Sandy Alderson updated reporters on Thursday about the current trade climate and what type of player they are hoping to acquire.
“I’d say it’s a very narrow market. Teams are not looking to dump their players in the middle of June. That’s like advertising to their fans that the season is over. I don’t care how bad your record is, teams are reluctant to do that at this point in the season.” (Adam Rubin, ESPN New York)
Without naming names or responding directly to the Aramis Ramirez rumors, the Mets general manager had this to say:
“Would we consider a third baseman who can’t do anything else?” Alderson said. “Under the circumstances, yeah, we probably would. But we’re not just looking for any third baseman. It has to be something we think is an improvement that doesn’t cost us significantly.”
By cost, Alderson is of course alluding to the price in prospects in addition to how much the team can afford to increase payroll.
Ideally, the team would like to swap Jon Niese or Dillon Gee, but according to Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers are not interested in either of them.
Still with the Mets short on capital and a steadfast unwillingness to part with any of the prospects other teams want, the likelihood for a trade isn’t promising.
“I have to emphasize, you’re constantly weighing what you have against what’s out there,” Alderson said.
It takes two to tango and with the Mets holding firm in what they’re willing to part with for a bat, there’s not too many teams out there who are going to say:
“Sure Mets, we’ll help you out… Here’s the bat you desperately crave, just give us your $5 million dollar disgruntled spot starter with the injury history, 1.56 WHIP and 4.50 ERA.”
You get the drift?
June 11
Here’s the latest on the Mets and Brewers trade buzz and my thoughts on some of the players being discussed.
To begin, just when we thought we were out on Aramis Ramirez, based on what Adam Rubin heard from team sources, Marc Carig and Matt Ehalt dragged us back in. Both of them say the Mets have got their sights set on Ramirez, although for the life of me I don’t know why.
Besides the fact that 37-year old Ramirez is mired in the worst season of his career, batting .217/.257/.390 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 175 plate appearances, he’s one-dimensional defensively and can only play third base. What happens when David Wright comes back? Is there something about Wright that they’re not telling us?
I do understand the attraction for Sandy Alderson and the Mets, in that Ramirez has practically no functional value so he won’t cost the Mets a top prospect or even a B-Level prospect.
Additionally, all they need to do is absorb the remaining $8.7 million Ramirez has on his original four-year contract. And if they unload Dillon Gee or Jon Niese on the Brewers they’re only taking on about $4 million in the balance sheet. You know the Wilpons would love that.
Still, I don’t like it and I hope this isn’t some lame attempt to appease fans clamoring for a trade. Hey, I want to see the Mets make a trade too, but a sensible one that at least provides a significant upgrade which Ramirez certainly is not. Plus Daniel Murphy reportedly returns in a week, and I’d rather have him at third instead of Ramirez. Wouldn’t you?
Jean Segura is more appealing, but not by much and both Carig and Andy Martino say he’s not available and the Brewers are hanging onto him. And even if he was available the starting price would be Steven Matz. Still interested?
I’d certainly consider All-Star outfielder Ryan Braun (PED history and all), but I can assure you that he’s too rich for Sandy Alderson’s blood in prospects, and Fred and Jeff Wilpon would never sign off on it anyway – even if Sandy was to persuade Milwaukee to eat a third of his salary.
Most Mets fans I talk to drool over the possibility of adding Carlos Gomez, but when I ask them to consider what it would cost to land him, most quickly lose interest when they realize it starts with Matz, Michael Conforto, and probably Juan Lagares and that might not be enough to get it done. It’s just as well because the Brewers view Gomez as one of their core players and he’s not available.
So bottom line as far as these Brewers rumors go, I’d say there’s a 50 percent chance the Mets will get Aramis Ramirez, a 20 percent chance on Jean Segura, and no chance they get Ryan Braun or Carlos Gomez.
