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Post: Mets Eye Moose

Johnny Dickshot Nov 03 2006 12:31 PM

Magic Quote Exclusive! ]November 3, 2006 -- How about a Mets-Yankees battle over Mike Mussina to take the chill out of the November air? Mussina has told friends the Mets would be a welcome option if the Yankees don't want him back. And the Mets will be interested in the veteran right-hander when he becomes a free agent in less than two weeks. According to a baseball official, the Mets "would have to consider [Mussina] if he is available." From the beginning of spring training through the disappointment of losing to the Tigers in the ALDS, Mussina didn't allow his impending free agency to become an issue, and believed it would work out with the Yankees. And while Mussina returning to the Yankees remains a strong possibility, once the club doesn't pick up a $17 million option, Mussina is free to talk to all teams. The Phillies would also appeal to Mussina, a Pennsylvania native and resident. The Yankees have until Nov. 15 to exercise the option and won't do it. They will instead pay the $1.5 million buyout and start discussing a contract. GM Brian Cashman and agent Arn Tellem didn't return calls on the subject. Mussina, who will be 38 next month, was 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 32 starts this past season. His 239-134 career record with a 3.63 ERA in 475 starts is even more impressive considering it has been done in the steroid era, exclusively in the AL East and a large part of it while pitching in hitter-friendly Camden Yards. With Carl "American Idle" Pavano making $10 million a year in 2007 and 2008 after doing very little in 2005 and nothing in 2006, Mussina rightfully believes he is worth at least that from the Yankees, for whom Mussina has not only served as a top of the rotation pitcher for six years but a sounding board for other hurlers as well as a part-time pitching coach. Since the Yankees will likely be among the handful of teams bidding on Japanese free agent Daisuke Matsuzaka and are interested in free agents Jeff Suppan and Jason Schmidt, there is a chance Mussina won't have a chair in Joe Torre's rotation. Especially if the Yankee decision makers believe two years is one too many for Mussina. Mussina would give the Mets a veteran presence and help fill the void created by Pedro Martinez's shoulder surgery that will keep him out until the middle of next year. The Mets are also aware of the success experienced AL hurlers have enjoyed when switching leagues (see Roger Clemens). Pitching for the Mets would offer Mussina a chance to stay in his Westchester home during the season and Mussina, a creature of habit, isn't wild about radical changes in his life. As for what the Mets would be willing to pay Mussina, they figure to be in the $10 million to $12 million range per year with Tom Glavine, and Mussina is two years younger.

HahnSolo Nov 03 2006 12:39 PM

Another "generate a headline and a story out of nothing" here. Mussina has told friends the Mets would be an option. A "baseball official" tells the paper the Mets "would have to consider him." Hardly worth the big headline.

TransMonk Nov 03 2006 12:41 PM

Mussina would be pretty far down on my list. He would do if other options (Zito, Schmidt, Daisy Duke) didn't work out. I'm getting tired of not having any starting pitching between the ages of 27-37. The young pitchers are so green that you don't know what your going to get from start to start. The old pitchers are so weathered that you don't know if they're going to be healthy enough to make their next start.

Edgy DC Nov 03 2006 12:49 PM

TransMonk wrote: Mussina would be pretty far down on my list. He would do if other options (Zito, Schmidt, Daisy Duke) didn't work out. When asked if Duke might be interested in the Mets, a source familiar with her thinking told the Post, "Coo-coo-coo!"

metirish Nov 03 2006 12:56 PM

I wouldn't want him,and he'll probably want a three year deal.

Vic Sage Nov 03 2006 01:03 PM

i agree he'd only be an option after Schmidt, zito and D-mat (maybe even Vincente Padilla), but if he could be had for 1-2 years at around $8k/yr, thus leaving enough room to sign soriano and/or lee, i'd be okay with it. But signing him with Aurilia and Alou would not make me happy. we've got 3 slots to fill. we probably can't afford top-tier guys for all 3 slots, but we need at least 1, and i'd prefer 2.

Frayed Knot Nov 03 2006 01:37 PM

Exactly. For a 2-year deal (assuming similar money) he'd be a better investment than Glavine. He just won't be as easy to get at those rates as, unlike Tommy G, we won't have the inside track on him. Mussina has always expressed a preference for the AL, but singing with the Mets means he woulnd't have to move his residence so he'd be a fool not to consider the Mets who would be foolish not to consider him. Like was already said; not a lot of "news" here.

Willets Point Nov 03 2006 02:19 PM

FUCK NO!

Willets Point Nov 03 2006 02:20 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Mussina has always expressed a preference for the AL, but singing with the Mets means he woulnd't have to move his residence so he'd be a fool not to consider the Mets who would be foolish not to consider him. And if he sang "Meet the Mets" that would be kind of cool. However I'd prefer to have a young arm that could pitch well for a long time.

metirish Nov 03 2006 02:25 PM

I remember being in a bar when he took a perfect game into the ninth inning and when Everret got that two out hit I let out a loud yeeeeeeees, about a dozen yankee fans turned and gave me dirty looks...

Nymr83 Nov 03 2006 03:35 PM

that was probably the best thing Everett did for Mets fans.

Johnny Dickshot Nov 03 2006 04:00 PM

I dunno. His GW HR in that game against in Houston in 97 was the highlight of that whole season, and that was a damn good season.

Edgy DC Nov 03 2006 04:19 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 03 2006 09:58 PM

Thinking the same thing re: Everett. The Joe McIlvaine era and its general upward trend gets way too whitewashed. The team was slowly rebuilt on young players (exactly what fans claim they want whenever an expensive free-agent fails to produce). He puts Bobby Valentine in place, gets them on the cusp and gets sent packing for his trouble.

Nymr83 Nov 03 2006 04:25 PM

Edgy DC wrote: He puts Bobby Valentine in place, gets them on the cusp and gets sent packing for his trouble. if by "he" you mean McIlvaine i agree, if by "he" you mean Everett i don't.

patona314 Nov 03 2006 07:56 PM

Willets Point wrote: FUCK NO! It actually makes sense: IP H R ER BB SO ERA 3210.3 3058 1384 1296 719 2572 3.63 he's spent his entire career in the al east and put up these numbers. give him 3 yrs $36m. i'll take it.

Nymr83 Nov 03 2006 08:19 PM

3 years? i read in the paper today that the yankees might not even want to give him 2 years.

Iubitul Nov 04 2006 08:10 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/468153p-393976c.html ]In the meantime, according to sources, the Yankees are closing in on a new two-year deal with Mussina, believed to be in the $20-24 million range. The righthander has made it known he wants to remain with the Yankees, and though he is now viewed as a No. 3 starter, the Yankees seem inclined to give him what one source termed "Glavine money," around $12 million per year. The Yanks held a $17 million option on Mussina for next season, which they avoided by paying a $1.5 million buyout.

Edgy DC Nov 04 2006 08:16 AM

The Mets should've contacted him early, just 'cuz.

Elster88 Nov 04 2006 09:06 AM

There are no absolutes. Everyone can be considered for the right price. If we could get Mussina to sign a 1 year, 2 million dollar deal, who here would say no? (Actually some people still would, based on the seeing 5 people from the other thread who refuse to [u:490962fb86]negotiate[/u:490962fb86] with a 40-40 club guy who plays the two positions we need.)