213 Miles From Shea

The Mets need a lot a lot for this upcoming season, and don't have a lot of money to spend on it. One of the key pieces they need is a Closer and possibly a set up man. Here is a quick update on the news surrounding pitchers the Mets have been connected to:

Matt Capps: Will Resign with the Twins, so not an option

Todd Coffey: Mets and Brewers have been connected in possible trade talks

Andrew Bailey: Nothing new on the Mets front, MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Red Sox have entered trade talks

Chad Quals: Mets have looked into the reliever

Dotel: Cardinals are pushing hard, and Dotel is interested. Reds and Brewers also entered into the discussion

The Mets price range is 8-10 million, which makes signing players like Frankie Rodriguez, Cordero, Lidge and Madson unlikely. We'll see how things break down today.

Today has been an oddly rough day.

Like all Mets fans, especially those who follow the team closely, we all had a feeling this day was going to come, so we had time to be prepared. Personally, I don’t think I was prepared. I didn’t realize today how much of an emotional attachment I had to Reyes in a Mets uniform.

Once I got beyond my befuddlement of, “Why am I depressed? Am I that crazy about the Mets? Should I see a counselor for my obvious Mets related problems”, I realized why I was upset.

Being a Mets fan for me has always been a personal journey. I have always have held that boyish, misguided dream that the Mets would have a dynasty in the NL East. In 2005 I was convinced it was coming. I saw the start of it in 2006. I convinced myself 2007 was just a blip. Then I convinced myself that 2008 was also just a blip. I blamed 2009 on injuries. And 2010. And 2011.

With Reyes gone now, and to another team in the division, it is now painfully obvious that we are knee deep in a rebuilding era. I’ve always found Reyes more fun to follow than Wright, so I came to the conclusion that part of the reason I’m down today, is as of now, I’m not sure what to look forward to with the Mets, which have always been something I’ve looked forward to.

In the end, I know this feeling will pass. Knowing myself, it will probably be sooner rather than later. My heart will convince myself that Tejada will bat .300, that Wright will hit 50 bombs, that Bay will be a savior and Murphy will be the MVP.

In all seriousness, I’m looking forward to Mets baseball. The Mets do have a lot of young promising arms in the system that I can’t wait to see. However, knowing Reyes is gone, and knowing those arms are at least a full season away (even 2013 seems early for most of them), this, right now, feels like a low point.

New York Daily News Cover:

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Last night, Jose Reyes and Miami Marlins agreed to a six year deal worth 106 million. Before last night, the Mets looked to be competitive as they it looked like it was going to be just the Mets and the Marlins with the Mets offering 5 years between 75 and 85 and the Marlins offering 6 years at about 90. The Marlins made it really simple, greatly increased their offer, and now they have Reyes.

At this point, I don't blame either party.

I don't blame Reyes because that is a crazy amount of money. Loyalty is one thing, but for the well being of himself and his family, I understand.

I don't blame the Mets because as much as I love Reyes on our team, that would shut down our ability to do anything in any other area around this club.

There are many reasons that this, although a completely logical move by both the Mets and Reyes (but not the Marlins), still hurts. Reyes is almost like a friend. Before he went to Miami, he was the longest tenured Mets on the team. He was also, more so than Wright, in my opinion, an icon of how the Mets play small ball baseball by getting hits and pushing across the runs.

It always sucks when you know the people you think are loyal to a team have a price, and that the price it costs is so understandable that if the roles were reversed you would leave too. To me that's what sucks, that almost all of us in the same circumstance of being asked to stay or having an opportunity to leave for a guaranteed 30 million more would also go.

It just sucks that it actually happened.

To Jose, I wish you the best of luck in Miami.

For the Mets, if there is a silver lining here, at least this happened at the start of the Winter Meetings, so we have lots of time this winter to develop a team.

The Jose Reyes story to this point has changed a little today.

Early this morning, it looked like just the Mets and Marlins were in contention for Jose Reyes, with the Mets saying they would not guarantee more than 5 years and 80 million for the short stop.

Then. this afternoon, it was announced that the Brewers, who were thought to be out of the running, set up a meeting with Reyes's agents during the winter meetings.

However the more meaningful new news has come out tonight:

According to Enrique Rosa, the Marlins have offered Reyes a contract for 106 million over 6 years, plus a 22 million option for a seventh (and a 5 million buyout).

This, of course, is over the Mets thought to be offer in terms of years and money. However there is something else. There is no word yet about a no trade clause. The Mets would probably include one, as many of our free agent signings in the last half a decade have them. However, the Marlins have been not including them on their offers this year, which brings out shades of what they normally do, which is to win right now and then trade all of the pieces away and rebuild.

So the Marlins have the years and money in their side of the court, and the Mets have the security of being in New York and not being traded in theirs. To be fair, since I'm now including intangibles, the Marlins also have just signed a new closer and are looking to make more moves, so they have that in their court as well.

Well, I'm nervous now. And I'm also nervous that I'm nervous.

7:40 Update:

The Mets have essentially announced that barring a change of heart from Reyes, they are now out of the running for the short stop. I'll hold comments and further reporting until this is official (Alderson to speak later tonight)

While a lot of the attention over the next few days will be rightfully on Jose Reyes, this could be a very busy few days for the Mets bullpen. MLB Trade Rumors is reporting there has already been a lot of activity with teams trying to go bargain hunting. Extrapolating that statement, bargain hunting a lot of times ends up in the pen, and that is an area the Mets need at least two new pitchers, including a closer.

The following players are pitchers that the Mets have been linked to:

– Luis Ayala

– Octavio Dotel

– Andrew Bailey

– Jon Rauch

– Frank Francisco

– Brad Lidge

– Matt Capps

Let's break down that list:

Ayala and Dotel are both being pursued as 8th inning guys, and they both have garnered a lot of attention. Including the Mets, Ayala has 6 teams hunting him and Dotel has 4 teams. Both players would be nice additions to the Mets pen. Dotel is more reliable, and is stikeout machine. If I had to pick a pitcher, I would pick Dotel. If Ayala's name sounds familiar to you, well you follow the Mets. Luis was with the Nationals and then also spent some time with the Mets where he was not a good option to come into the game (5.50 ERA). Last year he had a strong campaign with the Yankees with a 2.20 ERA.

The next player on the list is the only one who is not a free agent. The Mets would love to trade for Bailey as a closer, as he would be a better option than any of the closers on the market. However, a trade is fairly unlikely. If the Mets were to spend on a closer, it would be on Frank Francisco. The remaining options would be bargain closers where the Mets would be getting better talent than what they currently have on their team, and would also open up some money for other areas of the team.

Hopefully the Mets make a move in the bullpen area this week at the Winter Meetings. This could be arguably the weakest area of this team.

The Marlins made one of the first major free agent signings of the off season this week by signing Heath Bell to a three year deal for about 27 million. This deal shows a few things:

1) The Marlins are Serious

2) The Marlins aren't done.

This signing shows how serious the Marlins are because of the length and money of the deal. That is a risky deal! The only way that makes logical sense is if you are going to surround Bell with other key pieces in order to win games. The Marlins already have a few big bats, probably only need one more, and they could use another starter. By going after Bell, they are starting to set themselves up for a big change in their starting players (and in my mind brings me back to the 05 and 06 Mets where they brought in Beltran, Pedro, Wagner and Delgado).

So what is next?

All signs point to the Mets and Marlins being in a the final run down for Reyes. It is unclear when the signing will happen, if Reyes wants to leave New York, if another team gets involved, and how far each team is willing to go. THe Marlins seemed enamored by Reyes. To Reyes, it seems like the Marlins are that risky decision that seems fun but not sure yet if it's right.

Here's the kicker. The Marlins need another bat, and they need it at 3B. If they signed Aramis Ramirez, they would achieve the same goal. Ramirez is not the same player as Reyes at all, but they would get another bat, and they wouldn't have to move Hanely. This is, of course, the lesser option since the Marlins are looking for a lead off hitter, something that Reyes is, and Aramis is clearly not.

Finally, the Marlins are trying to round of their rotation with another big star, Buehrle. The obstacle doesn't seem to be the money, for any of these players, (which honestly still shocks me, where we these Marlins the last several years) but rather is the no-trade clause, which goes back to this win now scenario. If they sign him without that clause, then they can win, and do a firesale, like they always seem to do. Obviously, signing a free agent these days without that clause is quite tricky.

It should be an interesting Winter Meetings with the Marlins trying to change their look.

A lot has gone on today in the World of baseball, let's take a look:

The Red Sox hire Bobby Valentine to be their Manager

I'll miss Bobby V in the booth on ESPN. It was nice for a change having a pro Mets voice up there. For the Red Sox, right now, after a collapse, this is the type of manager they need right now. He has the ability to navigate big personalities and he has the ability deal with the media.

The Phillies signed Pat Misch

I always had high hopes for Misch with the Mets, but he never really fully made it. For the Mets, its probably good that he's not around to fall back on.

Nick Evans signs with the Pirates

See Previous Post dedicated to Evans

Royals to Sign Broxton

He would have been interesting to see in a Mets uniform, but a more reliable option would probably work better with the Mets.

Teams that seem to be in on Albert Pujols now: Cardinals, Cubs, Marlins

Teams that seem to be on Fielder: Cubs, Marlins, Mariners

Teams in on Dotel: Mets, Reds, Tigers, Cardinals

Nick Evans is gone. Off to Pittsburgh.

Evans was the type of player who always seemed always “just about ready” who always seemed like a go to option from the minors to fill in a hole in the majors.

The problem was there was always a player who seemed more attractive, more interesting than Evans. A player we wanted to see more of, when compared to Evans. So, constantly in his Mets career, Evans would be called up after a good minor league campaign, and then just ride the bench at the Major League level.

Specifically, there were a ton of 1B-OF players in the Mets farm system. Evans came up in the same time of Murphy, Duda, and Captain Kirk. Murphy's bat got him a sorta starting job, even if it was almost at a different position every day. Duda's upside may keep him around as a starter next year and who really knows what the future holds for Kirk. It's a very crowded picture for Evans.

In the end, Evans was a good at what we needed him to be good at, but wasn't good enough to start, or change the Mets. I hope nothing but the best for Evans as he joins the Pirates on a minor league deal. According to sources in the know, the Mets were in on bringing Evans back but the Pirates really wanted him.

So what about the Mets?

I'm actually really happy this happened for Nick. He did not have a future with the Mets, and maybe he will have one with the Pirates. As for the Mets, they needed to move on from Evans and take a risk on another player in the system, to see if he can be a surprise.

As stated before, part of the problem for Evans in the Mets system is that there were so many “Nick Evans” 1B-OF type players. Hopefully one of them will step up and overtake Evans place, or maybe we find one on the market. Change is good, and maybe we need change.

The internet is good at a lot of things, and one area where the internet has excelled is blending different cultural memes into ridiculous jokes and extrapolations. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard about the UC Davis protesters who were were pepper sprayed at point blank range during an act of civil disobedience. If you don't know, students at UC Davis were practicing their right to peaceful protest in an act of civil disobedience by sitting on the ground and linking arms. The police force decided that the best way to deal with the protesters was to spray pepper spray at the students at point blank range.

As one would imagine, there has been a lot of fallout from the event, specifically about appropriate force and Police Brutality. The internet joins in the conversation because of how cultural events, such as a cop casually spraying a dangerous substance on peaceful protester, become much more. Pepper Spraying Cop has turned into a meme where people essentially show how ridiculous the actions of the officer was by photoshopping him into other famous images of history. Thus one cultural event gets combined with another cultural event.

Which leads us to this:

That would be the cop, Pepper Spraying Buckner, thus not making the play and helping the Mets get to game 7. (Image from Pepper Spraying Cop Tumblr, linked to earlier)