The Hot Stove keeps us baseball junkies warm
There seems to that extra chill in the autumn air following the World Series. If you watched it or not (as many local fans sat this one out), the minute that final out was recorded and the St. Louis Cardinals were crowned champions of the baseball world for 2006, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.
The long winter that approaches us will be filled with banter in the media and the sports bars on who should stay, go, or come on board. Both the Mets and Yankees had successful seasons but fell short of the prize. Improvements are necessary in both clubhouses. Especially in the starting rotations, where the age and injury bugs have struck.
Over in Queens, Mets ace Pedro Martinez underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least the first half of next season. He even has publicly stated that he may retire if his rehabilitation does not go well. Tom Glavine is contemplating a return to Atlanta, with both the Mets and him holding options for his return to Shea. Neither will probably take place, and if he is to come back, it will probably be somewhere in the middle of the two prices. Glavine stated that he will talk it over with his family, who happen to reside in Georgia. He also is only 10 wins shy of 300, and it would be fitting for him to get to that mark in a Braves uniform. That is where he has established himself as a dominant pitcher and will wear that cap on his plaque if he makes it to Cooperstown, which should be automatic once he surpasses the 300 win plateau. Unless the Mets blow the Braves out of the water financially, Glavine may return to 'the Ted.'
What about Orlando Hernandez, Steve Traschel and Victor Zambrano? Only 'El Duque' has an outside chance of returning. Farewell to the other two.
Will the Mets sign a big name hurler such as Barry Zito or Mike Mussina? How about Jason Schmidt? Should they inquire as to the availability of Dontrelle Willis?
The biggest catch would be Willis. A young lefthanded starter with as much pizzazz as Willis brings is rare. The Florida Marlins have a plethora of young pitching and Willis should get a hefty raise in arbitration. They may be willing to deal him for the right package. The Mets have young and affordable players such as Lastings Milledge, John Maine and Brian Bannister to trade.
If that does not happen, they should concentrate on Zito. Two years shy of 30 and with a Cy Young award in his closet; he would be reunited with Rick Peterson, his pitching coach in Oakland. Zito had his best run when paired with Peterson, who should be able to be the one piece missing in the Mets' favor if the money being offered elsewhere is equivalent.
It should be very interesting to see what happens. Spring Training will be here before we know it. New names and numbers on the rosters are a given. A safe bet is that General Manager Omar Minaya will make the right moves to give the Mets more weapons in 2007.
In my next article, I'll take a look at the possible moves the Yankees should make in the off-season.