Deadline

Today is an important day in regards to the upcoming draft. It is the deadline for Stephen Drew and Jared Weaver to sign with the Diamondbacks or the Angels. The ramifications of them signing, or not signing has a huge effect on the Mets and their first round pick. Not only that, but it affects Boras' other clients. In a way, he loses leverage with his two top pitching prospects in Luke Hovechar and Mike Pelfrey because they will simply not be able to ask for as much money as Weaver will get and Boras would rather get Weaver inked so no comparisons can be made between the three during negotiations.

The Angels have offered a $4 million minor-league or $5.25 million major-league deal while Weaver has asked for a $5.5 million minor-league deal or a $6 million major-league contract, with appearance bonuses totaling $750,000. The Diamondbacks have offered a major league deal worth up to $7.5 million dollars falling short of the deal that Mark Teixiera landed with the Rangers that Scott Boras thought Drew should get as well. In reality, unless either of these players fall to the Yankees and they simply overpay just to get a quick deal done, I cannot fathom any of these two getting more than they were already offered. They have less leverage now that they have basically been out of baseball for a year and would be relegated to an entire year of Independent League baseball in 2005 and probably 2006. Holding out twice would be an absolute absurdity. Their price will simply have to come down.

As for the Mets, if these two are re-entered into the draft, it virtually assures them in having the opportunity to pick a very polished, close to majors player. Drew is currently batting .410/.459/.705 with eight doubles, three triples, and three homers with fourteen RBIs in his first exposure to a wooden bat. Alex Gordon, Troy Tulowitzki, Mike Pelfrey, Luke Hochevar, Ryan Zimmerman, Craig Hansen, Jeff Clement, and Stephen Drew are all guys that are pegged to be extremely talented and relatively close to the majors. Out of the group, I prefer any one of the those position players or Hansen and though Zimmerman, Gordon, and Tulowitzki figure to be long gone, the Mets would undoubtedly have a shot to draft either Hansen, Clement, or Drew. One of them should be around at their spot if Drew re-enters. The Mets should also have shot at either Hochevar or Pelfrey as well if they really wanted to go for more starting pitching, but since they went starting pitching on their first three picks last season, they should look towards position players or Hansen. If Drew happens to sign, there is a chance all of the above position players will be off the board leaving the Mets looking at prep outfielders Jay Bruce and Andrew McCutchen or Pelfrey and possibly Ryan Braun out of the college ranks.


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Kendry Morales looks like the real deal.

Kendry Morales is making a good first impression on the Angels' organization. Going into Sunday's game, Morales was hitting .343 with two homers, seven RBI and a .571 slugging percentage in eight games at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. He struck out only four times in 35 at-bats.

The Mets will host the Diamondbacks, Giants and Dodgers on a nine game home stand. Only the Padres and the Braves have a higher winning percentage than the Mets and I expect no less than a 6-3 home stand.

Jon Heyman thinks the Mets could be considered contenders, but they have some issues that need to be addressed before they can be taken seriously.

Title of the day goes too....drum roll please...

Koo felt groovy, and it was blast

Beltran is finally going to be returning back to action.

Minor update:

• Norfolk beat Ottawa 3-0 and Jae Seo continues to pitch brilliantly. Seo went 7.2 innings and gave up no runs and struck out six en route to his third win. His ERA is down to 3.49. Juan Padilla also pitched 1.1 innings and struck out two while not give up a walk or a hit. His ERA is down to 1.07.
  
• Hagerstown got downed by Delmarva 10-4. Matt Durkin pitched well in the loss giving up one earned run in 4 innings of work, but his control problems have continued. He walked five while striking out four and only allowed two hits. He now has 31 walks to 38 K's in 38.2 innings.
  
• St. Lucie beat Clearwater 4-3. Brett Harper went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a triple to bring his average up to .288. Milledge scored a run after being used as a pinch runner after being pulled from the game in the second inning yesterday so it looks like whatever the reason he was pulled, it was not serious. Binghamton beat Trenton 8-4.