Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Twins agree to deal Santana to Mets
The Twins and Mets have agreed to a deal that would send two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana to New York in exchange for four prospects, an MLB official confirmed on Tuesday.
The deal is contingent on the Mets and Santana reaching an agreement on a six- or seven-year contract extension. Indications are that Santana is seeking a deal worth close to $150 million. The Mets and Santana have until 4 p.m. CT Friday to reach an agreement, a baseball official told The Associated Press, also on condition of anonymity.
If an agreement is reached between the two sides, Santana is expected to waive his no-trade clause. The left-hander must also pass a physical to finalize the deal.
The four prospects that the Twins would receive in the deal are outfielder Carlos Gomez and right-handed pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey.
One notable name that was not included in the deal was the Mets' top prospect, outfielder Fernando Martinez. Earlier reports had been that the Twins were asking for Martinez in order to complete the deal.
Notable Mets trades
Since their inception in 1962, the Mets have made numerous trades, dealing the likes of Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver, while acquiring legends like Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza. April 5, 1972: Acquired Rusty Staub from the Expos for Ken Singleton, Tim Foli and Mike Jorgensen.
Staub's bat and extraordinary starting pitching had the Mets in first place on June 16 that year. A broken bone in his hand cost Staub three months and the Mets 15 games in the standings. But the following season, Staub was a critical figure in the Mets' improbable "Ya Gotta Believe" rush to the World Series.
June 15, 1977: Traded Tom Seaver to the Reds for Steve Henderson, Doug Flynn, Pat Zachry and Dan Norman. The worst trade the Mets ever made, period. It was made for all the wrong reasons and signaled the beginning of seven seasons of dreadful baseball.
Feb. 10, 1982: Acquired George Foster from the Reds for Alex Trevino, Jim Kern and Greg Harris. Without the other cogs of the Big Red Machine around him, Foster was merely a shell of the run producer he had been in Cincinnati. By the time the Mets reached the World Series in 1986, he had been released mostly because of comments he had made. But he had already lost his job as a regular left fielder.
June 15, 1983: Acquired Keith Hernandez from the Cardinals for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. No trade the Mets have made has been a greater benefit to the franchise. The team began to change in the second half of 1983, and by the end of 1984, the Mets were a legitimate contender. Hernandez provided savvy, energy, a Gold Glove and a bat no opponent wanted to see with a runner on second base in a tight game. The first six years of a seven-season sequence of success coincided with his Mets tour.
December 10, 1984: Acquired Gary Carter from the Expos for Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winnigham and Floyd Youmans. Carter's right-handed run production and catching made the Mets a team of dominating talent. Their presence in the 1986 World Series and 1988 National League Championship Series are linked directly to the influence of Carter, Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.
July 31, 1989: Acquired Frank Viola from the Twins for Rick Aguilera, Kevin Tapani, David West, Tim Drummond and Jack Savage. An injury to Gooden and the Mets' desperate need to return to the postseason after their disappointing loss in the '88 playoffs prompted the trade for Viola who produced a 38-32 record in 82 starts in 2 1/2 seasons with the Mets. He never pitched in the postseason with New York.
December 11, 1991: Acquired Bret Saberhagen and Bill Pecota from the Royals for Gregg Jefferies, Kevin McReynolds and Keith Miller.
Saberhagen had his moments with the Mets, some of them embarrassing, none in the postseason. His produced more victories (14) than walks (13) in 24 starts during the strike-shortened 1994 season.
May 22, 1998: Acquired Mike Piazza from the Marlins for Preston Wilson, Geoff Goetz and Ed Yarnell. Piazza's bat made the Mets' batting order whole. With him hitting 110 home runs and driving in 348 runs in 1998-2000, the Mets twice reached the postseason and barely missed in 1998.
Nov. 24, 2005: Acquired Carlos Delgado from the Marlins for Grant Psomas, Mike Jacobs and Yusmeiro Petit. Delgado's left-handed power and strong April prompted opponents to pitch to Carlos Beltran and changed the dynamic of the Mets order. Delgado might have been the MVP of the Mets' '06 postseason -- had it continued.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Mets invite Valentin to return in spring
Already stocked with second basemen, the Mets invited veteran switch-hitter Jose Valentin to Spring Training in hopes that the 38-year-old free agent can provide some roster flexibility and experience after he fully recovers from September surgery on his knee.
Mets avoid arbitration with righty Heilman
Aaron Heilman, who earned $453,000 last year, was one of six Mets players in position to exchange arbitration figures with the club Friday. He is the only one who agreed to a contract.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Mets name Nieto first-base coach
The first-base coaching box at Shea Stadium will no longer need to contain Rickey Henderson's flair. The Mets on Monday named Tom Nieto to Henderson's old post.
The Mets on Monday named Tom Nieto to Henderson's old post, reaffirming their emphasis on defense and completing a core coaching staff that otherwise remains unchanged.
Nieto, 47, had spent the past three seasons as the team's catching instructor.
His playing career lasted for only parts of seven seasons, and produced a .205 average and five home runs. Serving primarily as a backup catcher, Nieto won a World Series title with the Twins in 1987 and a National League pennant two years earlier with the Cardinals.
Former pitcher Don Cardwell dies at 72
Don Cardwell, who pitched a no-hitter and helped the New York Mets win the 1969 World Series, died Monday. He was 72.
Cardwell died Monday morning, said Richard Puryear, a spokesman for Salem Funerals & Cremations. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Cardwell's friends said he had been struggling with his health lately.
"We need more Don Cardwell's in the world," said Junie Michael, who worked with Cardwell selling cars for more than 35 years. "I just can't say enough about what a positive influence he was on our community.
"I've never met a better guy in my whole life," Michael added.
Cardwell pitched for five Major League teams from 1957-70. He finished 102-138 with a 3.92 ERA and 1,211 strikeouts. He threw 17 shutouts, earned seven saves -- and hit 15 home runs.
The right-hander was 8-10 with a 3.01 ERA for the Miracle Mets in '69. He pitched in 30 games, making 21 starts.