This is why I looooove the Hot Stove League (and especially the Winter Meetings)!!!
3 teams--12 players
Basically, the Mets get JJ Putz (our new set-up man), OF Jeremy Reed, and RHP Sean Green (no, not that one..).
We gave up Heilman, Endy, Joe Smith, and Mike Carp.
I like this deal--I love Endy but you can't hold up a deal over a 4th or 5th outfielder, we get rid of Heilman, Smith became a wreck down the stretch, and as good as he did last year, Carp is pretty easily replaceable. We got Delgado for another year and you can always find a bat for 1B.
I think there's more on the horizon--Omar's been looking at Juan Pierre and I've seen talk about Michael Young. Could we be sending Reyes to Texas? Young can play 2B or SS, Pierre would step into the leadoff spot, and we'd have a full-time LF...
I guess Murph would then go to 2B unless he was part of the package.
I'd like to see us get Lowe and it sounds like Ollie may be back for 5/$70, or there about.
That would give us a rotation of Johan, Pelf, Maine, Lowe, and Ollie. Sounds good to me...
Bullpen has gone from an Achilles heel to a dominant strength (I guess we'll fill out w/Feliciano, Stokes, Schoenwies, and Knight?).
Only real questions left would be a finalization of 2B and LF and those may be addressed as above--stay tuned...
DC out
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5 comments:
I agree with DC about the players we lost. I like Endy but he's not a superstar. Same with Carp.
However, Omar said that with the money we're now committed to you can all but forget about D Lowe.. My feelings about the Putz deal rest entirely on whether we get another legit starter or not. Putz is definitely not worth the chance to get a legit #2 to back up Johan. Too many question marks around Maine and Perez and full seasons. However, if Omar still has salary room to land another big starter, then Putz deal is good.
I still think one of Reyes / Beltran / Delgado has to go. That core does not have the mental approach and grit to do what it takes to win. We can certainly get a monster player in return for Reyes or Beltran.
Hang on a second. You were the guy all last year who was beating the drum that bullpen bullpen bullpen was the only difference between last year's rotation (which is the same as now, if we get Ollie back) and our '06 staff.
Now adding bullpen depth is only good IF we get another starter?
Don't make me go all Vanessa Williams on your set.
We certainly know what we gave up in this deal. Perhaps the best utility OF in the game (but still only a utility player), two relievers with potential who look miles away from breaking out, and a 1B prospect that could be Mark Grace or else could be Andy Phillips.
In return, we got Putz, who, IIRC, is one year removed from top closer in the AL? And we're coupling him with the guy who was the top closer in the junior circuit last year. Not too bad.
Sanchez, as a 6th or 7th inning guy, is a risk I like--if his velocity stays down, he'll be a mediocre (but not terrible) middle reliever, if the extra year of recovery puts him back in the low to mid 90's, you have a much better than average middle reliever.
This new guy Sean Green I'm sure is going to be in the pen over Knight. He's a big kid at 6'6", and showed that he could string to gether a few dominant months:
"In 2008, Green dominated before the All-Star break with a 2.72 ERA, but after the All-Star break, Green had a 8.65 ERA."
Sounds like Joe Smith-itis out of another young pitcher. Hopefully he's ready to turn the corner.
Stokes is a natural fit as a long guy/spot starter, especially if Niese is the 5th starter. If the wheels come off the cart, Stokes will be there in reserve.
To me, that leaves a pen of KRod/Putz/Feliciano/Sanchez/Green/Scho/Stokes. If we want to carry 12 pitchers, which ain't all that unusual.
Starters would be Johan/Maine/Pelf/Ollie/Niese.
Parnell and Kunz may also make a push for the pen.
All these bullpen names brings up another possibility--some of them will be packaged in another deal.
I've been trying to figure out where the Mets are going with some of these other rumors and here's my guess:
Texas wants to trim payroll. I could see the Mets sending Reyes, Castillo, and some young pitchers to Texas. In return, we would get Michael Young and take on Vincente Padilla's bloated contract.
Mets get a top 2B/SS, and a back-end starter. Texas gets a new middle infield, some prospects and net payroll relief.
Plus, this satisfies SHK's desire to break up the core...
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