Some kudos to Minaya
-
- November
- 27
This time next week the Mets’ brass will be in Nashville for the Winter Meetings, trying to fill the holes in their rotation and bullpen.
GM Omar Minaya doesn’t seem to be as busy as he was the last two winters, but if you look at the composition of the team you’ll note most of the holes are filled.
Catcher, second base, a corner outfielder, the bench, bullpen and rotation were the significant questions.
Johnny Estrada replaced Paul Lo Duca behind the plate; Luis Castillo is back at second; Moises Alou is back in left and Minaya said one of the young guys, either Lastings Milledge or Carlos Gomez, will be in right; and Damion Easley is back on the bench.
There is no significant drop-off in dealing with the position players. He’s cleared the way to work on the rotation and bullpen. The latter, by the way, was helped by dumping Guillermo Mota.
GMs want to go to the Winter Meetings with a plan and not much on their plates. Minaya has done that. Next up is to get Danny Haren.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 at 1:04 pm by John Delcos.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Estrada replaced Lo Duca “behind the bench”? That sounds Freudian, you know.
Actually, it’s worth noting that Estrada is arbitration eligible and could end up being non-tendered, if Omar is able to obtain a better catcher next week. The only definite about that deal was the dumping of Mota’s salary on Milwaukee.
Call me nutso, but I actually prefer haren over Santana for a few reasons.
First, I don’t think we’d have to give up as many chips to get Haren. With Alou older than Moses and Beltran’s quad/hammy troubles I think it’s a wise decision to retain that outfield depth we have in the minor leagues to cover long-term injuires that will invariably pop-up. we may also be able to hang on to some of the pitching depth we have.
Second, Haren is younger and entering his prime right now as opposed to Santana who is in the midst of his prime. I’d rather ride a horse that over the4 next 5 years will be in his prime and not overpay financially and with prospects for someone who will be entering the downside of his career.
A core rotation of Haren, Maine and Ollie Perez, all entering or in their prime for the next 5 years, is something to seriously consider.
Finally, I like Haren more than Santana on a physical basis. He’s bigger and thicker than Santana is and I think Santana durability is something to be considered over a lengthy and expensive contract that he is going to command.
Your not gonna get Haren w/o some depletion of your young players/prospects. It has been reported that the A’s want Milledge, Heilman and one more guy (Pelfrey, Mulvey) for Haren.
If you do this, you will have a hole in RF b/c Gomez is not ready to play. He needs a full season at AAA. It has been reported that the Mets will try to sign Andruw Jones for a 1-2 yr deal (not Rowand b/c he’ll command 4-5 yrs) if they go fw with getting somebody like Haren, Bedard or Santana.
You will also have a giant hole in your 7-8 inn w/Heilman gone. If the Mets get L hernandez to be #5 SP, perhaps El Duque and Sanchez can fill that, but there are alot of ifs in that sceanrio.
Haren, Bedard or Santana-all three to me are worth trading some players, but not depleting the farm. I’ll choose Bedard simply b/c the O’s are those most inept of the three trading partners and the most likely to trade away a player of this level for less than equal value.
JD – I would not be so kind to Omar. He resigned some obvious FA on our team to keep the depth and got a questionable catcher. Our corner OF positions are shaky. In one corner we have an old man who cannot play half a season. In the other corner we have 2 young guys who have not proved that they can hold down the fort. Lastings proved at the end of last season that he cannot hit the junk and his glove is suspect. CarGo has a good glove but cannot hit. Our most important offseason priority is starting pitching which we still do not have. So if I were to grade him it would be INC.
Scoop – I agree with your post on the other thread. Get one of the big 3 pitchers. If it costs the farm it costs the farm. I think we need to sign a FA OF anyway and the potential loss of Hielman you just have to deal with and hope something works out or give up the rest of the farm for a good reliever.
Dave
If Haren costs Milledge, Heilman, and Pelfrey, I would have to do it, since I think this team can still contend next season with the holes being filled correctly. Obviously, this would create a hole in the bullpen, but it can hopefully be filled by Hernandez, Sanchez, Smith, or Dotel even. Haren is a top pitcher that just doesn’t get as much press as Santana, probably because Haren is farther west. We need some proven quality pitcher in case Pedro isn’t himself again, so this would be the replacement for Glavine.
I still say this team can contend specifically because we only lost by one game last season, which could be changed this coming season with Pedro being healthy (hopefully), our top starting pitcher prospects being a year older and wiser (for injury replacement instead of Lawrence, Park, Williams, Vargas), and Hernandez moving to the bullpen. I am very wary, however, of the catcher position, Reyes’s play, Castillo’s knees, right field with Gomez and the backup to Alou (if Milledge is traded), and Delgado’s chance for bouncing back. So there are many reasons to be pessimistic, but there’s still more offseason left than has already passed by.
The big problem Omar might have is that the Sox (like last yr w/DK) and the Yanks have more than we do. This time it is not more money but more players to trade.
We have to hope that all three of those guys-Bedard, Haren, sanatana and maybe some others- are up for trade to increase the supply and hope that the Ynaks and Sox back out to decrease the demand.
We need one of two players…Dan Haren or Johan Santana…that is all there is to say. Milledge, Pelfrey, Gomez, Humber…I hate to break it to you all, but they all stink. Outfielders are easily replaceable…we need pitching or it will be another painful summer. I would trade all 4 of these guys for one of the two pitchers.
JD: I disagree with your kudos 100%. Left field is filled on paper only. Alou hasn’t had a full year in how long, and as aging as he is who is the 90 game Left Fielder???
2B is not necessarily filled. Bad knees miraculously all better? Maybe, I hope so because I like Castillo but it is a big question.
Catcher filled?? I don’t think with a guy who you yourself implied was poison and who just had 2 surgeries at the end of they year. All we have is names, not filled positions. Spiderpig knda nailed it. There are too many questions and prayers on this team. No kudos for this. Its a mess. But to think you only have to improve 2 games to win is a bad strategy. The Phils had Howard hurt half the year and Utley on DL in August, and now they have a kid who is proving to be an ace and can move Meyers to the rotation, you will probably have to improve by a lot more than 2 to win.
Jay: I don’t understand your logic. I agree with you that we need an ace, but then you say all our kids stink. Well if they all stink then how are you gonna get the ace??
http://www.overtimesports.tk/ This will be a sports forum and we are having a game called “Overtime Sports Mogul League” This is a game where you trade with other gm’s. There is no salalry cap. You Trade with people and we are having real life free agents. We will have 3 groups. You will get 25 million per year for all 3 groups. There is still teams is open. Than in April, we wiil take the teams you built and have like a fantasy baseball with points for each batting average, home runs and so on. Register and come on in and join the sports talk.
All too often I read criticisms on blogs and hear them on the FAN, but no one offers alternatives.
This free agent class is terrible. I would much rather have Alou and Castillo than the other options on the free agent market. The catching position is just flat out weak across the league. With the exception of a few top notch players, the rest are all pretty mediocre. I would just as soon go with Castro than give up a draft pick for Barrett, who is a product of fantasy baseball.
I laugh when people recite the matra: “outfielders are easily replaceable.” If this is true, how come the Twins are looking for outfielders in a trade? Who exactly would play RF if we traded both Milledge and Gomez? Do we bring back Shawn Green? Sign Jenkins? No thanks on both fronts.
And most importantly, it’s not even December yet. There is plenty that can still happen. Everyone is ready to walk the plank on this Mets offseason and we haven’t even reached the winter meetings yet.
This team’s problem last year was pitching, namely starting pitching. This is why Minaya was smart to lock up these “holes” as quickly as he did. He needs to focus on upgrading the starting pitching. As I mentioned, the free agent market is terrible, so he needs to upgrade via trade and trading takes time.
Speaking of the FAN, Heyman from SI.com was on the Fat Man and Puppy Dog show and said that the Yanks could get Santana for Cabrera and Hughes.
If it only takes two unproven guys, one who is in my estimation is just an ok player (Cabrera), then I’ll be dissapointed (again) if the Muts don’t make an offer.
Heilman, Milledge (or Gomez as it has been reported to be more of the Twins favorite) and Pelfrey has got to be at least as good as that.
He also stated the Mets are more interested in Haren and would give the same above package which either means you have to pay more for a lesser player (Haren) only b/c he is under contract for 3 yrs or the Mets guys are not considered to be as good as Hughes.
What ever the case may be, The Muts have to get a top SP. and a inn filler …. and if they trade for the top SP….a RF.
Haren, L Hernandez and Andruw Jones (who Heyman also mentioned as a possibility) would fit those roles.
John, I LOVE your work, but “kudos to Omar” – are you kidding me? Hopefully, he will get it together, but so far, I personally think that he has had a horrible offseason. The only truly good move, besides bringing back Marlon Anderson, was getting rid of Mota, but that was just correcting a huge mistake he had made earlier, so no kudos for that – more of a draw. A 4 year contract for an injury risk like Castillo was nonsense. Bringing Alou back would normally have been in the grey zone, but considering that one of the team’s 07 flaws was its age and injury risk, bringing back Alou, Castillo for 4 years and Easley was nonsensical. Green who, besides not being the best defensive outfielder was a solid hitter and surprisingly good at first with a good attitude. Of course, he was let go. And no move was made for A-ROD, who could have freed up Reyes to be traded for Santana. Just my opinion and once again, great job on here, John!
Forget Santana—-JD is right
Just saw that Omar is down in DR at the Mets BB academy. He will also attend Carlos Gomez’s wedding and Moises Alou is the best man.
Can’t imagine you trade a guy in a wk or so after you attend his wedding and Alou is his best man.
And if the Twins are high on Gomez and not Milledge that means Haren…sounds silly I know…
I don’t understand why everybody is so down on Castillo. Sure, you’ve gotta be nervous about his health, but he’s a great defensive player who covers ground and barely makes errors, and he’s a pretty decent leadoff hitter who will be batting second. He’s got the skills, but just has to stay healthy.
Just read an interview of Wagner on the Mets site. Billie talks about how important Glavine was to our young pitchers and how much he values Paulies competitiveness.
He also seems to call out many of his teamates for dogging it.
All I can say is wow. You don’t see that kind of bluntness every day.
Keith: The FA class is terrible, so that is an excuse for what we have. Why is it we had no catching prospect?? Thee are no OF FAs available better than Alou? Have you checked. There were Hunter, Jones, Rowand. They are worse than Alou? I know they were CFers but for some big $$$ isn’t it possible one would play left or right? Alou doesn’t play the outfield even when he’s out there. And I’d take Green over Alou because he at least comes to play everyday even with broken bones. And so does Jenkins. And can you explain this statement that trading takes long. It didn’t the Angels long to get Garland, or the Tigers long to get Renteria or the Phils to get Lidge. In 06 Omar dumped Nady in a matter of hours. Why does it take so long? Each move gets harder as teams know the other is more desperate to fill a need.
Spiderpig: I’m not really down on Castillo. I see him as part of the problem of bringing back the team that choked. Whether he was a a cause or not I don’t think you can look at the team as falling one game short. I see it as a team that failed BADLY, and that team needs to be overhauled. 2B was a place for a new face.
dave: I read Wagner’s comments. I have to root for him because he wears Mets on his chest but he’s not one to talk the way he blew big games against the Phils.
All those OFers you named are CFers. Elite players usually don’t switch positions too often. Also, did you see the contract Hunter received from the Angels? No thanks.
If you seriously prefer Green to Alou, then I don’t know what to tell you. Moises can still rake, and for one year at the amount we’re paying him, I roll the dice. He a much better hitter than Green. Jenkins has been injury prone himself throughout his career and Alou is still a better hitter than him as well. I don’t want the Mets locked into a long term deal to a guy on the downside of his career so he can play a corner OF position in 2007 when the team’s main need is pitching and the organizational depth is in the OF.
And trading takes longer relative to signing a FA. How do you know how long it took the Angels and Tigers to complete those trades? For all we know they’ve been discussing those for months. And lastly, those players moved, while nice players, are not in the same category as the type of pitcher the Mets are targeting. Sure, Minaya pulled off the Estrada trade fairly quickly, but teams aren’t going to waste time haggling over an Estrada for Mota swap.
As for not having a catching prospect, well, we had Flores and Minaya screwed up not protecting him. But realistically, he’s still not an elite prospect. Remember, a lot of the prospects at the higher levels are not from this regime. Aside from the college pitchers Minaya drafted, you’ll start to see more and more of Minaya’s prospects start to emerge this year and next.
Billy wagner. Well, he debunks one more myth about the Wilpons. I guess character and a good clubhouse don’t apply to the Mets afterall.
Sloppy nailed it. Crucial blown save man blasting his teammates (except for his ex teammates). Maybe Billy was talking about himself when he talked about the guys who didn’t care.
History repeats itself in Queens. We fired Valentine before firing the real culprit Phillips.
Soon we will fire Willie before firing the real culprit Omar. Don’t forget boys and girls who Stevey’s right hand man was. OMAR.
The Mets are not the Twins…if you want an outfielder you can pay Rowand, Andrew Jones and numerous others…Outfielders are a dime a dozen…we need pitching.
And yes, are young kids stink and everyone knows it. That’s why there is not much hope to get Santana