Last night we reported that MMO Senior Editor, John Delcos, spoke with a team executive from the Milwaukee Brewers who said that the “Mets were asking for more than they were willing to give up for Ike Davis.”
“It makes more sense for us to re-sign Corey Hart and we won’t have to lose any assets to get him.”
At the time, we believed that talks for Davis with the Brewers were dead.
There was a rumor late this afternoon that the Brewers and Mets were talking again, but Jim Duquette then reported an hour ago that the Brewers are out, confirming what our source initially told us.
Source: Mets asked Brewers for young, controllable pitching for Ike – Thornburg among others. MIL said no and were told they're out.
— Jim Duquette (@Jim_Duquette) December 11, 2013
Tyler Thornburg, 24, had a solid season in 2013 going 3-1 in 18 games (seven starts) with an ERA of 2.03 in 66.2 innings.
The Brewers are getting antsy, reports Adam Rubin, and would like a decision from Hart soon. If that falls through, maybe Milwaukee comes back to the Mets?
We’ll see…
Original Post 12/9
The Mets intend to find a trade partner for either Ike Davis or Lucas Duda during the Winter Meetings this week.
Newsday’s Marc Carig writes that though both have been mentioned as trade candidates, it appears that Davis is more likely to be moved.
David Lennon, also of Newsday, agrees saying that the Mets sound more invested in Duda’s growth than Davis. and that Davis could be dealt this week.
Our own John Delcos said that there seems to be an urgency to want to trade Davis now, even though it could mean getting less.
The Brewers, Pirates, Orioles and Rays have showed varying levels of interest, but it’s Milwaukee who seems to have the most serious interest. Marc Carig of Newsday confirms that the Brewers and Mets did talk today. But one person we spoke to with knowledge of the situation said there is nothing imminent. The Brewers are more interested in re-signing Corey Hart and have made him a priority. The other three teams’ interest ranges from lukewarm to distant.
Neither Davis or Duda alone will be enough to get the Mets the shortstop they need or a starting pitcher who can give them the innings they want. But a source told Carig that the Mets remain confident that there are enough potential trade partners remaining for first basemen with power.
That may be true, but there are other options available. The first-base market is flush with trade possibilities in the Marlins’Logan Morrison, the Rangers’ Mitch Moreland and the Red Sox’s Mike Carp, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Other choices include free agents James Loney, Corey Hart and Kendrys Morales. The Rays, Pirates and Brewers are three teams looking for first basemen.
It certainly looks like Davis’ days with the Mets are numbered and that the front office is resigned to moving him as quickly as possible so they can move on from this first base controversy.
