The Weekend Rumor Mill

Mets GM Omar Minaya was already on the lookout for a right-handed hitting first baseman-outfielder to play a backup role. Then came the news that Moises Alou will miss four to six weeks after hernia surgery, which will leave the Mets without their starting left fielder on Opening Day. Not surprisingly, Minaya has already initiated talks with the Tigers, who have both Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge to spare. The Mets’ interest in Thames really isn’t a new development, since his name came up during the winter meetings in December. The Mets are now offering right-hander Jorge Sosa for Thames straight-up; that makes sense for both teams, given the Tigers’ concerns about their pitching depth. Thames’ right-handed power and ability to play all three outfield positions would make him a good fit in New York.
Inge would be the more interesting pickup. As everybody knows, he’s miserable in Detroit and doesn’t want to catch, even though it might help his long-term value. Inge, who has experience playing center field, would have little trouble adjusting to left field at Shea Stadium. And when Alou returns from the disabled list, Thames could provide the Mets with a platoon partner for Ryan Church in right field and a backup to Carlos Delgado at first. Inge will, however, cost more than Sosa in return. The Tigers will probably want Mike Pelfrey (who is becoming more important given Orlando Hernandez’ lingering bunion problems) or perhaps a package featuring people like Carlos Muniz and/or Joe Smith.

There are other possibilities for the Mets, too. The Angels’ Juan Rivera, the Cubs’ Matt Murton, and the Pirates’ Xavier Nady are all eminently available. Nady is the most interesting name of the three, partly because he played for the Mets before being traded away in mid-season of 2006. The X-Man is also the most versatile, with the ability to play first base on a regular basis, or third base in an emergency situation…

As far as free agents go, the Mets have no interest in signing either Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa, in spite of what some writers have been suggesting...

The Giants have been scouting the A’s heavily of late, leading to speculation of a trade involving Dan Johnson. With Johnson out of options, the A’s will either have to carry him on their Opening Day roster, or move him in a deal, because he won’t clear waivers. GM Billy Beane won’t allow something silly like a Bay Area rivalry to stop him from making a deal with San Francisco. If the Giants offer something substantive, Beane will pounce. The acquisition of Johnson would allow the Giants to send Dan Ortmeier back to Triple-A for some additional experience...

Finally, a half dozen teams actually sent representatives to watch Sidney Ponson throw the other day. Some of them were impresed that Ponson touched 94 mile per hour on the radar gun. Other liked the fact that Ponson's weight has fallen to 248 pounds. That's all fine and well, but it still doesn't mean that Ponson can pitch. If someone does sign Ponson, that will be the 1,374th piece of evidence that there is simply not enough pitching to go around.