The Mets' strategy of overpaying for Yorvit Torrealba provides some insight into Omar Minaya's plan of saving his prospects for a starting pitcher. How many prospects is the question, and under this scenario, Lastings Milledge is almost guaranteed to be playing somewhere else next season.
Milledge is the only known quantity of the Mets' outfield prospects, which probably makes him the most valuable. Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez both missed significant time last season because of wrist surgery and their development was seriously slowed as a result.
In spring training last year, one Mets official projected that Gomez and Martinez would flank Carlos Beltran in centerfield on Opening Day 2009 at Citi Field. It sounded like a realistic vision at the time. But now it's very wishful thinking, and Martinez, who turned 19 last month, could be the only left in the organization by then.
Milledge has to be considered the starting rightfielder at the moment, and if he goes, that opens another hole for the Mets to fill in the coming months. Endy Chavez is best used off the bench and in spot duty and Gomez is nowhere near ready to play on a regular basis in the majors.
Miguel Cabrera? The Mets don't have the chips to trade for him, especially if they plan on acquiring a pitcher. It's going to take some creative maneuvering by Minaya to pull off a significant deal during the winter meetings, but he's heading to Nashville with that in mind.
Comments (10)
I'd like to know why Yorvit is so high on the Mets' wishlist. His batting average on the road was atrocious and he had Piazza like percentages throwing out baserunners last season. He might be able to handle pitchers well, but so can Lo Duca. While it would benefit the Mets to get younger at catcher, it would not benefit them to get worse in terms of skill. Lo Duca is a good hitter, a clutch hitter, and if he would agree to a 1-2 year deal then that's the direction I'd go (maybe with an option for a third year).
There are far from enticing pitchers available on the open market, so it's good to see the Mets focusing on a trade in that area. But just who are the Mets targeting? Joe Blanton? Jon Garland? No one too enticing either. The Mets might need to ship a boat load of prospects and cash for an established starter. I would take a chance on Dontrelle Willis.
The Mets are in dire need of an 8th inning pitcher. Willie will probably entrust Heilman with the 7th and Wagner with the 9th. But who goes in the 8th? Will Duaner Sanchez make a return? Can Mota pitch in NY? Can Feliciano last for an entire season? I'm not sure, but the Mets should look for a relief pitcher who could close in case any of of the aforementioned pitchers falters. Minaya might be inclined to pay Cordero closer-like money or take a chance on Gagne.
And who is going to play second base? Castillo often looked like he needed a cane to round the bases. I hope the Mets consider approaching Eckstein about the possibility of moving across the infield. He doesn't really have a shortstop arm anyway, and he does all the little things that Castillo did but goes about his business in a more professional way, a la Jose Valentin. Otherwise Kaz Matsui seems like the best fit. (JUST KIDDING!)
Minaya doesn't get it, the fans do NOT want a 25 man hispanic roster, period! The fool thinks he can get away with it. Omar has to be fired!
I agree 100% with Candyman's thinking on LoDuca. To pay 5Mil to Torrealba to put a large offensive hole in the 8th spot is insane. His defense doesn't sound as that great an improvement either. If Paul is too old then why isn't 31 year old Mike Barrett being considered? He at least has some pop in his bat.
This team is going to be speaking spanish in interviews this year. Good Plan Omar! I hope this team sinks in the first month of the season!!! That way they will unfortunately fire Willie first BUT,
OMAR WILL FOLLOW!!!!!
Sad to see this team being run by this idiot!!! All the idiots from Fred Coupon on down!
I'm ready to jump ship. Minaya is inept as a GM. Every move he made last year was garbage (Bannister for Burgos, Bell for Ben Johnson, Lindstrom for Vargas). Then at the trade deadline he gets a second baseman instead of a pitcher which pretty much sealed the Mets' fate. Now getting a below mediocre catcher for almost 5 million a year makes me think Minaya is a racist. The only positive is that santana is Hispanic.
I have been giving this some thought, tell me what you think...Mets offer Lastings Milledge, Kevin Mulvey, and Mike Carp to the Oakland A's in exchange for Dan Haren...that way, oakland gets milledge (long coveted), mulvey (one of our top 2-3 pitching prospects) and carp (oakland always offensively challenged), and we get teh young, affordable ace we need...so Milledge, Mulvey, and Carp for Haren...thoughts please..
Great trade, Joe. I'd do this one yesterday. I'm a big Haren fan and he'd be the most sensible move at this point for them.
Have to do better than Mulvey. His numbers were good last year, but not sure how he projects out.
This team is getting more difficult to root for by the day.
LoDuca was fading but he was one of the very few that had any kind of personality or grit. I keep hearing about his disastrous 2007 but what were they watching? He wasn't that bad and seemed to care.
And when are we going to draft anybody that is more than a borderline major leaguer? All these # 1 picks that are really, let's be honest, 4th outfielders, and long relievers.
Please Omar, no Silvas, no Livan's. No more blah personality, inning eaters without any quality stuff. Geez I'd rather have Jeff Weaver - at least he'd earn some headlines.
Omar is going to make the Mets be the TITANTIC. One bad trade after another. Lasting Milledge trade was a dud for the Mets. When will the Wilpons realize Omar is the cause of the Mets downfall last year. Please keep Willie and fire Omar. He trades all the pitching prospects for garbage and now can't get a good outfielder or catcher. The Mets have to rely on a 41 year old left fielder to be your star outfielder. Green is a better option than Church is the outfield. The Mets will be in last place soon enough.