Mets Related News & Rumors From the Winter Meetings

Feb 23, 2011; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; . Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

9:06 PM: Despite reports the Tigers offered Scott Hairston a two-year deal, GM Dave Domkowski said the opposite, and shortly after the news broke, Adam Rubin tweeted that Hairston would not be headed to the Motor City.

The Dodgers have also spoken to the Mets about R.A. Dickey, but it seems as if that would be their fallback plan if the team isn’t able to land free agent right-hander Zack Greinke.

8:01 PM: It was just mentioned on MLB Network that the Blue Jays are rumored to be serious players for R.A. Dickey, as they could be willing to send a package to New York that includes J.P. Arencibia.

7:26 PM: After reportedly meeting with 8 teams to discuss potential trades, Andy Martino tweets that the Mets “seem very optimistic about [the] market for Dickey, but still aren’t sure if they will move him.”

6:51 PM: Terry Collins just spoke with reporters at the Winter Meetings.  He discussed an array of topics, including the roles he expects Jenrry Mejia, Darin Gorski, and others to fill in 2013.  Click here for Adam Rubin’s rundown of Collins’ comments.

6:13 PM: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the Mets have interest in free agent outfielder Ryan Ludwick.  Sherman goes on to say that the Mets “may end up budgeting a few extra dollars” in order to address their outfield situation.  Ludwick, 34, has averaged 25 homers and 94 RBI’s over the course of his career.  He had down years in 2010 and 2011, though, before bouncing back last year.

4:39 PM: According to Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston, the Red Sox met with the Mets today to discuss a potential trade for R.A. Dickey.  McDonald’s source claims that the Mets asked for Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. in exchange.  Bogaerts is a 20 year old shortstop, and is viewed as Boston’s top prospect.  He played for High A Salem and AA Portland in 2012.  Overall, he hit .307 with a .373 OBP and an .896 OPS.  He slugged 20 homers over 127 games combined at both levels.  To read more about Bogaerts, click here.  Bradley Jr. is a 22 year old outfielder who was named the Red Sox’ minor league defensive player of the year in 2012.  Bradley Jr. also hits for average and power, and is viewed by Baseball America as Boston’s #2 prospect.  Like Bogaerts, he finished the year in AA Portland.  The Mets asking for Boston’s top two prospects in exchange for Dickey seems like a stretch, and McDonald later tweeted that the Sox “wouldn’t budge” on that request.  For those worried about Sandy Alderson not getting a good haul for Dickey, I’d view this asking price as a sign that he has things under control.

4:07 PM: Jon Heyman is reporting that Angel Pagan has re-signed with the Giants.  According to Tim Brown of Yahoo!, the deal is for four years and $40 million.  The Mets were rumored to have had interest in Pagan, but I don’t think Sandy Alderson would’ve pondered giving him a four year deal at those dollars (nor should he have).  The Pagan deal should help set the market for the remaining outfielders (non Josh Hamilton division) who are free agents.

3:45 PM: Adam Rubin reports that Sandy Alderson acknowledged that he has had “preliminary talks” with other teams regarding R.A. Dickey and Jonathon Niese.  Alderson stated that he has had fewer conversations regarding Niese, but noted to Rubin that could change.  Alderson went on to say that since arriving in Nashville, he had yet to speak to R.A. Dickey‘s agents.  He also said that he wants a “difference maker” in any potential deal for Dickey, “because R.A. is a difference maker.”

In other news, Adam Rubin said the agents for Cesar Izturis plan to meet with the Mets at some point during this week’s meetings.  Izturis could potentially fight to be a backup infielder if signed.

3:29 PM: Speaking today with Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, free agent Scott Hairston stated that he thinks it’s “still probable” that he returns to the Mets.  According to Rubin’s sources, there are five teams who have “real interest” in Hairston.

3:08 PM: Click this link for Matthew Cerrone’s (MetsBlog) take on today’s R.A. Dickey rumors.  The scare tactic theory was raised here earlier this afternoon, and Cerrone states that he’s “heard from baseball insiders” that the Mets may be putting Dickey’s name out there in order to see if he’ll blink and agree to the deal the Mets have on the table.  Cerrone also goes over what kind of haul the Mets may be able to get for Dickey, and what the team may do with Jonathon Niese.

1:43 PM: Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Blue Jays have claimed catcher Eli Whiteside off waivers from the Yankees.  He’ll be added to Toronto’s already crowded catching situation, which includes J.P. Arencibia and Travis d’Arnaud – two players the Mets may have interest in.

1:17 PM: According to Jayson Stark on Twitter, the Mets have gotten “serious” about trading R.A. Dickey “as soon as this week.”  Stark cites Texas and Kansas City as the “most logical fits.”  Whether this is an attempt to scare Dickey into signing the offer on the table or a sincere effort by the Mets to trade him remains to be seen.  As reported by Andy Martino and mentioned below a little over three hours ago, the Mets had apparently been “underwhelmed” by the trade offers they had gotten for Dickey.  Perhaps those offers have improved.  Perhaps the Mets are telling interested teams to improve their bids on Dickey before it’s too late. We’ll simply have to wait and see.

12:15 PM: In response to a question during ESPN.com’s ongoing live coverage of the Winter Meetings, David Schoenfield speculated that Toronto would be willing to deal catcher Travis d’Arnaud for R.A. Dickey straight up, as long as the Blue Jays were granted an extension to sign Dickey long-term.

11:09 AM: According to multiple reports, catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli has agreed to a three year deal with the Boston Red Sox worth $39 million.  His addition adds to their already crowded catching situation.  The Mets have been  linked to Boston’s Jarrod Saltalamacchia (who Jon Heyman tweets is now available), but his poor batting average, on base percentage, and strikeout totals should give Sandy Alderson pause.

10:28 AM: Jon Heyman tweets that the Rangers’ one year deal with catcher Geovany Soto is for roughly $3 million.  The Mets had been linked to Soto in their search for catching help.

10:06 AM: According to Andy Martino of the NYDN, the Mets are “underwhelmed” so far by the trade proposals they’ve gotten for R.A. Dickey.

9:49 AM: According to Jim Bowden, the Royals are asking the Rays to part with David Price in order to obtain Wil Myers – to no avail.  Bowden also stated that he doesn’t believe the Mets would be able to acquire Myers in a package for either Jonathon Niese or R.A. Dickey.

9:43 AM: On the Justin Upton front, Jim Bowden of ESPN states that Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers’ asking price remains steep.  The Rangers have denied his request of Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar.  While Towers likes Mike Olt, Bowden claims Arizona will likely not accept him as a centerpiece for Upton.

9:09 AM: Not related to anything specific, but Terry Collins is scheduled for a media session at 6PM.

7:37 AM: The 2012 Winter Meetings begin in earnest today in Nashville.  Keep an eye on Rising Apple for the latest Mets related news and rumors.  This post will be updated over the course of the day.