How do you fix the New York Mets? David Wright says the team needs a facelift, but is the situation really that troublesome?
In 2008, the Mets finished one game behind the Brewers in the wild card chase, three games behind the World Series champion Phillies in the NL East. They've got some excellent position players, they've got Johan Santana, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey anchoring the rotation. True, Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez are free agents, so they'll need to add at least one starter.
But the real problem, obviously, is the bullpen. Billy Wagner is out for the season, and his Mets career is probably over, so GM Omar Minaya has to add a closer. Luckily for him there are some options out there.
If the Mets decide Francisco Rodriguez is too costly, they could go for Brian Fuentes, or Trevor Hoffman, or heck, why not take a stab at Kerry Wood?
They might even be able to pry J.J. Putz away from the rebuilding Mariners in a trade.
Adding a top-notch closer would, as Jerry Manuel told the New York Times, "put everybody in their normal places." Meaning the bullpen might not need much more tweaking after that.
So cheer up Mets fans, the situation really isn't as bad as you think it is.
PAPI SAYS MANNY HAD TO GO
David Ortiz shared some candid views on Manny Ramirez in an interview on Boston radio station WEEI-850 AM. Thanks to Ian Browne of MLB.com, we can read about it here.
While Ortiz admitted that the Red Sox "probably" would've won the World Series had Ramirez stayed in Boston, he also said it was time for Manny to go.
"He wasn't happy here, and everybody knows that," Ortiz said. "When the relationship gets to that point, you have to make a move just like we did."
Ortiz also said he counseled Ramirez to open up more to the media, arguing that the slugger's unwillingness to talk was a reason he had never won an MVP award.
As far as Manny's next destination, it appears the Dodgers are still the only team to express an interest at this point, and agent Scott Boras has laughed at L.A.'s initial offers.
One thing we do know is this … the Nationals don't want him.
And neither do the Marlins.
Asked about cyberspace rumors that the Marlins are planning to make a run at free-agent left fielder Manny Ramirez, Beinfest laughed.
"Makes for good Internet stuff, I guess,'' he said.
ANYONE WANT TO RENT A 300-GAME WINNER?
It looks like Randy Johnson might not be going for his 300th career victory as a member of the Diamondbacks. The Big Unit was 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA last season. Not great by his standards, for sure, but he did manage 184 innings.
According to the East Valley Tribune, Johnson is looking for a 1-year $10 million deal. But the D-backs have budgeted only $3-$5 million. Something's gotta give.
The D-backs, for their part, seem content to let Johnson walk.
"I think we're comfortable," Byrnes said. "There are a lot of ways to solve that. If Yusmiero Petit ends up as the leading candidate" for the final spot in the starting rotation, "we could see that."
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Pretty cool gif animation of him throwing last night.