LOL!

He'll fit right in.

I can't say that this is going to be a bad idea by default, but it makes me very very very nervous.

Don't hassle the Hoff!

But he still managed 30 saves last season after four consecutive seasons of 40-plus saves. As the all-time saves leader, there is little doubt that he can handle the pressure of playing in New York.

I'm having a psychic vision... from sometime next summer... 41-year-old pitcher declines significantly... articles in New York papers about how he can't handle the pressure of playing in New York... becomes accepted fact...

As long as Hoffman isn't the best reliever brought in by the Mets, I'd have no issues whatsoever with him being signed to "close". He still does a very good job of saving games (30/34 last season) and his peripherals were pretty solid. He won't cost the Mets a draft pick because the Padres aren't going to offer him arbitration and he'll be relatively cheap.

The key about signing Hoffman is acquiring enough quality arms that he's used correctly. He's still a pretty good reliever. Would you rather have him, Juan Cruz, and maybe someone like Kyle Farnsworth or spend all that money on K-Rod?

Would you rather have him, Juan Cruz, and maybe someone like Kyle Farnsworth or spend all that money on K-Rod?

I hear there's a great falafel stand outside the stadium.

Has Hoffman ruled out the American League? If K-Rod leaves Anaheim, that would seem to be a reasonable place for him -- a team comparable to the Mets, in an environment that has its own kind of pressure but one that's significantly different from tabloid-driven New York.

Would you rather have him, Juan Cruz, and maybe someone like Kyle Farnsworth or spend all that money on K-Rod?

Definitely the first scenario. The Dbacks would get the Mets first round pick.

bob howry seems like a perfect fit for the mets bullpen, he is a free agent why not sign him

I would rather spend $20 million a year on K-Rod if the alternative was adding Kyle Farnsworth in any capacity.

Definitely the first scenario. The Dbacks would get the Mets first round pick.

Unlikely as the Mets are almost certainly going to sign a starting pitcher who is going to cost them their first round pick anyway. They'd get the Mets second round pick at best, and possibly their 3rd round pick. Either way, the Mets are almost certainly going to give up their first round pick in the 2009 draft and I don't think they are particularly concerned about who gets their pick. The Mets are probably going to get 2 picks for Perez so that does help in that regard.

As an aside, is anyone else surprised that Ayala is a Type-B free agent? Before I knew that, I was ambivalent about him coming back but now I hope he goes.

Edit: Man, I didn't realize just how bad Farnsworth was last season. Talk about a million dollar arm and a ten-cent head. Still, my point remains that the Mets could easily get 3 quality relievers for what K-Rod will cost them.

The thought of the Mets adding another changeup artist to their arson squad makes me want to jump out the window but:

1. I work on the third floor and

2. Would probably just break both legs and be forced to watch the changeups fly out of Citi and everywhere else.

the Mets’ discussions seem to be leading them away from the top candidates and instead toward the possibility of signing San Diego’s Trevor Hoffman and acquiring a set-up man such as Colorado’s just-acquired Huston Street in a trade.

Translation: At a recent meeting of Mets' front office personnel, one flunky was directed by GM Omar Minaya to leak a rumor at an opportune time that the Mets were "leaning" away from signing either K-Rod or Fuentes and considering some other option -- Kerry Wood, Trevor Hoffman, Hoyt Wilhelm. The point was to fool . . . well, no one. Maybe some fans on some web site somewhere. But the agents for K-Rod and Fuentes just giggled at the playing of the game, standard fare.

Come on, guys. This is just a feint. The game hasn't changed. It's played every year just this way. The Mets are just sending the message that they don't HAVE to sign one of the Big Two. But they will. We know they will.

Calm down, Benji.

I will continue to point out that with ballclubs being run by folks with actual financial backgrounds NOBODY is going to rush into a deal. There is no need.

Every financial analyst worth a d#mn and every economist breathing is talking about the price deflation in the global market. A ballclub would have to be run by Gabe Paul to think its immune.

Which is why CC should jump on that deal if it exists. Because the news the next few months will continue to be grim.

I outlined everything in the Lounge weeks back at the beginning. So I am no "Paulson come lately". I don't know it all by any stetch but as a child of the Depression and a finance/econ nerd it doesn't take a slide rule to figure out this pain will be felt everywhere.

Clubs will and should exploit the situation so that in 3 years they will have a great player at a great price.

Hoffman? Omar could have had two years of Jeremy Affeld for the likely cost of one season of Hoffman.

Come on, guys. This is just a feint. The game hasn't changed. It's played every year just this way. The Mets are just sending the message that they don't HAVE to sign one of the Big Two. But they will. We know they will.

I would feel a little better if this weren't the same front office that is considering adding Raul Ibanez to the OF.

Going after Hoffman as the prize bullpen acquisition would be terribly disappointing. It would be like considering dining options between Peter Luger's, Babbo, or Per Se - and then deciding that we're going to eat out at McDonald's ("But then we'll be able to afford *two* Big Macs!"). Ugh.

In other news, yes, I am falling in love with Dillon Gee.

I outlined everything in the Lounge weeks back at the beginning. So I am no "Paulson come lately". I don't know it all by any stetch but as a child of the Depression and a finance/econ nerd it doesn't take a slide rule to figure out this pain will be felt everywhere.

Clubs will and should exploit the situation so that in 3 years they will have a great player at a great price.

But didn't the depression last 10-12 years? If it's going to be that bad, why would having CC at $24 million a year be a "great price" in 3 years?

Unlikely as the Mets are almost certainly going to sign a starting pitcher who is going to cost them their first round pick anyway.

Interesting scenario...which brings up a question I can't answer, so I'll post it here and hope you can answer it for me. What happens if a team signs 3 Type A free agents from 3 different teams in the same season? They only have 1 first round draft pick. How are the other teams compensated for the free agent signings?

Edit: By saying "I can't answer" I actually mean I don't know where to find the answer. Thanks!

Interesting scenario...which brings up a question I can't answer, so I'll post it here and hope you can answer it for me. What happens if a team signs 3 Type A free agents from 3 different teams in the same season? They only have 1 first round draft pick. How are the other teams compensated for the free agent signings?

The team who lost the highest ranked player would get the other team's first round pick. The team who lost the second highest ranked player would get the other team's second round pick. Etc. etc.

Joe:

It won't be a 'great Depression The Sequel'. But there will be a tremendous correction in the market that at minimum will last through most of 2009.

A ballclub would be wise to use that as the backdrop in any discussions on contracts.

Eric: Thank you! That's what I thought would happen, however, who determines who's higher on the list? Let's say a team signs both C.C. Sabathia and Mark Texeira...which one is higher? As a GM, I would feel screwed if you signed one on my type A free agents and I get your 3rd round pick in return, using the previous example.