Beltran to Giants

[Frayed Knot]

metsmarathon wrote: can bay play right?

Yes, but he can't hit there either.

[Gwreck]

If this trade's not official, why the hell are we holding him out of the lineup tonight?

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: If this trade's not official, why the hell are we holding him out of the lineup tonight?

one of those courtesies teams do when a deal is 'official' but not 'final'.

[Gwreck]

Yes, I know. Rhetorical question borne out of frustration.

[metirish]

Frayed Knot wrote: metsmarathon wrote: can bay play right? Yes, but he can't hit there either.

Ha!

Love this from Terry

AdamRubinESPN Terry Collins said Lucas Duda will be primary RF. "He better get comfortable really fast," Collins said. "He's got about an hour and a half"

[metirish]

Gwreck wrote: If this trade's not official, why the hell are we holding him out of the lineup tonight?

I had similar thoughts

AdamRubinESPN Terry Collins doesn't know if Beltran will be here. "I can't use him," the manager added. Mets play with 24 tonight.

[metsmarathon]

because you'd hate for him to twist an ankle or pull a hammy tonight and get nothing for him. or maybe he just takes a golden sombrero and kicks around a few balls in the outfield and san francisco has second thoughts on whether or not they really want him for the tentatively-agreed-upon price.

[Frayed Knot]

metirish wrote: Gwreck wrote: If this trade's not official, why the hell are we holding him out of the lineup tonight? I had similar thoughts AdamRubinESPN Terry Collins doesn't know if Beltran will be here. "I can't use him," the manager added. Mets play with 24 tonight.

I mean theoretically it would be legal to use him, but they're not going to do that and jeopardize the deal.
At the same time until it's official he can't be replaced on the roster so, yeah, they're going to be a bat short today ... two if you include the fact that Bay is still here.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

TransMonk wrote: Yeah, I'd rather have Brown...but this Wheeler kid is supposed to be decent. Either way, it's more than I thought we would get for Beltran at the start of the season.

I'm was already inviting Brian Sabean to my year-end pretend poker game. Now I'm double-inviting him.

Brown would've been nice. I hope we get a throw-in or two; it's always nice to have a two-or-three-in-a-million chance instead of one, y'know?

[Guest attgig]

yup. no way you risk injuring beltran and the giants pulling out of the deal. same the other way. if wheeler were to be slated to pitch today, no way they let him pitch, and risk an injury and have the mets pull out of the deal.

[metirish]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: TransMonk wrote: Yeah, I'd rather have Brown...but this Wheeler kid is supposed to be decent. Either way, it's more than I thought we would get for Beltran at the start of the season. I'm was already inviting Brian Sabean to my year-end pretend poker game. Now I'm double-inviting him. Brown would've been nice. I hope we get a throw-in or two; it's always nice to have a two-or-three-in-a-million chance instead of one, y'know?

One of the twatters mentioned that the Mets FO was interested in what they believed was the best quality prospect rather than a bunch of lesser ones, quality over quantity.

I'll find that tweet in a bit......Waldstien IIRC.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metirish wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: TransMonk wrote: Yeah, I'd rather have Brown...but this Wheeler kid is supposed to be decent. Either way, it's more than I thought we would get for Beltran at the start of the season. I'm was already inviting Brian Sabean to my year-end pretend poker game. Now I'm double-inviting him. Brown would've been nice. I hope we get a throw-in or two; it's always nice to have a two-or-three-in-a-million chance instead of one, y'know? One of the twatters mentioned that the Mets FO was interested in what they believed was the best quality prospect rather than a bunch of lesser ones, quality over quantity. I'll find that tweet in a bit......Waldstien IIRC.

Oh, I like the quality. I just wouldn't mind a scratch-off lottery ticket with my Happy Birthday bearer-bond.

[Willets Point]

metirish wrote: One of the twatters mentioned that the Mets FO was interested in what they believed was the best quality prospect rather than a bunch of lesser ones, quality over quantity.

Ha, reminds of the old Metsonline WATP's that ended "and throw in a couple of prospects."

[MFS62]

When I heard the report that the Mets had traded Beltran for Wheeler, my first thought was "Dan?"
Then I remembered that Alderson is at the controls now.
And I let out a sigh of relief.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

Cheap shot. Not funny.

[Farmer Ted]

Apparently trading one switch hitter for another.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=wheeler

[Frayed Knot]

BA's take on Wheeler - who they ranked 35th in their mid-season Top-50 list

The sixth overall pick in 2009, Wheeler logged just 59 innings last season as he dealt with a cracked fingernail on his pitching hand�though he used the down time to iron out his pitching mechanics. A full recovery is evident in Wheeler's performance this season. He ranks among the California League leaders in strikeout rate (10.0 per nine innings, fifth) and opponent average (.224, fourth). But while he's given up just seven homers in 16 starts, he's been too liberal with walks, handing out 4.8 per nine innings. Wheeler sits in the low- to mid-90s and can dial his plus fastball up to 96 mph with a quick, easy arm action. His curveball doesn't always feature power or shape at this stage, and his changeup sometimes lacks finish, but he's flashed plus with both pitches at various points. If Wheeler sharpens at least one of them to above-average status, he's got front-of-the-rotation potential.



In the end this was a good deal.
Even if draft picks were a possibility by holding onto him until the end of the year, those picks couldn't have been any higher than #16 and could both have been 35th and higher making it unlikely that you'd ever get a prospect as good as Wheeler, a guy who was not only a #6 overall pick but also has 150 or so successful professional innings under his belt.

[Gwreck]

Analysis from ESPN's Keith Law:

Keith Law wrote: In acquiring pitching prospect Zack Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants for Carlos Beltran, the New York Mets made out like bandits. The Giants get a piece to help them substantially this year, but with the risk of an enormous long-term cost. Wheeler, who ranked No. 31 on my most recent prospect rankings, is an elite pitching prospect with a high ceiling. The right-hander will most likely be a solid No. 2 starter, but there is some chance he will be better than that because of the big fastball. He'll touch 97 mph and sits 91-94 or better with an above-average curveball that has shown it can miss bats. He has a fringy changeup that's a little too firm, and left-handed hitters are not impressed yet, as they've hit .292/.404/.487 against him this year. The fastball-breaking ball combo is top-notch, but between the changeup and a few other issues, Wheeler is high-risk as well as high-reward. His control is below average, with three starts this year in which he walked five or more batters, and he'll have to show durability to match his frame, as he's retired more than 18 batters just twice this year. You have to add an arm like that to your system any time you get the opportunity, but even as a fan of Wheeler's I admit he's no sure thing. Beltran's value to the Giants depends largely on who he replaces. Of course, what the Giants should do is send Aubrey Huff out to pasture, but with their $12 million commitment to him next year (including his option buyout), that's not likely. They should at least park him on the bench and play Brandon Belt every day at first and Beltran in left field, which is their best offensive and defensive alignment. In the best-case scenario, if Beltran replaces Huff -- who has actually been below replacement level this year -- it's worth two wins to them the rest of the way, perhaps more given Huff's recent performance (.217/.295/.275 in July) and an obvious inability to play any position. If Beltran replaces Belt, the impact is limited, probably cut in half while also hampering Belt's development. Any other alignment is also suboptimal. Beltran's contract includes a clause forbidding his team from offering him arbitration, meaning that the Giants can't get any draft picks for him if and when he departs as a free agent. San Francisco gave up six years of control of Zack Wheeler for about 60 games of Carlos Beltran. If Wheeler sees the big leagues at all, the deal will probably end up a losing one for the Giants.

[Ceetar]

Beltran to take Bochy's 15. he'll switch to 16.

[Guest themetfairy]

Ceetar wrote: Beltran to take Bochy's 15. he'll switch to 16.

That's a nice gesture by Bochy.

[Guest attgig]

mlb.com has live press conference. he's in a giants hat.... weird...

[ashie62]

Farmer Ted wrote: Apparently trading one switch hitter for another. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=wheeler

Who is the last switch hitter to win the AL MVP award?

[Gwreck]

Mantle.

Chipper Jones for the NL.

[metirish]

themetfairy wrote: Ceetar wrote: Beltran to take Bochy's 15. he'll switch to 16. That's a nice gesture by Bochy.

As long as Bochy doesn't decide to offer him his hat, he still has the biggest hat size in MLB probably .

[Frayed Knot]

Ashie62 wrote: Apparently trading one switch hitter for another. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=wheeler Who is the last switch hitter to win the AL MVP award?

Vida Blue

[Guest sharpie]

Vida Blue is the last AL MVP switchy.

[A Boy Named Seo]

he looks sad. he misses us. all of us.

[Farmer Ted]

Groundout to start his stint for SF.

[ashie62]

Gwreck wrote: Mantle. Chipper Jones for the NL.

Nope..Vida Blue.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: metirish wrote: Im Zack Wheeler I play in the San Francisco Giants organization. Im Blessed to be playing professional baseball. It has always been my dream. I'm a chilled guy Jeez

Im Zack Wheeler I play in the New York Mets organization. Im Blessed to be playing professional baseball. It has always been my dream. I'm a chilled guy