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When I first heard this trade early this afternoon, I was actually in my car and I literally had to pull over and let it sink in... Then I felt a perfect storm brewing in my head... I was freaking mad...

After hearing all this hype about what a talent Lastings Milledge was, and how he was going to be in our outfield for years and years, what happened?

Wasn't this the same Lastings Milledge that was deemed untouchable only two seasons ago when the Red Sox wanted to trade us Manny Ramirez??

Needless to say I went back to work, confused, irritated, and feeling let down. I heard all the calls on WFAN from other outraged Mets fans sprinkled in with Yankee fans who were laughing their asses off. I heard Mike and the Maddog rip the trade from all angles all afternoon. When they said that Omar Minaya would be a guest at 4:30 PM I thought, let me hear what Omar has to say. Maybe he can impart some words of wisdom or at the very least encouragement so that I can feel better about what had just transpired. You know what?? He did just that. Omar told us why he made the deal, why it improved the Mets for 2008, and why he felt he had to move Lastings Milledge. It all made sense.

Let's look at the right field situation first. Omar said he thought Ryan Church was better defensively and offensively than Lastings Milledge is right now. I agree with Omar on this. The 29 year old Church,had his first full season in the majors in 2007 and batted .271 with 15 homeruns and 70 runs batted in. His on-base percentage was .349 and his slugging percentage was .462. He also connected on 43 doubles. He did all of this while playing in a notorious pitchers park that has robbed many a player of his power and average.

Omar seems to think that his numbers will improve significantly at Shea Stadium. Maybe 10-12 of those doubles would have gone over the wall at Shea, who knows for sure, but one thing is certain, I do believe Church will out-produce Milledge for the next two seasons at the very least.

I still believe that Milledge will become a very good ballplayer in the major leagues, but he clearly was not there yet. Church has a tendency to strike out  a lot, so I would say he probably gets penciled into the number six spot of the lineup behind Delgado and Alou. Defensively he is an excellent corner outfielder with a strong arm, good instincts, and gets a nice jump on the ball. Minaya said that he would be the everyday right fielder, but I could see him being worked into a platoon if the Mets pick up a solid right handed bat.

Okay, let's take a look at Brian Schneider...

To begin with, he is a left handed batter. This would make for an excellent platoon partner for Ramon Castro. Minaya has always loved him, and it's easy to see why. He is regarded as one of the better defensive catchers in the game and is well thought of by all of his pitchers, past and present. Last season he threw out 31% of attempted base stealers, which was actually low for him, but infinitely better than Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro and Johnny Estrada.

Offensively, don't expect much more than a .250 average and around 50 RBI's, but he has a good eye at the plate and had as many strikeouts as walks last season with 56. He's by no means an easy out and he does turn it up a notch in clutch situations. At 32 years old, he is five years younger than Lo Duca.

I'm not thrilled about losing Lastings Milledge. But, I am also much more calmer about the situation than I was when I first heard the deal this afternoon. There was not one team out there who regarded Milledge as highly as us Mets fans did. We all like to feel our prospects are better than what they really are. 

You can count on one thing after this trade. The Mets are significantly a better defensive team going into next season, and they didn't take that much of a hit offensively to do it. 

 

Posted by Joe D. at 05:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)

WFAN Radio is reporting the Mets have traded Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for C Brian Schneider and OF Ryan Church.

2007 STATS 

Lastings Milledge   |   Right Field/Center Field

Avg	HR	RBI	Runs	SB
.272	7	29	27	3

 

Brian Schneider    |   Catcher 

Avg	HR	RBI	Runs	SB
.235	6	54	33	0

 

Ryan Church   |   Left Field/Center Field   

Avg	HR	RBI	Runs	SB
.272	15	70	57	3

Posted by Kelly Horn at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (55)

On Thursday, Omar Minaya addressed the Jose Reyes rumors by saying, "Jose Reyes is one of our core players. I don't see us trading Jose Reyes for one of those guys being mentioned. It just doesn't make sense for us."

Minaya went on to say that the Mets are very happy with Jose Reyes. Minaya declined to comment on Johan Santana. Trading Reyes would diminish the Mets lineup and leave our team with a huge gap at shortstop. The loss of Reyes also means the loss of something special: the loss of our speed. Jose led the majors in stolen bases, swiping 78 bags. He stole more bases than 5 MLB teams.

We're talking about one of the best pitchers in baseball. We're also talking about the most exciting player in baseball, the King of Thieves, and a man who has his own song at Shea. I'm glad that Omar has made the decision not to trade Jose. Nobody can replace Jose; sure, Carlos Gomez has the speed. But does he have the offense that Jose provided? Can somebody else step up and become the catalyst that Jose is?

No pitcher is worth the loss of Jose Reyes, not even Johan Santana. I hope the Mets find their ace, but I also hope they go down a more realistic route. Acquiring Dan Haren or Joe Blanton from the A's seems to be our strongest option, followed by Eric Bedard from the Orioles. Omar wants to win, no doubt. But we won't do it if we trade Reyes for Santana. He is something special, even Steve Phillips kept him around. In Omar we trust.

Posted by Jessica DeMattia at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

In addition to releasing their annual top organizational prospects list, Baseball America also does a synopsis of who has the best tools in each organization.

I always enjoy looking this particular list over because it gives me a better sense of not only who the Mets prospects are, but also what their biggest strengths are. For example, I've always heard about what a great hitter Fernando Martinez was, but I never knew that the scouts viewed him as the Mets' best power hitting prospect. For some strange reason I always thought Mike Carp would have been the best hitter for power...

I am a little surprised that Eddie Kunz, who we've heard so much about, is not featured in any category. I guess that all this list represents is just another way to look at our prospects. I could see a great all-around athlete getting left off the list simply because he may not be the best in any of these attributes. That's why it's better to look at this along with Baseball America's Top 20 Prospects list, to get a more complete picture.

Offense:
Best Hitter for Average: Fernando Martinez
Best Power Hitter: Fernando Martinez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Ruben Tejeda
Fastest Baserunner: Carlos Gomez

Defense:
Defensive Catcher: Mike Nickeas
Best Defensive Infielder: Jose Coronado
Best Infield Arm: Wilmer Flores
Best Defensive Outfielder: Carlos Gomez
Best Outfield Arm: Carlos Gomez

Pitching:
Best Fastball: Brant Rustich
Best Curveball: Philip Humber
Best Slider: Kevin Mulvey
Best Changeup: Deolis Guerra
Best Control: Dylan Owen

Best Athlete: Carlos Gomez

I'm starting to wonder why almost all the Mets trade rumors I hear about, seem to include Carlos Gomez. If he is the best athlete we have, is it wise to dangle him in almost every trade rumor?

Posted by Joe D. at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Posted by Mike Bailey at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

That is why I always say, "In Omar We Trust."

Like I said in my previous post, Omar Minaya is to smart a general manager to trade an everyday superstar shortstop for a starting pitcher, even one as great as Johan Santana. (see post below)

In a great article by Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Joel shared some great quotes that Omar Minaya made regarding the Johan Santana negotiations. I'm just going to give you some of what was written, but make sure you read the full article because it is a great read.

“I like going after the big fish, but I can't rob Peter to pay Paul," Omar Minaya said by phone. “I'm not getting rid of Jose Reyes."

That Minnesota was still asking for Reyes likely means the Twins do not believe the Mets have enough attractive options among their prospects to make a deal.

The Mets' pitching prospects are not viewed as generously around the majors with Mike Pelfrey and Phil Humber regressing last year. However, Minaya defended them.

“I have two 15-game winners (John Maine, Oliver Perez) that other teams gave up on," Minaya said. “If young guys have high-end arms and good deliveries, you have to ignore the stats on occasion. Pitching goes up and down. (Matt) Garza took a step back this year in some people's eyes, and Tampa just traded for him (as part of the Young trade)."

Minaya said he is prioritizing finding a No. 1 starter.

“We would like to be able to get it if we can," he said. “But I do hate to give up young players. I would prefer doing major league player for major league player in a trade. That might not be possible. But you know me, if I had to pay a little more to get a premium guy, I would. But I won't go crazy, though."

I hope that Joel's article will curtail some of the crazy notions out there that are swirling around the Mets blogosphere. I am glad that Omar was so candid and ended his remarks by saying he will do his best, but he wouldn't do anything crazy. Those are exactly the words I wanted to hear from our GM.

Posted by Joe D. at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Last night's big six player trade which saw the Minnesota Twins acquire OF Delmon Young, INF Brendan Harris and OF Jason Pridie from the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett and RHP Eduardo Morlan, has led to some very wild speculation.

Some sites and newspapers are suggesting that in the aftermath of the Twins/Rays trade, Minnesota now had a big gaping hole at shortstop and that they have their eyes set on Jose Reyes.

Hogwash!

That is the most ridiculous of all Mets trade rumors. Omar Minaya is too smart a general manager to trade an everyday superstar shortstop for a starting pitcher, even one as great as Johan Santana.

Jose Reyes is on the verge of becoming one of the greatest Mets position players of all time. In the last three years he has stolen 60 or more bases. He has scored over 325 runs in that same span. He is excellent defensively and getting better everyday. He is already considered one of the finest leadoff hitters in the game, and he is only 24 years old.

Additionally, Omar Minaya has already gone on record and emphatically stated that Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright will not be traded in any scenario.

It's so sad that after years and years of watching the Yankees win title after title with home grown superstars like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, that the Mets finally start bringing up amazing players like Jose Reyes and David Wright and all of a sudden everyone wants to trade them or push them around to other positions.

I wish everyone would just calm down and stop thinking that the future of the Mets revolves around a Johan Santana trade. It doesn't. Omar Minaya may or may not make a deal for Santana, but if he doesn't then there is other fish in the sea.

But the notion that Jose Reyes will be sent packing for a player who will only play 30 games a season, is totally insane.

Posted by Joe D. at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

I'm all for the Mets getting Johan Santana but the prospects they have ain't going to get it done. This post is in no way an attempt to heat up the obnoxious hot stove rumor mill, but throw out something I'm curious of what you think of. Why don't the Mets offer Beltran in a deal for Santana. Of course, the Twins can't afford Beltran's contract but maybe the Mets can make this work by luring a third team into the mix. I can't even speculate who this third team could be because it's just an idea on paper that would never be considered. Perfect world Beltran replaces Tori Hunter, Johan fronts the rotation, Mets sign Andruw Jones or Aaron Rowand - the market is full of centerfielders.

Other things to ponder below...

If you were Toronto, would you offer oft-injured AJ Burnett and his contract to the Mets for Delgado so he could DH?

Do you think the Mets need another bat off the bench? Probably not, but tell me you wouldn't want to see Piazza in the pseudo-Julio Franco role?

Are the Mets honestly better off with Benji Molina than Johnny Estrada? Sad to say, but probably. I still wouldn't give up a prospect for him.

Bedard and Bradford for Heilman, Gomez and Joe Smith, I'd pull off this deal tomorrow.

Livan Hernandez should be a Met, and replace his half-brother in the rotation. Methinks it's time for El Duque to hit the pen.

I think I'll boo A-Rod this season...  just like any other season...

I'll never get sick of looking at Torre photos in a LA Dodgers uniform...let's see those Donnie Baseball shots soon...

Lastings better last. I think he could be a star if they gave him half-a-chance. So what if he has too much personality. This team has none...

I'm so glad Mota's gone. I hope Scotty S. is right behind him...

Chacon wouldn't be a terrible pickup. Well, at least, he'd be better than Aaron Sele - which isn't saying much. I pitch better than Sele.

Who's on first? Did the Mets name a first base coach yet? Please say it's Gary Carter and he's switched with Sandy Sr. Sandy Alomar would've waved my grandmother home from first on a single...

More later... Omar needs to steal headlines from the Yankees... like...now.

Posted by Jon Chattman at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Newsday is reporting that the Mets are determined to get a trade done with the A's for either pitcher Dan Haren, or Joe Blanton. Now that Matt Garza is off the market, and Santana is most likley not going to happen, Haren and Blanton seem to be the #1 and #2 options for the Mets.

WFAN is reporting that the Mets could be set to make an offer of Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey for Haren and Kiko Calero.

Posted by Christian (MetsMan) at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Everytime I look up it seems like yet another free agent reliever is off the market. Today was no different as two more quality relievers signed deals with their new teams.

Francisco Cordero ended up signing a very fat contract that will pay him $46 million dollars over four years while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds. It seems like a lot of money to me, but the market is what it is.

Meanwhile over in Chi-Town, the White Sox snatched Scott Linebrink off the market by offering him a four-year $19 million dollar contract. Linebrink was one of the guys that I hoped Minaya would key in on, but alas it wasn't meant to be.

Even the Kansas City Royals got into the act today by finally finalizing the much rumored deal with Japanese import, Yasuhiko Yabuta. He signs on for a two year guaranteed deal for $6 million dollars, and it also includes an option year.

Whew...

Already this month, relief pitchers Kerry Wood, J.C. Romero and of course Mariano Rivera, both reached agreements with their former teams. Relievers are also being moved around in trades too, with Brad Lidge and Oscar Villarreal, joining the Phillies and Braves respectively.

So what's left out their for the Mets?

Like I said in the title, it's slim pickings...

Shawn Chacon, Octavio Dotel, Matt Herges, Eric Gagne and David Riske are probably the best of a very weak crop. The mets have been rumored to have interest in the first two guys on the list, but from what I've read it was more of a feeling out process than anything else.

I have a feeling that if Omar Minaya does infuse some new blood into the bullpen, it may probably come via trade. And no I'm not counting the trade they made for Brian Stokes earlier today...

Posted by Joe D. at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Mets have reportly acquired relief pitcher Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash. Stokes went 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 62 1/3 innings last season. The 28-year old will battle for a spot in the Mets pen in the spring.

Sorry I'm not reporting more exciting news but maybe this is a start of something big!

Posted by Kelly Horn at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Say what you will about the non-moves the Mets have made so far this season. We are inundated with hundreds of rumors about the Yankees, Dodgers and Angels making a move for Johan Santana. Countless rumors about pitchers Erik Bedard, Dan Haren Dontrelle Willis and even Scott Kazmir.

Most everyone seems to think the Yankees are a lock, simply because Hank Steinbrenner leaked some details of their negotiations to the media. He lit a fire that is now raging out of control, and in the process left Mets fans wondering...

Why isn't Omar Minaya talking to Minnesota? Or Baltimore? Or even the Oakland A's?

That's the difference between a professional general manager like Omar Minaya, and a non-baseball guy like Hank Steinbrenner. Minaya knows his craft and is very good at it. He operates in stealth mode because he knows that loose lips sink ships... and sink potential deals too.

There was not one sportswriter or analysts who could have predicted that the Mets would trade Guillermo Mota for Johnny Estrada. Not even a hint of a rumor existed. Then to shock of many, Guillermo Mota was banished without even some cash to go with him.

The fact of the matter is that the Mets have already spoken to the Twins, long before the Yankees blurted out their news and showed all their cards. The truth is that Omar may have an ace in the hole. This morning on ESPN radio, Andrew Marchand cited a major league executive who revealed that Twins GM Bill Smith has had talks with Omar Minaya regarding Johan Santana. "Don't count the Mets out" he said.

It would be great to see Santana pitch at Shea this season and another five years in the new Citi Field. But, if it doesn't come to pass, there are still some great options out there, and word has it that Omar is in the mix for pitchers Dan Haren or Erik Bedard.

David Lennon of Newsday had an interesting article today in which he looks closely at the Mets  possibly going Dan Haren and possibly even Joe Blanton. Either of them would be a tremendous boost for the rotation.

Next week at this time, it will be an exciting time for Mets fans who have been waiting anxiously for wheeling and dealing to begin.

By the way, it now looks like the Yankees negotiations with the Twins have hit a snag. (That's what happens when they pop the cork before sealing the deal!)

Posted by Joe D. at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Omar Minaya will be heading to the Winter Meetings with the primary mission of upgrading the starting pitching. Although the bullpen, a lefty-hitting outfielder and possibly a right handed bat for the bench and occasional duty at first base remain among the possible upgrades that Minaya may seek, starting pitching will be the focus. There are several ways to go and here are my takes on each :

1. Johan Santana or bust - Minaya makes every effort to acquire Santana, including not only all conceivable combinations of prospects, but established major leaguers as well. The names Reyes and Wright should be 100 % off limits, but I could see Omar putting John Maine or Oliver Perez into a package.

My take : No way do I give up John Maine and if Perez goes, the Mets will still need one more starter/long reliever. I'd consider Perez, Gomez, and Gotay for Santana, if the Twins have zero interest in Mulvey, Pelfrey, or Humber.

2. Best offer for Santana with fall-back options - Give the Twins a list of 7 players and tell them they can have 3 for Santana and a minor league body to help replenish the system. This list includes pitchers Humber, Pelfrey, Mulvey, and Heilman and hitters Milledge, Gomez, and Martinez. If the Twins say no, offer to toss in either Gotay or Anderson Hernandez. If they still say no, throw in a second of the listed pitchers. If it's still not enough, move on.

3. Target Dan Haren or Joe Blanton. We know the A's are high on Milledge, so offer Milledge and 2 others from the group listed for Haren or Milledge and one of the others for Blanton.

My take: I can see Omar doing this, but personally, I would keep Milledge unless Haren is coming back. Milledge, Martinez, and one of the pitchers should either be enough to get Haren or a signal to move on.

4. Target Erik Bedard, offering the same package as for Haren.

My take : I'd prefer to keep Milledge, but Bedard is tempting. Maybe take a couple of contracts the Orioles are trying to dispose of (e.g. Melvin Mora) to facilitate a deal.

5. Go after Dontrelle Willis. Offer one outfielder and one pitcher from the group above.

My take : There's been a definite downward trend in Willis' recent performance which would make me reluctant to give up too much for him, especially to a team in the Mets' own division. If the Mets could get him without giving up any of the 3 young outfielders, I'd listen, but I don't think that's realistic.

6. Talk to the Pirates. Pittsburgh has a number of young pitchers who are hardly proven aces and plenty of other tradeable players who could interest the Mets. There are too many packages to get into here, but this could be a fall-back option for the Mets.

My take : Could be interesting. If the Pirates are high on the Mets' youngsters, probably no one on their roster is completely off-limits. A Carlos Gomez for Ian Snell trade with a number of others in the mix could be a possibility, but no doubt some of the local NY writers with an anti-Met bias will claim the Mets have settled for second-rate talent, especially if Santana, Haren, and/or Bedard go elsewhere.

7. Go after another young POTENTIAL ace. The key word here is potential. Matt Garza of the Twins, Homer Bailey of the Reds, and Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers are examples of players who fit this category. The Reds should have no interest in trading Bailey for a bat, but a Garza for Gomez trade could be a possibility.

My take : I'd do Gomez for Garza, but I still feel the Mets would need to sign a veteran starter like Livan Hernandez or Bartolo Colon to solidify the staff.

8. Pull a rabbit out of a hat. There are probably a few dozen pitchers who could be available and could help upgrade the rotation that are not among those mentioned in the rumors we've been reading every day. A trade that no one ever thought of could materialize.

My take : Please no young players for old, like Carlos Gomez for Jose Contreras or Lastings Milledge for Kevin Millwood. It's my preference to hold on to Milledge and give him the full-time job in rightfield, and trade Gomez instead, but obviously, I don't want a mediocrity (like say, Boof Bonser or Vicente Padilla) in return.

So, go to it, Omar.

Posted by Barry Duchan at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Billy Wagner has long been known for his ability to close games with the best of them. However, he is also prone to his short-tempered bursts of emotion, which sometimes gets himself in trouble with what he says.

Yesterday may have been one of those days. During an interview for mets.com, he was very critical of the Mets off season moves to date and expressed his displeasure over the losses of Tom Glavine and Paul Lo Duca.

Regarding Glavine he said:

"Losing Tom is big. It's a lot more than the 13 games he won. It's what he did for John Maine and Oliver Perez and how professional he was. People want to focus on one bad game or just the day-to-day stats. He was one of the few leaders we had. We're down 13 games already, plus all the games Tom deserved to win."

About Lo Duca he added this:

"Maybe he wasn't the best receiver. I don't know. But Paulie competed. He battled every day, and we had some guys who didn't show up every day. They were satisfied if they got a hit and we lost. Paul was angry if he had four hits and we lost. And every one of the pitchers trusted him. He was a big part of what we did in 2006, and now he's gone, too... It just worries me that we're missing some important guys."

Regarding Willie's reluctance to give roles to his bullpen pitchers:

"I understand what Willie wants -- for a lot of guys to be able to pitch whenever they're needed for as long as he needs them. I'm not sure you can have that. Guys are used to having roles. They'll take the ball because that's what the job is and that's what the manager wants. But the idea is to get them into situations where they can be successful. I mean, you wouldn't ask Carlos Delgado to bunt."

Regarding Omar's lack of a plan:

"Someone asked me what I thought of our team, what team? I'm trying to be positive. I'm saying we have some good players. But I'm worried. The Braves are getting better, and the Phillies made a move acquiring Brad Lidge."

Is Billy Wagner right? Is he out of line for waving the warning flags ahead of the 2008 season?

He went on to say that he thinks trading Aaron Heilman would be a tragic mistake. He implied that without Lo Duca and Glavine on the team, he worried about where the competitive spark will come from among the remaining players.

Let's face it... Billy Wagner expressed out loud what many Mets fans have been screaming about for the last five weeks. Yesterday I wrote about the two types of Mets fans and their expectation levels for the team.

Today, the "Dark Side" as I referred to them, found themselves a leader for their cause.

You hear fans and writers express their opinions all day long on Mets sites just like this one. The "take things slow and easy" crowd twist and shout whenever their is a call for extreme action. The "we got to win right now" become infuriated with the laid-back opinions of their counterparts.

Regardless of what you read and what you believe, I know one thing is certain. When a player from the team starts saying things like this, it is a cause for concern. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Score one for the Dark Side...

Posted by Joe D. at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)

I find it absolutely amusing each time I read some of the comments from our readers...

On one side you have the slow and steady crowd. They are the ones who want no part of trades for guys like Johan Santana or Jake Peavy. They also like to keep the Mets from spending all of their profits as well. The people in this crowd would turn 27 shades of blue before handing Alex Rodriguez $300 million dollars, or Albert Pujols $250 million dollars. Slow and steady... Carlos Gomez is going to be a star... Lastings Milledge is a stud... Slow and steady... Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber will be the top pitchers in the game one day... Mets prospects are the best, this I know, because the Mets have told me so... We are Mets' management's favorite fans... No rush, we'll wait for how long it takes to win a World Series....

Now you have the other side of Mets fandom, the "Dark Side" if you will. They have a totally different mindset. "Screw Mike Pelfrey", they scream, "I want to win now!" When a guy like Johan Santana comes along you don't think, YOU DO! They have no problems moving four players for one player if they think that player is a difference maker. I want to win right now... Sign A-Rod and move Wright to first base... I want to win right now... Screw the (fill in the blank)...

You will even find these same battle lines drawn in the sand between our writers too. Which is totally okay with me, after all we are the Fair and Balanced Mets Network.

So where do you stand on the current Mets issues?

Do you just want to stand pat let the kids Pelfrey and Humber pitch the entire season no matter where we finish in the standings, no matter if their ERA's are over 5.00 again?

Or...

Screw that plan! Let's go after Dan Haren, Johan Santana, Jake Peavy, anybody! Damn whatever it costs, give them who ever they want!

Or, are you somewhere in between? It's amazing how willing Mets fans are to debate themselves so passionately with each side thinking the other is completely out of touch. That's the beauty of being a Mets fan. With Yankees fans it's different. They have no problem with throwing money and prospects at every problem.  They are all in agreement. All they argue about is which stars the team should target.

With Mets fans, it's never that easy...

Where do I stand, definitely in the middle. I wanted no part of A-Rod, but I would easily give up Carlos Gomez, Aaron heilman and Mike Pelfrey for Johan Santana and his 5-year $100 million dollar price tag.

Posted by Joe D. at 05:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

The Yankees and the Twins have begun talks about a trade that could send Johan Santana to the Bronx. The Yankees would have to give up one of their "Big Three" pitchers-Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, or Philip Hughes. Other teams, including the Mets, have also expressed interest in Santana.

The New York Post's Mark Hale reports that the Mets have an interest in Santana, even if the Wilpons haven't openly expressed it. The deal would not include Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, or David Wright and the Mets would want a 72-hour negoitiation window. A deal involving Carlos Gomez may work out now that Torii Hunter has signed with the Angels. The Twins' need for a solid outfielder is certainly as great as our need for pitching. However, I don't see the Mets parting with Gomez so easily, even for Johan Santana. Personally, anybody that they say is faster than Jose Reyes is somebody I want on my team.

I don't see Johan Santana as a Met...this year. When Santana's contract expires in 2008, I could see the Mets being major players. With the money from Citi Field, it certainly wouldn't be a problem paying for him. If we need to trade for a starting pitcher, we should call up the Athletics and talk about Dan Haren or Joe Blanton. Even acquiring Eric Bedard from the Orioles would be more realistic, even though I don't see the Orioles trading their only player that is worth a second look. We need pitching; Omar needs to wait for the right deal and he is doing the right thing by not dealing out prospects left and right. 

Posted by Jessica DeMattia at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

The Cubs made sure they hung on to their one-time phenom, Kerry Wood, if only for just one more year.

The contract guarantees him $4.2 million and Wood can earn an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses. It appears that Kerry Wood turned down offers that were much more lucrative and longer as well.

Wow, what a steal. I sure would have loved to see Kerry Wood in a Mets uniform. I have always loved his makeup and desire. You cant fault him for being loyal to the franchise that bore him, it's just another one of his redeeming qualities.

However, it does take another quality arm out of the free agent pool. Some of the New York newspapers and sports sites are reporting that the Mets have engaged relievers Shawn Chacon and Octavio Dotel.  

I think either of them would be upgrades over Mota or Sele who have since been banished. Of the two I like Octavio Dotel a little bit better than Chacon, because he has some experience as a closer and looked very sharp at times last season.

In 33 games last season, Dotel went 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA pitching for the Royals and the Braves. His velocity got better as the year wore on, and he struck out well over a batter per inning. He is expected to be fully healthy to start the season for the first time in a few years.

I think he would be a great addition to the bullpen.

Posted by Joe D. at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

The Twins and Hank Steinbrenner himself have confirmed that they are in ongoing negotiations for prized all star pitcher, Johan Santana.

According to Associated Press they are at the preliminary stage of negotiations.

Well Mets fans, it doesn't mean the Yankees are a lock to get them, but they certainly are the favorites when you consider they are already negotiating ahead of the Winter Meetings which are over a week away.

Of course as a Mets fan, I would be both angry and sad if the Yankees were to land Santana. Angry because it is so unfair that a team who already has a $230 million dollar payroll were so willing to increase it by another $25 million, and angry that the Mets would once again be also-rans.

Obviously if we had any intention of going after Johan Santana we would have been as proactive about our intentions as the Yankees have been. Unfortunately we will continue being reactive in that regard.

The Red Sox and Dodgers were also rumored to be interested in Santana, but who are they kidding...

Posted by Joe D. at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)

I get it. The Winter Meetings are right around the corner, and the hot stove is heating up. But, if I read another Johan Santana-to-the-Mets rumor I'm going to go crazy.

In recent days, I've read a bunch of stories relating to the Twins' starter with little-to-no-evidence that a trade will actually happen, or that it would involve the Mets. One paper says it'll take at least Reyes while another site speculates it'd take Milledge, Pelfrey, Joe Smith and Humber. The truth is out there, as they say, but it's not in any of these media outlets.

My gut tells me that when all is said and done, Johan will be traded in July to the Yankees or the Red Sox. I hate to think that way, but it's always inevitable when a player is demanding an astronomical amount of money and years, the Yankees will make it happen. I love how Yankee fans are so opposed to trading Joba Chamberlain for Johan? Why? Because they bought "In Joba We Trust" T-shirts? I don't get it. Prospects are such a crap-shoot.

I just re-read an old Beckett magazine I had that lists Jason Vargas, now on the Mets, as a "top prospect." Um, show of hands who still think that to be true. I guess my point this week is I'd like some meat to these stories. I love how Omar always works the phones and lets no one on the press know it. But, for once, I'd love to read more than hypotheticals. Maybe present a realistic rumor? Maybe weigh the stats, and speculate on trades that actually might happen?

I've read so many stories around rumors that are actually being started by the writers themselves - no executives quoted or anything.  Here's one from me: Aaron Heilman, Carlos Gomez, and Joe Smith for Dan Haren of the A's. See if that actually happens next week. I doubt it.

What will happen? Mets will sign the overweight once-great underachiever Bartolo Colon. That's what history tells us will happen. Let's hope not.

Posted by Jon Chattman at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

                                             

I'm sure most of you know already, but I figured it should be said anyways. There will be another Mets Hot Stove Report on SNY @ 6:30 PM. Be sure to catch it to get updated with any news about the Mets and any breaking news around the MLB. Be sure to hear news about Johan Santana and Dan Haren!

Tonight's guest are to include Ron Darling and Daryl Strawberry.

Posted by Ryan Punzalan at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

John Sickels is considered to be one of the best minor league analysts in the business and each year fans and MLB insiders await his highly regarded Baseball Prospect Book. John was nice enough to share his 2008 Mets Prospect List on his site, Minor League ball.

1. Fernando Martinez, OF, Grade B+
   
2. Deolis Guerra, RHP, Grade B+
   
3. Carlos Gomez, OF, Grade B (undecided, may raise to B+. You guys are right about the injuries, but you also need to be more wary of Mets propaganda.)
   
4. Kevin Mulvey, RHP, Grade B (may raise to B+)
   
5. Jon Niese, LHP, Grade B
   
6. Eddie Kunz, RHP, Grade B
   
7. Phil Humber, RHP, Grade B-
   
8. Brant Rustich, RHP, Grade B-
   
9. Joe Smith, RHP, Grade B-
   
10. Nick Evans, 1B, Grade C+
    
11. Stephen Clyne, RHP, Grade C+
    
12. Scott Moviel, RHP, Grade C+
    
13. Brahiam Maldonado, OF, Grade C+ (deserves more respect)
    
14. Nate Vinyard, LHP, Grade C (although I like him)
    
15. Robert Parnell, RHP, Grade C
    
16. Mike Carp, 1B, Grade C
    
17. Hector Pellot, 2B, Grade C
    
18. Dan Murphy, 3B, Grade C
    
19. Ezequiel Carrera, OF, Grade C
    
20. Greg Veloz, 2B, Grade C

If some of you are wondering where all the A's are, you should know that John is known for not handing out an "A" too easily. In his words, only an elite ans superior talent is worthy of an A.

He also shared his analysis on Carlos Gomez on his site.

I don't like the way the Mets have handled their prospects lately. Carlos Gomez was badly, BADLY rushed, and they have pushed Fernando Martinez and Deolis Guerra much too quickly in my opinion. Carlos Gomez had no business in the majors last year. He's a remarkable athlete with plus speed, a great glove, and offensive potential. But his bat is unrefined. His plate discipline is poor, his power is undeveloped, and he needs regular playing time get his swing in gear and work these issues out. Regular playing time in Double-A and Triple-A, not in the majors. Sticking him in the regular lineup in '08, like the Mets are talking about, is a huge risk for his long-term development, and an unnecessary one.

I agree that Gomez was rushed to the majors much sooner than was necessary. Many a great prospect had his career fizzle away because he was forced to the majors before he was ready. Gomez was clearly over-matched at the plate, when he did make contact, the balls hardly made it out of the infield. If he has any developing power, he clearly didn't show it.

Philip Humber fell out of the top three and is now only considered the Mets' seventh best prospect. Mike Carp has dropped to sixteenth. Last year's relief prospects Carlos Muniz and Willie Collazo and Lino Urdanetta, didn't even make the top 20. Ouch!

That's why I never think twice about trading potential for a sure thing.

I remember when Paul Wilson, Jason Isringhausen and Bill Pulsipher were all untouchable. Years later they were all gone, and all the Mets got was a bag of donuts.

Posted by Joe D. at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

On Thanksgiving Day, Wallace Matthews basically wrote an article just for the sake of bashing the Mets. He could have probably gotten away with that since Newsday is based in New York. Outside of the state of New York, I assure you, Wallace Matthews would be without a job. There's a fine line in journalism that should never be crossed. Ever. The Miami Dolphins are 0-10 (soon to be 0-11), but not one Florida newspaper has written an article like Matthews did.

Okay, we know the Mets collapsed. We know it's the worst September collapse in baseball. We don't need you to remind us, Wallace Matthews. We don't need you to remind us that our team sucked in September, Wallace Matthews. We don't need you to remind us that we couldn't beat our own division, Wallace Matthews. And FYI, we like Johnny Estrada, even if he never plays a game in a Mets uniform; he's the reason Mota is gone. And we will forever be grateful to Johnny Estrada.

I only have one question for Wallace Matthews: where's your Yankee bash? Where is it? Oh, I forgot. The Yankees are too precious and beloved to be bashed. The Yankees have never done anybody wrong. Ever. Where's the article bashing those two idiots that George Steinbrenner now has running his team? What about A-Rod, who can't hit the ball in October? And what's the deal with Derek Jeter? The Yankees did not do that much better than the Mets. They haven't even been to the World Series since they got A-Rod.

Personally, this article offended me not only because it was very anti-Mets, but also because my personal dream is to write for Newsday. Wallace Matthews, just come out and say you're a band-wagoner. The Mets are Amazin'. At least the real fans can say they were there when they sucked. We will always love those guys, win or lose. We always believe in that Mets magic, even if you don't, Mr. Matthews.

Posted by Jessica DeMattia at 08:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Wallace Matthews of Newsday, has done it again. On Thanksgiving Day he chose to write an article with the sole intent of bashing the New York Mets.

Here are some of his comments...

It is Turkey Day, which means it is once again time to brine, stuff, baste and roast the Mets.

Having enjoyed more free rides this offseason than a serial turnstile-jumper circa 1977, the Mets made a comeback on Tuesday by trading Guillermo Mota for Johnny Estrada, who is Paul Lo Duca, only worse.

So far, this offseason is shaping up as even worse than last year's, when the Mets at least had an excuse. Having failed to make it out of the 2006 NLCS by, arguably, one called strike, GM Omar Minaya believed, with some justification, that all his team needed was a turn of the wrench or two to make the adjustments that would put the Mets in the World Series.

This year, having witnessed the worst collapse in New York baseball history, Minaya knows it's going to take a lot more than that. The problem is, what the Mets need most can't be had on the free-agent market.

Heart transplants are not available. Character can't be bought even for A-Rod type numbers. As far as we know, not even BALCO has figured out how to bottle killer instinct.

I could blog for hours just on those excerpts alone, and yet the worst is yet to come. When did Newsday decide it was okay to have one of their writers bash one of their local teams, and get away with it?

Here are some more derogatory statements that were printed about our Mets...

Worst of all, Estrada looks to be just another part-time player on a roster that is chock full of same. Aside from David Wright at third, Jose Reyes at short and Carlos Beltran in center, the Mets don't have one everyday player who looks capable of playing a full season.

John Maine is dependable, but as for the lone lefty, he's Oliver Perez one start, Oliver Hardy the next. Cover your eyes when Mike Pelfrey and Phil Humber are given the baseball. 

The bullpen has been improved slightly by the departure of Mota, who will now collect the remainder of his post-steroids reward money in Milwaukee. But it is still a collection of guys, Billy Wagner included, that you would prefer to see as little as possible.

Then there are the corner outfielders: Moises Alou, who is a good half-player, or half of a good player, managing to appear in 87 games last season; Endy Chavez, who made it into 71 games, Lastings Milledge, who showed improvement but was lucky to make it through the year with his head still attached to his shoulders, Marlon Anderson, Ben Johnson and Carlos Gomez.

His parting shot...

Happy Thanksgiving, Mets fans. Enjoy your bird today, because a diet of turkey doesn't go down nearly as well in April.

I myself do not subscribe to or buy Newsday. I often read their online edition and even then I only read the baseball news. Believe it or not, one of my favorite Mets beat writers is Ken Davidoff, who also writes for them.

I think it is outrageous for any writer to consistently beat up and put down a team in such a degrading and unprofessional manner. Matthews has been doing this against the Mets for too long. I wish there was something we could do to keep trash like his from making it to print.

Posted by Joe D. at 09:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)

the turkey has finally been picked to the bone… The annoying relatives have left until next year, dishes have been done and everyone is thankful Uncle Ralph remembered his Beano.

It’s true folks, Thanksgiving is over and the nightmare that is Christmas shopping has begun. However, this being MetsMerized and me being a Mets fanatic, the only shopping I want to think about is what Omar is putting in the Mets basket. So far all we’ve seen is some Methuselah-esque veteran’s return and Johnny Estrada displace our beloved “Crazy Eyes” Lo Duca. Granted, I know we are all thankful for Guillermo Mota leaving town, but I still can’t seem to get excited about next year. Aside from my planned trip home to NY to see Shea one last time, what do I have to look forward to in Flushing? Freddy Garcia? Carlos Silva?

I understand the groundwork for trades has been laid prior to the Winter Meetings next month, but I want results NOW! Forgive my sense of entitlement friends, but after last years nightmare I’m sure you can all identify with me. Mets fans are some of the most forgiving and long suffering fans in the game. Give us something to be revved up about 2008 Omar! Johan, Bedard, Haren, Blanton, Grumpy or even Dopey! I want to feel like I did the day I saw Pedro signed with the Mets or even when I was late for dialysis just to see Beltran's’ press conference. Anything Omar…maybe even a Luis Castillo bobble head day. Anyone else riding on what I’m paving?

Posted by Adam Baker at 09:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

In the eyes of Mets fans aplenty, Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota were two different people. As the Rolling Stones once said, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might just find that you get what you need."

Paul Lo Duca couldn't wait to re-sign with the Mets. New York is his home, a true blue Brooklyn boy. However, Omar Minaya and the front office decided on September 30 that they didn't want Lo Duca. No good-bye, no thanks for the memories. I, personally, wanted Crazy Eyes for another year because he gave the team a spark that Willie Randolph didn't. On the other side of the spectrum, we had Guillermo Mota, who was locked with the Mets for another year. Nobody wanted him. At first, it was because of the happy pills. Then it was because he stunk up the field. One of Mota's 2007 teammates even said that it wasn't going to work out with him because the booing at home got to him.

Omar Minaya dealt with both his catching situation and his Mota situation in one trade. By acquiring Johnny Estrada from the Brewers, emotions of Mets fans everywhere reached an ultimate high and then fell back down. The fact that Mota is gone has us fans grinning from ear to ear. It also comes as a shock that the Brewers were actually stupid enough to take him. But once all the dust has settled, there is only one realization: Paul Lo Duca is gone for good. This time, it's for real. At least the numbers of Estrada and Lo Duca are virtually the same, and Omar isn't trying to downgrade like he did when we almost signed Torrealba. The acquisition of Johnny Estrada also gives us two Johns to go with our three Carlos-es and two Pedros.

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might just find that you get what you need. Thanks for the memories, Paulie. We hope you continue onward in your quest to follow Mike Piazza.

Posted by Jessica DeMattia at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, is reporting that the Reds have signed closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46 million dollar contract according to his major league sources. It is the largest contract ever given to a closer and also includes an option for a fifth year that can bring the total value of the deal to $57 million dollars.

It's the second significant hit that the Brewer's bullpen has taken after losing Scott Linebrink to the White Sox on Wednesday.

I never thought of Cordero as a big time closer. He was effective and obviously solid, but he was not lights out. That's a heck of a lot of money for a guy like him.

I hope everybody had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by Joe D. at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Last week in part 1 of my 3 part series I gave you the opportunity to put together the 2008 Mets 25 man roster based on a $125 million payroll budget. This week in part 2 of the series you have the chance to see what its like to run a farm system. Last year Omar Minaya was heavily criticized for leaving Jesus Flores unprotected and for the trades of Heath Bell, Matt Lindstrom, Henry Owens and Royce Ring. Your task is to look over the following list of players and decide who to protect. Here is the Mets current 40 man roster (Current roster stands at 35).

Adam Bostick

Ambiorix Burgos

Willie Collazo

Pedro Feliciano

Aaron Heilman

Orlando Hernandez

Phillip Humber

John Maine

Pedro Martinez

Carlos Muniz

Juan Padilla

Mike Pelfrey

Oliver Perez

Duaner Sanchez

Scott Schoenewies

Joe Smith

Jorge Sosa

Jason Vargas

Billy Wagner

Ramon Castro

Johnny Estrada

Luis Castillo

Carlos Delgado

Damion Easley

Ruben Gotay

Anderson Hernandez

Jose Reyes

David Wright

Moises Alou

Marlon Anderson

Carlos Beltran

Endy Chavez

Carlos Gomez

Ben Johnson

Lastings Milledge

 

Here is a list of minor leaguers eligible for the Rule V Draft

Corey Coles

Ryan Meyers

Jonathan Malo

Shawn Bowman

Tim Worthington

Ivan Maldonado

Jamar Hill

Robert Paulk

Tim McNab

Steve Schmoll

Victor Mendez

Micah Schilling

Ryan Cullen

Robinson Cancel

Shawn Wooten

 

You need to keep the following rules in mind…

1. Any players who currently have a major league contract with guaranteed salary for 2008 MUST be protected, unless you want to trade them or release them and still pay the salary. These players include the following 13…

Carlos Delgado

Billy Wagner

Carlos Beltran

Pedro Martinez

Moises Alou

Orlando Hernandez

Luis Castillo

David Wright

Jose Reyes

Scott Schoenewies

Ramon Castro

Marlon Anderson

Damion Easley

 

2. If you want to draft a player in the Rule V Draft you must leave a roster spot free. Only teams with spots open on the 40 man roster can draft a player.

 
3. You also need spots open for any free agent signings you plan to make.

 
4. Omar decided not to protect any of the minor league players eligible, if you so choose you can do the same and leave the roster as is.

Posted by Christian (MetsMan) at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

One of the bigger names on this years free agent market has now found a home. Former Twins outfielder Torii Hunter has just signed a 5-year deal worth as much as $80 million dollars to play for the Los Angeles Angels, according to ESPN.

The Angels' first year general manager, Tony Reagins, is certainly making a splash so far this off season with yet another significant move since the start of the hot stove season.  A couple of days ago, the Angels traded shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the White Sox in exchange for pitcher Jon Garland.

Hunter will add plenty of offense to the lineup as well as his gold glove defense in centerfield. With his addition, the Angels outfield will now feature Garrett Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero at the corner outfield spots, flanking Hunter in center. 

The move comes as a surprise to many who thought that Hunter was close to a deal with the rangers or White Sox. This was certainly a bold move for the Halo's and supposedly they are still wheeling and dealing for some other key players according to several major league sources.

Maybe this helps the Mets a little bit with teams that are looking for a center fielder? There's a chance that the value of Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez have gone up a little. After Hunter, there really is no other solid options for a center fielder in free agency.

Plus, the Twins are still without anyone patrolling the middle of their outfield? Give them a call Omar... Everyone knows they have the hots for Gomez!

Posted by Joe D. at 05:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

It really feels like things are starting to heat up and move at a faster pace as we get closer to the Winter Meetings.

This week was especially busy, and here are some of the latest rumors and transactions over the last 48 hours.

It didn't take long for the Milwaukee Brewers to replace Johnny Estrada. Today they agreed to terms with free agent catcher, Jason Kendall on a one year deal with an option for 2009.

Jason Stark from ESPN had some interesting things to say about the trade winds. He believes the Twins are once again sniffing around for trade offers for Johan Santana. Last week the Twins had made him an offer to stay, but no word on where it went from there. Anyhow, he thinks the Mets are going to offer something along the lines of Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez for Santana. It sounds like a ton, but really it's all unproven talent for the best pitcher in the game.

He also believes that the Orioles are fielding offers for Erik Bedard. Hmm, I wouldn't mind shaking that tree to see what falls out...

Torii Hunter is becoming a hot commodity, and now has offers from at least five different teams. Among the one's known to be interested are the White Sox, Royals (fat chance), Rangers, Dodgers, and Nationals.

I think David Eckstein is pricing himself out of the market. The latest news is he might go back to the Angels, but I think the Angels will ultimately get Miguel Tejada.

Our old friend Kaz Matsui, may soon be playing in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Rumor has it that the Cubs have offered him a three-year deal and are awaiting his response.

Look for our next Hot Stove Recap on Sunday. We will continue to post them about three times a week throughout the off season. Stick with us and you won't miss a beat!

Happy Turkey Day!

Posted by Joe D. at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

I couldn't be happier that Omar not only traded away Mota, but actually got a quality catcher in return. Plus, the Mets dumped Mota's salary on Milwaukee.

Even if Johnny Estrada doesn't play a single game for the Mets (rumors still have Ramon Hernandez ending up here), it's worth it.

Mota was a bust, and signified a truly bad signing Omar made last off-season. He just wasn't the same pitcher last year without his happy pills. In any event, Omar's moves this off-season are reassuring.

Aside from Willie Randolph and Moises Alou, who I would've cut loose, I can't complain about the trade, nor the resigning of golden oldie Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson. While I would've liked to see David Eckstein on this team, I can't really get upset about Luis Castillo coming back. A healthy Luis and Reyes will make a strong infield and one-two punch for the team. 

Omar needs to step it up for pitching now. He's addressed the lineup already. We hear so many rumors, and I'm tempted to tossing out my own "dream" moves, but I'm not going to bother this week. I'm just writing to say that Omar's back on his game. Fire up the hot stove, it's going to be a long off-season.

Happy Turkey Day!

Posted by Jon Chattman at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Okay, somebody please tell me what's going on...

Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that Johnny Estrada may not be sticking around too long. Here is what he wrote this moning...

The Mets have landed a catcher - but this one might not be around long either. As a bonus, the other team took Guillermo Mota.

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," GM Omar Minaya said in a statement that raised red flags because it suggested that Estrada and Ramon Castro may not ultimately be the catching tandem by Opening Day. (Now, other teams may have less leverage in a potential trade with the Mets for a catcher because viable alternatives are in place.)

Unlike some other writers, Adam has always proven to be a very heady and insightful writer. He has excellent instincts because he has a great passion for the team he covers and is very connected to the team. He is among my favorite writers because he is not given to the outlandish rumors that we see and read so much about these days.

I agree with him with regard to the Mets gaining a lot of leverage now if they are in hot pursuit of another catcher. I would also be content if the Mets chose to keep Estrada and platoon him with Castro next season.

I am curious to see if Omar is indeed parlaying this deal into a more significant deal with lets say the Orioles, who have gone into rebuilding mode. Maybe even a Ramon Hernandez and Erik Bedard deal is in the works.

There's no telling, but one thing is certain...

I love the Hot Stove Season!

Posted by Joe D. at 01:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Of all the major sluggers rumored to be available this off season, none are bigger than Miguel Cabrera. (pardon the pun, hee hee)

For weeks now, we've been hearing all this gibberish about the Angels, Mariners, and even the Giants being in hot pursuit. The only team I took seriously was the Angels. I felt they matched up well, and that they had plenty of surplus in young talent to pry Miguel Cabrera (or tow) away from the Marlins.

Forget that... Word on the street is they bailed... Now they are looking to put a halo right on Miguel Tejada's crown. Orioles are rebuilding AGAIN, so what else is new.

So who's the front runner now? It's the other team from Los Angeles, the Dodgers. Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports had this to say on the matter...

The Dodgers have long resisted trading their premium young talent. But after hiring Joe Torre as manager, it would stand to reason that they are more interested in swinging a blockbuster to improve their immediate chances.

The Marlins first showed heavy interest in Kemp last spring, but at that time the Dodgers deemed him untouchable. It remains to be seen whether the availability of Cabrera — combined with questions about Kemp's attitude — will lead the Dodgers to alter their stance.

Cabrera would give Torre a far more potent lineup than the Dodgers had last season, when they finished 10th in the National League in runs scored under Grady Little.

The failure to land Cabrera, on the other hand, would amount to another failed quest by the Dodgers for a big bat — and become all the more embarrassing if Cabrera landed with the Angels.

I for one would love to see Miguel Cabrera out of the NL East, and maybe Jimmy Rollins too, erghhh...

Posted by Joe D. at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Nothing gets me more excited in the off season than a great trade. Well I don't really mean nothing, but you know what I mean. Last night's trade for Johnny Estrada came out of left field. I mean there was not even a hint of that going down. So much for all these experts who think they're in the know...

Hey listen, I know that most of us wanted Paul Lo Duca back in the worst way... Well, maybe not most of us, but at least a majority of us...

Well, guess what?

We did get Paul Lo Duca Back! Okay, not in the physical sense but take a closer look at Estrada vs Paul Lo Duca...

2007	Lo Duca	Estrada
Games	119	120
AB	445	442
Avg	.272	.278
Runs	46	40
Hits	121	123
HR	9	10
RBI	54	54
Fielding	.989	.994
Errors	9	6

Remarkable isn't it? If it walks like a Duca, and talks like a Duca, it must be a Duca!

Let me tell you all something... That Torrealba deal falling apart, was a gift from above. That's not to say that Johnny Estrada is perfect. Not by a long shot... He has his flaws too. For one thing his on-base percentage is an abysmal .297, and second, he had an atrocious year throwing out runners last season. Supposedly that was due to an elbow problem which he just corrected with surgery. However, despite the flaws, he is as good if not better than Yorvit Torrealba who we were about to commit to for four years!

Let's count our blessings...

Posted by Joe D. at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I know I already posted on this subject, but I can't help myself and I needed to release some more energy.

Can somebody please tell me what kind of drugs the Brewers were taking when they agreed to trade Johnny Estrada for Guillermo Mota. Somebody, please explain to me what their thought process was?

I don't even care at this point how good or how bad Estrada is at throwing out runners. He can hit for average, he can hit for some power, and he can call a good game and block the plate. I would have taken any warm body they were willing to give us for Mota. Hell, I would have even taken a cadaver.

Guillermo Mota has never been a friend of Mets Merized. His signing was a mistake that thankfully has been erased. Goodbye, good riddance and good luck.

Posted by Joe D. at 07:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)

WFAN and Rotoworld is reporting that the Mets acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Brewers for RHP Guillermo Mota.

Yes Mets fans, it's true. Omar Minaya just pulled off a rematkable deal that will have Mets fans jumping for joy and shouting from the rooftops!

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE...

The New York Mets announced today that they have acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for righthanded pitcher Guillermo Mota.

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career."

Estrada, 31, hit .278 (123-for-442) with 40 runs scored, 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 120 games with the Brewers last year.

The 5-11, 209-pounder batted .313 (42-for-134) vs. lefthanded pitchers and hit .297 (60-202) with runners in scoring position last season.

Johnny also constructed .313 (31-for-99) mark with four home runs and eight RBI against National League East opponents in 2007.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on October 4th to repair the torn medial meniscus in his left knee and also had a bone spur removed from his right elbow. The surgeries were performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL.

Estrada has batted .280 (567-for-2,026) with 198 runs scored, 129 doubles, 42 home runs, 281 RBI in 589 major league games with Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona and Milwaukee. Johnny was named to the 2004 National League All-Star team.

In addition, he has hit .333 (7-for-21) with two home runs and five RBI in six postseason games in 2004-2005 while with Atlanta.

Estrada has compiled a .297 (272-for-915) batting average during his career with runners on base and has hit .353 (18-51) with the bases loaded.

Mota, 34, went 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 52 games with New York last season. In 59.1 innings, he allowed 63 hits, 39 runs, 38 earned, with 18 walks and 47 strikeouts.

I LOVE YOU OMAR!!!

What a great way to enter the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Posted by Joe D. at 06:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (30)

All we hear are rumors and speculation around this time of the year. I love it!

I read something interesting this morning from Steve Popper on his blog Amazin Stories. He had some interesting things to say about his conference call with Omar Minaya yesterday, but what really caught my attention was this...

As far as right field, Minaya did admit that he's investigating the free-agent market, which might mean that he knows his young chips might be on the way out.

Omar was also quoted as saying... "If you're going to trade for pitching in this market - with the way pitching is right now - you're going to have to part with some premium guys. Our premium prospects are very well liked. We could be players in some of the pitching that might be traded. We're always talking to clubs, we talk on a daily basis. We'll get a deal done.''

You know what??? I'm glad Omar is going to be aggressive! :-)

I don't know how to feel about losing both Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez though. But at the same time if it means a veteran right fielder, and ace for the rotation or a solid catcher, I guess like Omar says, you gotta give up premium prospects.

What do you think? Does anybody else feel uneasy if we lost both Gomez and Milledge?

Posted by Joe D. at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been awarded the NL MVP award for 2008. The race was close and there was never really a for sure winner until it was announced today at 2 p.m. Matt Holliday and Prince Fielder were the other two candidates, and some might even say David Wright. Although most of us knew the Wright was out, when the Mets went out.

Nevertheless, the league has made its decision and Jimmy Rollins it is. He received 16 of 32 first-place votes and finished with 353 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

 Rollins became the first player in history to collect at least 200 hits, 25 homers, 15 triples and 25 steals in a season. On the season, the switch-hitter batted .296, with 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, 212 hits and 139 runs scored.

 

Posted by Kelly Horn at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

If there is a more divisive topic of conversation among Mets fans these days, none is more divisive than Omar Minaya's job performance.

In a recent poll of 560 voters, 46% of Mets fans did not believe the Mets would win a World Series with Omar Minaya as the GM. Wow, that number is way too high in my opinion. Now all of you know by now, that we are not apologists for the Mets organization. As our slogan says, we are the "Fair and Balanced" Mets Network.

I believe in expressing my opinions openly and honestly, and at times this past year, I've taken my pot shots at Omar. We have no connections or ties to the