Red Sox claim Billy Wagner off waivers

Billy Wagner is still going to be a Type A Free Agent. If the Mets want, they can pull Billy back, and basically spend their $3.7 million on two draft picks next year. If the Mets offered him arbitration and he accepted it’d be a tricky case. But all of Wagner’s comments indicate he wants to close, and if he’s throwing both his pitches and his fastball is working in the mid-90s for a month, someone’s going to give him that opportunity, and it won’t be the Mets.

Or, if the Mets actually think freeing up $3.7 million is that important (especially when most of it is attributed to this year’s payroll, and will have nothing to do with next year’s luxury tax), they could give him away. Seems foolish to me though. Attendance this year has been fine, even in the bad economy, CitiField seems to be gushing profit. I get and accept that the Wilpons have some sort of luxury-tax phobia, but money spent this year won’t effect that situation for next year.

Or they could offer to pay some or all of the money if Boston is willing to give them value similar to two first round draft picks. I don’t know Bostons system well enough or how highly they value Wagner to really make a guess. Seems like a mixed bag though. Trying to make a deal with an organization that has a deep farm should be nice, but they’re also pretty well run, and the Mets, well, just kind of aren’t. I just pray Minaya doesn’t get hosed by Theo.

This whole situation is kind of foolish to begin with. Why is Jerry showcasing Wagner the day before he clears waivers? I’m just kind of hoping there’s a deal already in place and the details are just getting worked out, or that the Red Sox had previously made up their minds to claim Wags. Otherwise, why would you even tempt a club to claim him by showing off 96 mph heat? Surely, if you’re the Mets, the best way to give yourself the most opportunity for value is to open up the negotiations to multiple clubs. The only other explanation is dreadful communication between varying levels of the club’s management, which given the Omar/Jerry regime’s track record, sounds very plausible.