Mets won’t close on Royals’ Davis
OXON HILL, Md. − Step right up, ladies and gentleman, it’s the greatest spring show in Florida. In this parking lot we have three-wheeled vehicles, sports cars, a couple of horses and a pig. Now, introducing in the main ring, for the first time in a big-league camp ... Tim Tebow!
Well, the Mets are thinking about that at least.
The team realizes the one-time NFL quarterback who is trying to transition into a baseball player fits better in minor league camp.
But, oh those T-shirts sales and advertising opportunities.
Tuesday afternoon Terry Collins welcomed the possibility of having Tebow and whatever distractions he brings in major league camp. The Mets manager, who diffused the circus that was Yoenis Cespedes’ daily car show in the players’ parking lot last spring, said he can handle a few questions about the Heisman Trophy winner.
“We’re in New York. We can handle anybody with a name on his back in our camp,” the Mets manager said during his media availability at the MLB Winter Meetings. “If they decide to send him to camp, we’ll get him better.
“I can tell you, I certainly hope you will see Tim Tebow in some of our games.”
Sandy Alderson seems to be leaning towards that route, putting Tebow in minor league camp and bringing him into a few major league games.
“We knew he’d be overmatched in the Arizona Fall League, but we also thought he needed to play games, so as we look at going into spring training and his first full season, I think the same priorities would hold true,” the Mets GM said. “He needs to play games. The circumstances seem more like he’s in minor league camp, he’s in games every day and comes over once in awhile and after camp he goes to a full season team.
“That’s kind of what we are seeing, but it could change.”
OXON HILL, Md. − With the uncertainty surrounding their closer heading into 2017, the Mets asked the Royals about Wade Davis in their routine meeting with the team this week, but it quickly became clear there was no fit.
The Royals, who are looking to dump salary, are interested in moving Davis and his $10 million salary. The Mets, however, felt Davis’ salary was too high with their payroll already projected to be about $10 million over their target. The Royals asked for top prospect Amed Rosario which was also a nonstarter. The shortstop prospect is untouchable, according to three Mets sources.
So, on the second full day of the Winter Meetings, the Mets are treading water. They’ve continued to talk to some agents and teams about relievers, looking to bulk up the back end of their bullpen and give them some insurance if closer Jeurys Familia has to serve a significant suspension after his arrest for domestic violence this fall.
Sandy Alderson said that the market for finding a reliever as well as for dealing an outfielder has been slow to develop.
The Mets have been fairly clear that they are
As many in baseball are falling all over themselves to say, Tebow has not earned that. He was signed by the Mets after 11 years without playing organized baseball and the reviews from scouts who watched him in the Arizona Fall League were ugly. He batted .194 in 70 plate appearances and his work in the outfield was rudimentary. When asked if there was any real advantage to inviting Tebow to major league camp rather than letting him stay on the minor league side but bringing him over to play in major league games, Alderson laughed and snapped a joke.
“No, except for advertising purposes,” said Alderson, who when the Mets signed the former Jets, Broncos and Eagles quarterback repeatedly said that it was not a marketing or ticket sales ploy.
“We understand he’s a little bit older and we need to accelerate it at some point, but we still need to be prudent about it and put him in situations where he can succeed and not be viewed as ... ah ... ah ... I was going to say circus animal, but that probably would not be appropriate.” Maybe not, but it would be a sideshow. Tebow draws fans wherever he goes and in Florida, where he won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Florida, he brings in packs of rabid fans. The evangelical Christian whose career has expanded to broadcasting for the SEC Network and has appeared on Good Morning America also draws packs of reporters.
But Collins, an old-school baseball man, has been surprisingly nonplussed about the whole issue. Tuesday he made it clear no matter how much Tebow struggled in the AFL − and he struggled mightily − there was no reason be upset about it.
“Yeah, why not? I will tell you if he’s not in our camp, I’ll get him over. I think he’s a name in Florida. He’s a star in Florida. He should be. I think it would be fun to have Tim come over,” Collins said. “And certainly one thing about our players, they’re athletes, too. They’re fans, too. They would probably like to know how to run a quarterback sneak one day.”
So step right up, ladies and gentleman, the Mets are going to have fun this spring. looking to trade Jay Bruce. The right fielder, who they acquired from the Reds at the trade deadline, is not garnering much interest. In fact, a Mets source said the Orioles told the club they are “out,” of any talk on Bruce. The Mets have indicated to clubs they would strongly prefer to move Bruce, who struggled in New York after the trade, as opposed to moving Curtis Granderson, who is in the final year of his four-year deal.
EXCITED FOR SALE ... IN BOSTON
While the Mets have not made any moves yet, they’ve had reason to celebrate. Their division rivals, the Nationals, have missed out on two of their big targets. Monday, closer Mark Melancon, who finished with the Nats, signed with the Giants and on Tuesday, White Sox lefty Chris Sale was dealt to the Red Sox. “No question about it. We don’t have to play the Red Sox this year either. I really thought for sure he was going to end up in Washington,” manager Terry Collins said. “I really did. We dodged a bullet.” ... Collins, 67, said that the predictions that 2017 will be his last as a major league manager are a tad premature. Ackert