10:36pm: The A’s are indeed the team trying to wrap up an agreement, Martino
tweets. “Barring [a] snag,” Familia will head to Oakland, he says. Olney hears similarly. (
Twitter link.)
10:26pm: The structure of a deal is in place but it is not yet final, Olney
tweets. Meanwhile, the Mets have informed reporters that nothing will be announced tonight (via Puma,
on Twitter). Though Familia is saying his goodbyes in the clubhouse, he says he hasn’t been given any official word (via DiComo,
on Twitter).
The Astros are not involved, Olney adds
on Twitter.
10:13pm: There’s definitely some fire producing this smoke, as Mets skipper Mickey Callaway tells reporters he was advised not to deploy Familia owing to a possible trade. (Via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com,
on Twitter.) It remains to be seen if a swap can be completed.
9:51pm: As
Jeurys Familia watches from the bullpen rather than entering in a save situation, the Mets are working to finalize a deal to send him elsewhere, Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports
on Twitter. The prospective destination is not yet known.
Earlier this evening, it was
reported that the Athletics are a suitor for Familia, and all signs are currently pointing to a potential match with Oakland. Many other possibilities seem to have been dismissed. The sides are “well down the road,” per Andy Martino of SNY.tv (
via Twitter), though ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick
tweets that the A’s are “not willing to take on as much money as another club in the bidding.”
Most other suitors seem questionable at best. The Cubs had been tied to Familia, but Olney says they are not involved at the moment. Also on the sidelines are the Braves, Olney adds
on Twitter. Though he suggested the Giants might be a factor, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand
tweets that they are out owing to luxury tax considerations. Meanwhile, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (
via Twitter) and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (
Twitter link) indicate that Boston isn’t deeply involved at the moment, though Crasnick
tweets that they have been in the picture.
Despite the intrigue, it may be that talks won’t result in a deal. Andy Martino of SNY.tv
tweets that, even if ultimately consummated, agreement may not be struck tonight. Clearly, though, talks are “too close to take a risk,” as a source puts it to Mike Puma of the New York Post (
via Twitter).
Familia is the top remaining trade candidate from
MLBTR’s recent ranking of deadline assets. There has never been any question he’d be moved since the Mets fell out of contention in the NL East. Though he hasn’t been at his most dominant thus far, Familia is getting good results and showing his typical upper-nineties power sinker.
Teams weighing a move for Familia will surely consider him rather affordable at a $7.9MM salary with no future commitment. If not, Mets front office point-man John Ricco made clear today that the club is willing to pick up the tab if it can achieve sufficient prospect value. (Via Puma,
on Twitter.)