Carlos Zambrano? (Split from Francesa is fat at 2 p.m.)

[metirish]

Take this how you like but there are reports of Zambrano to the Mets involving a third team....

[Benjamin Grimm]

Take this how you like but there are reports of Zambrano to the Mets involving a third team....

[Benjamin Grimm]

Oh, also worth noting: Carlos Zambrano will turn 29 on June 1, 2010.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, there's no point in having a no-trade clause if you can't use it to gain leverage when it comes time to dump. Your. No-count. Ass.

• "I have no intention of waiving my no-trade clause... unless you'd be willing to pick up that crazy option sewn into my contract."
  
  
  
• "I have no intention of waiving my no-trade clause... unless you'd be willing to talk about an extension. And by 'talk about,' I mean 'sign'."
  
  
  
• "I have no intention of waiving my no-trade clause. Say, is that ice cream? Pistachio, you say?"

The only point of those things is to get what you can get out of them. They're almost never about your love for the city.

[TransMonk]

So what would it take? Castillo, Maine and a prospect? Who plays second base (!Cora?!?!)?

Big Z has been consistent. I wouldn't be unhappy with a trade like this. Even though he may be high priced, it's not my money and he is a bonafide #2.

[soupcan]

If the Mets are willing to pay his salary, well that's coolio with me. And if a couple scoops of pistachio is all that's needed to sweeten the deal well then go for it.

[MFS62]

What about Castillo and Ollie for Zambrano?
Zambrano makes 18 per. Ollie and Castillo make a combined 18 per, however the Mets kick in $12-18 million of cash for the first two years. Zambrano is signed through 2012 with an option for 2013.

Chicago needs a second baseman and they hope Ollie rebounds with his knee healed. However, they're rid of Zambrano's contract. Instead of paying $56 and change over three years, they pay $18 over two. If they get any production, it�s a complete win for them.

The Mets basically get a pitcher for $9.75 million a year for two years and then $18.75 for the last year. However, they have no Ollie and Castillo in that time.

Maybe its time to start the 2010 WATP thread.

Later

[Guest attgig]

great WATP, but I can't see the mets taking on 50mil+ AND kicking in an extra 12-18 to go along with it.

the cubs may be interested just for the fact that they lose a year


Zambrano's contract according to cot's:
10:$17.875M, 11:$17.875M, 12:$18M, 13:$19.25M
Zambrano receives 2013 player option if he is first or second in 2011 Cy Young vote or if he finishes in top 4 in 2012 Cy Young vote and is healthy at end of 2012

53.75mil vs 36mil.

if the mets were throwing in the extra cash, it would go from a diff of ~18mil to 30-36 mil. no way that happens. + having to pay hudson to come over @~5mil i would think. it's a longshot, especially after JUST signing bay @ 16.... oh, and don't the mets start paying bonilla this year??? (lol... what morons)

[seawolf17]

What about Castillo and Ollie for Zambrano?
Zambrano makes 18 per. Ollie and Castillo make a combined 18 per, however the Mets kick in $12-18 million of cash for the first two years. Zambrano is signed through 2012 with an option for 2013.

Chicago needs a second baseman and they hope Ollie rebounds with his knee healed. However, they're rid of Zambrano's contract. Instead of paying $56 and change over three years, they pay $18 over two. If they get any production, it�s a complete win for them.

The Mets basically get a pitcher for $9.75 million a year for two years and then $18.75 for the last year. However, they have no Ollie and Castillo in that time.

Maybe its time to start the 2010 WATP thread.

Later[/quote:1ilaf6y1]
I make that deal without even thinking, then I get Orlando Hudson's agents on the phone and offer him 2 years, $10 million.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I can't imagine the Cubs taking on Oliver Perez.

Someone speculated (I think it was Mike Silva) that Castillo and Fernando Martinez might get the deal done. That seems much more like something the Cubs might consider, and I don't think it's too bitter a pill for the Mets to swallow.

I have no idea, though, if that would leave room in the Mets budget to sign Orlando Hudson to replace Castillo.

[smg58]

Zambrano's a solid pitcher who happens to not be worth his contract. This should limit what the Cubs can ask for in return, or at least limit what the Mets should willingly give up. I'm guessing he'd be more amenable to a deal with a National League team than an AL team, as he's a very good hitting pitcher, but that's speculation on my part. A deal that involved Castillo and Perez would be payroll-neutral, and then you could discuss another player. Our recent bullpen signings might make Sean Green expendable, for example. I'd be against taking on significant payroll while also giving up a top prospect and creating a positional need that would require additional money to fill, though; I like Zambrano, but not that much.

[Guest attgig]

how about one of these guys instead of Zambrano...
Harang: 10:$12.5M, 11:$12.75M ($2M buyout) - # 2011 option increases to $13M with 210 IP in 2010
Arroyo: 10:$11M, 11:$11M club option ($2M buyout) - # 2011 option may increase to $13M based on IP

only thing is that the reds seem to want prospects in a deal. who knows, cubs may want prospects as well so, the WATP we're throwing out is garbage, but still fun to think about.

given the money/history, I think one of these two guys would be a better bargain than Zambrano. In terms of the talent we'd have to give up, I think reds want more in the prospect side.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think one of the reasons Zambrano is being linked to the Mets, to whatever degree he is, is because the Cubs need a second baseman, and the Mets may want to get rid of one.

If any of the above is true, the Mets may be able to get the starter they need in exchange for a player they want to dump. The problem is Castillo alone probably wouldn't do it, and such a deal would open a hole at second base. (I can't imagine they'd anoint Cora to replace him.)