Now that Francisco Rodriguez is off to Milwaukee, Sandy Alderson and the Mets have an extra $17.5 million off the books for next year. This trade is a great move by Alderson for just that very reason because now they can use that money for a more significant player, namely Jose Reyes.
With Reyes’ impending free-agency on the horizon, most baseball insiders said that Reyes as a Met past 2011 was becoming increasingly unlikely due to the Mets financial constraints. But now, the Mets have basically just freed up enough for the first year of his deal, putting the Mets right back as a top contender for Reyes come this winter.
I personally think trading K-Rod now borderline GUARENTEES the Amazin’s retaining their 28-year old shortstop. Which that alone is worth way more that K-Rod. Think of it as trading K-Rod’s services for the rest of 2011 and all of 2012 for Reyes’ for the next 5-7 years. Would you rather be stuck with K-Rod for one year or have Reyes for years to come? I see that as an outstanding trade by Alderson. Never underestimate the value in the long run of a salary dump.
I noticed that the response to this trade was overwhelmingly negative on this site, but I don’t think those people are seeing the big picture here. Many were upset that the only return we got were 2 players to be named later, but that is not the point of making this trade. Regardless of the return on prospects that they get, if the Mets are able to retain Reyes, then they already are the winners in this deal, big time.
I applaud Alderson for this trade. It was something that needed to be done and should have been done. Would Omar have had the brains or the guts to do this? I don’t think so!
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