Wild trade rumors

[RealityChuck]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_heyman/07/14/daily.scoop/index.html

]A decidedly drab pitching market is on the verge of receiving a major shot in the arm. The White Sox are sending out word they're willing to trade one of two veteran front-line starters -- either Freddy Garcia or Javier Vazquez -- if a team will relinquish a top-flight set-up man. One potential target is Phillies All-Star closer Tom Gordon. ... The White Sox are targeting a list of top relievers, and it's believed that roster includes the Mets' Duaner Sanchez.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

No thanks. How about Heilman?

[MFS62]

]JAKE WESTBROOK, RHP, CLEVELAND Rumors have had the Indians open to trading Westbrook for some time; with a team that was expected to be in the race down to the final days of the season badly underperforming, there's no reason to think they wouldn't become increasingly open as the July 31 deadline approaches. Westbrook isn't the sexiest option available, but he's 29, under contract for a reasonable $5.6 million next year, and is a very good pitcher who's cleared 210 innings two years in a row. He's a power sinkerballer who's reliant on his infield defense and not giving up the longball, which makes him a good fit for the Mets, and while he's not as good as the 3.38 ERA he put up two years ago, neither is he as bad as the 4.49 he posted last year. Verdict: Not a bad idea

I guess the writer hasn't envisioned the fate of a sinkerballer with the limited range of the right side of the Mets infield behind him. But with Belliard a free agent after this year, maybe they would be interested in Keppinger plus????

Later

[smg58]

I have to agree with Olerud Owned concerning Vazquez or Garcia; Heilman is negotiable, Sanchez isn't.

Westbrook could post a sub-4 ERA at Shea. Milledge and Pelfrey would not be on the table for him, but I could see them asking for Bannister and I'd have to consider it.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Heilman should be more than negotiable, he should be available.

And now he's in the game as I type this.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Mets to inquire about Abreu, Gordon, and Lieber if they are made available, per NY Post and their excessively long urls.

[nymr83]

Heilman and Milledge for Gordon and Abreu? is this feasible or is it a stupid WFAN-caller trade?

[seawolf17]

Why don't we give them Wright, Reyes, Tom Seaver's retired number, Met-El, Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, and the naming rights to the new Bob Murphy Stadium? Gimme a break, Post.

FWIW, I'd take Westbrook.

[Zvon]

]Many scouts say they would not touch Abreu because of indifferent play. Yet others say the negativity of Philadelphia has worn on Abreu and that he is the ultimate change-of-scenery player.

I really think this is true, re: change of scenery.
And I dont think of it as indifferent play- more so playing too cautiously.

But I dont think I want to see him as a Met.
Not if the Phils are looking for top prospects.
(I never, never, NEVER want to see Burrell as a Met).

Id love to see the Mets pry Gordons arm from the Phils tho.
They would be crazy to let him go the way he's been as their closer.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

David Lennon in Newsday:

]...the Mets were interested to hear that the White Sox are thinking about trading Javier Vazquez, Freddy Garcia or Jon Garland, but at this point, they don't appear to be a match. One person familiar with the situation said Friday that "there's nothing going on" between the two clubs, primarily because Chicago wants a top-flight reliever in return and the Mets don't want to disrupt their bullpen. The Mets are more focused on the Nationals' Livan Hernandez, despite his unimpressive numbers, because they know his price - in talent - is expected to drop as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

] The Mets apparently have other concerns besides their pitching staff. Just before the All-Star break, general manager Omar Minaya let it be known that he wants his club's on-base percentage to improve, and his recent interest in the Phillies' Bobby Abreu (.447 OBP) is part of that plan. A person familiar with the club's thinking said Friday that Abreu's name has come up but that he doesn't seem to fit at the moment. With Xavier Nady still bothered by a broken bone in his wrist, the Mets have an excuse to make room for Abreu in rightfield, and Cliff Floyd is in the walk year of his contract.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

MLB.com

]Notes: Rumors fly around Lopez 07/17/2006 7:56 PM ET By Michael Gluskin / MLB.com BALTIMORE -- One day after discussing trade rumors in general terms, Baltimore starter Rodrigo Lopez learned Monday that he may have a new specific destination. Buster Olney, a senior columnist for ESPN.com, said in a webchat earlier in the day that he expects Lopez to be traded to the Mets by the end of the week. Jim Duquette, vice president of baseball operations, was unavailable for comment, but Lopez took the news in stride. "I'm not surprised," Lopez said. "After three or four years with the same team and seeing the needs, at this time of year, nothing surprises me. It's not just with me. It can be with anybody on the team. I guess it's part of baseball, part of this sport. I wouldn't be surprised." Lopez, who's making $3.75 million this year, has started three Opening Day games for the team, including this season. He won on Opening Day, but struggled for much of the next two months. From April 25 through May 20, Lopez lost six consecutive starts, and he hasn't been able to find a consistent groove all year. Lopez, who is 6-10 with a 6.44 ERA, earned his sixth victory Sunday, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Rangers. That result may have fueled the rumors, but Lopez isn't letting it bother him. "I just worry about pitching well," he said. "And wherever I go, wherever I'm going to be, I'm just going to keep working hard." Starting pitching is one of the needs for many teams around the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and Lopez is attractive in part because of his past success. He's won at least 14 games in three of the last four seasons and is 57-53 in his career. There's reason to believe Lopez's second half could be better than the first, judging by his career numbers. Lopez is three games under .500 with a 4.94 ERA before the All-Star break, but is 28-21 with a 4.63 ERA in the second half. Lopez has been with the Orioles since November 2001, when he signed as a Minor League free agent. He has never been traded during his career, and said it would probably be difficult on his family. He's married and has two sons. "We got to do our jobs whatever happens," Lopez said. "I guess the only hard part for me and my family is the move in and move out I guess. But beside that, I'm not saying it's going to affect my performance."

[Guest Rotblatt]

Lopez isn't a bad guy to target. He's been a solid pitcher in his career, although he's having a bad season. Still, his peripherals look good--he's just given up a ton of HR this year, something which Shea (and moving out of the AL) will really help.

Depending on what we give up, I'm down with R-Lo.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

]There's reason to believe Lopez's second half could be better than the first, judging by his career numbers. Lopez is three games under .500 with a 4.94 ERA before the All-Star break, but is 28-21 with a 4.63 ERA in the second half.

So he tends to have a better winning percentage in the second half, but his ERA isn't all that much different.

It sounds more like the Orioles have been a better second-half team than Lopez has been a better second-half pitcher.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

He was very effective two years ago (I believe 5th in ERA+) and has won 15 games a few times in his career already. Plus, he's Mexican. Wouldn't at all doubt Duke goes for some of the leftovers of his short-lived system -- Bell, Keppinger, etc., if any kind of Met-O's deal gets done.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

We know he likes Victor Zambrano...

[Guest Edgy DC]

The question is, where does Lopez fit in if it can't be established up front that he's better than what the Mets already have?

I do believe the power alleys of Shea can hold in flies that the power alleys of Oriole Park cannot. But I also believed that relative to Jorge Julio, and I got two black eyes for my trouble, and I wasn't very pretty.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'm with Edgy; I don't really see the point of Lopez.

Given the Mets current situation, I'd be willing to mortgage some future for a Dontrelle Willis. But even if no trade is made, we could go into the postseason with four of the following pitchers as starters: Martinez, Glavine, Trachsel, Hernandez, Pelfrey, Maine, Bannister. That's not as good as I'd like, but it may be good enough. Lopez doesn't improve it significantly, if at all.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And, if it is an improvement, it'll take five times through the rotation before we find out.

Then, if not, we go back to one of the guys we shelved and give them another shot with the postseason that much closer and them that much rustier.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Well, just as silly to dismiss him out-of-hand when there's no indication of what they intend to do or whom they give up. Maybe they like him as a reliever... who knows.

[soupcan]

A healthy Martinez, a solid Glavine, a steady Trachsel is not so horrible.

Wouldn't the odds favor one of the group of Pelfry, Bannister, Maine or Hernandez having some success from this piont forward?

I'm with Yancy - I don't think that in the long run the pitching is as bad as people are being led to believe.

Go get another starter be it Rodrigo or Livan and throw them into the mix as well. Why not?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Not so wild challenge trade brewing, from The Kansas City Star

Deal in the works

The Royals and Mets appear close to completing a trade of minor-league second basemen: Ruben Gotay for Jeff Keppinger.

Gotay, 23, is batting .264 in 87 games at Class AAA Omaha after spending parts of the two previous seasons in the big leagues and batting .242 in 130 games.

Keppinger, 26, is batting .297 in 85 games at Class AAA Norfolk. He batted .284 in 2004 in 33 games for the Mets.

Gotay up until this year. It doesn't mean much, but check out that rip through spring training in 2005.

Gotay in 2006.

[Elster88]

I don't see why the Mets are doing that one. But I don't see why not either.

[Theoldmole]

Julio Gotay's nephew. His dad had a minor league career.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Elster88 wrote: I don't see why the Mets are doing that one. But I don't see why not either.

Yeah, but that's often true of challenge trades. But part of why trades are made is that teams have different assessments of talent. Both guys are out of options at the end of the season, and maybe a new environment can push either or both in their make-or-break stretch run.

Gotay has a little more power, and probably more power potential, and switch hits. Kepp has more average, and a little more versatility. Neither is much with the wheels, but Jeff steals at a more responsible rate.

[Vic Sage]

]A healthy Martinez, a solid Glavine, a steady Trachsel is not so horrible.

no, its not horrible In fact, that would be quite good enough. But we don't have those things. What we DO have is an unhealthy Martinez, a slumping Glavine, and a trachsel thats steady at an above-league avg ERA for whom the Mets score a ton of runs.

]Wouldn't the odds favor one of the group of Pelfry, Bannister, Maine or Hernandez having some success from this piont forward?

Perhaps, but we need TWO of them to have success, not just one. And the odds of THAT, while gettng back a healthy Pedro, and having glavine return to solidity, and having Trax' steadiness level out at 1/2 run of ERA less, are NOT odds you really want to bet on.

]I'm with Yancy - I don't think that in the long run the pitching is as bad as people are being led to believe.

And i think you and Yancy are delusional. But i mean that in the nicest possible way!

]Go get another starter be it Rodrigo or Livan and throw them into the mix as well. Why not?

cuz those guys blow. We need a solid #2-#3-type starter that can push Trax to #4, leaving only the 5th slot open rookies and has-beens.

And I don't think there are any available right now. But if there were, you'd have to give up something of value to get him.

Either F.Garcia and J.Vazquez sound like possibilities, if they'd take Heilmann and a prospect in return. Sanchez, however, has been too important to the bullpen to move now.

As for Dontrelle Willis, trading Pelfrey and/or Milledge for him (even if thats all it would cost us, which i doubt) is not trading away the future. D-Train is 24 years old! He IS the future. But whats good about him is that, unlike Pelfrey, he's the present, too. But i don't think there's any way FLA trades him to the Mets.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'm glad you mean it in a good way!

For the record, my position, in a nutshell is that the Mets rotation can certainly stand to be upgraded, but if it isn't it may prove to be good enough. I'd love to get a Dontrelle, but as for some of these other guys, I don't see much point in getting another starter with an ERA over 5.

And the Mets only have to choose one guy to go along with Glavine, Pedro, and Trachsel. You only need four starters in the postseason.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Yancey - "And the Mets only have to choose one guy to go along with Glavine, Pedro, and Trachsel. You only need four starters in the postseason."

Yup �

[smg58]

Gotay is younger. I'm worried that his BB/K ratio has dropped this year, but I think the Mets see more long-term upside with him, while the Royals probably see Keppinger as a guy who can play for their big league club.

The Marlins could compete with the Mets next year if they stand pat, and at some point that would have to factor into their thinking regarding Willis. At least you would think it would. I'm guessing it would take both Milledge and Pelfrey to get their attention, and that's an offer I wouldn't make.

[Guest cleonjones11]

Maybe Pelfrey is all we really need. They dont have to do anything.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Kepp looked like a goner from the start. He's not an Omar Guy in the least.

I think Omar given a choice prefers his middle-infield reserves to possess strong gloves, secondary skills and upside as opposed to fully developed hitting skills and suspect everything else.