According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, the Mets and Brewers have discussed a deal that could send John Maine to Milwaukee in exchange for outfielder Corey Hart, and possibly another deal with the Texas Rangers for Kevin Millwood..
Will put up links in morning, but learned Mets are talking to Brewers about a Maine-Corey Hart swap, and also with Rangers about Kevin Millwood.
While I don’t really understand the reasoning behind trading Maine for Hart, I am intrigued about Kevin Millwood who won 13 games last season and posted a 3.67 ERA while pitching in a real hitters haven.
Hart batted.260 last season with 12 homeruns and 48 RBIs and missed a large portion of the season due to an appendectomy. Like Maine, he is eligible for arbitration in the next two years.
I’m not a big fan of Corey Hart and I admit he had a solid season in 2007, but he has declined offensively two straight seasons since then. Slg Pct .539 – .459 – .419 Bat Avg .295 – .268 – .260
I do like Kevin Millwood, but of course that also depends on the price.
Millwood is in the final year of his contract that will pay him $12 million this season.
Corey Hart is not a part time player. He’s a right handed bat who can hit 20 homers, 30 doubles, steal 15 bases, and play a reasonably good LF (although I think he’s played mainly RF the past few years).
Maine flashed signs a few years ago, but has stagnated in his development. He’s unreliable at best.
I’d have no problem with this deal.
Thanks for pointing that out, I went ahead and reflected that change in the post. My biggest problem is that Hart has slowly declined since his solid 2007 season. If I can see his OPS back to that .892 level I’d be thrilled, but at .750 range even Angel Pagan (.837 OPS) seems like the better choice.
Hart in 2008 had more rbi’s then 2007…so not a total downside
Just not sure why the Mets would want to trade a starter who would for sure be in their rotation. We need starting pitching so I can’t see trading one for a guy like Corey Hart.
Say if the Mets sign a pitcher like Lackey . They would have Santana, Lackey,Pelfery,Maine,Perez,Nieve,Redding,Niese and Misch. If they have that many pitchers it wouldn’t hurt loosing Maine.
I think signing Lackey would be shortsighted. They can use the money they would spend on him on two pitchers PLUS other needs (like outfield).
I was using him as exapmle. If they Mets sign a pitcher they will have alot pitchers so it wouldn’t hurt loosing Maine.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
MIKE, THAT’S TRUE; BUT EVEN THOUGH ROTATION ORDERS USUALLY GET SCRAMBLED AFTER A MONTH OR SO THE NEED A STRONG #2 THAT CAN HOLD HIS OWN Vs OTHER 2s EVEN OCCASIONAL 1s & DONINATE THE OCCASIONAL 3. MUCH OF THE SECONDARY LEVEL IS BASICLY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN ABUDANCE; BUT LIKE A CHESS MATCH, IT’S OFTEN THE MOVE BEHIND THE MOVE THAT KILLS & I’M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO CALCULATE THAT OUT.
This would be a dumb deal. You don’t trade an upside arm for an average hitting outfielder. I would rather trade Maine in a multi-player deal that gets us a better pitcher back (Halliday?)
Its a good deal when the “upside arm” can’t get out of bed without hurting himself.
Maine is going to be 29 this year. He’s not a young pup anymore. He’s pitched more than 90 innings just twice in the last 6 years.
Of course I LOVE the sound of this deal. But what’s in it for Brewers? If Omar Minaya pulls this deal off, he should automatically be rewarded with General Manager of the Year
Are you serious?? It’s us that would be giving up the better player in John Maine who if healthy is a viable number 3 starter and potential 15 game winner. This deal would suck!
“John Maine will make 32 starts this year.”
I’ll take the under. How much do you want to bet?
Kevin, I was actually against trading for Johan in 2008 (yes, I know) b/c I thought we had two aces – one of whom was Maine. Unfortunately, he may be the poor-mans version of Ben Sheets. The pitcher with good stuff who is constantly injured and can’t pull a full season. If we can trade him for a Corey Hart type, you wouldn’t pull the trigger? I know I would. I’m intrigued with him, even if he never surrenders and wears his sunglasses at night.
Mike, I think we have a draw. I’d never take the over on that.
Another plus is that Corey Hart looks like a GEICO caveman.
So there are cross-promotional opportunities to be had.
The question is, how is a guy like Hart going to respond playing in the big city when, “he always feel[s] like somebody’s watching” him?
In spite of his off year, Mets have to try and keep as many starters as possible after what happened last year. Maine might come back or might be able to work out his pitching in AAA but you can never have enough arms as last year proved. No on Hart, a one year wonder, 2007.
I happen to believe Hart would be a nice addition for the Mets. I dont understand the knocks on him. He is still young and two years removed from an outstanding season. Didn’t he also make the All Star team that season?
I think he made it in 08
Maine being reunited with Rick Peterson is probaly the best thing for his career. Not sure what Maine’s value is but I do like the Milwood idea.
i like this move for Hart, if true; Maine had trouble getting out of the 1st inning most of the year…and when he did, he barely ever pitched past the 5th inning. Hart might be a sleeper; was injured last year; plays good ‘D’; steals bases; 28 yrs old….i say do it.
Then trade Pagan, Niese, Stoner, and Castillo to KC for Meche and Bannister. Sign Ben Sheets. Sign Adam Kennedy. Sign Molina. Then sign Nady. Then trade for Halladay: Pelfrey, Stokes, Martinez, Mejia, Santos for Doc Halladay.
Lineup: Reyes, Kennedy, Wright, Beltran, Nady/Hart, Francouer, Molina, Murphy. Rotation: Santana, Halladay, Sheets, Meche, Bannister.
90+ win team.