Mets reliever Billy Wagner going to Marlins or Rays?

By Mark Miller

 

One player the New York Mets would apparently love to release is former closer Billy Wagner(notes), who has just been taken off the disabled list for the first time in about a year, according to ESPN.

 

A scout checked Wagner out in a pitching session and is saying the guy still has something left in the tank to give to a club. Maybe it's not as a closer, but still there is something worth having. The rumor is that both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Florida Marlins are interested in having Wagner if the Mets ever decide to ditch him.

Of course neither of those teams are going to pay the full $2.7 million left on Wagner's contract this year. The Mets will apparently be happy with whatever salary relief they can get.

 

Source: ESPN

damn, i was hoping i wouldnt see the question mark at the end. he would be great and all reports are that he looks great. is he signed for net year too? because if so this would be an amazing move.

I'm guessing he would go to the Rays since the marlins are in the same division as the mets.

OMG OMG OMG OMG YEEE! ^-^

 

Oh wait...

meh, I think we should be looking for a 4th/5th starter on the waiver wire rather than a reliever/closer. You honestly don't know what you are going to get from Wagner after he just came off the DL and has missed over a year anyway.

meh, I think we should be looking for a 4th/5th starter on the waiver wire rather than a reliever/closer. You honestly don't know what you are going to get from Wagner after he just came off the DL and has missed over a year anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

i agree with this but finding a guy like wagner is hard to come by, and scouts say he has looked great in his rehab appearences and looked pretty damn good yesterday. i wouldnt mind getting him for this year and next year, and stringing together a deal to find a 5th starter for the rest of the year.

Actually h2r09, Wagner have an $8 million option on his current contract with a $1 million buyout. I assume that releasing Wagner would release him from his current contract, so we would probably only be able to afford him for this season at the minimum the rest of the way, then he'll probably get something like a 1 year $5 million contract from some larger market team.

 

 

And remember guys, Jon Garland is still available on waivers. Garland has pitched 6 or more innings every start (before his last start) since June 3rd. He would be a great pickup, but again it always comes down to how much will we need to give up.

o, well then i say get him for the rest of the year and if hes worth it then try to re sign him but if not we probably wont give up anybody to important for him.

I'd love Wags on this team but I just don't see how we can afford him. Even if the Mets pay most of his contract for the year there's still just a wasted $1M next year.

Actually h2r09, Wagner have an $8 million option on his current contract with a $1 million buyout. I assume that releasing Wagner would release him from his current contract, so we would probably only be able to afford him for this season at the minimum the rest of the way, then he'll probably get something like a 1 year $5 million contract from some larger market team.

 

 

And remember guys, Jon Garland is still available on waivers. Garland has pitched 6 or more innings every start (before his last start) since June 3rd. He would be a great pickup, but again it always comes down to how much will we need to give up.

 

 

This. I'd prefer Garland, although at this point you take any improvements you can get. But Garland also has that stupid $2.5 million team buyout, and it appears as if the Mets and D'backs are both looking for salary relief, based on everything I've read, so they may not even want the "better" prospect in exchange for more cash + player.

Money is so not the problem at this stage of the season, with Wagner and Sheffield, Garland too and I'm sure there's others, the real problem is managing the active roster. Add to the problem Anibal's return.

Money is so not the problem at this stage of the season, with Wagner and Sheffield, Garland too and I'm sure there's others, the real problem is managing the active roster. Add to the problem Anibal's return.

 

Money is absolutely the problem if the Mets want say, $500k, to be picked up above the pro-rated minimum. Which some bullpen starved team could cave and do.

 

Managing the active roster is not a problem with call ups in 10 days. The Marlins could easily DL NJ, and/or option down West, G. Sanchez, or whoever for a few days to clear room. Having a funky roster for a week isn't a big deal if the end result is getting a 80% Billy Wagner to help with the push.

 

It's going to come down to the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

he's probably going to end up in tampa bay.

 

always did want him to be a marlin tho.

 

but ya the bigger concern is getting a starting pitcher.

Money is so not the problem at this stage of the season, with Wagner and Sheffield, Garland too and I'm sure there's others, the real problem is managing the active roster. Add to the problem Anibal's return.

 

 

 

Keep telling yourself that.

I hate the cheap crap teams (especially this team) pulls sometimes.

 

im not saying get all these guys! but if there is someone out there who can help (not talking about wagner, talking in general)

 

and he's only going to cost you about a MIL for the rest of the season or so, you go out and f***ing get him.

 

Show you wanna make it to the playoffs

Show the fans your willing to take some risk

Wagner was claimed, only chance the Marlins get him is if a deal can't be worked out with the claiming team and he's released.

Wagner was claimed, only chance the Marlins get him is if a deal can't be worked out with the claiming team and he's released.

 

umm, it probably wasnt the marlins but it doesnt mean that it wasnt so thats not the only chance they have.

You think the Marlins are going to risk picking up almost 4 Mil in remaining salary? Guarantee you they didn't.

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, an unidentified team has claimed the Billy Wagner off waivers from the Mets. Highly doubtful that team was the Marlins, considering they would potentially have to eat the remaining $2.4 million on his 2009 salary, plus a $1 million buyout of next season's $8 million club option.

 

The Mets can either work out a trade with the claiming team, release him to that team outright, or pull him off waivers. In the latter scenario, the Mets would be unable to trade him this season.

 

Tough to imagine why the Mets wouldn't just cut him loose and save the $3.4 million. Knowing what we know about how the Marlins operate, it's almost inconceivable that they would spend that much for what would amount to a six-week rental. Had Wagner cleared waivers and had the Mets showed a willingness to eat most of the money, then yes, the Marlins likely would be in the mix.

 

At this point you really have to wonder how much of a difference a closer, even one with Wagner's track record, would make considering the inconsistency in the starting rotation. Plus, outside of the experience factor is a rusty Wagner that much better of an option than Leo Nunez right now? The Marlins wouldn't be getting a 99 mph fastball. According to a scout in Jayson Stark's column, Wagner was throwing 92-94 during his rehab assignment

 

 

 

Per Juan Rodriguez blog

You think the Marlins are going to risk picking up almost 4 Mil in remaining salary? Guarantee you they didn't.

 

 

 

no i dont but i dont think its out of the question, although i highly doubt it. i was just saying that no one here has no idea so to say something like the only chance they have is if the release him is foolish

Wagner looked good the other night. Hit 96 on the gun.

Sources: BoSox claim Mets' Wagner off waivers

by Ken Rosenthal

Mets left-hander Billy Wagner has been claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox, according to two major-league sources.The Mets now have three options: They can work out a tradewith the Red Sox by 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday; they can allow Wagner todepart on the claim; or they can pull Wagner back off waivers, a movethat would prevent them from trading Wagner for the remainder of theseason.

 

Wagner, however, has a full no-trade clause, meaning hecould veto a trade to Boston. Whether he would invoke his no-traderights remains unclear. If Wagner proves he is healthy, the Red Soxwould possess the financial wherewithal to pick up his $8 million cluboption for 2010.

 

The Mets will be reluctant to include money in a deal, according to a source with knowledge of the club's thinking.

 

Wagneris projected to be a Type A free agent, so he would bring two highdraft picks as compensation if his team — the Mets or Red Sox — offeredhim salary arbitration.

 

Thus, in the opinion of one rivalexecutive, the Mets will not simply give away Wagner, the way the WhiteSox did in sending outfielder Alex Rios to the Blue Jays. Wagner, theexecutive said, has trade value.

 

Wagner, 38, was expected to missthe entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last Sept. 10.The Mets activated him Thursday night, and he struck out two batters ina perfect, 14-pitch eighth inning, touching 96 mph.

Man, I really hope he doesn't go there. It might be jealousy at this point but I'm reaaaally starting to get sick of everything just working out for them when it comes to player acquisitions.

What goes on in Boston really is unfair to the rest of baseball. Theo has, like, no restraints and can just do whatever he wants. And I'm not just talking about money. The other things along with the money are what makes Boston head and shoulders above any organization in baseball.

What goes on in Boston really is unfair to the rest of baseball. Theo has, like, no restraints and can just do whatever he wants. And I'm not just talking about money. The other things along with the money are what makes Boston head and shoulders above any organization in baseball.

 

 

 

other than the Yankees...I mean they spent nearly $400 million I believe on Texiera, Burnett and Sabathia alone. They can throw money around like tissue paper, and the Yankees name makes it extremely enticing for players to want to join. I'd say the Yankees still rule supreme