6
2009
Mets Looking At Nationals’ Josh Willingham
An article by Hojo's Mojo
On the eve of the 2009 Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, finally a Mets rumor that doesn’t shake my confidence and that I can sink my teeth into.
According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Mets are interested in Nationals outfielder, Josh Willingham.
Add the Mets as one of the teams who have interest in Nationals left fielder Josh Willingham, according to a baseball source. The Giants, Mariners and Braves are the other teams who reportedly are willing to acquire his services. “Willingham is the only player on the Nationals the Mets are interested in,” the source said.
Willingham, 30, had a very solid debut season with the Nationals batting .260 with 24 home runs and 61 RBIs. He had a very solid .367 on-base percentage to go with a robust .863 OPS.
The only knock on Willingham might be his defense, but couple with a defensive caddy like Angel Pagan, this just my be a nice play for the Mets.
Willingham would still be under team control for another two years, and as Ladson mentioned, there are other interested parties so acquiring him may not be that easy. The Mets may have to heavily out maneuver the Giants and mariners to convince the Nationals to trade Willingham within the division. It was easy to give up Brian Schneider and his $10 million dollar contract along with Church for a former number one draft pick, but moving Willingham to the Mets may make them think twice.
Still, this rumor is definitely a nice surprise compared to some of the sludge that’s been tossed around in the last 24 hours.
Go get him Omar!
About the Author: Rob Johnson
18 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 20 | .565 | 1.0 |
| Mets | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Marlins | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 23 | 23 | .500 | 4.0 |
Last updated: 05/25/2012
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Write Your Own Mets Post
Pagan might be one of the guys needed to get him.
i like Willingham a lot. But I’d rather move Parnell, Murphy or F-Mart before I move Pagan. Pagan is a solid insurance policy as the 4th outfielder as last season proved. I wouldn’t be so quick to move him, and I’d consider the trade a lateral move if they did, and not necessarily an upgrade.
You’re misunderstanding my point,
It’s not a matter of who WE want to give up, it’s more of a matter of who THEY want from us. I’m saying if The Nationals want Angel Pagan included in order to make the deal, the Mets are going to have to make a decision.
You can’t decide who YOU want to give up. That’s not how trades work. They have who we want more than us having what they want.
I see your point. Don’t think I’d do it then. Would you?
Parnell maybe? But Willingham is not a good defensive LF either, u can make the case he is as bad as Burrell.
Josh’s D has definitely improved the past few years and is far better than Burrell. I noticed the changes last year and was further bolstered by the guys in the booth mentioning his improvement. He seems far more comfortable there and moves with far greater ease.
Willingham is intriguing. I worry a bit about his back problems, but 3 seasons over 20 HR and a career OPS of .840 is nothing the Mets should dismiss. As long as Pagan remained in the fold as caddy as you suggest Hojo, I like the idea.
Again,
The Nationals may want Pagan as part of the deal.
Understood. I thought it was implied by my statement of “if Pagan remained…I like the idea,” that if Pagan doesn’t remain, I don’t like the idea. I apologize for the lack of clarity.
Can he play 1B? Put him on first and get Holliday or a guy that can play the big LF.
i like the rumor, but i think David DeJesus of KC a better fit: slightly younger, a great fielder, solid hitter, better on avg than Willingham, fewer homers, but 9 triples and 71 rbi’s.
This is Pete M’s original idea. i love it. KC needs a speedy CF and Pagan was mentioned as on their radar.
And beauty of this is that KC needs a CF, a setup guy (so do we!), catching depth, a ‘lefty’.
Seems to me many of their needs match up with some of what Mets could trade. Plus, as a small mkt team, they’re always looking to shed payroll. They may be dangling Callaspo, 2B, in a trade, and perhaps Meche or Bannister also available.
Callaspo has some ‘D’ issues, but maybe Pagan, Pelfrey, Stokes for DeJesus and Bannister or Meche. Oh, DeJesus is from Brooklyn….doesn’t turn 31 until a year from now.
Oops, i forgot to include Santos in our package for DeJesus and Bannister or Pagan. Heck, i bet the Royals trade DeJesus, Bannister and Meche for Pagan, Pelfrey, Stokes, and Santos…
I would trade Angel Pagan in a heartbeat. He is the dumbest player in baseball. At 28, he isn’t getting any smarter. If teams like him, let’s talk. The mets are a fairly dumb team without Paganl, as last season showed. I am all for relieving ourselves of some of the stupidity. I do not put much stock in stats from a season that might be categorized as one long September call-up.
Pagan has made his share of bonehead mental errors but I have no reason to believe he’ll won’t work his way through them. He doesn’t have a lot of major league experience but does have a lot of talent, and excellent athleticism. I hope we keep him. I think he’s one of the best 4th outfielders a team can have to replace a DL’d player, especially a CF.
He needs to refine his game both physically and mentally, as well as stay healthy, and in so doing, will become good CF starter material even for a good team, and a very valuable leadoff/2-hitter.
i don’t disagree on Pagan, but they want him (apparently) and they want to shed payroll…so i say, let’s talk….
Sign Delgado and trade him even-up for Willingham !!! He he he.
After the coming season, Omar would look like a genius (if he still had a job!)
Okay that just freaked me out. When I first glance at that photo, I thought it was David Wright in a Nats uniform. Don’t freak me out like that! I had no idea this guy looked so much a like, and even down to his batting stance.
[...] Yet the Mets focusing on Nationals LF Josh Willingham is a positive development? [mets MERIZED online] [...]