Mets miss out on Abreu, signs with White Sox

Cuban first-baseman Jose Abreu has agreed to a six-year, $68 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the White Sox, Astros, and Rangers were viewed as the final three teams that Abreu would choose from. 

The Mets sent scouts to watch Abreu last month, and a high ranking official told The Star-Ledger's Jorge Castillo that they were "impressed." However, other sources later told the Daily News that Sandy Alderson was not expected to pursue a free agent first baseman this winter. 

Paying almost $70 million on a player as risky as Abreu could end up being a flop for the White Sox. With that being said, I'm glad the Mets didn't completely overpay for him. Granted, fellow Cubans like Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes have found success in the MLB since their transition, and Abreu was, according to scouts, a better hitter than them, it would have been to much of a risk for a rebuilding team trying to find it's way again.

I'm hearing that the Mets will look internally for their 2014 first baseman, choosing from Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, Josh Satin, Wilmer Flores, and possibly even Daniel Murphy. To me, that is unacceptable, because the Mets are going to need to bring in proven talent. I'm talking about Justin Morneau, Kendrys Morales, those guys. For now, we'll just have to wait and see what Alderson's plan is, but I can already tell there is a chance we may be greatly disappointed. 

Angels claim Carson, Dodgers claim Baxter, Henn and Burke outrighted

The Angels have claimed Robert Carson off of waivers, and the Dodgers have done likewise with Mike Baxter. The Mets also announced that pitchers Sean Henn and Greg Burke have been outrighted off of the 40 man roster. The roster currently stands at 36.

Carson, 24, has had two stints with the Mets over the past couple seasons and has not been impressive, posting a combined 6.82 ERA in 31 relief appearances. The hard-throwing lefty spent most of the 2013 season the 51s, where he had a 4.06 ERA in 43 relief appearances. He was originally drafted by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2007 draft.

Baxter was selected off of waivers by the Mets from the Padres back in the summer of 2011. The 2012 campaign was easily his best, where he served as the team's fourth outfielder while hitting .263 with a .365 on-base percentage in 89 games. He didn't find the same success last year, hitting .189 with a .303 on-base percentage in 74 games with New York. 

Henn was signed to a minor league deal by the Mets in April 2013, and had a 3.38 ERA in 4 relief appearances. He spent most of the year in Las Vegas, where he had a 2.81 ERA in 52 relief appearances. 

Burke was signed as a free agent by the Mets in November 2012. He was expected to be a low-risk, potential moderate reward free agent, and he ended up disappointing. His 5.68 ERA in 32 big league appearances wasn't too impressive, and neither was his 4.55 ERA in 31 appearances with the 51s. 

Even though Carson showed promise, he was way too inefficient to be considered a long-term piece for this team. The left-handed specialist job was wide open, and it seemed that every time he was called upon he would disappoint. He isn't arbitration eligible until the 2016 season, so the Angels have a few years of team control under him. If he can find a way to work on his control, and make his fastball more effective, he could be a semi-decent pitcher in this game.

Baxter's 2013 campaign was a big setback in his career. He was strongly considered to be the team's 4th outfielder coming out of camp, but struggled early on, leading to an eventual demotion to the minor leagues. Despite his heroics in Johan Santana's no-hitter one year ago, he hasn't really done much for the Mets over the last few years, being a fringe player at best. The Dodgers will likely just store him away as outfield depth, and he'll continue to be a backup player for them.

As for Henn and Burke, both were brought in on low-risk deals, and did not really prove anything with the Mets. Henn was solid in Triple-A, and did somewhat well in his handful of appearances for the varsity club, but Burke on the other hand struggled in both levels. They'll likely start the 2014 season in Triple-A, and possibly be considered for a roster spot if they find success there.

The Mets will certainly be making more of these roster-cutting moves. They still need to add Jacob deGrom, Jeff Walters, Greg Peavey, Cory Vaughn, and Steven Matz to the 40 man roster to protect them from the Rule V draft. Also, the eight players on the disabled list, which include Matt Harvey and Bobby Parnell, will need to be added to the roster as well within five days after the World Series. 

Adam Rubin of ESPN New York recently suggested that the Mets could cut Jordany Valdespin, Scott Atchison, Zack Lutz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Andrew Brown (as well as Baxter, Carson, Henn and Burke) to make room on the roster. 

Stay away from Kemp and Ethier

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Dodgers will make outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp available in trade this off-season. 

The Dodgers currently have an excess of outfield depth, with Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig, and solid bench players such as Scott Van Slyke and Skip Schumaker. 

Kemp has had trouble staying on the field ever since his solid 2011 season where he finished second in the MVP voting. He has played in 179 games over the past two seasons, hitting .290 with 29 homers and 102 RBI in 739 plate appearances. The two-time All-Star is under contract through the 2019 season, and is still set to earn $128 million. 

He had shoulder surgery in early October, but is expected to be 100 percent by Spring Training. He has also been dealing with possible career threatening problems in his ankle, which doctors expect to continue to get worse. 

Ethier has been swarmed by trade rumors over the past year or so, as he is the most logical player for the Dodgers to get rid of. For the most part, he has been able to stay on the field. In 2013, he hit .272 with 12 homers and 52 RBI in 142 games for Los Angeles. As an 8 year veteran, he has 141 career home runs, along with 587 RBI, and a .288 batting average. The two-time All-Star will earn $71.5 million over the next four seasons.

Both players should NOT be looked at by the Mets this winter. Kemp has had so much trouble staying healthy over the past 2 seasons, and despite being a solid player when on the field, I just don't feel like it's a smart investment to bring him in. The Dodgers will still try to ask for a decent package of prospects for him, so the Mets should not even think about getting him.

As for Ethier, he may make a little more sense, if the Dodgers pay for most of his contract. I've never been a huge Ethier fan, so I definitely wouldn't overpay in terms of prospects. However, if the Dodgers are desperately trying to unload him and are willing to pay, let's say 80-85 percent of his contract, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mets land him. However, he would not be my first option, rather a backup player to look at if the bigger names like Shin-Shoo Choo and Nelson Cruz are scooped up. 

Could Grant Balfour be an option?

Pitcher Grant Balfour recently told Casey Pratt of Comcast SportsNet that he is unsure whether he will return to Oakland next season. Balfour also said that he'd like to win a World Series before considering retirement. 

The 10 year veteran had a 2.59 ERA in 65 relief appearances with the Athletics in 2013. He also racked up 38 saves, and posted a strong 10.3 K/9 rate in 62 2/3 innings. He is eligible for free agency when this season is over. 

Balfour has been pretty consistent over the last 4 seasons, posting a combined 2.47 ERA in 259 appearances with Oakland and Tampa Bay. He earned $4.5 million in 2013, and will likely earn a salary raise after his strong 2013 campaign.

He also has a track record of staying healthy, so even at age 35, the Mets could afford to give him a multiyear deal. I feel like he'd be a good fit with this team, but I'm not sure if he'll be the team's closer. Despite notching 38 saves for Oakland in 2013, if the club is looking long-term in 2014, I'd much rather have Bobby Parnell close out the games, and give Balfour the 8th inning duty. 

Now, I don't think the Mets will be spending a great deal of money to get bullpen help, but giving Balfour, let's say a 2 year/$10 million deal, wouldn't be a bad move. The Mets did do something similar with Frank Francisco a few years ago, giving him a 2 year/$12 million deal which ultimately turned into a big flop, but Balfour's history of success should give him an edge. 

Prospect Spotlight: Rafael Montero

Name: Rafael Montero

Age: 22

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 170 lbs

Drafted: Signed w/Mets in January 2011 as an international free agent

Acquired: Free agent

Throws: Right

Bats: Right

Estimated MLB debut: early-2014

Where does he currently stand in the minor leagues:

Montero made a huge leap through the organization in 2013, passing through Double-A and finishing up the season in Triple-A. With Double-A Binghamton, he had a 2.43 ERA in 11 starts, with a strong 9.7 K/9 ratio. Upon being promoted to the 51s, he continued his success, posting a 3.05 ERA in 16 starts. For a player that finished the 2012 season in A-ball, Montero made a name for himself last season, and is Major League ready.

What does he project to be:

He projects to be a solid number 3 pitcher, who is capable of striking out his fair share of opposing hitters. His small frame has made many wonder whether he'd be a better fit in the bullpen, but I personally believe he's able to handle the workload of going out there every fifth day, and delivering solid outings. 

Does he have a long-term role on the Mets?

This is the million dollar question. If the Mets want to acquire a few solid hitters this winter, they'll need to dangle Montero as well as other pitchers. If Montero does not get dealt this off-season, I can see him making the team out of camp in the spring. I understand that Alderson most likely does not want to put pressure on his young pitchers, but Montero is clearly Major-League ready, and with Matt Harvey being out the Mets will need someone who can fill those innings. 

Conclusion

Rafael Montero made a huge jump from Single-A to being Major-League ready in about a year. At 22 years old, he looks like he could be a keeper, but the old saying is "you gotta give a little, to get a little" and I know that Montero will be discussed in trade talks this winter. If they don't trade him away, I would be thrilled, because he looks like he can be a solid player in this game for a long time. 

Options for the Mets at shortstop

Shortstop was a major problem for the Mets in 2013, with Ruben Tejada injuring himself early on in the season, and backup Omar Quintanilla proving that he isn't anything more than a bench player. Besides first base, shortstop will likely be the biggest position to upgrade on for Sandy Alderson, and based on his recent comments about Tejada's work ethic, it sounds like he'll be acquiring an outside player sometime this winter. 

The players he should be interested in include: 

Starlin Castro --- Chicago Cubs /.245/.284/.347/ 10 HR/ 161 games.

Starlin Castro was considered a budding star in the league only a few years ago, but a rough 2013 season really diminished his value. He is still only 23 years old, and the Cubs will most likely be looking at a package of pitching prospects for him. I would easily give up someone like Rafael Montero and others to bring Castro to Queens. He is under a team friendly deal, and despite being known as a possible head case, he would be a huge upgrade over Tejada and Quintanilla, and when he's at his best he is arguably a top 5 shortstop in the game. Also, it is worth mentioning that he's on the market because the Cubs have a nice prospect by the name of Javier Baez who is the real deal, and almost major league ready. 

JJ Hardy --- Baltimore Orioles / .263/.306/.433/ 25 HR/ 159 games.

Hardy may be a backup option, but a good option nonetheless. I've always liked his power stroke, especially for a shortstop, and he is under a team friendly deal as well. If the Mets are looking for a shortstop with power, Hardy is one of the guys they should be looking at. The Orioles would probably give him up for some rotation help, which is exactly what the Mets have to offer.

Elvis Andrus --- Texas Rangers /.271/.328/.331/ 4 HR/ 156 games.

A few months ago, I supported the idea of bringing in Andrus because I liked his speed and defense. However, at this point, having looked at his contract details, I don't know if he would be the right option for the Mets. Texas will definitely be shopping him this winter with the emergence of top prospect Jurickson Profar, and the Mets may show interest, but I think the Mets could do better than him. 

Erick Aybar --- Los Angeles Angels /.271/.301/.382/ 6 HR/ 138 games.

Aybar has been relatively consistent throughout his 8 year career, and would give the Mets solid defense and decent speed. He would be a good leadoff hitter for the team, as he's a switch hitter. The Angels are reportedly going to trade Aybar and/or Howie Kendrick this winter, so he'll definitely be made available. Like the other teams on this list, the Angels are looking for pitching, so perhaps the Mets could dangle some of their lower-tiered pitching prospects to get Aybar.

Troy Tulowitzki --- Colorado Rockies /.312/.391/.540/ 25 HR/ 126 games.

Tulowitzki would be the ultimate pickup for the Mets this winter. I can understand why most people would be reluctant to acquire him, due to his health history and huge contract. However, I would imagine that Colorado would try to unload his contract this winter, and probably kick in some money, perhaps even half, to make a deal happen. Colorado needs major league ready players, so the Mets could offer a package around Rafael Montero, Daniel Murphy, and Dillon Gee. Not many shortstops are capable of hitting over 30 homers in a season while playing outstanding defense, so the Mets should certainly consider him.

Stephen Drew --- Boston Red Sox /.253/.333/.433/ 13 HR/ 124 games.

I've never been a huge Drew fan because of his injury problems, but if he stays healthy he could be a solid upgrade for New York. He has a history of being a great hitter, but hasn't shown that success over the last few seasons. I highly doubt the Red Sox will bring him back, since they have top prospect Xander Bogaraets ready to be called up next season. Drew can probably be had at a reasonable price, and I personally think he'll end up being the one the Mets choose to sign.

Johnny Peralta --- Detroit Tigers /.303/.358/.457/ 11 HR/ 107 games.

Peralta got himself into some big trouble when he was announced in the Biogenesis reports earlier in the season. He played really well up until his suspension, and I feel like he still has something left to offer. He doesn't have much of a power stroke anymore, and I wouldn't say his defense is anything above average, but I would gladly sign him to a one year deal and see if he can rebound himself. The problem is, I don't know if he'll settle for a one year deal, and I would imagine that other teams out there would be willing to give him a multiyear commitment. I do know one thing for sure though: the Tigers will NOT be resigning him, since they acquired young star-in-the-making Jose Iglesias. 

7 Mets to participate in AFL that starts tonight

The Arizona Fall League will begin tonight, and 7 Mets players will be playing in it. Those players are: Jeurys Familia, Chasen Bradford, Hansel Robles, Cory Satterwhite, Cam Maron, Aderlin Rodriguez, and Cory Vaughn. They will all play for the Scottsdale Scorpions, joining prospects from the Braves, Giants, Pirates, and Yankees. 

Jeurys Familia---  Mets/4.22 ERA/9 appearances/10.2 innings pitched

Familia missed the majority of the season with an elbow injury, and will look to prove himself in the Fall league. As a former top prospect, the 24 year old hurler's value is low, and the Mets will look to raise that value to use him as a bargaining chip this winter. If they do hold onto him, he could be a solid bullpen piece in 2014. 

Chasen Bradford--- Double-A Binghamton/0.71 ERA/20 appearances/25.1 innings pitched

As a 35th round draft choice, the Mets didn't have much of a plan with Bradford. He started the 2013 season with Single-A St. Lucie, where he had a 3.71 ERA in 30 relief appearances. Upon getting called up to Double-A, he was un-hittable, evident by his solid 0.71 ERA. At 24 years of age, the Mets could look to rush him to the big leagues by skipping Triple-A in 2014, and possibly making the team out of camp. 

Hansel Robles--- Single-A St. Lucie/3.72 ERA/16 appearances (15 starts)/84.2 innings pitched

Robles is more of a lower-tiered pitching prospect in the Mets' system, and he really needed to make a splash in the minors this year to catch up on developing. As a 23 year old who is still in Single-A, it is unknown whether he will remain or a starting pitcher, or start working out of the bullpen. I personally don't think that we will be seeing him in the Majors until around late-2015 or early 2016, and that is assuming he finds success in the minor leagues. 

Cody Satterwhite--- Single-A St. Lucie/2.78 ERA/16 appearances/22.2 innings pitched.

The Mets signed Satterwhite out of Independent ball earlier this year, and he did not disappoint. His 9.1 K/9 ratio showed promise that he could someday become an effective power reliever in this game. He is 26 years old, and still stuck in Single-A, but I can see him making a big leap in the system if he has a strong showing in the Fall league. 

Position Players

Cam Maron--- Single-A St. Lucie/.235/.327/.295/ 0 HR/ 84 games

Maron, like others in this article, was a late round draft choice, being selected by the Mets in the 34th round of the 2009 draft. He hit relatively well in the minors up until the 2013 season, but hasn't really showed any power to his bat. He is still only 22 years old, and the Mets are clearly being very careful with him. His 2013 season did not help his case at all, so he'll look to make a name for himself in the Fall league. However, regardless of success or not, he will still be blocked by several players in the organization, such as Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Plawecki and others. That said, I don't see him having a future with this organization.

Aderlin Rodriguez --- Single-A St. Lucie/.260/.295/.427/ 9 HR/ 62 games.

Despite being slowly moved through the organization, Rodriguez is still highly regarded by scouts and the front office. He is still only 21, and had a decent 2013 season that will probably earn him a Double-A promotion in 2014. His biggest season came in 2012, where he hit 24 homers with 83 RBI in 125 minor league games. Primarily a third baseman, Rodriguez won't have a future with this organization since he is blocked by superstar David Wright on the depth chart, but he could be a nice trade chip this winter. 

Cory Vaughn--- Double-A Binghamton/.267/.346/.424/ 10 HR/ 71 games.

Vaughn has been a name to watch for years now, because of his nice combination of power and speed. 2013 finally marked the year where he made the leap to Double-A, and for the most part he did not disappoint. At 24 years old, he needs to make a big leap ASAP to be considered a long-term piece for the Mets. Hopefully he has a strong showing in the Fall league, and is considered for a roster spot in 2014. Due to the Mets' lack of outfield depth at this current moment, I'd expect him to get a good opportunity to make the team.