Minaya set to meet with catchers
November 12, 2005
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Omar Minaya and two associates squeezed into a rental car Friday morning and departed the general managers' meetings. But they weren't headed home. They planned to wrap up an active week in fitting fashion.As they aggressively shopped Mike Cameron, the Mets planned to visit two free-agent catchers. Before seeing Bengie Molina in Yuma, Ariz., they set out to San Diego to spend time with Ramon Hernandez.
Meanwhile, the Mets planned to wait until early this coming week before extending an offer to free-agent closer Billy Wagner. The Mets realize that it will take a three-year deal worth between $9 million and $10 million per season to land Wagner, and their offer will reflect that realization, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.The Red Sox and Padres are among the clubs that expressed the most interest in Cameron, an official with an American League team said. A Red Sox swap would likely take longer, given the club's current lack of a GM, the free agency of centerfielder Johnny Damon and the probability that a Cameron deal would feature the acquisition of Manny Ramirez.The Padres have an excess of relievers, a Mets need, including righthanders Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka.Centerfield is a great need this offseason. The Red Sox, Cubs, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Padres, Mariners and Yankees are all in the market for centerfielders. Cameron spent 2005 as the Mets' rightfielder, moving to make room for Carlos Beltran, but he never hid the fact that he thinks of himself as a centerfielder. Cameron's season ended when he collided with Beltran on Aug. 11 and suffered multiple fractures in his face.Minaya, special assistant Tony Bernazard and assistant GM John Ricco spent Friday mostly on the catching position. Hernandez, 29, spent the past two seasons with the Padres after playing with the Athletics from 1999 to 2003. While with the Athletics, Hernandez earned a fan in pitching coach Rick Peterson, who now performs the same job with the Mets.Of Hernandez, Molina and Japan's Kenji Jojima, Hernandez appears to be the third option. But the Mets still thought it worthwhile to visit with Hernandez before heading on to Molina. Jojima will likely visit Shea Stadium within the next couple of weeks.The Mets met with Wagner in his Virginia home last week, and Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, is currently out of the country. The Mets and Phillies will likely duke it out for Wagner's services, as they are the two richest clubs bidding for the 34-year-old.While Wagner still ranks as the Mets' top bullpen target, Ramirez holds the same spot when it comes to an impact bat. With the Red Sox lacking a GM, however, team officials understand it will take some time to resolve Ramirez's future. In the meantime, the Mets have spoken with the Marlins about first baseman Carlos Delgado.
Source: http://www.newsday.com/
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Omar Minaya and two associates squeezed into a rental car Friday morning and departed the general managers' meetings. But they weren't headed home. They planned to wrap up an active week in fitting fashion.As they aggressively shopped Mike Cameron, the Mets planned to visit two free-agent catchers. Before seeing Bengie Molina in Yuma, Ariz., they set out to San Diego to spend time with Ramon Hernandez.
Meanwhile, the Mets planned to wait until early this coming week before extending an offer to free-agent closer Billy Wagner. The Mets realize that it will take a three-year deal worth between $9 million and $10 million per season to land Wagner, and their offer will reflect that realization, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.The Red Sox and Padres are among the clubs that expressed the most interest in Cameron, an official with an American League team said. A Red Sox swap would likely take longer, given the club's current lack of a GM, the free agency of centerfielder Johnny Damon and the probability that a Cameron deal would feature the acquisition of Manny Ramirez.The Padres have an excess of relievers, a Mets need, including righthanders Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka.Centerfield is a great need this offseason. The Red Sox, Cubs, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Padres, Mariners and Yankees are all in the market for centerfielders. Cameron spent 2005 as the Mets' rightfielder, moving to make room for Carlos Beltran, but he never hid the fact that he thinks of himself as a centerfielder. Cameron's season ended when he collided with Beltran on Aug. 11 and suffered multiple fractures in his face.Minaya, special assistant Tony Bernazard and assistant GM John Ricco spent Friday mostly on the catching position. Hernandez, 29, spent the past two seasons with the Padres after playing with the Athletics from 1999 to 2003. While with the Athletics, Hernandez earned a fan in pitching coach Rick Peterson, who now performs the same job with the Mets.Of Hernandez, Molina and Japan's Kenji Jojima, Hernandez appears to be the third option. But the Mets still thought it worthwhile to visit with Hernandez before heading on to Molina. Jojima will likely visit Shea Stadium within the next couple of weeks.The Mets met with Wagner in his Virginia home last week, and Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, is currently out of the country. The Mets and Phillies will likely duke it out for Wagner's services, as they are the two richest clubs bidding for the 34-year-old.While Wagner still ranks as the Mets' top bullpen target, Ramirez holds the same spot when it comes to an impact bat. With the Red Sox lacking a GM, however, team officials understand it will take some time to resolve Ramirez's future. In the meantime, the Mets have spoken with the Marlins about first baseman Carlos Delgado.
Source: http://www.newsday.com/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home