The Trade Deadline...

[metirish]

I expect a deal for the Mets , read today Church will not be going to PSL to play rehab games but will instead travel with the team to Houston to be monitored by Ray Rameriz. Ryan took outfield practice yesterday but is day to day.

[seawolf17]

soupcan wrote: Jon Heyman on FAN says Griffey, Jr. to the White Sox is a done deal.

Another guy I would have liked. Wonder what the Reds will get back.

[HahnSolo]

soupcan wrote: Jon Heyman on FAN says Griffey, Jr. to the White Sox is a done deal.

At around 8:20 in the car, I heard Heyman say to Boomer and Carton "No one is interested in Griffey." This guy's performance as an "FAN Baseball Insider" has been shaky at best.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Mets could use a better bench, more bullpen help, another hitter in the outfield, and rotation depth. Are we all in agreement on that?

[Guest AG/DC]

They can certainly use lefthanded and righthanded players.

I'd like to see them improve themselves for the future, as well as the present.

If possible, I'd also like to see them improve their past.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The Mets could use a better bench, more bullpen help, another hitter in the outfield, and rotation depth. Are we all in agreement on that?

Yikes, that seems like a lot. I'd say that getting another outfielder would also help the bench (and let's not forget this guy just because Delgado is raking), and that there isn't a team in the majors that couldn't use rotation and bullpen depth. If I'm gonna make one move today, it's for an outfielder.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes.

Adding a hitting outfielder would improve their bench depth. (Actually, so would the return of Ryan Church. And even the return of Luis Castillo.)

I would like to get a starting pitcher, but I don't think that's on the Mets' shopping list.

[metirish]

I agree , Heyman claims the Mets are looking to get Ian Snell and using him out of the bullpen.

Where does Griffey fit in the Sox OF , that's if he approves the deal.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I dunno. I got the willies (pun intended) watching this team come up so short offensively vs. Florida. I mean, we can't hit with them. And the pen is all kablooey imo. And our worst pitcher is going tonight and he's on a strict pitch count.

[nymr83]

if the Mets were to trade for Snell i can't imagine it not costing Niese, and i don't like Snell that much, he has control issues, and to use a guy like that in relief is asking for trouble. besides, arent there enough actual relievers available to not trade for and convert a wild starter in the middle of the year?

[Guest AG/DC]

Speculation here, but Omar getting Ambiorix Burgos in a manner with some similarities to the Duaner Sanchez trade could be taken as a proneness to attempt to repeat his successes. And interest in Snell may be an interest in repeating the success of the Oliver Perez acquisition.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

Marlins are looking for a catcher. Might they be interested in Brian Schneider? Maybe for, like, Matt Lindstrom?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nymr83 wrote: if the Mets were to trade for Snell i can't imagine it not costing Niese.

I don't really have a sense for how true that statement might be. I wouldn't want to trade Niese for Snell; I'd rather promote Niese and see what he can contribute.

[metirish]

What Heyman wrote in full.

One bullpen option the Mets have kicked around is to try to pry disappointing starter Ian Snell from Pittsburgh with the idea of employing him as a reliever for the remainder of the year. Snell could then be used in the rotation next year when the Mets may need starters. Pedro Martinez likely won't be back and Oliver Perez could leave as a free agent. The Mets are continuing to make left-hander Jon Niese unavailable because they'd like to see him make the rotation next year.

[metirish]

More.

10:58 a.m.

Competing GMs say the Mets' Omar Minaya is "itching'' to do a deal. And it's no wonder with the Yankees stealing the show across town and the competing Marlins close to possibly adding superstar Manny Ramirez. However, a lot of Mets people want to hold onto their top prospects, including outfielder Fernando Martinez, and pitchers Jon Niese, Eddie Kunz and Robert Parnell. Seattle requested "two premium prospects'' for outfielder Raul Ibanez, and Mets people don't like that idea. Minaya is spending more time on the relief situation, which is looking iffy lately, especially with Duaner Sanchez's radar gun readings down.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes, yes. Omar loves the Big Splash. We hear this shit every year.

[TransMonk]

Arthur Rhodes to the Marlins for ex-Met prospect Gaby Hernandez.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3512597

[Frayed Knot]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Yes, yes. Omar loves the Big Splash. We hear this shit every year.

And don't forget that he's obsessed with getting {insert Latin name here]

[smg58]

Niese is the kind of prospect you don't trade for a guy whose ERA is currently over 6. Snell intrigues me, but only if we're buying low. As for Niese being ready to pitch in the majors next year, keep in mind that that the Mets gambled on Pelfrey being ML ready last year and it turned out to be a big mistake.

Two months of Ibanez ain't worth two premium prospects.

I don't see a good reason to be very protective of Parnell.

[smg58]

News flash: Ken Griffey Jr. has reportedly tried on some white sox, and decided that he likes them. Specifics still forthcoming.

[soupcan]

Meanwhile on WFAN, Chris Carlin (he of SNY's 'Loudmouths' and 'Beer Money' fame) is clamoring for Omar to give up the farm for Manny.

Manny, he says 'guarantees a World Series', 'makes the Mets the best team in the league immediately'.

Now am I wrong or weren't these radio dudes the same ones calling Omar out for having a thin system (as a result of the Santana deal) that couldn't even produce a back-up outfielder earlier this year?

So, if Omar does what Carlin says - trade Fartinez and Neise to Boston for Manny - and it doesn't quite work out the way he 'guaranteed', does Carlin then say he was wrong or does he go on to bash Omar later this season into next for giving up the organization's 2 best prospects for a one-dimensional malcontent?

I'd put my money on the latter.

[Guest AG/DC]

Ignore these clowns. Is Klapsch back on duty yet? Can he just phone in a rewrite of a prior year column demanding the Mets get Alfonso Soriano?

[metirish]

smg58 wrote: News flash: Ken Griffey Jr. has reportedly tried on some white sox, and decided that he likes them. Specifics still forthcoming.

Nick Masset and minor league infielder Danny Richar.

[metsmarathon]

according to baseball prospectus, the reds are getting 24yo 2b danny richar , whose pecota predictions see him as a 260/325/430 peak hitter with limited speed, and 26yo rhp nick masset, whose pecota predictions have him out of baseball in a few years, with a mid-five era, 3.5 bb/9 and 5 k/9.

this season, richar is playing below those pecota predictions, while masset is playing just above them.

i like griffey a lot, and am left wondering a) wouldn't that've been an easy package to beat and is he a player we would've wanted to add?

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

Looks like Cincy's asking for top pitching prospects for Dunn. Don't see the Mets getting him without giving up Niese unless the Reds are big on Kunz or Parnell.

[duan]

metsmarathon wrote: according to baseball prospectus, the reds are getting 24yo 2b danny richar , whose pecota predictions see him as a 260/325/430 peak hitter with limited speed, and 26yo rhp nick masset, whose pecota predictions have him out of baseball in a few years, with a mid-five era, 3.5 bb/9 and 5 k/9. this season, richar is playing below those pecota predictions, while masset is playing just above them. i like griffey a lot, and am left wondering a) wouldn't that've been an easy package to beat and is he a player we would've wanted to add?

I think the main deal is that we wouldn't really have wanted to add him, another fragile outfielder with a circa 750 OPS isn't really what the mets need. Ok, if there was NO hope of Church coming back then he might be a worth while bit part.

[nymr83]

Vince Coleman Firecracker wrote: Looks like Cincy's asking for top pitching prospects for Dunn. Don't see the Mets getting him without giving up Niese unless the Reds are big on Kunz or Parnell.

for Dunn, i would part with Niese. Dunn is freaking awesome and goes unappreciated by the legion of idiots who think batting average is anywhere near as important as OBP.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Less than three hours until the deadline.

[Frayed Knot]

ChiSox apparently are thinking of using Griffey in CF - which sounds like a disaster waiting to happen if you ask me. Nick Swisher's been there (not great either) but they want him at 1B more often since Konerko's not hitting.
Maybe the ChiSox just got him so they can gloat while he passes Sosa's HR total while playing on the south side of Chicago



Also LHRP Arthur Rhodes from Seattle to Florida for one-time Met farmhand Gaby Hernandez

[metsmarathon]

i keep forgetting that dunn is only 28... seems like he's been around for freakin' ever.

also, fwiw, griffey has the 4th best zone rating in right field, among qualified players, at 0.888, just behind fukudome 0.889, and trailing jeremy hermida 0.925 and brian giles 0.919. his 0.888 bests rangey ryan church's 0.885, even. i'm having trouble marrying this to the notion being bandied about that its downright foolish of the white sox to even consider putting griffey in center. sure, an 0.888 zr in right isn't indicitive of terrific centerfielding defense, but it aint suckage either. (granted, nick swisher, who griffey will likely displace, has a 0.903 in cf)

dunn's zone rating is at 0.853, which puts him ahead of current left fielder tatis' 0.821.