Trade Deadline Chatter (Met Division)

[Guest Edgy DC]

The inference may be drawn, however, that they'd be interested in a Mets prospect or two.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Edgy DC wrote: The inference may be drawn, however that they'd be interested in a Mets prospect or two.

Mulvey's the name that keeps coming up.

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1185769657121820.xml&coll=1

The Star Ledger's assertion of a Mulvey+Gotay package seems to be more speculation than anything, but it's an interesting scenario. As happy as I am with Gotay's play (Very happy), I'm still waiting for the bottom to drop out. The .032 Isolated OBP and astronomical .415 BABIP suggest that this gravy train has got to end some time. It'd suck if that time was in October.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, are the Twins "buying" or "selling?"

They're 6.5 games out of the wild card, so I imagine they're buying, and looking for someone who can help them win this year.

Castillo seems to be having a decent year. Not a lot of extra base hits, but he's hitting .304 and he's scored 54 runs. Do they have a replacement for him on hand if he's dealt?

If the Twins were really in "sell" mode I'd be talking to them about Torii Hunter.

I'd guess that the Mets most likely trading partner is a team that's firmly a seller. The Mets don't have a whole lot of major leaguers who they can spare AND who can help another contender. (It would be different if Endy and Gomez and Milledge were all healthy, but they're not. They can't afford to deal Milledge now, and they're not allowed to trade Endy or Gomez while they're disabled.)

[metirish]

From Ken Davidoff's blog....

] The Yankees and Mets are going hard after Eric Gagne, along with the Red Sox, and it's apparent that Texas GM Jon Daniels will have to decide whether he'll deal Gagne for second-tier talent _ he's not getting Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain, or Lastings MIlledge, or Clay Buchholz _ or hold onto him and try to re-sign him or simply accept the compensatory draft picks if Gagne bolts over the winter.

[Benjamin Grimm]

So who do the Mets have in the second-tier category?

Humber? Mulvey? Smith?

[Guest OlerudOwned]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7074758

]Updated 9 minutes ago The Mets are close to acquiring second baseman Luis Castillo from the Twins for two minor leaguers, according to major-league sources.

----

Mulvey would presumably be one of them. Does this mean Gotay is our utility middle infielder while Easley takes on a more OF-specific role? Whose spot does Castillo take? Newhan?

[DocTee]

I'd prefer Gotay starting over Castillo

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think Newhan's spot is ultimately going to be taken by a pitcher.

Maybe Newhan goes down now, and a pitcher replaces DiFelice as soon as we know that Lo Duca is healthy.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I think Newhan's spot is ultimately going to be taken by a pitcher. Maybe Newhan goes down now, and a pitcher replaces DiFelice as soon as we know that Lo Duca is healthy.

I was working under the assumption that DiFelice would cede his spot to a pitcher once LoDuca returns. Should've probably made that clear.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, well, either way. Newhan and DiFelice are going to make way for a pitcher and a position player who's better than Newhan or DiFelice.

If the Mets acquire Castillo, then he'll be that position player.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

]Mets Class AA catcher Drew Butera and Class A outfielder Dustin Martin are among the players the Twins are considering.

Both of my adopted prospects. Get off my lawn and stay away from my babies, Minnesota.

[Willets Point]

What does Gagne offer that the Mets haven't got? Other than being hit by the ugly stick to balance out handsome gents like Wright and Reyes. Can he start?

[Benjamin Grimm]

He'd be an upgrade over Mota in the bullpen.

[HahnSolo]

FAN via Fox Sports, reporting Luis Castillo coming to Mets for two minor leaguers.
(on edit I see Olerud beat me to this)

Personally, I would have preferred Grudz. I just found out over the weekend that my neighbor once dated him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, he's a number-two hitter.

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: Well, he's a number-two hitter.

Yeah I think that's one good point about him,plus his glove.....didn't the Mets try to get him going back as far as 03?

[Benjamin Grimm]

From the Newark Star-Ledger:

] It looks like the Mets didn't wait long to try and counter the Atlanta Braves' big trade-deadline move of acquiring Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers. According to colleagues Dan Graziano and Ed Price, officials with two different major-league teams, who requested anonymity because the deal has yet to be announced, the Mets and the Minnesota Twins were closing in on a deal that would bring second basemman Luis Castillo to Queens in exhange for two minor-league prospects, possibly Double-A Binghamton catcher Drew Butera and Class A St. Lucie outfielder Dustin Martin. Castillo would give the Mets the second baseman they need with Jose Valentin out for the year with a leg injury. He likely would bat second in the batting order, behind Jose Reyes. The Mets have had problems getting consistent production from that No. 2 spot in their lineup this year, and the speedy Castillo could help there as well as shore up the infield defense.

This doesn't seem like a very steep price to pay.

What's the Twins motivation in making this deal?

What's Castillo's contract status?

(Maybe both questions have the same answer.)

[Guest Rotblatt]

Well, we got him for pretty cheap if it's just Butera and Martin, so it's hard to complain. Injury-prone, he's got no pop, and the aforementioned injuries have sapped his speed, but he gets on base, and is solid defensively.

Not bad. I don't expect it to help dramatically, but it's a pretty solid move, IMO . . .

[Guest Edgy DC]

What makes it steep is that the Mets are having trouble developing catchers in recent years. Butera was their current best bet.

[metirish]

] Luis Castillo 2b 3 years/$16M (2004-06), plus $5.75M 2007 option * 2007 option vested 8/06 * $2M signing bonus * 04:$4M, 05:$4.5M, 06:$5M, 07:$5.75M club option ($0.5M buyout) * 2007 option becomes guaranteed with 501 Plate Appearances in 2006 * re-signed as a free agent 12/03 * 1 year/$4.85M (2003), re-signed 12/02 o $50,000 incentive for 550 PAs * 1 year/$3.325M (2002), avoided arbitration 1 /02 * 1 year/$2.2M (2001), avoided arbitration * agents: Levinson brothers * ML service: 9.055

[Guest Rotblatt]

Edgy DC wrote: What makes it steep is that the Mets are having trouble developing catchers in recent years. Butera was their current best bet.

True that, but what are deep pockets for, if not to mask weaknesses in the farm system? Although from I can tell, the catcher free agent class for 2007 looks a little grim.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Does (did) Butera have a shot at being the 2008 catcher anyway?

Letting Ramon Castro play every day next year wouldn't be the worst possible thing. They'd have to get a better backup than Mike DiFelice, though.

I admit I don't pay as much attention to the farm clubs as I once did, but I wasn't aware that Butera was considered a top seed. What about the other Jose Reyes? Is he a prospect?

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Butera had no reasonable shot at helping next year. He was a long-term development type. The only one of those we have remaining, if memory serves, is Tony Pena's kid.

[metirish]

I have seen there names in the organizational chart that edgy posts but I know nothing about them.....I love this time of year.....

[Guest Edgy DC]

He was no A-Lister. He was just the best currently available. A series of detours just seem to keep derailing Met catching prospects. They haven't launched one since Bono and are having trouble even developing one as far as AAA.

[Benjamin Grimm]

So why ARE the Twins making this deal?

Do they have someone better than Castillo to finish the season at second base for them?

They're still in the wild card hunt. On the fringes, perhaps, but too close to give up, I'd think.

[Centerfield]

I like it. Now get Griffey.

[Guest sharpie]

Not to be outdone by the Braves getting Teixera and the Mets getting Castillo, the Phillies have gone out and got lousy pitcher Kyle Lohse.

[metsmarathon]

Centerfield wrote: I like it. Now get Griffey.

what he said!

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: So why ARE the Twins making this deal? Do they have someone better than Castillo to finish the season at second base for them? They're still in the wild card hunt. On the fringes, perhaps, but too close to give up, I'd think.

A prospect named Casilla, whose game is akin to a younger Luis Castillo. Seems natural to move on with the Twins on the very outskirts of the playoff race, Castillo being a FA-to-be, and the claims of Twins fans that he's been doggin' it on the astroturf.