LAS VEGAS – The Mets have become expert at playing rope-a-dope when it comes to obtaining big names. They have learned to like the underdog role.
They were supposed to have no chance at Carlos Beltran, then, boom!, he came to them in January. Same story last season with Johan Santana.
For much of this offseason, they made it sound as if they might have to scrimp when it came to a closer and they wound up going to the top of the food chain with Francisco Rodriguez.
So I am not so quick to dismiss their chances to land Derek Lowe. Right now, the Mets are making it sound as if they have no shot at Lowe because of his expected $15 million-plus annual payday. The Mets are leaning more toward retaining Oliver Perez (expected payday: three years at $39 million) or using Randy Wolf as a fallback position.
But Lowe’s market is not assured. The Yankees were nearing an agreement with A.J. Burnett, which would knock them out of the Lowe derby. The Braves, Phillies and Red Sox also have seemed to waver on his asking price.
It is possible Lowe’s price could fall just enough for the Mets to become active participants. I would be positive that when Mets officials are talking to Scott Boras about Perez that they also are keeping him aware Lowe is of interest, as well.
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The Dodgers have still received no counter-offer to their initial two-year, $45 million offer to Manny Ramirez and until they do, one team official said, they will not be making another bid. The Dodgers want to make sure there really is a market for the slugger and they are not simply bidding against themselves.
Los Angeles also intends to non-tender closer Takashi Saito. Right now, they are considering Jonathan Broxton their closer, with James McDonald and Hong-Chih Kuo as secondary options. But it is possible at some point later this offseason that the Dodgers could play for Trevor Hoffman and move Broxton back into the eighth inning.
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The Dodgers are one of four teams with the A’s, Blue Jays and Royals continuing to push for Rafael Furcal. The market is believed to be at least $10 million to $12 million annually for at least three years, possibly four. The Blue Jays have said they will not go four years, and the Dodgers are even wavering on three. The A’s remain the frontrunners.
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The Nationals have made a seven-year, $140 million bid for Mark Teixeira and signaled that they could go higher.
However, Washington has put secondary plans into motion. If they fail to land Teixeira, the Nationals will ramp up efforts to land Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson.
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For most of this offseason the Mariners were asking the Mets for Jonathan Niese in exchange for J.J. Putz, and the Mets said they would not do that under any scenario.
Aaron Heilman was part of the Putz deal. The Mets were surprised that more than a dozen teams asked about Heilman. They talked often about Heilman with Colorado, at first in a Huston Street package then later for other items. They also spoke regularly with the Cubs, but not in deals for Jason Marquis.