Deadline chatter
The Mets are putting up a Brave front (pun intended) when it comes to trade talk this weekend. Would they like to add another player before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline? Sure. Do they need to? They say no. But a lot is riding on Pedro Martinez's start tonight after his month-long stint on the DL, and if he looks shaky, or his sore right hip remains a problem, it may be time for Omar MInaya to get A's GM Billy Beane on the phone
Both sides insist they haven't discussed Barry Zito in days, or even weeks (right), but that will no doubt change quickly if Martinez gets ripped by the Braves tonight. The Mets are scouting Zito's start tomorrow against the Blue Jays, so expect those talks to rekindle over the weekend. With Dontrelle Willis apparently off the market, would you do a Lastings Milledge-for-Zito deal? And would Livan Hernandez or Kip Wells be a significant improvement over what the Mets already have?
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Comments (18)
I heard Omar is interested in Maddux, that would be the end of our year.
This weekend say a prayer to the baseball gods that Omar can do it. These are the times that I really love baseball. You are on the edge of your seat, there is drama, emotion and it is hard to sleep unless you have the radio tuned to the sports station. Enjoy brothers. For every bit of excitement it brings you, baseball is great.
firedog98: Please check out KNBR.com ,they are the Giants flagship station. You can listen to Brian Sabean interviews from this week. He states he is looking for "Veteran" bullpen arms. The Dodgers are collapsing and he thinks the Giants have a chance to take the division. Schmidt is not available. He is looking for a veteran to close games (Robert Hernandez?).Benitez has been the bum we all knew him as. They see a window now to be in the playoffs, that incudes keeping Schmidt. He pitches tonight against Pittsburgh. I predict young arms will be traded for Pittsburgh veterans.
Greg Maddux has painted on baseball stirrups--
and painted blue toenails to match.
There are no men left on that team.
Dusty has been done in.
Zito would be nice but not for 3 months rent and losing Milledge. Sign him at the end of the year. Pedro looked fine tonight after a shakey start. Be bold and stand pat Omar, Braves still suck and are the desperate ones with their trades and losing Larry again. Why is everyone panicing with a 12 game lead and best ERA in the NL??
No, I wouldn't pay the price of Milledge for a rental player...Zito would really just be rented for 1 or 2 starts in the World Series...El Duque or Trax can match up against most #3s in the NL...So Zito comes down to one or two starts, essentially...No need to pay the price of Milledge for that...It would be a different discussion if Zito was locked up for the next couple of seasons...
And no, Livan Hernandez and Kip Wells isn't really an upgrade over what we have now...Let's see what Pelfrey and Maine have for about another 13-14 starts before getting one of these mediocre guys...
With a comfortable double digit lead, the Mets are in the drivers seat. Milledge for Zito...No, for a package that includes Heilman and other minor league prospects, Yes...or Omar can simply wait and sign Zito in the off season.
Omar is NOT interested in Maddux, and why would he be? The man is done. SC is reporting Glavine was trying to recruit but the Mets had no interest. Good.
I disagree with everyone on the Milledge-Zito trade. The Mets need another pitcher. With Glavine slipping and Pedro's age, they are built to win now. They can win the pennant as is, but the AL is so much better. Trade for Zito, hopefully win the Series, and then worry about signing. Remember Zito LOVES Peterson, wants to be in NY, and Boras wants $. Fine, the Wilpons have it. Make the deal.
No - No - No - No Zito for Milledge! Price too high for a couple of months. For Heilman OK, (but don't include Sanchez in the deal either).
We are OK - we'll get past the Astros, or Cards - not to worry. Our young guys deserve to strut their stuff. Get Zito w/ $ on the off season.
You guys are all missing the point on Zito. We have a much better chance of signing him if he plays in the NL for a while. If he stays put he will most likely resign with an AL team since he'll be afraid to change leagues, not knowing how easy it will be for him.(no DH). We have no chance of beating anyone in the AL with our current staff or did you guys miss the Boston series. And for the last time it is not just a rental. If he walks we get 2 first round picks, a middle rounder and a late rounder. The last time the Mets had those knid of picks in the first round they drafted Heilman and a guy named David Wright. So the risk is worth the reward.
One more thing on Zito. If you guys are Met fans as long as me then you understand these years don't come along too often. Maybe the next 3 years are full of injuries and we never get back to the playoffs. You have to go for it when you have the chance, you can't expect it to happen every year.
If Zito is not going to happen, how about some addition by subtraction. Trade Trachsel for whatever and open up a spot for both Maine and Pelfrey. How is Maine not getting a start for another week??? It only makes sense if he or Trachsel are getting traded. The only other option is we don't know what we're doing, which I hope is not the case.
Now I hear it's Livan Hernandez and his 83 mph fastball,agggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh Please Omar don't do it. We have plenty of mediocre pitchers, why do we need another. At least make it Gil Meche. Mark my words Met fans, if we don't get a top pitcher we are wasting a golden opportunity. Glavine couldn't hold a 7 run lead today against a dead team. What do you think the AL elite will due to him.
I doubt Zito and Scott Boras will be "afraid to change leagues" if someone in the NL offers him what he's looking for.
Your right that he'll go where the money is but we don't need to get in a bidding war with the Yankees. Not that he'll take less if he plays 2 months for the Mets but maybe he'll take the same and we won't have to out bid them.
I wonder if The Evil Empire would get into a bidding war for Zito. Their last few big-pitcher signings (Johnson and Pavano) haven't exactly brought them the championships they were hoping for. Granted, Zito is not washed-up like Johnson or a no-heart bum like Pavano, but still... I also read where an insider said that Zito is one of those guys that wants everyone to like him (ala Giambi and A-Rod) and lets booing get to him. Of course, sometimes that stuff is overrated (Giambi has been able to turn his career around after being booed last year, A-Rod the jury is still out on) but I wonder if Zito's (allegedly fragile) psyche is a match for either New York team. Imagine how the Yankee boo-birds would get on him if he signs a huge contract and has two or three bad starts in a row? They boo the reigning AL MVP, for chrissakes.....
There is no doubt the Yankmees (not a typo) will go all out for Zito. Money is no object, just look at today and Abreu. No way they pass on a 30 year old lefthander with a winning record. Lets get him here for 2 months and convince him they are old news. I was completely against this trade but after what I've seen from our staff, especially Glavine, I don't think we have a choice.
All I can say is DAMN! Anyone care to read, on ESPN, that Omar was on the phone viaing for a three way trade that would have landed Roy Oswalt! All that changed when news spread of Sanchez's cab wreck. How a'bout hate mail to the cabbies in florida!