DANA POINT, Calif. – The Mets and Tampa Bay have had preliminary discussions about the Rays’ pitching depth, notably Nos. 4 and 5 starters Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson.
The Rays do not believe the Mets have the pieces necessary to pry one of the four starters projected to front Tampa’s rotation in 2009: Scott Kazmir (remember him, Mets?), James Shields, Matt Garza and David Price.
But Tampa is blessed with depth in Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38) and Jackson (14-11, 4.42), plus Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot. They have let the Mets know there might be a potential for a deal among that group.
Tampa continues to have interest in Aaron Heilman, but not to the extent it had in the past, in part because the Rays’ belief that Heilman can be transitioned to the rotation has dwindled. Thus, the Mets would have to surrender more to complete a deal.
The Mets have expressed minor interest in Raul Ibanez. For now, however, they believe the only way he is truly viable is if they trade Carlos Delgado or Ryan Church.
Ibanez is a lefty hitter, and the Mets – as currently constructed – are more interested in adding a supplementary righty bat to complement Church and Daniel Murphy.
Met officials also continue to downplay the likelihood of playing on the very available Javier Vazquez. GM Omar Minaya had Vazquez when he was the Expos GM. He likes Vazquez, but not as much he once did.
Plus, the Mets would expect Chicago to take a bad contract, probably that of Luis Castillo, back to facilitate a deal. White Sox GM Kenny Williams refused to discuss Vazquez’s availability. But he did say he is committed to youth.
In a strange quirk, Willie Randolph could end up a serious candidate for the open Seattle managing job. New Mariner GM Jack Zduriencik just recently left his post as special assistant to the GM in Milwaukee. And Zduriencik sat in on Randolph’s job interview last month for the Brewer opening.
Thus, Zduriencik does not have to bring in Randolph during initial interviews for the Seattle position, but can nevertheless weigh the candidates he does summon against Randolph.
It also is possible Zduriencik could still reach out for Bobby Valentine. He was the Mets’ farm director when Valentine was the Triple-A manager, and their relationship is said to be solid.
Plus, there is some feeling in the Seattle hierarchy that someone with stature is needed to manage the Mariners’ marquee player, Ichiro Suzuki. Valentine is believed to have a favorable relationship with Ichiro.
A.J. Burnett told the Blue Jays yesterday that he was opting out of the final two years and $24 million of his contract. However, Burnett’s agents said Toronto was still very much a player for the righty. And Blue Jay officials think that is more than just agent speak to appease them.
The Toronto executives think Burnett had to go out and see what his true value was on the open market, and if a team such as the Yanks completely blows him away with an offer, so be it.
Toronto is willing to offer a four-year deal in the $56 million range to retain Burnett, and believes that if other bids are in the same vicinity Burnett would favor returning.