SB Nation New York: All Posts by Jimmy Hascup

R.A. Dickey trade: Sandy Alderson, Mets make out well

2012-12-18T04:12:12Z

Trading a Cy Young winner mere months after his acclaimed season isn't the typical approach teams take for improvement. But for the New York Mets, trading fan favorite R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays for a package headlined by catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud was a no-brainer.

Monday, the deal that's been reported on for days finally came to a conclusion when the knuckleballer agreed to a two-year, $25 million extension with Toronto. In the deal, the Mets acquired catcher John Buck, d'Arnaud, pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard and minor-league outfielder Wuilmer Bacerra. New York sent Dickey, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas to the Blue Jays.

Dickey dominated the team's offseason discussions almost more than David Wright's status because he was coming off a tremendous season, had a $5 million salary due for next year and was asking for a team-friendly extension. All of this comes with the caveat, however: he is also 38 and throws a trick pitch, making him very difficult to project, lending itself further for a trade if the Mets could cash in.

The Mets were a 74-88 team, 14 games out of the playoffs, with the Cy Young winner in the rotation last year. That doesn't get you anywhere. With no improvements elsewhere this winter, a similar record is more than likely. Even though Dickey may not have the normal wear and tear on his arm, the question marks surrounding an older knuckleballer with a short track record are real. And even with Dickey, the Mets are probably not legitimate contenders for at least another two years.

General manager Sandy Alderson can preach the company line all he wants -- we aren't "punting" 2013 -- but the fact of the matter is this was a baseball trade to continue to set the Mets up for long-term sustainability. In addition, it's one closer year to when Alderson can open up the checkbook and pay for a marquee name, at a time when the young rotation and d'Arnaud will be more experienced.

Alderson sought a "difference-maker" for Dickey, knowing full well his team was thin when it came to high-level position prospects. Baseball America recently included seven pitchers and just three position players, two of which are still several years from seeing the major leagues, in its Mets top-10 prospects list. New York entered the offseason with a disheveled outfield, an average catcher and a bullpen that needed work. It wasn't going to get any help anytime soon on the position-player front from its minor league system. And with the payroll restrictions Alderson wasn't about to splurge (overspend) on the few big-ticket free agents out there.

So in order to address one problem, Alderson dealt from a strength, making a rare trade for an up-the-middle cost-controlled player who has All-Star potential, in addition to a starter in 20-year-old Syndergaard who has power stuff and the makings to pitching in the front of the rotation in time. d'Arnaud, BA's 17th-best prospect, batted .333/.380/.595 with 16 home runs in 303 plate appearances last year in the Pacific Coast League. Syndergaard threw 103 2/3 innings, giving up 81 hits and 31 walks with 122 strikeouts, while posting a 2.60 ERA in A-ball.

"The Mets get the second-best catching prospect in the minors in Travis d'Arnaud and a potential No. 2 starter in Noah Syndergaard, and they get six years of control with each," said Jim Callis, executive editor of Baseball America, as reported by the New York Times. "I understand that the Blue Jays are going all-in for 2013, but I thought they overpaid."

For a while, it was reported that the Mets would net another "non-elite" prospect, but ESPN's Keith law says the 17-year-old Becerra is more than that, even hough he only had 39 plate appearances in rookie ball and is many years away. "He has a sweet-looking right-handed swing with strong hands, keeping his head steady with great hip rotation and loft for future power as his body matures," Law said.

So losing Dickey may be painful in the short-term, but gaining some youth has the potential to pay off bigger in the long run for the Mets.

R.A. Dickey trade: Taking a look at possible destinations for New York Mets' ace

2012-12-14T23:19:06Z

R.A. Dickey is about to go from the New York Mets' beloved Cy Young winner to the front of another team's rotation. Multiple reports are indicating that the Mets are nearing a trade to send their knuckleballer elsewhere.

The Toronto Blue Jays are considered the the frontrunner, with the Baltimore Orioles also a possible destination, according to the New York Daily News' Andy Martino. The Texas Rangers were in the hunt, but are not involved any longer, Martino says.

The same report states that Dickey and the Mets ceased negotiations Wednesday, and that general manager Sandy Alderson has been involved in "intense" trade talks in the two days after.

Alderson stated earlier this offseason that he sought a "difference-maker" if Dickey were to be traded. To me, that means a young, impact position player -- an area the Mets sorely lack -- with multiple years of low-cost control left.

Let's take a quick look at some of the possible places Dickey could end up and why they make sense.

Blue Jays -- The Jays have been discussed as a fit pretty much since Day 1 of the offseason. Their general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, has gone full-force in improving his team with the acquisitions of Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck in the Miami Marlins' salary dump. It's clear he wants to end their 19-year playoff drought. The Jays are also stockpiled with prospects, and two of those -- outfielder Anthony Gose and catcher J.P. Arencibia -- have been rumored in Dickey trades. Personally, I don't think that's enough. Gose has supreme speed and is a great defender, but there are questions about how much he'll hit. And Arencibia may have more power than Josh Thole, but total value-wise, he's practically the same. Alderson has to hold out for catcher Travis d'Arnaud, their best prospect, who was ranked 19th by Baseball America mid-year.

Orioles -- The Orioles astoundingly made it to the postseason last year, ultimately falling in the first round. Now, they have to sense the division is up for the taking with the division-power Yankees weaker and older and the Red Sox a mess. Baltimore also has no slam-dunk No. 1 starter, and Dickey could fill that, and at a reasonable price. Who do they have to offer? That's the big question. Starter Dylan Bundy, considered a top-two prospect by most outlets, is unreasonable, as is shortstop/third baseman Manny Machado. Jonathan Schoop is probably their next-best prospect, but the 21-year-old middle infielder doesn't look like the "difference-maker" the Mets seek. Scanning their roster for young position players outside of those guys, it's hard to see a fit here.

Rangers -- Yeah, it's been reported that the Rangers are no longer involved. That's as of now. All it takes is one call and the inclusion of one player the Mets are looking for to get a deal done. The Rangers have lost out on every big-ticket free agent this winter, most recently Zack Greinke to the Los Angeles Dodgers. There's never harm in adding another frontline arm. Dickey was originally drafted by the Rangers in 1996 so his career could come full circle here. Third baseman Mike Olt, whom the Mets would seemingly have to move to left field, would appear to have to be part of any package. But it doesn't seem like the Mets are sold on him and would want more. Middle infielder Jurickson Profar, the 1 or 2 to Bundy's 1 or 2, is way too good to include. Cody Buckel, a right-handed pitcher, is probably their next-best prospect, but the Rangers would probably deem that too expensive, too.

Angels -- Los Angeles has been rumored to be interested in Dickey. Owner Arte Moreno has already shown -- with the signing of Josh Hamilton -- that he's not afraid to be bold in an area that was a strength last year. They lost Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Greinke in their rotation and did add Joe Blanton and Tommy Hanson ... but Dickey is in another tier and would only deepen the staff, while also hurting their division-rival Rangers. Hamilton's signing makes center fielder Peter Bourjos, a defensive whiz but a little suspect with the bat, and Mark Trumbo, a power-hitting right fielder -- with "fielder" in name only, available. But it's hard to see the Mets centering a trade on one of those guys. The other problem is, the Angels' farm system is depleted with Mike Trout in the big leagues and a few sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Greinke trade.

Sandy Alderson: Mets' roster probably won't look too different next season

2012-12-12T04:28:25Z

See that 74-88 record the New York Mets finished with this past season? Get used to it because it very well could be how the Mets wind up in 2013, too.

General manager Sandy Alderson on Tuesday acknowledged there probably won't be any drastic changes to the roster by Opening Day.

"I would expect the roster will look similar to the way it did at the end of last year -- with some exceptions," Alderson said Tuesday, according to ESPN NY. "It's hard to speculate. When you think about it, the trade market, signing free agents and so forth, it's relatively young in the season. It's hard, really, to accurately predict where things will end up."

Granted, I'm exaggerating when I the same roster automatically equals the same results. The Mets have the makings of a great rotation and if the cards fall right, could, theoretically at least, make a run. Still, the composition of the roster being similar isn't something fans want to hear because nobody wants to finish fourth in the division again and losing has become all too familiar lately. In reality, though, are Alderson's comments really that surprising?

[Dickey, Mets don't appear close to deal]

By delaying Jason Bay's payments and deferring some of David Wright's new contract money, the Mets freed up more cash for this coming year, reportedly around $20 million. But all that did was get fans more excited that additions would become more substantial. Instead, Alderson seems to be practicing some fiscal responsibility because there's no point in saddling the organization with more ill-advised long-term contracts that is part of the reason the Mets are in this situation in the first place.

There are/were very few difference-makers on the free-agent market this winter, anyway. Zack Greinke? The Mets (or the majority of the teams, really) were never going to give him $147 million. Josh Hamilton? The best hitter on the market, but also one that comes with some serious risks, as the the market seems to be indicating of as well. The second-tier guys such as Cody Ross intrigue the Mets, but not for three years. Alderson wants short-term deals that carry less of a burden than lengthy extensions do.

Just because the Mets have some more "flexibility" now doesn't mean that's when it has to be spent.

"Again, it's hard for me to predict what exactly will happen," Alderson said, according to ESPN NY. "But we're not going to spend the money in mid-December just because we have it. We may spend it in January. We may spend it at some other time. We may not spend it. But the important thing is we have the flexibility to make a baseball decision about that rather than be constrained by sort of an artificial financial limitation."

It's definitely aggravating. The Mets have an outfield that needs overhauling. Catcher Josh Thole needs a platoon partner at a minimum. The bullpen posted the second-worst (4.65) ERA in the league. But this general manager wants nothing to do with overpaying for marginal free agents, so it's likely we'll have to wait to scoop up some bottom-of-the-barrel ones. It's a tough realization to come to grips with, but to be viable long-term tough (and unpopular) decisions need to be made now. I'm not saying the Mets shouldn't "splurge" on some upgrades, but I think it has to be done with the future's focus in mind, too. This is the hard lesson you learn when you're used to throwing money at problems (and getting whatever you want), rather than worrying about developing your own talent.

NHL lockout 2012: Hopes dashed yet again as league rejects union's proposal

2012-12-07T06:26:05Z

You know growing up when your parents used to tell you not to do something because they knew you'd only get hurt, yet you kept doing it anyway, seemingly never learning your lesson?

Hockey fans can relate, and at this point, it's time to stop getting excited about "progress" and just be pleasantly surprised -- and thankful -- when a deal is reached and the lockout is over.

After two days of positive reports on the negotiations where it appeared like a conclusion was nearing, Thursday those good feelings were doused with ice-cold water. Tuesday, the owners and players met exclusively for 10 hours, and Wednesday they met even longer, lasting into the wee hours of Thursday. Talks were described by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly as "good, candid dialogue" with the "critical open issues" to be addressed Thursday. Those meetings, which then included commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, lasted about an hour.

Nobody knew what to make of Thursday. Did the short meetings mean there was a quick foundation formed on those key issues? Did talks break down quickly instead? Unfortunately, it was the latter, but it didn't come without itsuspense.

Fehr addressed the media Thursday night saying the sides had "complete agreement" on dollars and that was represented in their counterproposal to the league's offer, which was made late Wednesday. But then he returned minutes later in a bizarre scene with players perplexed, updating with the NHL deeming the offer "unacceptable." The voicemail was left by Daly to Fehr's brother, Steve, during Fehr's initial conference.

"This looks like it's not going to be resolved in the immediate future," Fehr said, as reported by TSN. "We are clearly very close if not on top of one another in connection with most of the major issues," Fehr said. "I don't know when discussions will resume."

Bettman spoke afterward, saying the optimism had "almost inexplicably" evaporated Wednesday afternoon after such a promising Tuesday. According to Bettman, the owners made a big push for a deal Wednesday -- which included a 10-year term with an eight-year opt out, while increasing "make whole" to $300 million from $211 (players sought $389 million so this was middle ground) -- and they expected a yes or no answer. The union was "shockingly silent" and countered Thursday instead, with a new take on pensions; the league's proposal reportedly included $50 million in pension-funding in "make-whole." The league also sought a five-year limit on player's contracts, with a seven-year one for a team re-signing its own. There would be a 5 percent variance from year-to-year as well, as a means to avoid front-loading contracts. Now, though, the union can say sayonara -- at least for the moment -- to those "make-whole" concessions as the NHL has taken them off the table.

"We have moved dramatically, we are proposing a long-term system that will play the players billions and billions of dollars over its term, but we have to have a system that works right," Bettman said, as reported by TSN. "It's all part of the package. I am disappointed beyond belief that we are where we are tonight. We're going to have to take a deep breath and try and regroup."

Bettman says there is no "drop-dead" date yet for canceling the season, but he did say he couldn't see anything less than a 48-game season, which realistically gives the two sides a month to resolve this mess, something I do think will happen eventually to salvage a season this year.

There has already been so much fan backlash the game will take time to recover as it is. Bettman and Fehr can duke it out all they want, the fact of the matter is there is way too much to be lost than gained by losing the entire season. Players lose a year's salary. Owners miss out on revenue generated games and television deals. Even though we've reached "ground zero" again, it doesn't mean a deal can't be resurrected out of the middle of nowhere, so long as the two sides meet. Thursday was a reminder that the best bet for those hockey fans still out there is to not live day-by-day with these negotiations and not get your hopes up until both sides say they are on the same page.

MLB Winter Meetings 2012: New York Mets preview

2012-12-03T01:37:06Z

Baseball's offseason kicks into high gear with the winter meetings, which begin Monday and last through Thursday.

The New York Mets have already made headlines -- in the right way, finally -- by extending the face of their franchise, David Wright, for eight seasons, a contract that will most likely let him retire in New York. They figure to also be active in Nashville, Tenn., over the next few days as well because they're willing to trade a Cy Young winner and have holes up and down the roster. Even though general manager Sandy Alderson won't be able to ink any marquee free agents -- the Mets are still not operating like a major-market team -- the Amazins are intriguing because of how creative the GM will have to get. There's already been a report that the Mets will be willing to backload contracts as a way to minimize the salary now and take on more later, when the Mets' only commitments are Wright and Jon Niese post-2014.

Areas of need

Outfield: The Mets' outfielders, collectively, had the league's second-worst OPS last season (.236/.308/.384). Andres Torres wasn't tendered a contract, leaving New York, as of now at least, with a starting outfield of Lucas Duda in left field, Kirk Nieuwenhuis in center field and Mike Baxter in right field. That's not exactly major league-quality, and Alderson knows it, even quipping, "What outfield?" when speaking to reporters in early November. In a perfect world, it'd be totally remade. The Mets may have to make due with adding two players there and running with Duda in left. At the very least, the GM adds platoon-types or guys who have been in part-time roles but want to prove themselves with the everyday job. At the most, the Mets "splurge" on guys like Ryan Ludwick, Cody Ross and/or Shane Victorino.

Catcher: The other black hole on the roster is at catcher, where the collection sported an MLB-worst OPS last season (.218/.281/.286). Josh Thole is still in town, but he's regressed over the past three seasons (1.6 WAR to replacement-level 0.1 last year). He's also not very good against lefties, so the ideal add at catcher would be a right-hander. The Mets may have to think outside the box here with a trade because the free-agent catching options aren't especially strong.

Bullpen: This is not a priority area at the winter meetings; Alderson will likely gauge the reliever market and snag a few guys later on in the offseason, but he has other more pressing needs to worry about. That's not to say the bullpen doesn't need work, though. The Mets had the second-worst ERA (4.65) in the majors last season. Frank Francisco is still in town, while Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez are out. New York does have a few interesting arms who could work in the bullpen.

Players who could be on the block

R.A. Dickey: The Mets were reportedly "stunned" to learn 40-year-old Andy Pettitte received a $12 million deal from the Yankees, so they upped their two-year offer to Dickey. Until Dickey signs on the dotted line, the front office has every reason to find a trade partner. There are reportedly six or seven teams that will meet with Alderson in Nashville about Dickey. It's hard to believe a trick-pitch 38-year-old could net enough value, but Dickey is coming off a Cy Young year and teams are desperate for pitching. There's big-time risk here: Dickey wants to be in New York, he's willing to sign below market value and New York's rotation would take a significant hit. That's why Alderson is paid to make those decisions and not the fans.

Jon Niese: There is some thought that Niese could actually command more in the trade market: He's only 26, more proven, a lefty and signed to a very team-friendly deal (he signed a five-year, $25.5 million pact he last April.) The contract aspect is what will make him so valuable on the market: Niese has settled in as a solid No. 3 starter and he's controlled for most of his prime seasons. He finished last year with a 3.40 ERA, 7.33 K/9 and 190 innings pitched. Starting pitching is an area of strength, so there's more of a reason (or comfort level) to move one of these two arms.

Lucas Duda: I'm kind of forcing the third option here, but truthfully it's hard to pick one because I don't think Ike Davis will be moved with the need for power and I'm not sure there's much trade value in anyone else. Duda is also recovering from wrist surgery, which makes him even harder to move. Fact is, Duda is an outfielder in name only; he's a designated hitter and the Mets would love to spin him to improve their outfield defense. He does have some pop, finishing with 15 home runs, but he also had a .239/.329/.389 line last year, one that saw him get sent to the minors. Daniel Murphy could also fall into this conversation as a way to improve by acquiring a more capable defender at second base.

Trade that could work: Niese for Dexter Fowler

The Mets need a center fielder. The Rockies need pitching. It seems like this could at least be the framework for a deal. Fowler is arbitration-eligible for the second time in his career (he made $2.35 million last year) and Niese is a cost-controlled lefty. The Mets may balk at Fowler's splits away from Coors Field -- .295/.395/.487 at home to .248/.331/.367 -- but Fowler is coming off his best season: .300/.389/.474 with 13 home runs, 12 steals and 72 runs, worth 2.9 wins, and he's 26 and talented. Not saying this will happen, but it's worth mentioning in this hot stove season.

David Wright: Closer look at extension, what it means for New York Mets

2012-12-01T17:37:19Z

Since Adam Wainwright's knee-buckling curve ball on Carlos Beltran to end the New York Mets' World Series bid in Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series, the feel-good moments for the Amazins have been few and far between. In fact, in the past two-plus decades I've been a fan, there has been more reasons to be disappointed and heartbroken than proud and excited. Four postseason appearances, one of which I was a month old for, tell the whole story.

But Friday was a day to celebrate: The New York Mets reached an agreement on an extension with their franchise player, third baseman David Wright. Eight years, $140 million would seem to keep the face of the franchise in New York for the rest of his career, and I couldn't be happier. The Mets wouldn't be the Mets without Wright manning the hot corner.

Still, despite the news, there are a number of questions to address about the pact and what this means for the state of the franchise. Let's take a look at a few of them ...

1) Was this the right move? As much as I love Wright and I wanted to see him stay a Met for the duration, I can't help but think the Mets would've been better off trading him to accelerate their rebuild. With the dearth of position-player prospects and numerous holes to fill on the everyday roster, moving him seemed like an acceptable play, especially with the Wilpons still operating the Mets like they are the Twins. They could've easily gotten a few long-term young pieces on affordable deals, which would seem to be more important than ever for the front office.

2) What does this mean for the franchise? You're not broke if you just committed $138 million on one player. The Wilpons may not fully open their checkbooks like they used to just yet, but I think the overriding message this sends is that the Mets are serious about getting better, serious about retaining core players and serious about spending money to do so. Losing Wright would've been a public-relations nightmare, I get that. But this is also a move that brings respectability to a franchise sorely lacking it. After letting Jose Reyes walk without as much as a conversation, general manager Sandy Alderson and Co. showed what Wright means to the franchise and that they want him to be the lynchpin and captain as they slowly remake the roster. Having a revered leader like Wright can also only help the team's future free-agent pitches. Wright is to the Mets as Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. They carry a certain cache to the field, the locker room and to the organization and there's something to be said for that.

3) Was this an overpay? The Tampa Bay Rays just reached an agreement with third baseman Evan Longoria on a six-year, $100 million deal, essentially picking up his three options and keeping him there until 2022 when he's 36 years old. Altogether, it's worth 10 years, $136 million. The extension, which will kick in when he's 30, is valued at $16.7 million per season. Longoria has been more productive, but also more injury prone than Wright. The Nationals re-upped with their third baseman, Ryan Zimmerman, last February on exactly the same extension as Longoria: six years, $100 million, which will kick in when he's 29. Wright has been the healthier and more productive player. His average annual value is $17.25, and he will play his final season at 37. Sports Illustrated's Cliff Corcoran also pointed out that Wright has averaged 28.8 (Baseball Reference) wins above replacement over his first eight seasons, an average of 3.6 per, one he's topped five times. Anything below $5 million per win is a solid deal in today's market. If Wright produces at that level for the next eight years, the Mets will have gotten a very fair deal, even by those standards.

4) What is next? Alderson said he wanted clarity with Wright and R.A. Dickey heading into the winter meetings, which begin Sunday. He's halfway there and reportedly also working to keep Dickey in New York as well. I have no problems with the Cy Young winner staying in town for a few more seasons, but I still think the Mets do themselves a disservice by not trying to capitalize while his value is at an all-time high. I think Alderson will do that in the coming days, and if offers from other teams aren't worth it, then Dickey will also be a Met for the rest of his career. The front office also needs to find able outfield bodies, a righty-hitting catcher and repair the bullpen, all within a pretty confined payroll. Doubtful they'll be able to address all of those needs at the winter meetings, but they'll at least gain some traction.

David Wright: 'Disappointed' with reports, says they're 'inaccurate'

2012-11-28T03:41:31Z

The highs and lows of a negotiation are all just part of the process. Tuesday, the New York Mets experienced it all with regard to David Wright, within a span of 12 hours.

7:21 AM: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports the Mets' initial offer was worth six years, $100 million. It was a starting point the third baseman was "certain to refuse."

11:14 AM: Andy Martino of The New York Daily News reports the Mets have offered a seven-year pact "well in excess of $100 million."

Then, a few others support that ...
3:43 PM: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports the Mets' offer for seven years is between $135-140 million. Twenty-one minutes later, Rosenthal's source tells him the deal is worth $119-129 million.

It seemed like discussions were really starting to heat up, that the ball was firmly in Wright's court. But then MLB Trade Rumors got it from the player himself a little after 7 PM:

"I have said from Day 1 that I want to play my entire career with the New York Mets," Wright said. "I remain hopeful that goal can be achieved. However, I am disappointed by reports that I have read today which are inaccurate."

So, now where do we stand?

It's obvious Wright is irked by the leaked contract figures. As someone who has always been private and has wanted to insulate negotiations from the media, these sources cannot be from Wright's camp. But it also doesn't make a lot of sense for the Mets -- if they truly want to retain their homegrown favorite -- to fabricate offers to the media. Yes, money talks. But frustrating their best player in the middle of negotiations doesn't seem like a great tactic ... unless the organization really has no interest in keeping him and wanted to spin it back on Wright: "We made a serious (and generous) offer, but Wright really never had interest in staying in New York, so now we can trade him and avoid the public-relations backlash we faced with letting Jose Reyes go."

I don't buy that. I think these negotiations are getting serious and Wright didn't appreciate this being leaked before he signed on the dotted line. Journalists aren't always right, but these are some of the best in the business. It's hard to believe these "sources" weren't reputable. Martino even tweeted later Tuesday night that he stood by his story. Neither Rosenthal, who, by the way, updated his original morning report after connecting with another source, nor Heyman have backtracked or stated otherwise.

What we know: Whether these reports were accurate or not, the Mets seem intent on clearing things up with Wright first, before focusing on R.A. Dickey. And I do think general manager Sandy Alderson and the front office honestly want to retain Wright long-term -- and they want to get it done before the season begins. It's also obvious the franchise feels Wright is worth more to the organization than Reyes was.

Implications of a deal: If Wright signs for anywhere in the neighborhood of those reports, the Mets send a message that they're willing to spend money on their star players. Certainly, inking Dickey and Wright reaffirms that their finances may be in better shape than they've let on.

But still, the biggest question remains: If both (or one, especially Wright) sign, these are still not the freespending Mets of old, so how does this affect their ability to address other holes this offseason?

NHL lockout 2012: No two-week break, talks will resume Monday night

2012-11-18T03:38:55Z

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman proposed a two-week moratorium on the collective-bargaining talks. However, all along the union wanted meet, and that's what the league and the players' association will do Monday night in New York City, eight days after the two sides last convened.

After more frustration as the negotiations reached yet another stalemate, Bettman (oddly) thought that setting it aside altogether was the best way to go, instead of, you know, getting together and hashing out a deal. Some reports indicated it was a move by the Commissioner to get the players to sweat it out, eventually caving as more of their pay was lost. Others said that it was Bettman's move to show the that the league had never privately set a date it wanted to begin the season by.

Regardless, players and owners both will be attending a "smaller group" meeting, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, hopefully gaining some sort of traction as the talks hit a crucial point. The agenda has not been released.

The work stoppage has already dragged on for 63 days, with games through the end of November cancelled and games through Dec. 15 next, a move that will become official by the middle of this coming week. The Jan. 1 Winter Classic has been nixed and the All-Star game is also very close to being called off as well.

Along with how the 50-50 hockey-related revenue split would be reached, the two sides are still not seeing eye-to-eye on how the damage of the lockout will be accounted for, and player contract rights have also emerged as a significant hurdle. A report from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Michael Russo on Friday revealed that the NHL figured out the two sides were just over $1 billion apart and would never reach 50-50, based on league charts that illustrated the NHLPA's latest proposal, which begins with a "guaranteed" share of $1.916 in Year 1 and grows by 1.75% each year.

Still, a break in the talks would only be more destructive, so at least the two sides will be getting together. Though what that leads to is another question.