Mets Merized Online

When I first heard this trade early this afternoon, I was actually in my car and I literally had to pull over and let it sink in… Then I felt a perfect storm brewing in my head… I was freaking mad…

After hearing all this hype about what a talent Lastings Milledge was, and how he was going to be in our outfield for years and years, what happened?

Wasn’t this the same Lastings Milledge that was deemed untouchable only two seasons ago when the Red Sox wanted to trade us Manny Ramirez??

Needless to say I went back to work, confused, irritated, and feeling let down. I heard all the calls on WFAN from other outraged Mets fans sprinkled in with Yankee fans who were laughing their asses off. I heard Mike and the Maddog rip the trade from all angles all afternoon. When they said that Omar Minaya would be a guest at 4:30 PM I thought, let me hear what Omar has to say. Maybe he can impart some words of wisdom or at the very least encouragement so that I can feel better about what had just transpired. You know what?? He did just that. Omar told us why he made the deal, why it improved the Mets for 2008, and why he felt he had to move Lastings Milledge. It all made sense.

Let’s look at the right field situation first. Omar said he thought Ryan Church was better defensively and offensively than Lastings Milledge is right now. I agree with Omar on this. The 29 year old Church,had his first full season in the majors in 2007 and batted .271 with 15 homeruns and 70 runs batted in. His on-base percentage was .349 and his slugging percentage was .462. He also connected on 43 doubles. He did all of this while playing in a notorious pitchers park that has robbed many a player of his power and average.

Omar seems to think that his numbers will improve significantly at Shea Stadium. Maybe 10-12 of those doubles would have gone over the wall at Shea, who knows for sure, but one thing is certain, I do believe Church will out-produce Milledge for the next two seasons at the very least.

I still believe that Milledge will become a very good ballplayer in the major leagues, but he clearly was not there yet. Church has a tendency to strike out  a lot, so I would say he probably gets penciled into the number six spot of the lineup behind Delgado and Alou. Defensively he is an excellent corner outfielder with a strong arm, good instincts, and gets a nice jump on the ball. Minaya said that he would be the everyday right fielder, but I could see him being worked into a platoon if the Mets pick up a solid right handed bat.

Okay, let’s take a look at Brian Schneider…

To begin with, he is a left handed batter. This would make for an excellent platoon partner for Ramon Castro. Minaya has always loved him, and it’s easy to see why. He is regarded as one of the better defensive catchers in the game and is well thought of by all of his pitchers, past and present. Last season he threw out 31% of attempted base stealers, which was actually low for him, but infinitely better than Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro and Johnny Estrada.

Offensively, don’t expect much more than a .250 average and around 50 RBI’s, but he has a good eye at the plate and had as many strikeouts as walks last season with 56. He’s by no means an easy out and he does turn it up a notch in clutch situations. At 32 years old, he is five years younger than Lo Duca.

I’m not thrilled about losing Lastings Milledge. But, I am also much more calmer about the situation than I was when I first heard the deal this afternoon. There was not one team out there who regarded Milledge as highly as us Mets fans did. We all like to feel our prospects are better than what they really are. 

You can count on one thing after this trade. The Mets are significantly a better defensive team going into next season, and they didn’t take that much of a hit offensively to do it. 

WFAN Radio is reporting the Mets have traded Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for C Brian Schneider and OF Ryan Church.

2007 STATS 

Lastings Milledge   |   Right Field/Center Field

Brian Schneider    |   Catcher 

Ryan Church   |   Left Field/Center Field   

On Thursday, Omar Minaya addressed the Jose Reyes rumors by saying, "Jose Reyes is one of our core players. I don’t see us trading Jose Reyes for one of those guys being mentioned. It just doesn’t make sense for us."

Minaya went on to say that the Mets are very happy with Jose Reyes. Minaya declined to comment on Johan Santana. Trading Reyes would diminish the Mets lineup and leave our team with a huge gap at shortstop. The loss of Reyes also means the loss of something special: the loss of our speed. Jose led the majors in stolen bases, swiping 78 bags. He stole more bases than 5 MLB teams.

We’re talking about one of the best pitchers in baseball. We’re also talking about the most exciting player in baseball, the King of Thieves, and a man who has his own song at Shea. I’m glad that Omar has made the decision not to trade Jose. Nobody can replace Jose; sure, Carlos Gomez has the speed. But does he have the offense that Jose provided? Can somebody else step up and become the catalyst that Jose is?

No pitcher is worth the loss of Jose Reyes, not even Johan Santana. I hope the Mets find their ace, but I also hope they go down a more realistic route. Acquiring Dan Haren or Joe Blanton from the A’s seems to be our strongest option, followed by Eric Bedard from the Orioles. Omar wants to win, no doubt. But we won’t do it if we trade Reyes for Santana. He is something special, even Steve Phillips kept him around. In Omar we trust.

In addition to releasing their annual top organizational prospects list, Baseball America also does a synopsis of who has the best tools in each organization.

I always enjoy looking this particular list over because it gives me a better sense of not only who the Mets prospects are, but also what their biggest strengths are. For example, I’ve always heard about what a great hitter Fernando Martinez was, but I never knew that the scouts viewed him as the Mets’ best power hitting prospect. For some strange reason I always thought Mike Carp would have been the best hitter for power…

I am a little surprised that Eddie Kunz, who we’ve heard so much about, is not featured in any category. I guess that all this list represents is just another way to look at our prospects. I could see a great all-around athlete getting left off the list simply because he may not be the best in any of these attributes. That’s why it’s better to look at this along with Baseball America’s Top 20 Prospects list, to get a more complete picture.

Offense:
Best Hitter for Average: Fernando Martinez
Best Power Hitter: Fernando Martinez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Ruben Tejeda
Fastest Baserunner: Carlos Gomez

Defense:
Defensive Catcher: Mike Nickeas
Best Defensive Infielder: Jose Coronado
Best Infield Arm: Wilmer Flores
Best Defensive Outfielder: Carlos Gomez
Best Outfield Arm: Carlos Gomez

Pitching:
Best Fastball: Brant Rustich
Best Curveball: Philip Humber
Best Slider: Kevin Mulvey
Best Changeup: Deolis Guerra
Best Control: Dylan Owen

Best Athlete: Carlos Gomez

I’m starting to wonder why almost all the Mets trade rumors I hear about, seem to include Carlos Gomez. If he is the best athlete we have, is it wise to dangle him in almost every trade rumor?

That is why I always say, "In Omar We Trust."

Like I said in my previous post, Omar Minaya is to smart a general manager to trade an everyday superstar shortstop for a starting pitcher, even one as great as Johan Santana. (see post below)

In a great article by Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Joel shared some great quotes that Omar Minaya made regarding the Johan Santana negotiations. I’m just going to give you some of what was written, but make sure you read the full article because it is a great read.

“I like going after the big fish, but I can’t rob Peter to pay Paul," Omar Minaya said by phone. “I’m not getting rid of Jose Reyes."

That Minnesota was still asking for Reyes likely means the Twins do not believe the Mets have enough attractive options among their prospects to make a deal.

The Mets’ pitching prospects are not viewed as generously around the majors with Mike Pelfrey and Phil Humber regressing last year. However, Minaya defended them.

“I have two 15-game winners (John Maine, Oliver Perez) that other teams gave up on," Minaya said. “If young guys have high-end arms and good deliveries, you have to ignore the stats on occasion. Pitching goes up and down. (Matt) Garza took a step back this year in some people’s eyes, and Tampa just traded for him (as part of the Young trade)."

Minaya said he is prioritizing finding a No. 1 starter.

“We would like to be able to get it if we can," he said. “But I do hate to give up young players. I would prefer doing major league player for major league player in a trade. That might not be possible. But you know me, if I had to pay a little more to get a premium guy, I would. But I won’t go crazy, though."

I hope that Joel’s article will curtail some of the crazy notions out there that are swirling around the Mets blogosphere. I am glad that Omar was so candid and ended his remarks by saying he will do his best, but he wouldn’t do anything crazy. Those are exactly the words I wanted to hear from our GM.

Last night’s big six player trade which saw the Minnesota Twins acquire OF Delmon Young, INF Brendan Harris and OF Jason Pridie from the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett and RHP Eduardo Morlan, has led to some very wild speculation.

Some sites and newspapers are suggesting that in the aftermath of the Twins/Rays trade, Minnesota now had a big gaping hole at shortstop and that they have their eyes set on Jose Reyes.

Hogwash!

That is the most ridiculous of all Mets trade rumors. Omar Minaya is too smart a general manager to trade an everyday superstar shortstop for a starting pitcher, even one as great as Johan Santana.

Jose Reyes is on the verge of becoming one of the greatest Mets position players of all time. In the last three years he has stolen 60 or more bases. He has scored over 325 runs in that same span. He is excellent defensively and getting better everyday. He is already considered one of the finest leadoff hitters in the game, and he is only 24 years old.

Additionally, Omar Minaya has already gone on record and emphatically stated that Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright will not be traded in any scenario.

It’s so sad that after years and years of watching the Yankees win title after title with home grown superstars like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, that the Mets finally start bringing up amazing players like Jose Reyes and David Wright and all of a sudden everyone wants to trade them or push them around to other positions.

I wish everyone would just calm down and stop thinking that the future of the Mets revolves around a Johan Santana trade. It doesn’t. Omar Minaya may or may not make a deal for Santana, but if he doesn’t then there is other fish in the sea.

But the notion that Jose Reyes will be sent packing for a player who will only play 30 games a season, is totally insane.

Everytime I look up it seems like yet another free agent reliever is off the market. Today was no different as two more quality relievers signed deals with their new teams.

Francisco Cordero ended up signing a very fat contract that will pay him $46 million dollars over four years while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds. It seems like a lot of money to me, but the market is what it is.

Meanwhile over in Chi-Town, the White Sox snatched Scott Linebrink off the market by offering him a four-year $19 million dollar contract. Linebrink was one of the guys that I hoped Minaya would key in on, but alas it wasn’t meant to be.

Even the Kansas City Royals got into the act today by finally finalizing the much rumored deal with Japanese import, Yasuhiko Yabuta. He signs on for a two year guaranteed deal for $6 million dollars, and it also includes an option year.

Whew…

Already this month, relief pitchers Kerry Wood, J.C. Romero and of course Mariano Rivera, both reached agreements with their former teams. Relievers are also being moved around in trades too, with Brad Lidge and Oscar Villarreal, joining the Phillies and Braves respectively.

So what’s left out their for the Mets?

Like I said in the title, it’s slim pickings…

Shawn Chacon, Octavio Dotel, Matt Herges, Eric Gagne and David Riske are probably the best of a very weak crop. The mets have been rumored to have interest in the first two guys on the list, but from what I’ve read it was more of a feeling out process than anything else.

I have a feeling that if Omar Minaya does infuse some new blood into the bullpen, it may probably come via trade. And no I’m not counting the trade they made for Brian Stokes earlier today…

The Mets have reportly acquired relief pitcher Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash. Stokes went 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 62 1/3 innings last season. The 28-year old will battle for a spot in the Mets pen in the spring.

Sorry I’m not reporting more exciting news but maybe this is a start of something big!

Say what you will about the non-moves the Mets have made so far this season. We are inundated with hundreds of rumors about the Yankees, Dodgers and Angels making a move for Johan Santana. Countless rumors about pitchers Erik Bedard, Dan Haren Dontrelle Willis and even Scott Kazmir.

Most everyone seems to think the Yankees are a lock, simply because Hank Steinbrenner leaked some details of their negotiations to the media. He lit a fire that is now raging out of control, and in the process left Mets fans wondering…

Why isn’t Omar Minaya talking to Minnesota? Or Baltimore? Or even the Oakland A’s?

That’s the difference between a professional general manager like Omar Minaya, and a non-baseball guy like Hank Steinbrenner. Minaya knows his craft and is very good at it. He operates in stealth mode because he knows that loose lips sink ships… and sink potential deals too.

There was not one sportswriter or analysts who could have predicted that the Mets would trade Guillermo Mota for Johnny Estrada. Not even a hint of a rumor existed. Then to shock of many, Guillermo Mota was banished without even some cash to go with him.

The fact of the matter is that the Mets have already spoken to the Twins, long before the Yankees blurted out their news and showed all their cards. The truth is that Omar may have an ace in the hole. This morning on ESPN radio, Andrew Marchand cited a major league executive who revealed that Twins GM Bill Smith has had talks with Omar Minaya regarding Johan Santana. "Don’t count the Mets out" he said.

It would be great to see Santana pitch at Shea this season and another five years in the new Citi Field. But, if it doesn’t come to pass, there are still some great options out there, and word has it that Omar is in the mix for pitchers Dan Haren or Erik Bedard.

David Lennon of Newsday had an interesting article today in which he looks closely at the Mets  possibly going Dan Haren and possibly even Joe Blanton. Either of them would be a tremendous boost for the rotation.

Next week at this time, it will be an exciting time for Mets fans who have been waiting anxiously for wheeling and dealing to begin.

By the way, it now looks like the Yankees negotiations with the Twins have hit a snag. (That’s what happens when they pop the cork before sealing the deal!)

Billy Wagner has long been known for his ability to close games with the best of them. However, he is also prone to his short-tempered bursts of emotion, which sometimes gets himself in trouble with what he says.

Yesterday may have been one of those days. During an interview for mets.com, he was very critical of the Mets off season moves to date and expressed his displeasure over the losses of Tom Glavine and Paul Lo Duca.

Regarding Glavine he said:

"Losing Tom is big. It’s a lot more than the 13 games he won. It’s what he did for John Maine and Oliver Perez and how professional he was. People want to focus on one bad game or just the day-to-day stats. He was one of the few leaders we had. We’re down 13 games already, plus all the games Tom deserved to win."

About Lo Duca he added this:

"Maybe he wasn’t the best receiver. I don’t know. But Paulie competed. He battled every day, and we had some guys who didn’t show up every day. They were satisfied if they got a hit and we lost. Paul was angry if he had four hits and we lost. And every one of the pitchers trusted him. He was a big part of what we did in 2006, and now he’s gone, too… It just worries me that we’re missing some important guys."

Regarding Willie’s reluctance to give roles to his bullpen pitchers:

"I understand what Willie wants — for a lot of guys to be able to pitch whenever they’re needed for as long as he needs them. I’m not sure you can have that. Guys are used to having roles. They’ll take the ball because that’s what the job is and that’s what the manager wants. But the idea is to get them into situations where they can be successful. I mean, you wouldn’t ask Carlos Delgado to bunt."

Regarding Omar’s lack of a plan:

"Someone asked me what I thought of our team, what team? I’m trying to be positive. I’m saying we have some good players. But I’m worried. The Braves are getting better, and the Phillies made a move acquiring Brad Lidge."

Is Billy Wagner right? Is he out of line for waving the warning flags ahead of the 2008 season?

He went on to say that he thinks trading Aaron Heilman would be a tragic mistake. He implied that without Lo Duca and Glavine on the team, he worried about where the competitive spark will come from among the remaining players.

Let’s face it… Billy Wagner expressed out loud what many Mets fans have been screaming about for the last five weeks. Yesterday I wrote about the two types of Mets fans and their expectation levels for the team.

Today, the "Dark Side" as I referred to them, found themselves a leader for their cause.

You hear fans and writers express their opinions all day long on Mets sites just like this one. The "take things slow and easy" crowd twist and shout whenever their is a call for extreme action. The "we got to win right now" become infuriated with the laid-back opinions of their counterparts.

Regardless of what you read and what you believe, I know one thing is certain. When a player from the team starts saying things like this, it is a cause for concern. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Score one for the Dark Side…