Back in October, I blogged extensively on several rumors that had the Mets hotly pursuing Seattle Mariners closer, J.J. Putz. Those rumors died down in November when it became apparent that the mariners’ asking price was extraordinarily high.
As I’ve mentioned time and time again, I have a strong sense that the Mets would rather trade for a closer rather than cave into the demands of Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes.
Even though, both Fuentes and Rodriguez have lowered their initial demands which ranged between $12 – $15 million per season, the Mets still would rather trade for a closer that would cost them half that much.
The reason for that is because they are still irked about being on the hook for Billy Wagner’s $11 million dollar salary this season which they must still pay.
Joel Sherman of the NY Post has learned, that the Mariners have made J.J. Putz available once again.
The Mets plan on speaking to Seattle officials at the Winter Meetings, but they will have plenty of competition as many clubs are interested in Putz, such as the Indians. Putz is due $5 million in 2009 with an $8.6 million option in 2010 or a $1 million buyout. So he has the combination of cost certainty and a quality arm.
The Mets like Putz as much – or possibly more – than any of the available free-agent closers. That led one AL official to ask “If the Mets trade for Putz, then K-Rod and Fuentes are really in trouble. Where are they going to get the big money then?
You can obviously see why Putz is so attractive to the Mets. As for myself, I have always liked Putz, and if trading for him would clear up more money to bring in a higher end starting pitcher, then I am all for it.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
NO!!! forget Putz, get me K-Rod, and bring Putz in as a set up man!
are you effing kidding me??
I am sooo god damn sick of Omar being a cheap son of a bitch…Please do not tell me you are gonna trade away F Mart for Putz. Please. Putz is terrible. Maybe he is good as our set up man, but no way will he be a good closer for us. Last year he had 15 saves in 23 opportunities. Yes, thats 8 blown saves in 23 chances. Gimme a break. I would rather have Heilman as our closer. This is getting fuckin ridiculous. Just sign K Rod and get it over with. Geez
It’s not Omar thats cheap it’s the Wilpons. Omars not paying the players salaries ownership is.
That being said, if the Mets are going to trade FMART then I’d much rather sign KRod and trade FMART for a Starting Pitcher.
If I owned the Mets:
- Sign Manny
- Sign KRod
- Trade Beltran, FMART, Heilman and player to be named for Arron Rowand and Tim Lincecum
- Sign Lowe
- Sign O Dog
Lineup
SS Jose Reyes
2B Castillo
3B D. Wright
LF Manny
1b Delgado
CF Rowand
RF Murphy
C Shnieder
Rotation
- Johan
- Lincecum
- D Lowe
- Pelfrey
- Maine
Obviously this is just a pipe dream. I will never have enough money to own the Mets and the Mets will end up making only one of these moves which will be signing KROD.
I look forward to watching the same exact team that we have had the previous 2 seasons.
TRADE DELGADO TO MARINERS FOR J.J. PUTZ AND R.A. Dickey.
TRADE Brian Schneider TO REDS FOR Jared Burton and Ramon Ramirez.
TRADE HEILMAN AND FELICIANO TO ORIOLES FOR Daniel Cabrera AND Jim Miller.
SIGN HORACIO RAMIREZ HOFFMAN, IBANEZ AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ.
Some of you people are living in a dream world. F-Mart, Beltran, and Heilman for Rowand and Lincecum.HAHAHAHAHAHAHA That wouldnt even work in a video game!!
Pete-
I agree. I said about a month ago I would offer that trade to include Pelfrey and my baseball IQ was insulted because that was waaaaayyyy too much for the Mets to be giving up.
I love Beltran but it’s become clear that this core group of Mets can’t get the job done. Now I would be in favor of adding Manny to the core but Wilpon won’t pay for it. In my opinion Wright and Reyes are untouchable.
So that leaves either Delgado or Beltran to get traded. I’d rather trade Delgado but at 37 years old you wont get much. Beltran on the other hand at 32 and 3 years left on his deal would get you a ton. Now I wouldn’t give him away but if I could get a good/great young SP for him I’d have to think about it.
But these are pipe dreams as I said before, Mets will bring back the same lineup as we had last year and probably the same rotation. New Closer, same team. 88 wins sounds about right.
Y are people gettin rid of baseballs best center fielder?? Beltran is the best center fielder in the game. sizemore is 2nd but beltran is much better then him. Puttz stuff is nasty.
hey nosh are u slow lol u signed o dog and then started castillo at 2b….and beltran and f mart 4 bumass rowand ok lincecum is nice but not for beltran and fmart wow im sure glad u dont have the money to buy the mets i might hang myself if those moves were made lol
Why does everyone think our offense needs a fix? If I recall, it has NOT been our offense that has stumbled the past coulple of years, in fact, it’s been quite the opposite. It’s our pitching that needs fixing. I’m sick of hearing all the, sign Ibanez, sign Manny, trade for this guy. The Mets offense is set, with MAYBE the exception of 2B, if they can get lucky during the Winter Meetings. But please, stop with all the other field positions. What he have is what we are going to have come April.
jERRY-
Yeah I screwed up the Odog thing. I meant to have his name in there instead of Castillo.
As for Beltran, he’s great, he’s the best CF in baseball hands down. And what has that gotten our team?
This team needs a change and Wright and Reyes are untouchable. Johan is not going anywhere, and Delgado won’t get much in return. Beltran could get you a ton. It’s not as though I’d be GIVING Beltran away.
Lincecum is the best young Pitcher in baseball, it’s not even debatable. And ohh yeah he’s 25! So yes you’d be giving up Beltran but you’d have the 2 best pitchers in baseball on your staff. And Rowand is a capable defender in CF and the “GAMER” type the Mets sorely need. The key is getting Manny to replace Beltrans bat.
But Jerry not to worry. No major changes will be made. A new closer, maybe a few new arms in the bullpen, and basically the same uninspired club as last year. I can’t wait for the season to begin! 88 wins here we come!!!!!!!!!
It’s almost as though that the Mets have become so good at disappointing us fans for so many years that now I see many fans just accepting Mediocrity.
Yes we need Bullpen help and that will surley be addressed. But don’t we also need some Offense at the bottom of the order. Don’t we also need some Starting Pitching. Wouldn’t a guy like Manny help loosen up that Mets clubhouse? Look what he did for LA?
And yet with big names like Tex, and Manny out there, the New York Mets are no where to be heard from. If I’m not mistaken aren’t we the 3rd richest team in baseball? MLB in a NY market and we can’t get involved in the Texiera sweepstakes?
But this is the Mets. The Mickey Mouse Mets. Same team, new field, no clue.