Deals Small And Rumors Big

A small deal that I like a lot is the Padres just acquiring catcher Dusty Ryan from the Tigers for two players to be named later.  Ryan will be 25 next year, and he looks ready to help a major league club.  In 2008 at age 23, he posted an .816 OPS in 296 AA at-bats, a .918 OPS in 73 AAA at-bats, and an .880 OPS in 44 major league ABs.

Last year he took a step back at the major league level, getting only four hits in 26 ABs, but he spent most of his season at AAA Toledo and posted a very respectable .814 OPS, so I expect he will be in the majors by the 2010 all-star break.

The big rumor is that the Mets are holding firm on their four-year $65 million offer to Jason Bay and their two-year $10 million offer to Bengie Molina, with the idea that if Bay accepts their number, Bengie will have to accept their number too.  If Bay can find someone for whom he wishes to play who will give him a guaranteed fifth year, the Mets lose him, but right now isn’t doesn’t look like Bay has any such offer.  If the Mets do lose Bay, then they will have the money to offer Molina a third year and get him signed.

The logic for the Mets is excellent.  In this market, the chances are good that they’ll get both players at or very close to the money now offered.