It was suggested by a poster the Mets make a play for Toronto’s “Alex Rios.”:http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7254 Yeah, that’s a guy who could help this team. He might be what they hope Lastings Milledge can turn into.
Would I give up Aaron Heilman? Sure, why not? I’ve cooled a little on Heilman. Mike Pelfrey is a different story. In thinking of trading Pelfrey it must be considered the Mets could be without Tom Glavine next year and Orlando Hernandez’s age is always a factor.
There’s no question the Mets will need a corner outfielder, and yes, Moises Alou’s injury comes as no surprise. How can it?
Milledge is still a few weeks away and when he returns it will probably take time before he gets his stroke back. It’s almost like starting spring training over.
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Not sure what Rios’ contract status is, but if he’s signed beyond this season, it’s unlikely that the Mets are going to put anyone in the path of Martinez/Gomez, who seem to be the annointed ones. Martinez might be another year and a half away, but Gomez – from what we have seen – is likely to be ready for full-time duty next season. Milledge is as close or closer, and would have been up, of course, if not for the injury.
So, do you give up big league talent, and likely a prospect, for a guy who will be an obstacle to the two biggest talents in your system? Doubt it.
i’m just not sure what Toronto would want, I’m guessing they’d ask for a lot, I mean, why would they trade a guy like Rios, who is cheap, not a FA next year, and one of their best players? I also don’t understand the whole arguement that because Toronto is in the same division as the Yanks and Boston (meaning the have no chance for the postseason) that they should just trade away their players. I mean, if that’s the case, why even have a franchise? I just think people need to realize other teams don’t exist to trade their players to us, especially cheap players who are one of their teams’ best players. Just don’t expect Toronto to hand Rios over for anything less than one of our top young pitchers (Pelfrey, Maine, etc.)
As I first suggested in trading for Rios, I’d gladly give up Pelfrey now and also would have before the start of the season.
Here’s why: 1)He’s a two-pitch pitcher with no out pitch or overpowering stuff; 2)Two-pitch pitchers lacking out pitches or overpowering stuff usually become middle of the rotation guys or middle relief guys; 3)The Mets have enough depth in the farm system (Phil Humber, Jason Vargas, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra and the guys just picked in the amateur draft of the last couple of years, plus the diamonds in the rough the Mets’ Latin American scouts always seem to find) to absorb the loss of Pelfrey.
As for Rios, if we could pry him away, slot him into LF. Next year, neither Alou nor Green may be Mets, which would clear RF for Rios and left, perhaps, for Carlos Gomez. That makes Lastings Milledge expendable.
A package of Heilman and Pelfrey might be attractive for the Jays in that they could either put both pitchers in their starting rotation, or use Heilman to close (B.J. Ryan is done for the year). Or, as we’ve seen before, perhaps the Mets could get a third party involved so that the Jays address their need for a capable shortstop to compensate for the loss of offensive production that would result in their dealing Rios.
And as far as the Jays not being competitive, it’s not an argument – it’s more a reason they may be inclined to trade their gifted young players for good trade offers before they hit their potential big paydays and stockpile young talent that in a couple of years may be able to overtake the older Yankees and Red Sox.
well, if that’s so, they certainly went the exact opposite direction when they gave vernon wells a huge payday last year.
Rios is only signed through this year at 2.5m but is only arbitration eligible 2.5yrs service. Jays have been rumored to shop him for cheap young SP. After signing Wells things are tight especially since they haven’t produced after spending alot. They also believ Rios has reached his ceiling and is at his highest value.
I would much rather see the Mets use Heilman and Pelfrey in a package to try and obtain Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins rather than an obstacle for Gomez and Martinez. Say a package of Heilman, Pelfrey, Milledge, and possibly another prospect for Willis. Think of a September rotation of Glavine, Willis, Martinez, Maine, Perez with El Duque and Sosa shutting things down out of the pen. Thats just nasty to think about.
Yes I would rather get Dontrelle for the pitching. He is the type of player we need. As someone wrote recently we do not have an Ace and Willis is that.
As for getting Rios. I like him but not for Heilman and Pelf.
If anyone is watching Banister is starting to put it together. Not that I am panning that trade.
The point is we need pitching both now and the future. Our starting 5 is good not great. The top of the rotation is old and getting older.
The proposal is to get a good OF ( that we need now ) for quality pitching ( and depth ). So we give up part of our projected starting 5 for the next year or two ( Humber is further away than Pelf ) in addition to one of the better late inning relievers in the game for a player that is good.
Next year , with Rios on the roster, we have problems: Beltran, Rios, Alou, Green, Endy, Milledge. Lots of salary and everyone should get major playing time but cannot. Also if you play the vets it is a good not great defensive field with your youth sitting and no room to promote Carlos or Martinez when they are ready.
Dave