Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Ben Sheets

Garland Might be Most Realistic Option

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

The amazing part of this offseason is that, as slow as the transactions have come, it has flown by quickly. Pitchers and catchers are right around the corner, and baseball is very near. I suspect many of the lingering free agents will start signing quickly, as was evidence yesterday with Doug Davis and Joel Pineiro […]

Molina Rejection Is Windfall Income

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Tremendous news last night, as Bengie Molina rejected the Mets’ one-year, $5 million offer and returned to the San Francisco Giants. This was hailed by many as a victory for Mets fans who are sabermetrically-inclined, and it is, to an extent- Molina’s negatives include such things as poor defensive metrics and a putrid on-base percentage. […]

How About Pineiro and Sheets?

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Bengie Molina is gone and, according to SI’s Jon Heyman, the Mets are “unenthused” about Yorvit Torrealba or Rod Barajas. It’s quite possible that we see a Josh Thole/Henry Blanco tandem this season. Count me surprised, but Bengie Molina is not going to break the 2010 season. Another rumor that came out was that Carlos […]

Molina Rejects Mets Again, Time to Focus on Arms

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

The Mets courtship of Bengie Molina has hit the ridiculous stage. Buster Olney just reported that Molina turned down the Mets most recent offer, and now the Seattle Mariners might be the catcher’s likely destination. All winter we have reported a mutual interest between the Mets and Molina. The problem is each side has a […]

Listen: Sunday Hot Stove on NYBD Radio

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Howard joined me tonight to talk about the latest on the hot stove. We kicked it off talking about the “small” possibility of Johnny Damon returning to the Bronx, and what that means for the Yankees lineup. Can Jorge Posada continue to produce even entering his age 38 season? We give you why that might […]

Mets Should Move Quickly to Bolster Pitching

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

With Jason Bay in the fold, the Mets certainly seem to have enough offense on hand to get the job done. If Carlos Delgado comes back healthy, and the Mets can work something out, it’s a bonus. Yet, that starting staff behind Johan Santana – John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez – is clearly […]

Rumor Mill: Delgado, Molina, and Starting Pitching

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Spoke to Joe Demayo last night and we have some Mets nuggets for the rumor mill: - If Carlos Delgado doesn’t get reinjured and shows solid mobility the Mets will resign him. The feeling is mutual since he prefers to play first base instead of being a full time DH. - Many feel it’s still […]

The MLBTR Mets

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Tim Dierkes has a fresh post up on MLBTradeRumors.com that is worth pondering (full disclosure- I also write at MLBTR). He predicts where the remaining 25 free agents on his lost of 50 Top Free Agents will end up- and no fewer than four of the 25 end up in Queens- John Smoltz, Carlos Delgado, […]

Mets Should Try to Acquire Duke to Bolster Staff

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

With Jason Bay finally in the fold, the Mets need to make a move to bolster their starting staff. Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Jon Niese are presently their top five. The club, in optimistic tones, feels this group could do the job in 2010. Perhaps that’s the case, but the […]

For Mets, What’s Next?- What I Would Do

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

So Jason Bay, pending physical, will play left field and bat fifth for the Mets in 2010. I outlined the reasons why I think this is a good deal earlier today. What’s next for the Mets? Probably announcing the Bengie Molina deal, however I am sure we will start to hear more rumblings after the […]

Is Pedro the Best Option for Mets Rotation?

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Pedro Martinez back in Queens? Is that heresy? Maybe not according to Jayson Stark earlier today. I will add another nugget to ponder: Is Pedro the best “value” pick for the Mets starting rotation? So far we have seen Randy Wolf sign for 3 years/$30 million and Jason Marquis 2 year/$15 million. They had a […]

Hughes Innings Limits and the Rotation

Friday, December 18th, 2009

During the Curtis Granderson press conference Brian Cashman discussed Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. It appears that Chamberlain will finally have “no restrictions” on his innings come this season. Whether that was the cause for his inconsistent pitching remains to be seen. Phil Hughes, however, will be subjected to an innings limit. What is reasonable […]

Yanks Again Discussing Derek Lowe With Atlanta

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Our main Yankees source down in Tampa informed us on Monday night the Yanks have been in discussions with Atlanta regarding Derek Lowe. If you remember we reported that Atlanta contacted Brian Cashman in late November to let him know Lowe was available. As has been recently reported over the past month, the Braves are […]

Halladay Still Yanks Best Option

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

We’re now one day away from the start of the winter meetings and as we all know, there will be much talk regarding the status of Roy Halladay. Many in the Yankees organization believe that it is absolutely imperative for Cashman to obtain Halladay, since it will not only strengthen the starting rotation, but also […]

Rumor Mill: Lowe, Halladay, Bedard, Sheets, Lackey, Pen

Friday, November 27th, 2009

We  spoke to our main Yankees source down in Tampa on Wednesday night, who told us the following: Atlanta contacted the Yankees to let them know that Derek Lowe is available to them. “They want to dump his salary, and Wren, (Braves’ GM Frank Wren), told “Cash” that he’s available.” As far as Roy Halladay […]