Trade Deadline Chatter (Met Division)

[Centerfield]

People born in 1975 are NOT OLD. In fact, they probably would have at least 7 or 8 good years left if they were picked up today.

[duan]

indeed, in fact, those of us born on the 27th July 1975 (like a certain A. Rodriguez and a certain D. Stokes) think that we've 5 years at 30 million per coming our way.

[smg58]

Well the Nats just signed Belliard to an extension, so he most likely isn't going anywhere.

[MFS62]

="Yancy Street Gang"] Belliard would be a great guy to get for the next few months. He's not the second baseman of the future that the Mets need (he's 35) but I suspect that Gotay isn't either. It's the time of the year, and the type of year, where you have to sacrifice some youth to try to solidify the run for the pennant. So Gotay for Belliard might be worthwhile. On the other hand, Gotay is 25, and I'd hate to trade Melvin Mora for Mike Bordick all over again. I have no idea whether or not Gotay is going to turn into anything like Melvin Mora. That's why I'm glad I don't have to make these kinds of decisions.

Which is why I'm kind of leery of trading a Milledge for a Loretta once Alou returns and having it possibly turn into an Amos Otis for Joe Foy (young outfielder with good minor league numbers for an aging infielder)

Later

[nymr83]

Milledge for Loretta is wayyy overboard imo.

[metirish]

The Nationals signed Belliard to a two-year, $3.5 million extension on Monday.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Snooze today says Mets looking to get Loretta and Conine.

[soupcan]

The Post opines that White Sox 2B Tadahito Iguchi may or may not be coming our way.

And/or one of the following: Dan Wheeler, Octavio Dotel, Ty Wigginton.

Maybe we should just never trade anyone and then, years later when we need them, we just defrost 'em.


DEAL OR NO DEAL
By MARK HALE


SECOND CHANCES: With Jose Valentin
possibly out for the season, the Mets could be
looking to trade for a second baseman who
could bat second. The White Sox's Tadahito
Iguchi is one who may be available.

July 24, 2007 -- There's just a week before baseball's non-waiver trade deadline, and despite the fact the Mets aren't close to any kind of deal right now, they are targeting multiple areas.
The biggest priority for the Mets is pitching. But although arms are the main focus, they're not the only one.

The Mets also are searching for a hitter with a high on-base percentage to bat second in their lineup, and they would welcome some bench help, too, according to a person familiar with the situation. An NL team executive said he believed the Mets' two main priorities were relief pitching and second base, additionally mentioning the chance to get a significant upgrade in the starting rotation.

With the July 31 deadline looming, the Mets appear unlikely to make a deal, mostly because of the current market as opposed to their desire to upgrade. They're also unwilling to move any of their top prospects in a deal for a free agent-to-be, their group including starting pitchers Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra, outfielders Fernando Martinez and Carlos Gomez, and first baseman Mike Carp.

The Mets will be getting help internally, with Moises Alou (leg injury) set to come back tonight at Shea Stadium against the Pirates. And Pedro Martinez took another important step yesterday in his rehab from rotator-cuff surgery, tossing 50 pitches in his second simulated game. At some point, the Mets also will get back Endy Chavez (hamstring) and potentially Gomez (hand); both are on the disabled list.

At second base, with Jose Valentin injured (fractured leg) and potentially out for the season, Omar Minaya said again yesterday the team isn't looking for external assistance.

"We're ready to go with (Ruben) Gotay and Anderson Hernandez. Or (Damion) Easley. Or those kind of combinations," Minaya said. "They give us both offense and defense."

Minaya said the Mets could start Gotay and use Hernandez as a defensive replacement, similar to how the team used Chavez in the outfield. If the Mets do pursue a deal, an NL team official mentioned the White Sox's Tadahito Iguchi, San Francisco's Ray Durham and Tampa Bay's Ty Wigginton could be available.

The bullpen has been an issue for the Mets this season, with instability in the eighth inning. Neither Aaron Heilman nor Guillermo Mota has been able to excel.

What relievers are out there? The NL official mentioned Kansas City's Octavio Dotel and wasn't certain whether the Astros would consider moving either Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler or Brad Lidge, though the official said it was doubtful.

As for the Mets' prospects, another NL team official praised Pelfrey, despite his major-league struggles this season (0-7, 6.12 ERA), calling him "everything you look for."

One AL team executive, asked if Pelfrey had lost value because of his struggles or whether that was too small a sample, said, "That's a good question. I would say some of these guys are more famous when they're not in the big leagues. The Baseball America buildup seems to carry a little more weight than when these guys are in the big leagues."

mark.hale@nypost.com

[Guest Edgy DC]

soupcan wrote: The biggest priority for the Mets is pitching.

Why the fuck why the fuck why?

[soupcan]

="soupcan"]The biggest priority for the Mets is pitching.

No, no, no....'Mark Hale wrote...'

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Edgy DC wrote: ="soupcan"]The biggest priority for the Mets is pitching. Why the fuck why the fuck why?

I think they'd really like to bulletproof the 8th inning.

I like how Mark Hale's story doesn't even need a Magic Quote to suggest the Mets are on the verge of acquiring Iguchi, Durham or Wigginton.

[Guest Edgy DC]

They can get awesome guys to help bulletproof the eighth, or just useful guys to put the eighth out of reach.

Days when the team gets a pedestrian start of six innings, four runs, three earned, shouldn't make the team toss back a pitcher who'd given up zero-two runs his previous four starts, looking for a name brand guy who won't do any better, but rather get some more readily available outfield help.

Basic principle: When your pitching is here on the bell curve...

^

...and your batting is here....

^

...it's easier to find batting that can help you.

Batting is also a more stable asset. Barry Zito has a five ERA. Five!

[HahnSolo]

]The NL official mentioned Kansas City's Octavio Dotel and wasn't certain whether the Astros would consider moving either Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler or Brad Lidge

Are these guys really an upgrade over Heilman?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't think they'd replace Heilman, they'd join him.

[Batty31]

metirish wrote: If not Belliard then I could see Omar going for someone like Grudzielanek Y/N on him?

Latest trade talk: Mets interested in Grudzielanek
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star

Grudzielanek Royals veteran Mark Grudzielanek is believed to be on a short list of second basemen eyed by the New York Mets as a possible replacement for injured Jose Valentin.

The Mets showed interest in Grudzielanek as a free agent after the 2005 season before opting to sign Valentin. Grudzielanek signed four days later with the Royals.

Valentin, 37, is expected to miss at least six weeks because he broke his right tibia last Friday after fouling a ball off his leg.

Grudzielanek dismissed the speculation.

�I don�t concern myself with that,� he said, �until I get a phone call. That hasn�t happened.�

Valentin�s injury elevated ex-Royal Ruben Gotay to regular duty, and Mets general manager Omar Minaya said the club feels no urgency to make a deal.

�We�re ready to go with Gotay and Anderson Hernandez,� Minaya told the New York Post. �Or (Damion) Easley.�

Even so, Grudzielanek would appear to represent an upgrade. He is the American League�s reigning Gold Glove winner for defensive excellence at second base and is batting .302 after going two for four in Tuesday�s 9-4 loss to the Yankees.

The Royals are willing to trade Grudzielanek, 37, because they view utilityman Esteban German as a serviceable replacement. But the club wants to fill a need in doing so.

�Mark Grudzielanek is an important part of our team,� general manager Dayton Moore said, �and he�s a guy who we like an awful lot.�

Grudzielanek has approximately $1.5 million remaining this season on his $4 million salary, but his contract also contains a vesting clause that triggers a $4 million players� option for next season if he gets 500 plate appearances.

The option increases to $4.5 million if he gets 550 plate appearances.

It appeared unlikely Grudzielanek would reach the threshold when he underwent surgery last month to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. But a quick recovery has him back within range.

[nymr83]

]�Mark Grudzielanek is an important part of our team,� general manager Dayton Moore said, �and he�s a guy who we like an awful lot.�

Moore also added that he liked Mets prospects "an awful lot" and mentioned something about smelling blood in the water...

i'm not too excited about Grudz, though if he didn't cost the Mets anything good i wouldnt mind him being brought in.

[Guest iramets]

Nymr83 wrote: [if he didn't cost the Mets anything good i wouldnt mind him being brought in.

This would seem to indicate that he'd cost the Mets something good:

]But the club wants to fill a need in doing so.

That means KC wants a good prospect. Milledge? Gomez? Pelfrey? Humber? Maybe they still believe Ambiorix Burgos is a good prospect.

[smg58]

I'd rather have German than Grudzelainek. German is younger and faster, has a good OBP, is versatile position-wise, and would be under our control for four more years.

[DocTee]

the prospect of hearing ralph kiner (and omar) mispronounce Grudz' name is worth making the deal.

[metirish]

Lots of chatter regarding Wiggi these days....

] Matt Thornton of the White Sox is also on the Yankees' radar, but Jon Garland is not, according to the source. A deal for Tampa Bay's Ty Wigginton is still a possibility, but the Devil Rays aren't budging from their demand for Scott Proctor. According to a source, the Red Sox have joined the competition for Wigginton's services. The Twins and Padres have also expressed interest.

[Vic Sage]

The Orioles should offer Kris Benson for him.

[Batty31]

From the Newark Star Ledger....find it kind of surprising they'd be interested in bringing Payton back.



METS BUZZ


The Mets have talked with the A's about starting pitcher Joe Blanton, but Oakland wants Milledge and more, and the Mets can't deal Milledge right now with all of their outfield health issues...In fact, the outfield issues have the Mets sniffing around for available outfield bats. They like Baltimore's Jay Payton, and may have a better chance to get him now that the Cubs' interest in him seems to have waned. And yes, believe it or not, they've spoken with the Rangers about Sammy Sosa, who could platoon in right field with Shawn Green. Sosa has clobbered left-handed pitchers this year, but the Mets are wary of bringing him in because of the controversy that surrounds him...The Mets also have spoken with the Rangers about Gagne, though they would need Texas to drop its asking price.

[Batty31]

From today's Post



IMMEDIATE PLANS CALL FOR RELIEF HELP BY TRADE
By JOEL SHERMAN and MARK HALE
July 30, 2007 -- The Mets believe most of the available starting pitchers, such as the White Sox�s Jose Contreras, will still be on the market well beyond tomorrow�s non-waiver trade deadline. Therefore, their immediate plans remain to add to their bullpen while waiting to see if Pedro Martinez can upgrade the rotation.

The Mets remained fairly confident that they could add a bullpen arm before 4 p.m. tomorrow even while they were still bemoaning the sticker price on relievers they would like to obtain such as Washington�s Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch, Kansas City�s Octavio Dotel and Texas� Eric Gagne. The Mets are not interested in Pittsburgh�s Shawn Chacon, and as for Baltimore�s Chad Bradford, an official from another club said the Mets were not likely to so soon acquire a player they decided not to retain on a three-year contract in the previous offseason.

After tomorrow, a player must pass through waivers to be traded or be traded to a team that claims him on waivers. No club is going to want to potentially claim Contreras and have the White Sox simply stick the club with his exorbitant contract. So, pitchers such as Contreras and Cincinnati�s Kyle Lohse and Baltimore�s Steve Trachsel very well might get through waivers and allow the Mets to trade for them in August.

Martinez is likely to make his first rehab start this week. The Mets would prefer that he bump Jorge Sosa from the rotation rather than having to use prospects or add payroll to unearth a solution.

As for trying to land a second baseman, the Mets hadn�t had any substantive talks with the Royals regarding Mark Grudzielanek. They have asked about Houston�s Mark Loretta.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

.298/.359/.417 in 84 at-bats against lefties for Payton.

When Beltran comes back, I guess that leaves us with an outfield of Alou-Beltran-Milledge/Green and a bench of Anderson-Easley/Gotay-Payton-Green/Milledge (not including Castro). I like the balance.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Payton's numbers this year. He's played 84 games, has 281 at bats, so he's been getting a lot of playing time:

Avg

HR

RBI

Runs

SB

[Guest Edgy DC]

Who are you anticipating we send over for Payton?

[metirish]

Been reading in the rags that the Mets might be after Luis Castillo ,nice glove.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Out of all the names mentioned in the Post article, I'm most intrigued by Rauch. Lower WHIP, more Ks, less BBs than his teammate Cordero, and can surely be had for much less.

Another name to look for is Al Reyes.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/30/Rays/Contenders_eye_Reyes_.shtml

Seattle is also said to be in the mix.

[metirish]

I predict by the end of the day the Mets will have been rumoured to have interest in just about every player.

[Batty31]

metirish wrote: Been reading in the rags that the Mets might be after Luis Castillo ,nice glove.

Don't get your hopes on that one, irish.

From Newsday:

Extra bases

The Twins appear to be open to dealing second baseman Luis Castillo, but they are not interested in any major-league players on the Mets, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Mets are looking for help in the bullpen and second base before tomorrow's non-waiver trade deadline, though Minaya has said he expects players to be available after the deadline.