By now you’ve all heard about the release of prominent players like Gary Sheffield of the Tigers and Geoff Jenkins of the Phillies.
I find it amazing that even in the current economic climate, the Phillies had no problem with eating the remaining $8 million dollars of Jenkins’ contract, and even more surprising that the Tigers ate $14 million dollars of Sheffield’s deal.
During the off season, the Mets had hoped to unload both Luis Castillo and there was even talk of trading Ramon Castro.
The rumor mills churned on for months about how badly the Mets wanted Pudge Rodriguez to back up Brian Schneider, and Orlando Hudson couldn’t wait to get into a Mets uniform.
The big stumbling block for the Mets was that they were adamantly opposed to upgrading at either position unless they were able to unload Castillo or Castro first.
Castillo was owed about $18 million, but the Mets could have certainly traded him if they were willing to eat a third of it or about $6 million dollars.
Castro’s case seems a little odder because he was only owed $2,5 million.
It begs the question, do you think the Mets should have acted as the Tigers and Phillies did if it meant a significant upgrade for the team?
Are the Tigers and Phillies crazy, or are hey just two teams doing what GM has to do to improve his team’s chances of winning?
Although the Mets continue to say it didn’t, does the Madoff scheme play into the Mets off season decisions?
Now lets get something straight… We have our 25 man roster, and I absolutely support and love the team as presently constructed and that includes Castillo and Castro. I just want those who are intellectually inclined, to examine the recent moves by the Tigers and Phillies and draw a comparison between them and the Mets for the purpose of a good debate.
