Santana intends to play in the WBC, but is currently disqualified from participating

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, friends of Johan Santana said that Santana expects to play for this year's Venezuelan team in the World Baseball Classic. However, the WBC disqualifies any players who were on the disabled list for 60 or more days in the previous season, or was on the disabled list after August 31, 2012. However, according to Rubin, a committee could possibly allow a previously disqualified player to play through a certification process.

Santana was shut down on August 17 because of an apparent back injury. However, Alderson said yesterday in an interview on WFAN that he was mainly shut down to to general fatigue to his shoulder that was surgically repaired in September of 2010.

It really didn't sound like Alderson was content with letting Santana participate in the WBC this year given the past injury issues, and rightfully so. Santana accomplished quite a bit last season, from staying healthy for most of the season to actually throwing a no-hitter against the Cardinals over the summer. However, something was wrong with him and that forced the club to shut him down the season. With that being said, it would be foolish for him to go to the World Baseball Classic. Santana hasn't been able to live up to expectations since arriving here in 2008, and owes it to the Mets to give them his all in 2013, which is his final year of his contract. He is set to make $31 million next season, and they need to find a way to get his value back up so they can possibly ship him off at the deadline. 

d'Arnaud could make the team out of Spring Training

Yesterday in an interview on WFAN, Sandy Alderson said that the Mets haven't ruled out the possibility of having Travis d'Arnaud on the Opening Day roster. 

"We expect to get a good, long look at him over most of February and the games in March," Alderson said about d'Arnaud. "What happens at the beginning of the season will at least depend in part on how he performs in Spring Training... It would be unfair, given his situation, his level of development to say 'he can't make the team out of Spring Training.' ... I just don't want to rule anything out. At the same time, I don't want to to create false expectations on the part of our fans or any sense of pressure on Travis himself."

Alderson also said that if d'Arnaud makes the team, he will serve as the starting catcher, not the backup. However, if d'Arnaud starts the season in Triple-A, John Buck will become the team's starting catcher until he is ready. d'Arnaud hit .333 with 16 home runs in 279 at-bats in Triple-A last season.

I am very excited to see what d'Arnaud is capable of doing, because he haven't had a decent catcher since the Paul LoDuca days. He has a high ceiling, and Alderson obviously has faith in him despite him undergoing two knee surgeries throughout his short career so far. It wouldn't surprise me if he started the season in the minor leagues despite having a strong Spring Training, because if he stays in Triple-A for the first 20 days of the regular season, he would become under team control through the 2019 season rather than the 2018 season. Also, he has a PCL injury that he is still recovering from, so he perhaps some more seasoning wouldn't hurt. 

Alderson, however, needs to say these kind of things in order to keep his confidence up. If he walks into Spring Training knowing that he isn't going to make the team, who knows if he would give his full effort, and the same goes with Zack Wheeler. Knowing that you have a real shot to make the team may push him that extra mile and help him step up his game, so that is why Alderson is not going any concrete answers at this point in time. 

Mets sign Powell to a minor league deal

The Mets have signed catcher Landon Powell to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Powell did not play at all in the Major Leagues in 2012, and hit .207 in three years with the Athletics from 2009-2011. In Triple-A last season, he hit .251 with 8 home runs in 279 plate appearances. Powell was originally selected in the first round (24th overall) by the Athletics in the 2004 draft. 

Powell will most likely be the fourth string catcher, so I don't expect to see him next season. He is a switch hitter who does play first base as well, so if there are injuries, then he may get called up. I can see him having a Rob Johnson-type role in 2013 -- a decent back-up catcher but nothing more than that -- but this is definitely not a signing to get excited about. He has had injury issues and hasn't been able to live up to his first round pick hype. 

Duda is healthy, will report to PSL next week

Lucas Duda's surgically repaired wrist is fully recovered, and Duda will report to Port St. Lucie next week to join Dave Hudgens in early workout sessions. Hudgens intends to work with Duda on fixing his swing by having him take the same swings in the games as he does in the cage. Duda hit .239 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI in 401 at-bats last season.

"David Wright looks the same in the cage as he does during the game and Ike Davis is the same way," Hudgens told Mike Puma of the New York Post. "With Lucas, it's a little bit different. He's a little calmer in the cage, and then he gets in the game, probably the adrenaline and the emotion of the game, he gets wound up and going 100 mph."

I actually have no problem with Duda starting the season as the every-day left fielder. The potential for him to be a good hitter is all there, but he hasn't been able to really find a consistent approach to his game. He has shown flashes of brilliance, and would then go in a slump for weeks. 

I am glad that he is getting an early start in Port St. Lucie, because he has a lot to work on. He is going to need to cut down the strikeouts, and learn to hit the other way. There has been some doubts about his confidence in the past, but hopefully he puts that behind him because he is 27 years old and the clock is ticking. Soon enough, believe it or not, the Mets will have better options in left field if he fails to produce. Therefore, if he has a bad 2013 season, it is possible that he gets send off somewhere via trade. 

(H4TV) Where is Michael Bourn going to land?

Pitchers and Catchers are going to report in about a month, and there are several big name free agents out there who still remain unsigned. Michael Bourn is one of them. Bourn began the off-season with many suitors, but interest in him quickly faded away after those teams acquired different players via trade. Bourn also declined the qualifying offer that Atlanta offered him, so he will now be linked to draft compensation. Therefore, many teams are very reluctant to sign him, but Bourn is going to have to sign somewhere soon before his value goes down. So, here are his top 5 suitors as of January 13, 2013.

5. New York Yankees

Lemme start out by saying that the Yankees want to get their payroll lower. With that being said, they could trade Curtis Granderson and his contract to an opposing team and sign Michael Bourn to a cheaper deal. We all know that Granderson's numbers are currently being inflated by Yankee Stadium's hitter-friendly dimensions, and I personally don't think that he is worth $15 million. Michael Bourn would be a good fit for the Yankees, and it wouldn't cost a huge multiyear commitment to bring him in.

4. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are supposed to be rebuilding, but they have come out this off-season and made some decent signings (Scott Baker, Scott Feldman, Nate Schierholtz, etc.) They have shown that they are willing to spend money to upgrade the organization, and Bourn may find the money he desires from Theo Epstein and Co. If Bourn signs a deal with Chicago, he would probably slide in as the team's lead-off hitter, with All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro hitting in the 2 hole.

3. Atlanta Braves

When the Braves signed B.J. Upton, many of us thought that they were going to quit their pursuit of Michael Bourn. However, they are still having conversations with him, and want him to be their left-fielder in 2013. I don't know if Bourn would be content with settling in that role, but it definitely seems like the Braves want him back.

2. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have been interested in just about every free agent out there this off-season, and they would like to continue to upgrade their offense. They acquired Mike Morse and Kendrys Morales, but are still looking for a center-fielder, and have been involved heavily in the Michael Bourn pursuit ever since the season ended last fall. The Mariners are going to be willing to give Bourn a multi-year deal, and I wouldn't be surprised if they quietly snag him.

1. Texas Rangers

The Rangers have had an interesting off-season, to say the least. They lost out on the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes, leaving a huge hole in center-field. They still have an above-average lineup,  particularly because of the addition of A.J. Pierzynski. The Rangers have shown interest in Bourn throughout the entire off-season, and it seems likely that they overpay for him. Additionally, Bourn would probably want to join Texas because the hitter-friendly confines of Rangers Ballpark would certainly inflate his numbers.

Mets, Parnell agree to a one year deal

The Mets and Bobby Parnell have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one year deal worth $1.7 million. Parnell recently filed for arbitration, but the two sides came to an agreement today. Parnell posted a 2.49 ERA in 74 appearances for New York in 2012, and has two more years of arbitration eligibility. After the 2015 season, he can become a free agent.

This is good news. Parnell has been solid for the most part while pitching in relief, and $1.7 million isn't going to break the bank. I am really looking forward to seeing Parnell develop this season, but yet again it seems like we are saying that every off-season, and it never happens. His numbers look great, but there is something about him that can't seem to handle big situations, and he is going to need to figure it out if he wants to have a more important role on this team.

Should the Mets consider Kyle Farnsworth?

Now that Rafael Soriano is with the Nationals, Kyle Farnsworth has received quite a bit of interest from teams seeking bullpen help, and he has reportedly narrowed his list down from six to three teams. The Rays, Tigers, Mariners, Blue Jays, Tigers, Mets, and other clubs are still looking for bullpen help. Farnsworth spent the 2012 season with the Rays, posting a 4.00 ERA in 27 relief innings of work. He was originally slated to be the team's closer, but injury issues allowed Fernando Rodney to slide into that role and have the best season of his career.

I'll keep this short and sweet: I don't want to see Farnsworth in a Mets uniform. The guy has head a train-wreck of a career, and will not be able to withstand a full season at the age of 36. He relies on his deadly sinker to generate ground ball outs, and to me he would just be a Frank Francisco 2.0. He is not going to be worth the money that he will eventually get, and I hope that the Mets don't get desperate and snatch him up. 

Hairston seeking 2 yrs, $8 million, Mets make a counter-offer

The Mets recently rejected Scott Hairston's asking price of 2 yrs, $8 million. They said that they preferred to give him a one year deal worth $2 million, therefore leaving the two sides at a stalemate. We have also heard that the Cubs are now in the mix for Hairston, as well as the Braves, Phillies and Yankees. Hairston hit .263 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI in 377 at bats in 2012 for the Mets, and earned $1.1 million last season.

This Scott Hairston situation is a complete mess. It seems like everyday we are hearing conflicting reports on whether he will sign with the Yankees but will accept a lesser role, or perhaps live with a one year deal with the Mets but get the everyday right field job. In my mind, Hairston is probably worth what he is asking, but the Mets can't afford to give him a contract like that. If the Mets end up letting him go, I'm not going to lose sleep over it or anything, but it would be nice to see him back in 2013 given the weakness of the current outfield.

Davis, Murphy, Parnell file for arbitration

The Mets have announced that Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, and Bobby Parnell have all filed for arbitration. If each player ends up going to arbitration, MLB Trade Rumors predicts that Murphy will see a salary increase from $512,196 to roughly $3 million, Davis will go from $506,690 to $2.8 million, and Parnell will go from $504,000 to $1.5 million. Murphy and Parnell are eligible for free agency after the 2015 season, whereas Davis will be eligible after the 2016 season. 

I am a big fan of all three of these players, and we had to expect that they would get modest salary raises. All 3 had good seasons in 2012, and they should be rewarded for it. I don't have any problem with Murphy making $3 million, even though I know many Mets fans disagree with me. I love what he brings to the table offensively, and hope that he doesn't get traded anytime soon. If Davis continues to hit 30+ homers per season, he could be looking at a potential contract extension, so having him for $2.8 million is a steal. I think a potential Jon Niese-type extension could be in store for Davis. (5 years, $25 million.) As for Parnell, he has had his struggles as a closer but is still an above average relief pitcher overall. I have always thought of him as an ideal setup man, and if he could post a 2 ERA like he did last season, he could be a steal as well. 

The Mets still have plenty of money to spend this off-season, so these moves won't hurt the payroll that much. Alderson had to expect that these players would get decent salary bumps, and it appears that he isn't going to go on a signing spree this off-season anyway. 

Should the Mets sign Brandon Webb?

According to several reports, the Mets are "keeping an eye" on pitcher Brandon Webb, who is recovering from yet another arm surgery. The Marlins, Phillies, Braves and others are also in the mix as well. Webb last pitched in the majors in 2009, and was forced to miss most of the 2009 season, and all of the 2010-2012 seasons due to countless injury issues. 

Webb is predominately known for his ability to keep the ball in the park. He has a career 0.6 HR/9 rate, which is very impressive for a strikeout pitcher. Webb has the ability to give you innings, but has had some control issues in the past.

What really concerns me is the health history, because he would be a waste of money if he isn't even going to be ready for this season. Some say that he would be a fantastic low-risk, high reward pickup, but I'm not sure if I would agree with that. Personally, I think that Webb is done, and I don't want the Mets wasting money on him, unless they can perhaps get him on a minor league deal.

Webb can be a top-5 pitcher in the game when he's healthy, but like I said he is always on the disabled list. Some team will take a flier on him, but I hope that it is not the Mets. The Mets should just let some of their young guys get a crack at the rotation (Mejia, McHugh, Familia, etc.) because Webb is not part of the long-term solution even if he resurrects his career. 

Mets invite five to the big league camp

The Mets have announced that they have invited five Minor Leaguer's to the Major League camp this Spring.  The five players are pitchers Rafael Montero and Cory Mazzoni, catcher Juan Centeno, infielder Josh Satin, and outfielder Matt den Dekker. 

Satin is the only player here who has had experience at the big league level, hitting .192 in 26 career at-bats. At 28 years old, it is unlikely that he has a future with this organization unless he can start replicating his solid minor league numbers. If he has a strong spring, there is a good chance that he makes the team to start the season, but I'd expect him to have a bench role. 

I have heard quite a bit about Matt den Dekker, but at age 25, it seems like it is now or never for him. His offense doesn't really thrill me, but supposedly he has above-average defensive skills. The current outfield situation is wide open right now, so it is possible that he breaks camp with the team and finds playing time next season.

Rafael Montero is an underrated Mets prospect and I am glad that we are going to see him in the Spring. He is still young (22) and still has a lot to learn before getting a shot at the majors, but it'll be interesting to see what he looks like next month. The Mets have thought highly of him in the past -- leaving him on the 40 man roster protecting him from the Rule 5 draft -- so it is clear that they have a plan for him.

I've always thought of Mazzoni as a possible #4 or #5 starter in the big leagues if he ended up panning out. He may find a spot in the rotation if the Mets end up not signing anyone this off-season. However, his minor league numbers don't look all that great, and I don't think he'll make the team out of Spring Training.

Finally, we have Juan Centeno, who is a 23 year old catcher that has put up decent offensive numbers in the minors. He doesn't possess much power, but could open a few eyes in Spring Training. He kind of reminds me of another Josh Thole, so don't expect a big impact from him.

Mets may bring back Rauch

According to Marc Craig of Newsday, "The Mets have not ruled out a reunion with right-handed reliever Jon Rauch, though with the choices on the pitching market, they believe they can afford to wait." Rauch posted a 3.59 ERA in 73 appearances for the Mets last season, and hasn't received interest from that many teams this off-season.

Rauch had his ups and downs last season, but I'd certainly like to bring him back at the right price. He battled a few injuries throughout the season and I would like to make sure that he is healthy before I sign him, but he is worth another shot. 

Rauch earned $3.5 million in 2012, and I expect that he is looking for a raise considering that he had a good season. If he wants more than $4 million, I probably wouldn't bring him back, but since Spring Training is coming up perhaps he'll be willing to take a small pay cut so he can ensure his job security. Another thing worth mentioning is that Rauch has a great relationship with Sandy Alderson. He even said that he joined the Mets last season because of his ties with Alderson, so perhaps the two can negotiate another contract. 

Mets looking at Brian Wilson

The Mets are showing strong interest in former Giants closer Brian Wilson. Sandy Alderson apparently watched Wilson throw yesterday in a private workout. San Francisco non-tendered Wilson a few weeks ago after he missed most of the 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery. The Giants are open to a reunion but are only willing to give him a one year deal based on incentives.

It is highly unlikely that the Mets are going to get Wilson for a minor league deal, so they are going to be reluctant to sign him. I, personally, would give him a two year deal if he desired one, but pushing for a one year deal perhaps makes more sense. His value is at a low point right now, and he knows that if he signs with New York, he'll get the opportunity to close games and bring his value back up for next winter.

Wilson wouldn't make the Mets contenders, but he would be a big upgrade over whoever is currently slated to be in the team's bullpen next year. He would probably take over as the closer since Francisco is as inconsistent and frustrating as you can get. 

The Mets have showed interest in plenty of players this off-season, but have yet to sign anyone to a major league contract. The interest level for Wilson seems very high, and I don't how many suitors he currently has, so perhaps he and his famous beard will be in Queens next year.