14
2011
Are Mets/White Sox Destined For Each Other?
An article by 
Let’s all be honest, we knew what this team was before the season even started. Not losing all faith yet, but the Mets may in fact be sellers at the deadline. Recently I was asked if the Mets would be sellers or buyers at the deadline, to which I responded buyers. However that was the optimistic side of me talking. Or maybe it was Sandy repeatedly saying comments like “We’re playing for 2011″. Either way the reality of the situation is the Mets may be big time sellers for the first time in awhile.
Who will be available? You can argue many names that will come up in discussions. Carlos Beltran? Francisco Rodriguez? Jose Reyes? (hope not). Even names like say Mike Pelfrey could generate discussions.
As I went over the possibilities for each player in both the AL and NL, one team always came to mind the most – Chicago White Sox.
Why? For one, the AL Central is up for grabs. The Tigers have great hitting, but questionable pitching with a deep, but unproven pen. The Twins have a lineup with potential, however Morneau’s health is a major concern. Their starting pitching is young and unproven, and their bullpen is questionable regarding Joe Nathan’s health. Therein lies the White Sox. Strong lineup, starting pitching is adequate, and bullpen lacks a true closer.
Could they have interest in K-Rod? Could he be the closer they so desperately seek? It gets deeper. Would they be interested in a Beltran/K-Rod for two prospects deal? Kenny Williams is sure crazy enough. And if Sandy realizes the Mets are out of it, with a position to build towards to future, I bet he does it. Yes, the White Sox farm system is bare. I’m strongly aware. But if you have a chance to recoup some decent prospects, move K-Rod’s option, and take some ease off the Wilpon’s checkbooks, I bet he does it.
Names that may be involved - Chris Sale, Gordon Beckham, Eduardo Escobar, Sergio Santos, Jared Mitchell all come to mind. Not so high on Escobar, but with the Reyes uncertainty it’s never bad to have organizational depth at SS.
Either way it’s interesting to think about upcoming scenarios such as these. LETS GO METS!
About the Author: Benjamin Yoel
Graduate of St. John's University. Majored in Sports Management. Torn on where career will take me next. Considering Baseball Operations, Scouting, and Journalism. Writer for Metsmerized Online & StLucieToFlushing.com. Devout #Mets fan.
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In order to facilitate such a thing the Mets will have to provide KRod with some save opportunities and then he’ll have to take advantage of those opportunities.
So far we’re essentially 0 for 2 in that scenario because he’s not getting many and he’s not taking advantage when he does.
A team in pennant race such as Chicago would be interested in K-Rod either way. He’s a proven closer. They need to fortify their bullpen if they want a shot at the playoffs.
If the Mets ever got Sale or Beckham it would be a HR. Will never happen
Why would it never happen? If they traded away a talented kid in Daniel Hudson for Edwin Jackson, it isn’t impossible for us to acquire Beckham and/or Sale.
Jay, repeat after me…E L E V E N GAMES(11)(11)…
Not many oportunities? In case u were sleeping, let me remind u that as of this moment, earl\y as it seems, these, getting dismissed by the sightless too soon, NY Mets certainly DO have a \flaw, a serious wound, too short rotational stamina combined with too mediocre bullpen arms being trusted as TC esxplores their capabilities. By chance, had it occurred to you that as of 4/14 we rank #4 in the NL in TOTAL RS:
1) REDS(72)
2) PHLS(63)
3) AZ(59)
4) NYM(50)
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/batting/order/false
Bfore u think tyhese were meaningless early aberrational runs, perhaps u should consifer where they were scored & against whom. All; but 3 of our YTD 11G played have been in challenging venues. Our one series in a friendly offensive venue was CBP in PHL aka CigarBoxPark against the most fearsome five in the NL East. try comparing that tothe identical # of 50R scored by those much heralded NYY where Everty game was played in offensuivewly conducive venues, their own personal launcjing pad(THE “STADIUM”) then 3G in Fenway. While I certainly don’t foresee our continuing to match theuir scoring pace, I do not anticipate harsher conditions(climate+venue) to be encountered.
I don’t doubt this team can score runs. I knew their lineup would be capable of putting up just as many runs as the best NL teams this season. However scoring runs isn’t what I’m worried about. The pitching is going to be the downfall of this team. Too many question marks. Johan Santana? Can he come back and be even the least bit productive. Can Chris Young stay healthy a full season. Can Capuano stay healthy a full season?…. Can Niese take the next step?… Can Pelfrey fix the mental side of his game?… All big questions…and last but certainly not least, can the Mets bullpen produce? Because right now the bullpen is clearly the weakest point of our team.
Your big metsies are perfect. little metsies should stop talking such nonsense. But oif you eant to be serious you say their GM is nuts , but he dumped his closer to save money so you think he’s going to double his expense to get another closer who is on the way downhill and is way way overpaid. All you little metsies are delusional. And you ignore the activities of the big league teams.
‘oif you eant to be serious’
English, please. And Philly fans wonder why they don’t measure up.
Too bad this guy stopped paying attention in the second grade. What a waste of a life.
Maybe you missed the Ozzie Guillen tirade last night…which I actually happened to catch after I wrote this surprisingly…he said, and I quote “I HAVE NO CLOSER!!!” and then stormed off…believe me he’s going to hammer Kenny Williams to make a trade…they need bullpen help BAD
Are you Jerry Manuel & what did you do to P. Feliciano?
For someone who does not like our team, you sure pay them alot of attention to us. When did we dump our closer by the way?
Interesting is not exactly the word I’d use to describe this scenario.
Teams looking to pick up pieces at the trade deadline to take them past the competition in their division, rarely give up near ready or top prospects unless they’re receiving something long term in return. Some piece they can use going forward. Otherwise, they do what the Giants did last year.
If we be sellers, what we get in return is going to depend on how much value that team puts on that piece. This will be our first shot at seeing how good of a negotiator Alderson is.
Or how many teams consider themselves buyers and how desperate they are not only to get a closer, DH/RFer, ect. We’ll see but the fact remains that we should have been sellers many times in the past and never were. 2004 was completely delusional and flat out prevented us from capitalizing on opportunity in 2006-2008. The first thing Alderson will have to negotiate is the ability to make a move that doesn’t have a short term attendance spike as a primary objective, after that extracting true talent from a desperate “buyer” will depend on supply and demand. That will be the easy part.
Alderson’s is going to have to convince the Wilpon’s that selling is in their best interests. It will be hard given their current financial dilemma. However he’s going to have to convince them that the teams long-term interests are much more important then their short-term interests.
Alderson*
Good, insightful article. Thanks, Ben.
your welcome…glad you enjoyed it!
I think K-Rod to the White Sox’s sounds like a pretty viable deal. What about Beltran to the Ranger’s to fill in for Josh Hamilton. Jose Reyes to the Dodgers to fill in for Furcal. Why wait till the deadline? I’m not a pessimistic fan, I am one of opptimism, but I have also watched the first 11 games and it just isn’t there. No need to bullshit ourselves or play smoke and mirrors, it just isn’t there, period.
Beltran is one of my favorite players and I would love to see him play the whole season for the Mets this year, but, I put my team first, and if we can get something for the future by trading him, then that is what needs to be done. The rangers are HOT, why jeopardize that by sticking David Murphy in the outfield when you could have a HOT Beltran filling in. When Hamilton returns, Beltran would DH with Young. Send us a pitching prospect and lets call it a great Mets career for Carlos.
In regards to Jose, I love him, he is electric, but he is due BIG Money, and he deserves it. I have serious doubts that ownership will pay him what he deserves, so we will most likely lose him no matter what. The dodgers have a need at shortstop with Furcal breaking his finger. I don’t know how many years FUrcal has left on his contract, but Jose would be a definite upgrade. Send us back a pitching or outfield prospect and lets chant Jose, Jose, Jose, one last time and wish him luck.
Sure attendance will drop due to trading these players earlier than the deadline, but shoddy play and a losing record will bring the same result. Trade these players and bring back some serious talent might atleast generate some respect for the ownership in that they realize that this club needs some serious rebuilding. Why carry this fascade just to try and keep attendance up till the trade deadline. If I was Alderson, I would be aggresively approaching these clubs that have had recent major injuries and problems and be Mr. Fixit for their clubs.
I know this isn’t the fan favorite move, but, when you have clubs in desperation to fill major holes, it could be the perfect time to maximize our return.