Mets Projected Payroll Drops On The Eve Of The Winter Meetings

Sandy Alderson met with team reporters last night on the even of the winter meetings.  He said alot, to include the fact that the Mets will likely trade Ike Davis this week.  However, the one thing that probably chapped Mets fans the most was that he reiterated that he doesn't believe the 2015 payroll will be any less than 2013's $85 million dollars.  What..what?

You'll recalled just prior to Thanksgiving that ESPN NY reported that Alderson stated the 2014 payroll would be no less than 2013's $87 million dollars.  So why the change?  Well to be honest we don't know because no one in the room called him on it.  So what does that mean?

Over the weekend we dove into the Mets budget (HERE), or lack there of, and determined that the team would of had $12 million dollars remaining to spend this winter.  The following day it was reported by Newsday's Marc Carig that the Mets by his estimate had $13 million dollars remaining.  There is also an outlier report by the boys over at MetsBlog that the team has between $17-$20 million to spend.  The only way I can get to that number is if I include the salaries of the players, such as Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy that could be freed up if they are traded.

At the end of the day, by whatever projection your decide to use the target minimum payroll of the New York Mets for 2014 dropped two million dollars last night, and that's not good.

Mets Head To Orlando With $13 Million In Their Wallet

Yesterday morning I asked, do the Mets have any money left?  I went through the budget, whats been said over the past few months and how much the Mets had spent to date.  I came up with $12 million in available funds.  It turns out I was close, but late yesterday Marc Carig of Newsday reported that the Mets in fact have an estimated $13 million dollars remaining that they can reinvest in the roster this winter.

Carig hypothesizes that the Mets will be able to acquire an established starting pitcher and relief help with that money, but likely won't be able to address their shortstop situation.  Thats where he believes that the Mets will make a trade, as they have the likes of Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy and a plethora of young pitching prospects potentially headed out of town.  With that said, he reports that the Mets aren't aggressively shopping Murphy and would prefer not to deal pitching.

What important is that there is still money available.  The Mets recent acquisition of Curtis Granderson will do little to renovate the roster if the Mets cannot add other talent around he and David Wright.  Whether that be via free agency yet again, or by trade its comforting to know that at least to this point, the piggy bank isn't empty just yet.

The Mets "Pursuit" Of Bronson Arroyo

As you  may have noticed, we here at Effing Mets took the holiday weekend off, but here is a quick recap of the Bronson Arroyo soap opera...

-----------------------------------------------------------------

11/30/13 - The Mets plan to meet with Bronson Arroyo.  ESPN NY reports that the Mets have reached out to Arroyo's agent in an effort to set up a meeting at the free agent pitcher's home.

11/30/13 - The Mets have no plans to meet with Bronson Arroyo.  Dave Lennon of Newsday reports that the Mets have no intention of meeting with Arroyo.

12/2/13 - The Mets might meet with Bronson Arroyo.  ESPN NY reports that the Mets aren't.. and I quote: "super high" on the veteran pitcher. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

What does all that mean?  My guess is the Mets would love to acquire Arroyo's services, but can't fathom giving a 37 year old pitcher with nearly 2,300 innings on his arm a multi-year deal that would likely be in excess of $30 million dollars.

Arroyo is the definition of the starting pitcher the Mets entered the winter in search of.  He provides a guaranteed 200 innings every year, would provide a veteran presence to mold the team's young starters and oddly enough, still throws a pretty good game.  That said, the Mets remain more interested in their wallet than their baseball roster.

I expect Arroyo rumors until he eventually signs somewhere.  I don't expect that somewhere to be Queens.  Arroyo is admittedly a risk, because his arm won't last forever.  Phil Hughes weekend deal worth 3/$24MM likely increased Arroyo's value and likely priced the Mets out...again.