Brewers, but after a year and a half of so-so numbers, he was dealt to the Cardinals and seemed to rediscover himself. I would take him on an incentive-based deal, and give him the opportunity to close some games if Parnell isn't ready. 

Of-course, it's worth mentioning that Vic Black will be in the running for some sort of late-inning role for the Mets next year. Bringing in a veteran like Axford, Gregg, etc., could prove to help Black out quite a bit in his development. 

Mets to sign Bartolo Colon

The Mets will sign pitcher Bartolo Colon to a two year deal worth $20 million. The deal is pending a physical.

Colon, 40, went 18-6 with an impressive 2.65 ERA with Oakland last season. There was interest in a reunion between Colon and the Athletics, but that faded away when the club inked Scott Kazmir to a multiyear deal. 

Fangraphs valued Colon at 3.9 WAR in 2013, whereas Baseball Reference labeled him at 5.0 WAR. The 16 year veteran has a combined 3.94 ERA in his career while playing for Cleveland, Montreal, the White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and Athletics. He is a four-time All-Star, and won the Cy Young award in 2005 as a member of the Angels.

The Mets had been searching for a veteran pitcher to eat up some innings in 2014, but this signing comes as a surprise. Not only is Colon an extremely effective option, he will now be locked up at a reasonable price. Last year he managed to put up that 2.65 ERA against tough competitors in the American League, so one could imagine how his numbers who be in the National League. 

I'm very pleased by this signing. Colon isn't going to be the team's ace, but he'll be very serviceable in the middle of the rotation, and despite the old age and weight problems, I have a hunch that he'll turn in a very solid 2014 season, and perhaps look at being dealt next winter depending on where the Mets are in their rebuilding effort.

The Mets have signed three Major League caliber players this winter, totaling at a combined $31 million. It is predicted that they will now shop Ike Davis and/or Daniel Murphy to try and clear some payroll space, and perhaps look at a more expensive shortstop option such as Stephen Drew, as well as bring in some veteran relievers. 

Mets announce Granderson signing

The Mets have officially announced the Curtis Granderson signing via press conference. The details of Granderson's contract were also announced and will go as follows: $13 million in 2014, $16 million in each of 2015 and 2016, and $15 million in 2017. It does not include an option year or a no trade clause. He will wear number 3, as shown below. 

Granderson addressed reporters during the press conference and had the following to say:

"Today is an amazing day, I'm really excited to be a part of the New York Mets organization." 

"A lot of people I've met in New York said, 'True New Yorkers are Mets fans." 

When asked why he chose the Mets, he replied saying "When weighing every possible opportunity, it was the best fit possible." 

Sandy Alderson said that the Mets were set on signing him before other teams showed a strong interest. 

"We focused on Curtis." he said. "We felt he would add the most to our team, given where we were and we're very pleased to have him." 

Granderson also tipped his cap to David Wright for reaching out to him when the season ended.

"Wright was one of the first people to contact me, before we even got to the negotiation stage," he said. "It's like we've known each other our whole career and I'm really excited to get to play with him."

Mets looking at a pair of relievers

The Mets are looking at a pair of relief pitchers to bolster their 2014 bullpen. They have interest in Chris Perez and Mitchell Boggs. Both players are free agents. 

Perez, a former closer for the Indians, had a 4.33 ERA in 54 appearances for Cleveland in 2013. The two time All-Star had a combined 2.84 ERA with 98 saves from 2010-2012, proving to be one of the game's most dominant closers. However, his numbers slipped in 2013, and he only notched 25 saves. 

Perez earned $7.3 million for the Indians last year, and was ultimately released by the team shortly after the postseason came to a close. 

Boggs, a former dominant setup man, split the 2013 season with the Cardinals and Rockies, where he had a combined 8.10 ERA in 14.2 innings pitched. He was non-tendered by Colorado last week. 

The 29 year old righty was once a fixture in the Cardinals bullpen, as he had a combined 3.08 ERA in 190 relief appearances from 2010-2012. After getting off to a slow start with St. Louis in 2013, he was ultimately traded to Colorado.

Both of these names could be interesting, as they had great success in the game not too long ago.

Perez comes with more baggage, however, since he does like to run his mouth when things aren't going his way. His most recent antic came when he blew a save in August of 2013, and he decided to boycott the media for the rest of the year, leading to a rough relationship between him and the Cleveland faithful. In late September, he eventually came out and talked to the media, however. 

I wouldn't go too crazy over bringing in Perez, just because it would hard to root for someone who has shown disrespect towards the fans in the past. Is/was he talented? Yes. But unless it's a great deal, I don't think it's worth it at all. With the way the market has gone, he'll likely get a guaranteed major league deal anyway, so I don't think he's a good fit for the Mets.

Boggs, on the other hand, could be a perfect pickup. He was very solid for three straight years in the Cardinals bullpen, and his rough 2013 season severely diminished his value. I can see him returning to form just with a change of scenery. In fact, he did better with Colorado during his brief stint with them last year, as he had a 3.12 ERA in 9 appearances. It's a small sample size, but much better then his 11.05 ERA in 18 appearances for St. Louis earlier in the year. 

Mets sign Curtis Granderson

The Mets have signed outfielder Curtis Granderson to a four year, $60 million deal. The move will force the Mets to forfeit their 2014 second-round pick to the Yankees, since he was tied to draft pick compensation. 

Granderson, 32, played just 61 games for the Yankees in 2013 after breaking his hand twice on two hit-by-pitches. During that stint, he hit .229 with 7 homers, and a .317 OBP. 

One of Granderson's best seasons came in 2012, when he hit .232 with 43 homers and 106 RBI in 160 games played. The three time All-Star, and one time Silver Slugger has 217 homers in 10 career seasons with the Tigers and Yankees. Along with that, he also owns a career .261 batting average with a .340 OBP.

Granderson came over to the Yankees in 2009 as part of a three-way deal involving Max Scherzer, Austin Jackson, and others. During his four years in New York, he hit .245 with 115 homers, but struck out 549 times in 2148 plate appearances.

He has been thought of as a player that benefited from the short right field porch at Yankee stadium, but advanced stats show otherwise. 

As seen in the graph, the majority of Granderson's home runs (from 2012) would have gone past the Citi Field fences.

This is a move that many believe had to be made from the Mets standpoint. Granderson alone won't change the entire team around, but bringing him in is definitely a step in the right direction, and makes the Mets a whole lot better looking than yesterday. 

I'm very concerned about Granderson's strikeouts, but from what I've heard his solid clubhouse presence and other intangibles could make him very valuable. In an ideal situation, giving him $15 million, especially when he's coming off of a down year, would seem idiotic. However, given the market and the Mets' need for a power bat, they needed to do this.

I'm hearing a lot of people saying that Granderson could be the next Jason Bay, and I completely disagree. Granderson has handled New York before in his four seasons with the Yankees, and can take the huge spotlight. Bay's big issue was handling the media while trying to fight his declining skills, and I don't think Granderson will come face to face with that problem. 

Overall, it's nice to finally see some real action by the Mets. With Chris Young, Juan Lagares, and now Curtis Granderson likely being the three starting outfielders next season, the team is beginning to take shape. Now, next week at the winter meetings let's just hope that Sandy and Co. go out and acquire a shortstop, maybe a few bullpen arms, and dangle Davis and Duda and see what he can get. 

Hefner to talk after he finds new team

UPDATE: The Mets have re-signed Hefner to a minor league deal. He will not play in 2014 due to Tommy John surgery recovery.

Jeremy Hefner was one of the five players non-tendered by the Mets last night. He will miss the entire 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery a few months ago. The Bergen Record asked him if he would share his thoughts on his future, but he politely declined to discuss the situation, saying that he will talk about it after he finds a new team. 

The 27 year old had a 4.34 ERA ERA in 24 games (23 starts) for the Mets in 2013. He went down with an injury to his right elbow in August. 

This can easily be translated into him not returning to the Mets next season to rehab, and the following season after that. My best guess is that he has some issues with either the front office or the medical staff, as they either mishandled his injury, or overworked him. If that's the case, I don't blame him one bit for trying to move on to another organization.

The injury did come out of nowhere, so maybe it was something that the Mets doctors knew about and downplayed, thus frustrating Hefner when they announced he would require Tommy John surgery. Either way, I really liked Hefner as Met, and while he is replaceable, I would have liked to see him be brought back to rehab, maybe get a few minor league starts in at the end of the season, and come back in 2015 as a rotation piece. Now that he wants a new team, it's safe to say that won't be happening.

Five Mets non-tendered

The Mets have announced that the following players have been non-tendered: Omar Quintanilla, Jordany Valdespin, Justin Turner, Jeremy Hefner, and Scott Atchison. These players are now free agents and can sign with any team. 

The Mets trimmed an estimated $4 million in payroll by cutting these players from their roster, which now stands at 35. 

Monday night marked the deadline for team's to tender contracts to their players. 43 players in total have been added to the current free agent class.

Quintanilla hit .222 with a .306 OBP in 95 games for the Mets last season. He was the team's primary shortstop while Ruben Tejada was in the minor leagues and on the disabled list with a knee injury. The former first round pick is a career .222 hitter with a .288 OBP. 

Coming into the season, Valdespin was expected to see some time in the outfield. In 66 games for New York, he hit .188 with 4 homers and 16 RBI. Following his demotion in June, he ripped manager Terry Collins, which put him in hot water throughout the entire front office. The year got even worse for him when he was suspended 50 games from baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs. He was reinstated on September 25th, but immediately assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Turner being non-tendered comes as a surprise, as the utility man put up a respectable .280/.319/.385 line in 2013. The 29 year old filled in for David Wright for some time, and also saw some action at shortstop. He was originally acquired by the Mets from the Orioles via waivers in 2010. He hit a combined .267 in 3 career seasons with New York.

Hefner wasn't even arbitration eligible yet, but the move is justified by the fact that he will be missing the entire 2014 season following Tommy John surgery. The 27 year old had a strong 3.39 ERA through his first 18 appearances (17 starts), but fell off a cliff after that. In his final 6 starts, he sported a horrible 7.58 ERA. Most of that can be blamed on a lingering injury he was dealing with. In August he was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, and a team doctor recommended him to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Atchison, 37, came over to the Mets after a relatively solid season with Boston where he had a 1.58 ERA in 42 games. The veteran had a few DL stints with New York in 2013, and wound up putting up a 4.37 ERA in 50 relief appearances. 

Both Atchison and Quintanilla were expected to be cut, and they will probably not be brought back unless it's on minor league deals. Quintanilla did what he needed to do -- fill in for Tejada for the short-term. Atchison didn't really pan out as injuries kept him on the disabled list for a while, but since he was brought over for practically nothing it was a no-harm no foul situation.

I'm not too thrilled about letting Justin Turner go, as his versatility was underrated. Of-course, the Mets could look to bring him back on a cheaper deal, but now he's open to sign with anyone, and I'm already hearing rumblings about the Twins "really liking" him. He's a cheap, versatile player who can come through in the clutch, so I'm not entirely sure what the Mets are thinking here. 

Hefner's success in 2013 got me really excited, as I thought he could be a long-term back-end of the rotation kind of player. Actually, for a certain time in the season, he was the team's second-best pitcher behind Matt Harvey. The problem was his injury that lingered with him up until the point where the Mets couldn't hand him the ball every fifth day. When he was demoted, it was expected that something was up with his arm, as he looked fatigued out there. As for his long-term future, I'm not sure what it will bring. He will clearly miss the entire 2014 season, and after that the Mets may or may not hand him a minor league deal to get his value back up. In my opinion, I feel like he's going to leave the Mets because of either his anger towards the team for overworking him, or not properly diagnosing the injury at first. 

Finally, with Valdespin, he was bound to be let go some way or another, whether it was this or being traded to another club. His antics, ranging from excessive celebrations to even ripping the manager following a demotion, were not liked by the front office, and it was expected that he'd be gone. Many people agree with me when I say this: he's a million dollar player in term's of talent, but has a two cent head. He's the definition of raw talent, and any team that takes a flier on him should know that he comes with a considerable amount of baggage.

Mets are missing out on quality free agents

Thanksgiving still hasn't come yet, and many of the top free agents have already fell off the board. The Mets came into the winter with interest in several of these players, but as usual the price fell out of their hands. The only real move that Sandy Alderson has made so far has been signing outfielder Chris Young to a one year, $7.25 million deal that is considered a massive overpay. Granted, these free agents have been getting overpaid left and right, but the organization promised that spending would go up. The Mets have missed out on some quality players that could have really made a difference in 2014. 

Marlon Byrd is a good example. Byrd had a resurgent year in 2013, and did express interest in returning to the Mets. He clearly fell out of their price range and comfort zone, as he would go on to receive a two year, $16 million deal from Philadelphia a few weeks ago. Another former Met that was let go was 40 year old LaTroy Hawkins. Not only did the 19 year veteran serve as a solid veteran presence in the team's bullpen, but he also sported a fine 2.93 ERA in 72 relief appearances, and managed to notch 13 saves when Bobby Parnell was lost for the season. Hawkins signed a one year $2.25 million deal with Colorado not too long ago. Obviously $2.25 million is a lot of money for an older relief pitcher, but Hawkins intangibles alone would have been worth that price.

You can probably see a pattern here. The Mets should've also went after outfield David Murphy, but the former Ranger went on to sign a two year, $12 million deal with Cleveland. I'm not as upset over that one, since Murphy was coming off a down year, and did in fact get overpaid quite a bit. Tim Hudson was also linked to the team, but he went on to get a two year, $23 million contract from the Giants. Hudson is another aging player whose 2013 season ended in a scary way when he fractured his ankle. 

Josh Johnson was another low-risk pickup, and although I didn't fully advocate bringing him in, the Mets could've made a harder push for him. He went on to sign a one year, $8 million deal with San Diego, which translates as yet another overpay. 

Finally, Joe Smith, a former Met, took his talents to the Angels when he signed a three year deal worth a tad over $15 million last night. While I love Smith, that is a huge commitment to a relief pitcher. That is probably why I'm not as upset over the Mets missing out on him. 

Sandy Alderson is a passive General Manager. He doesn't jump to the gun like most, but rather makes smaller, more underrated moves. Whether those moves pay off or not is a whole different story, but my point is this 2013 Free Agent class, given the players and funds available, is not exactly working in the Mets favor at this point. Hopefully they can turn it around with a few big trades and perhaps a few decent signings. 

Robles clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas

Pitcher Hansel Robles has cleared waivers, and he will be outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas, according to the Mets. Robles was removed from the 40 man roster, and his spot will likely be taken by Chris Young, who was signed to a one year deal yesterday. 

Robles, 22, had a 3.55 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) between the GCL Mets and Single-A St. Lucie last season. He also participated in the Arizona Fall League, where he had a 4.00 ERA in six starts. 

Robles has been known as a mid-tiered pitching prospect for quite some time now. His best season was in 2012 where he had a 1.11 ERA in 12 starts for the Brooklyn Cyclones. The Mets could have afforded to lose him if he was claimed because of their abundance of young pitching, but now that Robles is staying, expect him to start the 2014 season in Double-A Binghamton. 

I feel like it is too early to give up on him, and the Mets are just sneaking him through waivers so they can fill in Young's roster spot. Logically, it would make more sense to cut Jordany Valdespin, who probably doesn't have a future with this team at all. However, the Mets may try to trade Valdespin, so letting him go on waivers wouldn't be too smart. 

Mets sign OF Chris Young

The Mets have signed outfielder Chris Young to a one year, $7.25 million deal. The deal will be officially announced next week after Young takes his physical, meaning that a roster move will be announced sometime next week as well.

Young, 30, hit .200 with 12 homers in 107 games for the Athletics last year. He is a career .235 hitter with 144 home runs in 8 seasons with the Diamondbacks and Athletics. In 2007 (his rookie season) he slugged 32 homers, but hit just .237 with a .295 OBP.  

He made $8.5 million last season. 

Young's role on this team is unclear at this point, but based on his high salary he will likely break camp one of the team's corner outfielders. He has more experience at center field, so the Mets may shift Juan Lagares to right to allow Young to feel more comfortable. 

Either way, Young's career 22.9 K % isn't very promising. Young has been fairly consistent throughout his career, but not in a good way. He has power and speed, but the strikeouts and the inability to work the count have been his biggest problems. 

It is nice to see that the Mets have brought someone on board, however. Young isn't going to change the direction of the franchise, and certainly won't be worth the $7.25 million that he will earn, but he can still present a moderate upgrade over last year's cycle of outfielders.

What I don't understand is, if the Mets are willing to give someone like Young $7.25 million, why did they pass up on Marlon Byrd, who will only make a tiny bit more than him. Byrd has proven that he could do it in New York, and even showed interest in coming back to Queens. 

All in all, the Mets gave up quite a chunk of money to bring Young in. Hopefully he is more than a platoon hitter, but his splits don't seem too promising. In his career, he has a .262/.363/.474 slash line against lefties, but a .225/.295/.415 slash line against righties. 

Met add four to 40-man roster

The Mets have added four pitchers to the 40 man roster to protect them from the upcoming Rule V draft. Those players are: Steven Matz, Jeff Walters, Jacob deGrom, and Erik Goeddel. The roster is now at 40 players. 

The rules go as follows: if a player is left off of the 40 man roster, he is unprotected in the draft, meaning that he can be selected by an opposing team. If he is selected, he must remain with the team that claims him for all of the following season, or he can be offered back to his original team. 

Matz, a former 2nd round pick, was hampered by injuries early on in his minor league career. This went on to delay his development, but at age 22, he still has time to turn it around. He started 21 games for Single-A Savannah in 2013, posting a 2.62 ERA while putting up a solid 10.2 K/9 ratio. 

Walters, 26, has been with the Mets since 2010 when he was selected in the 7th round of the amateur draft. He had by far his best season in 2013. With the Binghamton Mets, he had a 2.09 ERA in 53 relief appearances, and notched 38 saves. He also had 2.6 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9. 

As a 25 year old, Jacob deGrom is considered a lower-grade prospect. However, it was expected that the Mets would add him to the roster. The hard-throwing righty had a 4.52 ERA in 14 Triple-A starts in 2013. 

Erik Goeddel is a name that many are surprised to see. The former 24th round pick had a 4.37 ERA in 25 Double-A starts last season. He also managed to strike out 125 batters in 134.0 innings pitched, which translates to a relatively good 8.4 K/9 ratio.

Mets sign Miguel Socolovich to a minors deal

The Mets have signed pitcher Miguel Socolovich to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. 

Socolovich, 27, made 11 appearances in Japan last season, posting a 0.79 ERA with a 0.882 WHIP. In 2012, he played in 12 games for the Cubs and Orioles where he had a 6.06 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. The right-hander was originally signed out of Venezuela as an 18 year old back in 2004. He has a combined 3.79 ERA in 7 career minor league seasons. 

This is just another bullpen depth signing. First it was Joel Carreno, now it is Socolovich. Expect quite a bit of these moves throughout the off-season as Alderson is looking to find any diamond in the rough that is out there. Socolovich isn't a bad player to bring in since he has a history of success at the highest minor league levels. For example, in 2012, he had a 1.90 ERA in 28 relief appearances for the Orioles' Triple-A team. Worst comes to worst he is "filler" in the minor leagues, specifically Triple-A Las Vegas.  

Mets sign Brandon Allen

The Mets have signed first baseman/left fielder Brandon Allen to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. 

Allen, 27, spent the entire 2013 season at Triple-A in the Padres organization, where he hit .267 with 17 home runs and 76 RBI. He is primarily a first baseman, but has seen time in left field too. His last Major League appearance was in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he hit .154 in 7 games. 

Not too long ago Allen was being brought up through the White Sox and Diamondback organizations, and thought of a player with a fair amount of upside. He has a good amount of raw power, evident by his solid minor league numbers, and  really hasn't played too much in the Majors, so it would be unfair to judge this signing right now.

Allen's power is intriguing, and since he is young he probably still has some of that pop to his bat still with him. However, I basically just see this as a depth signing. Perhaps this is foreshadowing a trade of Ike Davis, but the Mets do in-fact already have a logjam at first base. I don't really have a problem with depth signings, so to me this is a nice pickup by Alderson and Co. 

Market for Ike Davis

The Mets have a logjam at first-base that includes Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, Josh Satin, and Wilmer Flores. They clearly need to make a trade or two this winter to clear up some space on the roster, and also get rid of some unwanted pieces. Davis and Duda seem to be the most logical players to be dealt, as they haven't lived up to expectations at all. Several reports have indicated that the Mets are getting more calls on Davis than Duda. It is unknown which teams are calling, but here are who I believe would be the best fits to swing a deal with. 

Cleveland Indians:  2013 First-Baseman: Nick Swisher

The Indians have needed a first baseman for years now, as once-hyped up prospect Matt LaPorta has turned out to be a huge flop. They had Nick Swisher playing first last season, which is his natural position. Swisher isn't going anywhere, but he could be moved to the DH role so the Indians could bring in a first-baseman. The Indians could deal away some of their young pitching to get Davis.

Colorado Rockies: 2013 First-Baseman: Todd Helton

The Rockies have many big decisions to make this winter. They'll likely hold onto their main pieces such as Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, but Michael Cuddyer's status is up in the air. There is talk that he may move from right field to first base next season, now that long-time first baseman Todd Helton has retired. The Mets may also inquire on Cuddyer, so there actually is a possibility that he ends up in Queens and Davis ends up in Colorado. I can see Colorado as a big time bidder for Ike, and it'll be interesting to see how their offseason plays out.

Milwaukee Brewers: 2013 First-Baseman: Juan Francisco

It is unknown whether the Brewers are willing to bring back long-time first baseman/right fielder Corey Hart, but assuming they don't they'll have a huge hole to fill. Juan Francisco is a decent player because of his raw power, but the Brewers would be better off if they gambled on Davis. I expect them to certainly be in the market for Davis if Hart does not return to Milwaukee.

Tampa Bay Rays:  2013 First-Baseman: James Loney

Loney is likely going to leave via free agency, and the Rays will be searching for another inexpensive option that they could roll the dice on. Davis would be perfect for Tampa Bay, as the New York media has seemed to get in his head. Going to a low-key team like the Rays could be exactly what he's looking for, and luckily for the Mets, Tampa Bay has a few prospects that they could dangle in front of the Mets and see if they bite. I truly expect Davis to be traded to the Rays sometime this winter.

Toronto Blue Jays: 2013 First-Baseman: Edwin Encarnacion

I'm going to stick to my word and predict that the Jays are going to trade one of their top hitters this off-season. Whether that is Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, or even a smaller name like Adam Lind remains to be seen, but if Encarnacion or Lind are dealt, Toronto could bring in someone like Davis, who would give them cheap power, and can be had for a decent price. The Blue Jays would likely just have to cough up a bullpen piece or a low-grade outfield prospect to get Davis. 

Mets have shown interest in Hughes

According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, the Mets have shown interest in free agent pitcher Phil Hughes. Hughes, 27, went 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA for the Yankees in 2013 while earning $7,150,000. 

In his career, the former first round pick is 56-50 with a combined 4.54 ERA in 780.2 innings pitched. He is generally known for being more effective on the road, as he has a 4.96 ERA at home, and a slightly better 4.10 ERA when away from Yankee stadium. 

The Mets should stay away from Hughes, despite the potential. Hughes is known as one of the more inconsistent pitchers in today's game, and while the hitter-friendly dimensions of Yankee stadium may have diminished his worth, he is still a below average player when on the road. His 4.36 FIP in 2013 did indeed show that he may have gotten unlucky, but over the course of his career his ERA and FIP have been relatively similar. 

I've heard Hughes' name being connected with Pittsburgh for quite some time now, so I expect them to pursue him. I don't think the Yankees want him back, as he clearly can't handle the pressure of New York. To me he's just a Mike Pelfrey Part 2, and shouldn't be even considered by the Mets.

If the Mets are looking for pitching, go after bigger targets. I would rather overpay for Josh Johnson than bring in Phil Hughes on an incentive based deal. Hughes may find success if he winds up in the National League, but the Mets shouldn't be the team taking that flier on him. 

Trade proposal: Edwin Encarnacion

The last time the Mets and Blue Jays made a trade together, the Mets ended up getting a steal. They basically robbed Noah Syndergaard, Travis d'Arnaud from Toronto, as all they had to give up was R.A. Dickey, and two fringe players in Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas. This winter, the two teams may swing another deal or two. The Blue Jays have hitting, and quite a bit of it. The problem is their pitching is lacking, as it always has. They'll certainly be searching for some rotation help this off-season, and the Mets are dangling their young pitching to bring in a solid hitter or two. That said, the Mets should consider Edwin Encarnacion, the 30 year old first baseman who has hit 116 homers in his last four seasons with Toronto. 

Mets Get:

1B Edwin Encarnacion 

Blue Jays Get:

P Dillon Gee

P Jacob deGrom

Encarnacion has been a name to watch for years now, and this is the year that he may finally be available for a reasonable price. The 2013 All-Star had his first true breakout season in 2012, where he slugged 42 home runs while hitting .280 in 151 games. His solid season earned him a contract extension, a deal that will keep him under team control through the 2015 season at a reasonable price of $10 million annually. Encarnacion also appeals to the Mets because of his solid on-base percentage. His .370 OBP was well above average, and his career .348 OBP is quite a feat as well. The knack on most players who have high on-base percentages is that they strikeout quite a bit as well (ex: Adam Dunn), but with Encarnacion, his 62 strikeouts in 621 plate appearances (10% of the time) is well below-league average. He doesn't strike out much, walks quite a bit, has some pop to his bat, and is under team control through the 2015 season (team option for 2016) at a fair price, so what's not to like?

Obviously to get a player of Encarnacion's caliber, the Mets would have to sacrifice some of their prized pitching. Despite Harvey being out for the 2014 season, the Mets are still shopping some of their pitchers because of their desperation to bring in a true hitter to protect David Wright in the lineup. Dillon Gee is coming off the best season of his career so far, where he posted a 3.62 ERA in 32 starts while tossing 199.0 innings. The 27 year old hurler is under team control through the 2017 season, and is expected to earn a modest salary increase next season. As for deGrom, the hard throwing sinker-baller pitcher, he would give the Blue Jays more pitching depth. deGrom isn't really considered a top prospect by any means, mostly because of his age (25), but it is believed that he is big-league ready, and his minor league numbers have shown improvement over the years.

The Mets and Blue Jays could/should line up on a few trades this off-season, and I would expect Sandy Alderson to ask about Edwin Encarnacion's availability. The slugger has so many things to like about him, and for a team that is looking for some power, Encarnacion would be a great option. 

Mets sign Seratelli and Carreno

The Mets have signed utility player Anthony Seratelli and pitcher Joel Carreno to minor league contracts. 

Seratelli hit .273 with a .395 OBP in 120 Triple-A games in the Royals organization last season. The 30 year old had spent his entire minor league career in the Royals organization, hitting a combined .276 with 67 homers across 8 seasons. He spent most of the 2013 season as a right-fielder, but also has experience in the infield.

Carreno had a 2.43 ERA in 50 relief appearances for the Blue Jays' Double-A and Triple-A clubs. He also posted a combined 12.2 K/9 ratio in 66.2 innings pitched. The former starting pitcher spent his 8 seasons in Toronto's organization up until this point. 

Both players have been invited to Major League Spring Training. 

I actually think that these two signings are very under-the-radar pickups by Alderson. Seratelli is like a "super-utility player" who has a history of putting up an above average on-base percentage, and may even give Justin Turner a run for his money. He will definitely compete for a bench spot on next year's squad.

I'm a little confused as to why Carreno was a free agent, as his stats are very impressive. He fizzled out as a starter, but his numbers over the last few seasons have been sparkling. His strikeout ratio is what demands the most attention. I truly feel like he could be just another power-arm in the Mets bullpen next season if he impresses in camp.

Good job Sandy, now go get us some proven talent. 

Interesting stats from Juan Lagares

Juan Lagares' first big league season was an interesting one, as he set a franchise rookie record in outfield assists, and had a solid 3.5 dWAR, which ranked second behind Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez (4.6) among National League outfielders. He earned a spotlight on himself because of his incredible defense, defense so good that it actually out-shined his poor offense. Here is a look at his offensive numbers from the 2013 season:

	Games	PA	HR	R	RBI	SB	BB%	K%	BABIP	AVG
2013 (Triple-A Las Vegas)	17	82	3	13	9	2	4.9%	17.1%	.393	.346
2013 (New York Mets)	121	421	4	35	34	6	4.8%	22.8%	.310	.242

As you can see, he clearly spent most of the season with the varsity squad. The biggest number that jumps out to me is his walk percentage, which at 4.8% is way below the league average (which is about 8% percent.) At this point, most people know that Lagares needs to work on his pitch selection, as it is also increasing his strikeout rate, which at 22.8 % is not very solid (18-20 % being the league average.) 

Lagares also has a history of low walk ratio's, and high strikeout ratio's from the minors, which concerns me quite a bit. I understand many people have been thinking "as long as he plays solid defense, his bat won't matter as much." The only way I'd agree with that theory is if the Mets surrounded him with two solid hitting outfielders to compensate for his poor offense, which at this point seems unknown. 

Lagares' .320 BABIP does imply that he will get better in the near future, so there is that to look forward to. He'll likely start the 2014 season with the center-field job at his fingertips, so in essence it's his job to lose. The Mets should, however, monitor his bat closely, as it is clearly not the strongest aspect of his game. 

Need an outfielder? How about Aoki?

Earlier this year, the Mets and Rangers both contacted the Brewers about outfielder Norichika Aoki's availability, but were told that he was more likely to be traded this off-season. Right now, Milwaukee is shopping Aoki around with several teams to possibly bring in a left handed hitting first-baseman, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman pictures that if Aoki was brought to New York, he'd be a solid every-day leadoff hitter, which would move Eric Young Jr. into a "super-sub, late-game runner, double-switch piece."

Aoki, 31, hit .286 with a .356 on-base percentage and struck out at a solid 5.9 % clip in 2013. He will earn approximately $2 million in 2014, and will be a free agent in 2015. 

Sherman believes that the Mets should swap Ike Davis for Aoki, as Davis could be the first-baseman that Milwaukee is looking after. 

I've always like Aoki, as he's been one of the more consistent players to come from Japan. He has averaged 10 homers, 26 stolen bases, and a .287 batting average ever since he came to the MLB two years ago. If he was brought to the Mets, I would immediately slide him into the leadoff spot, and push Eric Young Jr. to the bench. The only problem with Aoki is his lack of power, and it seems like the Mets are looking for one, if not two power bats this winter. 

The Brewers would probably love to have Ike Davis as a reclamation project, but I have a feeling that Sandy Alderson will wait until the Winter Meetings to fully determine Davis' market. As a former first round pick, and a player who hit over 30 homers not too long ago, the Mets shouldn't just HAND Davis away to any team that wants him. 

MLBTR's Mets free agent predictions

Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors recently predicted that the Mets will sign Curtis Granderson, Stephen Drew, Bronson Arroyo, and Roy Halladay to free agent deals this off-season. Here is the link to his predictions list. 

I truly feel like the Mets are going to take the "Red Sox approach" to free agency this winter and sign several players to multiyear deals, hoping that they will find a spark in them. The four players that Dierkes mentioned aren't superstars by any means, but still major upgrades over who the Mets currently have on their team.

I haven't always been the biggest Granderson fan, as I feel like most of his home runs are given to him because of the hitter-friendly dimensions at Yankee stadium. Despite the injury-riddled 2013 season, he played very well with the Yankees during his four year tenure. The 32 year old outfielder hit 115 homers, had 307 RBI, and put up a combined .245 batting average in a total of 513 games. The batting average and the strikeouts are what scare me the most about Granderson, and now that he is tied to draft pick compensation that may push the Mets even further away from him. If they can get him at a decent price, I would consider it. However, if he can only be had by getting overpaid, then I would chase after other players. 

Stephen Drew's name has been closely connected with the Mets for the last few months, and he is also tied to draft pick compensation. During the 2013 season, he hit .253 with 13 homers and 67 RBI in 124 games with Boston. His defense has always been pretty solid, but his post-season performance might have decreased his free agent value. It is expected that he'll be getting a multiyear deal, something in the 3-4 year, $35-45 million price range. I personally would rather have Johnny Peralta over Stephen Drew, because I feel like that is overpaying Drew, plus he is a bigger health risk. 

Next we have Bronson Arroyo, who has been one of the most durable pitchers in the game over the past decade or so. He had a 3.79 ERA in 202.0 innings pitched (32 starts) for the Reds in 2013. The 36 year old has thrown 200.0 innings or more in 8 of the last 9 seasons. He has also stated that he would "strongly consider" coming to the Mets. Despite the age, he is still expected to get a multiyear deal his winter, and the Reds are unlikely to bring him back. 

Roy Halladay is name that I would probably shy away from, but I get what Dierkes is saying here. He basically wants the Mets to find a low-risk gamble for a starting pitcher, and hope that he turns his career around in 2014. That could be Roy Halladay, or even Josh Johnson for all we know, but the Mets do need more rotation depth. I would just stay away from Halladay because it seems like his career is over, as he has digressed quite quickly.

Detroit does not give Peralta a QO

Free agency has officially started, and the Tigers did not give shortstop Johnny Peralta a qualifying offer, which means he will not be tied to draft pick compensation if signed by an opposing team. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski also told reporters that they are unlikely to re-sign him this winter, due to the emergence of shortstop Jose Iglesias. 

After the Tigers lost to the Red Sox in the ALCS, Peralta publicly stated that he would like to remain to Detroit. In 2013, the 31 old year old hit .303 with a .358 on-base percentage and 11 home runs in 448 plate appearances. He went on to serve a 50 game suspension due to a PED violation. 

Peralta, an 11 year veteran, has 156 homers, 698 RBI, and a combined .268 batting average in 1383 career games with Cleveland and Detroit. The two time All-Star made $6 million in 2013, and despite the PED suspension, is expected to earn a slight pay raise this winter.

Sandy Alderson should be all over Peralta right now. He paid his price with the 50 game PED suspension, and I expect that it will never happen again. Peralta has a history of success so you know that 2013 wasn't a fluke by any means. He would obviously demand a multiyear deal, and my guess would be something in the 3 year/$30-35 million range, which is reasonable. At the price, the Mets should snag him and stick Ruben Tejada in Triple-A. 

Mets officially decline Santana's option

The Mets have officially declined Johan Santana's $25 million option for the 2014 season. The veteran will instead give Santana a $5.5 million buyout. 

Santana was originally acquired by the Mets via trade from the Twins in February 2008. He went on to sign a 6 year, $137.5 million contract extension to stay in Queens, and had trouble staying healthy. In 109 career starts with the Mets, he had a 3.18 ERA and a 46-34 record. The Mets were expected to give him a buyout this winter.

Santana issued the following statement after this move was announced " I want to thank the Mets organization, my teammates and of course a big thank you to the Mets fans, who have been behind me from day one and stood by me through all the good and bad. I am not sure what the future holds, as this is all new to me, but I have every intention of pitching in 2014 and beyond and I am certainly keeping all my options open. BELIEVE IT." 

According to Andy Martino of of the Daily News, the Mets won't rule out bringing Santana back, but they would have relatively low expectations for him, similar to the expectations they had when they brought in Shaun Marcum and Chris Young.

Santana was clearly a bust for the Mets during his 6 year tenure, simply because he couldn't stay on the field. Realistically speaking, he only gave New York three good seasons out of those 6 years (2008-2010,) and the 2012 season (despite the no-hitter) was a flop as well. 

Santana for the most part was solid when healthy, but a torn shoulder capsule injury kept him out for part of the 2011 season, and all of 2012. It is assumed the recovery itself affected Santana in 2012, as he went on to post a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts. His most recent shoulder surgery kept him out for the entire 2013 season. 

I am not sure whether the Mets plan on bringing him back, either as a starter or reliever. However, I personally think he would be a decent low risk pickup. He has shown that he can handle the New York media, and the spotlight that playing in Queens can give a player. He also obviously has a history of success, and the Mets could ease him back by sticking him in the bullpen to lighten the workload. It's something to be considered by both sides, but I would imagine a bunch of teams will be contacting Santana about a possible contract. 

Angels will make Trumbo and Bourjos available

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the Angels are willing to trade Mark Trumbo and/or Peter Bourjos to acquire young pitching. Last month, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com said that the Angels would consider trading Howie Kendrick, but it was less likely that Trumbo or Bourjos would be dealt because they are under team control for more years.

Trumbo, 27, hit .234 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 159 games for the Angels last season. He will be eligible for arbitration in 2014, and can become a free agent in 2017. 

Bourjos, 26, hit .274 with a .333 OBP in 55 games for the Angels in 2013. Like Trumbo, he will be eligible for arbitration in 2014, and can become a free agent in 2017. 

I like both of these players, and I can definitely see a fit here. Obviously the Mets have young pitching as their surplus, so they could be an attractive suitor for the Angels. Now, neither Trumbo or Bourjos are "top-tiered" players by any means, but they would definitely be upgrades over whoever the team stuck in the outfield last year.

Trumbo's problem is his inability to work the count, as he just goes up there hacking and hoping that the ball goes a long way. His power would be much needed in the Mets lineup, but he isn't one of those players where you would overpay to get him. He is also limited to first base, as the whole outfield experiment in Los Angeles made him Lucas Duda-esqe defensively. 

As for Bourjos, I used to be a huge fan of him, mostly after the 2011 season where he managed to hit 11 triples in 147 games for the Halos. However, I really feel like this speedster is no more than a fourth outfielder due to his light bat. Defensively hes golden, but he's yet another player that I don't see the Mets making a huge push to acquire.

What I want to see the Mets do this off-season.

The World Series isn't even over yet, and people are already beginning to talk about how the Mets can have a successful off-season. They clearly have many needs, as first base, shortstop, and the corner outfield spots were liabilities last year. If the Mets want to re-tool and become competitive in 2014, they are going to need to start spending, and making creative trades. Here is what I think they should do.

Trade Montero, Murphy, Davis, and Gee for Tulowitzki and cash.

Colorado isn't going to just GIVE AWAY Tulowitzki, so he'll likely cost quite a bit in terms of prospects. What the 29 year old shortstop brings to the table to very obvious -- power, solid defense, and a solid presence in the lineup. He is arguably the best shortstop in the game right now, so the Mets would be getting quite a catch. 

The Rockies need pitching, so give them Rafael Montero who will be major-league ready in 2014 and projects to be a #2 or #3 starter. Also give them Dillon Gee, who proved with his 3.62 ERA in 2013 that he could be a solid starting pitcher at the back end of the rotation. Gee is arbitration eligible after the 2014 season, and is eligible for free agency in 2017. 

Also in this deal is Daniel Murphy, who the Mets probably wouldn't be thrilled to give up, but a piece like him would be required to net a player like Tulowitzki. Murphy has really come into his own over the last few seasons, and is starting to look like an every-day regular over at second base. After his strong 2013 season where he hit .286 with 188 hits in 161 games, his value is high, and the Rockies could look to immediately extend him if acquired because he only has a few years left of team control on his current deal.

Finally we have Ike Davis, who the Mets are going to probably tender a contract to this winter. Davis was horrific in 2013, hitting .205 with 9 home runs in 103 games. Davis has shown that he has a massive amount of raw power, and could thrive under the hitter-friendly dimensions of Coors Field. One thing we know for sure is: Todd Helton is retiring, and the Rockies are going to be looking for a young first-baseman.

Sign Nelson Cruz

The Rangers are likely going to let Cruz walk this winter as they acquired Alex Rios from the White Sox to replace him. Cruz is coming off a season where he hit 27 home runs in 109 games, and finished the campaign with a 50 game PED suspension. He would be a great player to bring in due to his immense power, and solid arm in the outfield. However, if he is asking for too much, the Mets could back away with no harm. 

If Cruz doesn't work out, Sign Marlon Byrd

I'm not sure if I completely buy into the whole Marlon Byrd situation, but the guy has done it in the New York spotlight, and I expect that he'd be a solid addition to this club. After his strong 2013 season where he hit .291 with 24 homers and 88 RBI, the 36 year old veteran could be in line for a multiyear deal, which is something the Mets may not want to hand out. 

Sign Jacoby Ellsbury

I'm gonna say it: I'd rather have Ellsbury than Shin-Shoo Choo. I love the fact that Ellsbury can steal 50-60 bases, and he is exactly what the Mets are looking for. The Red Sox may not want to give him up too easily, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up getting a contract over $100 million due to all of the bidding teams who will be chasing after him. I can see Seattle making a big push for him, but the Mets could play the role as that sleeper team, and I would be thrilled if they got him. I'm wary of the injury history, but I feel like it's a risk that the team needs to take. 

Here is what I want the team to look like next year: (excluding bench players and the bullpen)

Lineup:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury

2. 2B Wilmer Flores

3. 3B David Wright

4. SS Troy Tulowitzki

5. RF Nelson Cruz/Marlon Byrd

6. 1B Lucas Duda

7. C Travis d'Arnaud

8. LF Juan Lagares

9. Pitcher

Starting Rotation:

1. Zack Wheeler

2. Jonathon Niese

3. Jenrry Mejia

4. *Veteran Free Agent*

5. *Veteran Free Agent*

The Mets should NOT sign Josh Johnson

Matt Harvey will miss the entire 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery, and the Mets will likely look to sign a few innings eaters this off-season. They may chase after Josh Johnson, who will likely be of interest to many teams. Johnson, a 9 year veteran, spent his first 7 seasons with the Marlins where he posted a combined 3.15 ERA in 154 games (144 starts.) While those numbers are promising, bringing Johnson along would be quite risky. The 29 year old has an extensive injury history, and missed more than half of last season while with Toronto. In 2013, he had a 6.20 ERA in 16 starts for the Blue Jays, and was shut down in early August because of forearm tightness. He went on to undergo surgery that removed bone spurs from his elbow, and is expected to be ready for spring training.

Here is why the Mets should not be signing him: he CAN"T stay healthy. Johnson is being held together by nuts and bolts and to me he seems like a ticking time bomb. Why should the Mets sign a pitcher that would probably demand $8-10 million for a single season, a season where he would probably only make 15-20 starts if your lucky. I understand that Johnson is, apart from the 2013 season, pretty dominate when on the field, but to me the Mets need to focus on their offense, and not be spending huge amounts of money on reclamation projects in the rotation.