30
2009
The Cardinals Are Brilliant, Mets Not So Much
An article by 
As most of you know, the Cardinals picked up utility infielder Mark DeRosa for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later.
Of course some of us were shocked that the mets couldn’t up that offer, and there has been plenty of debate as to whether or not trading Bobby Parnell was worth it. Of course Mets fans always place such a high premium on Mets prospects even when they don’t warrant it. The funny thing is that the Indians flat out told Omar Minaya they didn’t particularly care for any Mets relief prospects and that includes Parnell, and last year’s untouchable Eddie Kunz.
We sometimes for get you don’t make a deal by giving the other team what you want to give them. You make a deal by giving them what THEY want.
As much as we like to convince ourselves about the future greatness of Jon Niese, Fernando Martinez and Bobby Parnell, the fact of the matter is they are just not looked at the same way outside of Mets circles. It doesn’t matter how valuable we think they are. All that matters is how valuable the rest of the league thinks they are.
Getting back to the Mark DeRosa deal, it’s mind boggling when you consider how brilliant this move was from every angle you look at it. The Cardinals are such a first class operation from top to bottom.
The Cards already knew that Khalil Greene was going to be out with stress related problems. They were able to get DeRosa without getting squeezed by the Indians because everyone in the organization operates on the same page unlike the Mets. The Indians would have demanded much more if they knew the Cardinals were about to DL their third baseman. Loose lips, sink ships.
The Cardinals also stand to gain two more prospects if they decide to let Mark DeRosa walk at the end of the season. And we are not talking 5th and 6th rounders either. If DeRosa continues to rake as he has, he will be a Class A free agent. That means who ever signs him in the off season, forfeits their first round draft pick. Plus the Cardinals get a supplemental pick before the start of the second round.
So the bottom line is they get the services of a 100 RBI bat with a great clubhouse attitude and a winning mentality, and then after the season they get two top draft picks, and all that for a middle relief prospect and a player to be named later. Considering the enormous drafts the Cardinals have had in this decade, what a bonanza of riches.
Genius… I tip my hat to the Cardinals… Well played guys…
Don’t blame Omar for not trying to get DeRosa. We have no evidence to suggest he didn’t. But if you believe some of the stuff circulating out there, the Indians told Minaya that we were not a good match. In other words, they had no interest in any of our relievers, and that includes Parnell and Kunz.
Parnell will be back in the minors as soon as Maine and Perez are activated. You could put that in the bank.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 19 | .578 | 0.5 |
| Mets | 24 | 20 | .545 | 2.0 |
| Marlins | 24 | 20 | .545 | 2.0 |
| Phillies | 22 | 23 | .489 | 4.5 |
Last updated: 05/24/2012
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Chris Perez last night was headhunting Ramirez and Dye. Then didn’t hustle to cover first. Nice first impressions to join your new team.
I didnt say it in my blog, but the Indians got ripped, plain and simple.
Great article. The Cards sure showed they are astute in their deal making while “hiding their cards well (pun intended)” as opposed to Minaya who allowed the weakness of his hand to be shown. Yep, the Cards took the Tribe for a ride, while we get left at the altar with wilted roses.
…wilted roses, a teary eye, and a sniffle.
How did the Tribe get ripped? They gave up a player who is a free agent after the season and wasn’t part of their long term plans in a season in which they have fallen out of contention.
Chris Perez could prove to be a useful arm out of the bullpen and they can afford to let him take lumps in the big leagues this year as part of his learning process. And don’t forget they got a “player to be named later” in the deal…
By saying the Tribe got ripped, I believe they could have gotten much more. (Pirates got 2 prospects for Hinske!)
I think holding on to DeRosa and getting the two 1st round draft picks (one supplemental) would have been better than what they received in return, plus they could have remained somewhat competitive by keeping DeRosa.
The rumors were that the Indians wanted a ton for DeRosa according to MLB Trade Rumors. Omar Minaya said the same thing.
I’m sorry but I don’t believe the Indians got a ton in my opinion.
Chris Perez is a good prospect, but not a great prospect. The Cardinals not only get DeRosa for the rest of this season, but they will get two picks afterward that will restock their farm. The Indians should have gotten more than a PTBNL and Perez.
MASK, HOW WOULD U PROPOSE OMAR HIDE ANYTHING IN THIS CITY. BESIDES THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH WOULDN’T WRITE ANY EXPOSE THAT MIGHT HURT THEIR CLUB’S CHANCES, WHILE HERE THEIR ARE COUNTLESS SOURCES WHO’D RELISH DOING JUST THAT TO OUR METS. BESIDES WHEN THE TEAM ATTEMPTS TO DOWNPLAY INJURIES TO PERHAPS HIDE THE EXTENT OF THEIR DESPERATION, WHAT’S HAPPENED? THIS ISN’T RELEGATED TO THE HARMLESS PASTIME OF SPORTS. DO YOU REMEMBER THE PRESS’ REACTION TO BUSH SR.’s ANNOUNCEMENT OF A CLANDESTINED SOMALIA TROOP LANDING? THE PRESS HAD THE BEECH SURROUNDED COMPLETE WITH KLEIG LIGHTS, SO MUCH FOR CLANDESTINED. THEY’D STILL BE SPEAKING GERMAN AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT EUROPE IF THE PRESS GOT WIND OF D-DAY PRIOR TO 6/6.
Mets have been overrating prospect for years, and as much as I’d like them to succeed, I am now questioning the Mets player developement throughout the organization. F-Mart still looks like he’s a year away, they say Parnell needs secondary pitches, and Murph is thinking too much. Niese has been better, but is not ready, Holt and others are too young and I would prefer the Mets not push them anyway. So, who is really running the farm and cultivating players? Other organizations seem to put someone on the major league roster every couple of years who contribute, some more than others. I guess it’s time for the Mets to tear this thing down and start from scratch!
You can blame Tony B. for most of the lack of stability.
did they overrate heath bell? he is one the best closers in the league.
what about carlos gomez? OBP is under .300, he is killing the twin offense.
kazmir? they clearly undervalued him.
phil humber? bust
lastings milledge? bust
gaby hernandez, yusmeiro petit?
don’t forget the Bannister kid either.
CAPSLOCK…
LJ, GROW UP HOW CAN THEY GET OTHER TEAMS TO POSSIBLY OVERPAY IF THEY TOLD EVERYONE WHO SUCKED & WHO WAS GREAT.
THE OLD STORY ABOUT BRANCH RICKEY’S DEALINGS WAS HIS STATEMENT THAT EVER MINOR LEAGUER HE WANTED TO DUMP WAS AN “UNTOUCHABLE”. IT’S SAID IF HE REALLY WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH A MINOR LEAGUER NAMED, JOHN SMITH AND HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANOTHER GM HE’D START THE CONVERSATION WITH” I’M WILLING TO DISCUSS EVERYONE; BUT JOHN SMITH” THIS USUALLY PIQUED THE INTEREST OF THE CALLING GM WHO LIKELY NEVER HEARD OF JOHN SMITH; BUT WAS SUDDENLY DEMANDING HIS INCLUSION IN ANY DEAL. IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT THIS PLOY IS TERRIBLY DIFFICULT BUT STILL JUST AS EFFECTIVE & LIKELY HOW WE GOT NATS TO OVERPAY FOT MILLEDGE.
excellent point Mets62 as always…
Rickey was a man ahead of his times – and it’s amazing how many things he did to revolutionize baseball.
As for the Mets evaluation of prospects – the points above on Gomez, Humber, Kazmir, Milledge et al. It’s WAY too early to call them busts. In fact of all of them – so far Kazmir hasn’t been as big a regret as he could’ve been due to injury (which was the concern that devalued him in our system that allowed Philips to make that outrageous trade).
MLB players typically peak from 26 to 28 – and pitchers, catchers and middle infielders for some reason sometimes peak even later (like 30). Until those players reach those ages it’s too early to pass judgment.
As for the current Mets prospects – the one issue we have is aside from F-Mart (who may need one more year in the minors) – all our top guys are a few years away at least (Mejia, Holt, Thole etc…) Their value will increase as they move up the system – and hopefully they will either be a part of a future team or be chips to use when WE need a crucial piece to make a run at a title.
The Cardinals simply gave the indians a better pitcher than Parnell/Kunz. It’s no secret that the Indians are desperate for relievers.
Perez was the #4 prospect in the St. Louis farm, and was regarded as a closer of the future, he was in the mix for the closer spot in ST. With Kerry Wood going the way he’s going, Perez could close by the end of the year.
Maybe the Indians were a little gun shy about dealing with Mets considering that Joe Smith is having problems with the Tribe this year.