A recap of today’s hot stove news.
According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Cubs have traded Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks for prospect LHP Scott Maine and 1B Ryne White. Heilman finished 2009 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 70 relief appearances. The Cubs may have also found a suitor for outfielder Milton Bradley. Bob Nightengale reported that the Tampa Bay Rays are close to acquiring the problematic, but talented outfielder.
Nightengale also reported via Twitter, that the Yankees are quietly shopping Nick Swisher. The 28-year-old outfielder batted just .249, but had a very respectable .371 OBP and hit 29 homers with 89 RBIs. Considering his age and production, I’m sure plenty of teams will be interested.
ESPN reported that Jason Bay rejected a $60 million dollar offer for 4 years from the Boston Red Sox and will now test the free agent waters. His agent did say that he will continue to negotiate with Boston. Meanwhile, a source told Jon Heyman that the Mets would have interest in Jason Bay if the price for Matt Holliday is too high.
Add the Los Angeles Dodgers to the growing list of teams that will try to acquire starting pitcher Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays. It became abundantly clear during the playoffs that the Dodgers desperately lacked an ace pitcher and if your going to get one, why not go after the best. Still, I thought it was odd that they would simply let Randy Wolf go after giving them a solid season at a very reasonable cost.
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Nick Swisher may be usefull on the Mets. He’s a switch hitter, plays 1B or OF, and has some good power. Despite the low batting averag, he has a solid OBP which is what really matters in the long run. He hit 29 homers this season and also walked 97 times after hitting 24 homers and walking 82 times the year before. We can use that kind of patience and power on this team. In 5 years he has over 150 doubles, thats an average of 30 per season.
I think the Mets would be foolish not to kick the tires on one of the stud starters coming off of injury. Sheets, Harden, Bedard, Penny, Duchscherer, or even Pedro/Smoltz were stars at one time and can be very effective if they can stay healthy. I know thats a big “if” but the Mets rotation was a mess last year and I would take anyone of those guys over Maine, Ollie or Pelf (who I still feel was rushed to the majors but thats another topic). Most of those pitchers can be had on one year deals and seem like low risk high reward type players. I know the Mets will sign either Lackey, Pineiro, or Marquis but they need more change in the rotation than that. Any comments?
Good points; i’ve been making similar comments. We need to stack the rotation with depth. i’ve been pushing for Lackey…then 2 of 3 among Marquis, Wolf, Sheets. Then Pelf / Maine can vie for the 5th spot…and Ollie, if possible, could redeem himself or be traded.
And i’d throw $$$$$$$$$$’s at Matt Holliday, Chone Figgins, trade Castillo for the Dodgers’ Casey Blake to back Murphy up…
It disturbs me aboutthese ‘planted’ innuendos in the media about ‘if’ Matt Hooliday costs too much, the Mets will….
THAT has been our problem for a longtime. STOP! We have 30mm coming off the payroll, make 5mm/yr for the naming rights and have a very expensive ticket / concession structure in the best market in the country.
Spend the money wisely, but spend it.
No to Swisher. But if the Mets want to make a statement, Sign Holliday, Lackey and trade for Adrain Gonzalez! That would convice a lot of Met fans that the Wilpons are actually commited.
Realistic, they should go after Phillips and Arroyo. Than go after Holliday, Molina and Sheets. They would have enough balanced power and inning eaters to compete against the Phillies. They would also hold on to their main prospects as depth and potential mid-season trade bait.
Castillo (sell high), Maine or Pelfrey traded to the Reds along with bodies, I would also get Nady in an incentive deal to back up Murphy.
HOJO, SUPRISED AT LAD RELINQUISHING WOLF? I’M GUESSING U HAVEN’T READ ANY OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT WHY SUCH A SUPPOSEDLY RELIABLE LH SP WOULD BE SO EXPENDABLE TO SO MANY PITCHING WISE FRANCHISES. CONSIDER THIS SINCE 2006, WOLF HAS BEEN ROSTERED BY PHL,LAD,SD,HOU,LAD,?. IS RELIABLE LHSP THAT EASILY ACQUIRED AS NONE OF THESE FRANCHISES CHOSE TO KEEP HIM? I BELIEVE THEERE IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING OTHER THAT STATISTICLY RELATED WRONG WITH THIS GUY & I HAVEN’T A CLUE WHAT IT IS. HAS ANYONE EVER READ A SUBSTANTIVE REPORT HINTING AT WHAT THAT MIGHT BE? I’M THINKING IT’S SOMETHING VERY SENSITIVE IN NATURE Re. PC WISE ala SEXUAL IN NATURE, LEGAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE(ALCOHOL?), CLUBHOUSE DEMEANOR? ANYBODY? THERE’S GOT TO BE SOMETHING. DODGERS TOOK 2 TURNS; BUT NO MORE! “WHY?” SCREAMS OUT AT ME! PEDOPHILIA? HEAVEN FORBID! SOMEONE ASKED & HE TOLD? UNLIKELY NOT TODAY. TOO MUCH SOAP DROPPING? (LOL) WOLF, TO ME IS TOOOOO RISKY FOR THESE NON-APPARENT REASONS. AT LEAST THERE’S SOME HOPE(GLIMMER) OLLIE MAY JUST PUT IT TOGETHER.