Mets acquire Guillermo Mota

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Per ESPN Bottom Line, for a PTBN.

Updates as they come.

[Frayed Knot]

My initial reaction: WTF?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

]Mets acquire Mota from Indians 08/20/2006 5:15 PM ET By Bryan Hoch / Special to MLB.com NEW YORK -- Hoping to bolster their bullpen for September and beyond, the Mets acquired right-handed reliever Guillermo Mota from the Cleveland Indians on Sunday in exchange for a player to be named later. The 33-year-old Mota had struggled this season, posting a 1-3 record with a 6.21 ERA in 34 appearances for Cleveland. He has not pitched since July 24 and was designated for assignment on Aug. 12. "Our scouts say the velocity is good, he's healthy," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "Hopefully a change of scenery and change of leagues will help him produce better results." A 6-foot-4, 210-pound reliever, Mota is expected to join the Mets in time for Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, at which time Minaya said the Mets would make a corresponding roster move. "To me, the bullpen is something that's very critical, and it's an area you should always protect yourself," Minaya said. "Being able to get Mota gives us another arm in the bullpen that can hopefully protect leads." Minaya said he felt confident that members of the Mets' coaching staff, particularly pitching coach Rick Peterson and bullpen coach Guy Conti, might be able to help Mota's performance. In recent years, Mota was one of the National League's better setup men for the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a 1.97 ERA in 76 appearances in 2003 and a 2.14 mark in 52 appearances in 2004 before being traded to the Florida Marlins. Minaya cited the impact that Conti and Peterson had on right-handed reliever Jorge Julio, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in May for starter Orlando Hernandez. After struggling to open the season, Julio has recorded 15 saves in 18 opportunities for Arizona, with a 3.31 ERA. "We feel comfortable with our coaches and our staff to be able to turn Guillermo Mota around," Minaya said. The Mets also received cash considerations in the transaction to help cover most of Mota's remaining salary. Mota was due to make $3 million for the 2006 season. Minaya said he consulted with catcher Paul Lo Duca, a batterymate of Mota's in Los Angeles and Florida, for feedback on the transaction. "We think it's a move that has some potential upside and is not going to cost us that much," Minaya said.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

These trades for relief pitchers are starting to make me weary.

If the Indians are paying a lot of Mota's salary, I fear that the PTBN is going to be a better player than I'd prefer to part with.

[Frayed Knot]

Good thing Piazza's gone

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I fear that the PTBN is going to be a better player than I'd prefer to part with.

Oh, I doubt that.

He takes Ring's spot. No biggie for now.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

The numbers on Mota:

37.2 IP, 6.21 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, .298 BAA, 27 K, 19 BB
His splits don't show any real difference.

Unless I'm missing something, he hasn't pitched in almost a month.
What's up with that?
EDIT: DFA'd on August 11th. Doesn't look like he accepted assignment, because I can't find minor league stats on him.


SPECULATION ALERT:

Trying to free up Heilman for the rotation? Maybe, but you'd think they'd have done that by now if they hand any intent of doing so.

Me thinks Omar just wants to take a flyer.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

More likely Darren Oliver, no?

Wouldn't he be the starter I'm gonna go see on Tuesday?

[Guest Iubitul]

Frayed Knot wrote: Good thing Piazza's gone

My first thought, too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Probably Piazza's first thought also.

[metirish]

Imagine of Burnitz was still here..no love lost between thsoe two either.

[Frayed Knot]

Willie has already said Williams will get one more start at least.
One of the StL games (forget which).


And even if they were so inclined to make Heilman as starter (and I don't think they are) I HIGHLY DOUBT they'd do it so late in the season.
Boston's in the same quandry with Papelbon and THEY WANT to convert him eventually but are afraid it's much too late to 'stretch him out'.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Frayed Knot wrote: My initial reaction: WTF?

Mine also. Sheesh!

[Guest cleonjones11]

We could have Mota AND Nady ..Thanks Omar....

[metirish]

Heilman has become way too important in the pen to get moved now, not this season...I'm more than happy with his eight inning role,he's thriving in it .

[metirish]

]If the Indians are paying a lot of Mota's salary, I fear that the PTBN is going to be a better player than I'd prefer to part with.

From Mets.com

]The Mets also received cash considerations in the transaction to help cover most of Mota's remaining salary. Mota was due to make $3 million for the 2006 season.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Memories -

[Guest Edgy DC]

cleonjones11 wrote: We could have Mota AND Nady ..Thanks Omar....

And a bag of money. But, you know, not Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez and minus a Player to Be Named Later. What's the point?

[RealityChuck]

Edgy DC wrote: ="cleonjones11"]We could have Mota AND Nady ..Thanks Omar.... And a bag of money. But, you know, not Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez and a Player to Be Named Later. What's the point?

They need Heath Bell down in Norfolk. This lets him stay there.

[Elster88]

cleonjones11 wrote: We could have Mota AND Nady ..Thanks Omar....

For the first time, I'm 100% in agreement with cleon.

[Frayed Knot]

<<<<------ My wayward son



I suppose what this could all mean is that it frees a Bell/Ring type of guy for a trade and still gives us a fallback guy to cover any pen emegencies that come up. Plus Mota's also the "live arm" type (J Julio. O Perez) that Omar seems to like as a possible reclamation project.

Other than that I don't really understand his apparent obsession with "fixing" a problem that isn't really broken. Even in the post-Duaner era we've still got the #1 pen ERA in the majors.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Elster88 wrote: ="cleonjones11"]We could have Mota AND Nady ..Thanks Omar.... For the first time, I'm 100% in agreement with cleon.

I understand. We could have Mota and Nady. (Excuse me, AND Nady.)

I'm still asking, what's the point?

[smg58]

I don't get this one. I'm not sure how he's an upgrade over any of our relievers at this point.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

If Darren Oliver takes even a single start, we'll need another reliever. I don't understand why people get bent out of shape every time the Mets try out a reliever. If he suxxxx, then he suxxx. BFD.

And I was never really on Piazza's side in the brawl. I know he was mad about getting hit, but I suspect that was about a lot of other internal stuff too, such as "I wonder if I can sue the Mets?"and "Maybe I really am gay?" and "Boy do I suck at first base!" but he basoically chased the guy down the line, picked him up by the shirtcollar off the ground and Mota was big enough not to knee MP in the balls. Geez. He was just a hard-throwing converted infielder.

[RealityChuck]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: If Darren Oliver takes even a single start, we'll need another reliever. I don't understand why people get bent out of shape every time the Mets try out a reliever. If he suxxxx, then he suxxx. BFD.

Excellent point. If you can pick up a player who has had success in the past for cheap, how does it hurt? If he's good, great; if he's terrible, what's wrong with giving it a shot?

A lot depends on the PTBNL, but it's worth taking a chance. Sometimes things work out (e.g., Valentin); sometimes they don't (e.g., Lima Bean). But there are no guarantees.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: I know he was mad about getting hit, but I suspect that was about a lot of other internal stuff too, such as "I wonder if I can sue the Mets?"and "Maybe I really am gay?" and "Boy do I suck at first base!" but he basoically chased the guy down the line, picked him up by the shirtcollar off the ground and Mota was big enough not to knee MP in the balls.

Well he plugged him during spring training two years in a row.

Piazzas have long memories.

The only thing about Mota is that it's a good chance here to be testing Bell and Ring (who have six bushels and a peck of minor league saves between them) against better batters, and get a taste for what they can offer in bigger spots going forward.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Edgy DC wrote: ="Johnny Dickshot"]I know he was mad about getting hit, but I suspect that was about a lot of other internal stuff too, such as "I wonder if I can sue the Mets?"and "Maybe I really am gay?" and "Boy do I suck at first base!" but he basoically chased the guy down the line, picked him up by the shirtcollar off the ground and Mota was big enough not to knee MP in the balls. Well he plugged him during spring training two years in a row. Piazzas have long memories. The only thing about Mota is that it's a good chance here to be testing Bell and Ring (who have six bushels and a peck of minor league saves between them) against better batters, and get a taste for what they can offer in bigger spots going forward.

Which brings me to my main concern about that trade, which would be the Mets giving situations to Mota that could be used for giving Bell and Ring their fair shakes at grabbing hold of a big league spot.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Not for nothing, but Ring and Bell haven't exactly been throwing up performances calling for more looks.

Small samples, bbbyyy, but how many chances are even there for Ring to get and how many, honestly does he deserve? He's one of four (!) LH relievers, and the least accomplished of them, which is no reflection on him.

What does reflect are failures in his limited leverage opportunities so far such as walking (Daryle Ward) or surrendering XBH hits to (Adrian Gonzalez) the LH batters he was brought in specifically to retire.

Bell... well I like Bell, but I don't think the Mets trust him. He gives up an awful lot of hits for his K's.

[metirish]

I think there is nothing to lose and I trust that Peterson can get Mota back to form like he did with Julio.

[nymr83]

Prediction: Oliver will make the Nady trade look great a few years from now.

As for Mota, I don't see the need for him but if its going to cost a worthless ptbnl later on I don't really mind the move.