Castillo for Lowell?
So Jerry Crasnick of ESPN claims he heard about the Mets and Red Sox discussing a swap of Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell.
Really?
Because it doesn’t make much sense from any angle whatsoever.
First of all, the Red Sox are set at second base with Dustin Pedroia. And they didn’t sign Marco Scutaro to a $12.5M deal to be a backup to Pedroia at shortstop. And Luis Castillo is not going to push David Ortiz out of the DH spot, no matter how bad Ortiz hits.
The only thing that might make sense is the Red Sox quickly flipping Castillo to a third team for someone who better fits into their plan. A possibility, for sure.
As for the Mets going after Lowell … though I did mention Mike Lowell in a frightening hypothetical trade of David Wright to Boston, and do believe he could be worthwhile as a platoon partner / backup plan to Dan Murphy at 1B, I don’t see the Mets as being that creative and bold. The truth is, Lowell might be able to handle SECOND BASE adequately, and provide enough punch to counteract defensive deficiencies — but again, the Mets are neither that bold nor that creative.
Could it be a four-team deal with players and bad contracts flying all over the place?
Anything is possible. But in this case, I’m guessing it’s pure bunk.
10 Things To Do Before Trading Luis Castillo
A recent column from Boston.com claims that the Mets remain the team most interested in Orlando Hudson, but only if “they are able move Luis Castillo”. Granted, that tidbit may not be worth a hill of beans (heh heh), since it comes from Boston — and what do they know about the goings-on in Flushing? But we have heard that Omar Minaya spent a good chunk of time during the winter meetings trying to trade Castillo, and in fact moving the second baseman appears to be a priority. However, there are at least 10 more important things to do before the Mets need to worry about their 2009 MVP. Read more
How About Miguel Cabrera?
While we wait for Jason Bay to make up his mind about playing in Flushing, we may as well consider other alternatives.
During a “hot stove huddle” a few days ago, a rabid and intelligent Mets fan named “Kevin K” proposed that Omar Minaya make a deal for Miguel Cabrera. The more I think about it, the more it makes a lot of sense.
While many eschew him for his weight issues, sloth-like movements in the field, and questionable effort, there’s one thing about Miguel Cabrera that cannot be dismissed: Read more
Dodgers Trade Juan Pierre to White Sox
The Dodgers have traded Juan Pierre to the White Sox. What does this mean to the Mets? Read more
Why the Mets Want to Trade Luis Castillo
There is an excellent column written by Ben Shpigel in The New York Times explaining why the Mets want to trade Luis Castillo.
Shpigel lists a number of statistics supporting the desire to move Castillo, but it’s doubtful anyone in the Mets front office would understand the ones cited, much less use them in decision-making. So we’ll focus on the real reasons Omar Minaya and co. are hell-bent on trading the second baseman. Read more
Would You Want Pat Burrell?
There have been a few rumors floating that the Mets could obtain Pat Burrell from the Rays — possibly as part of a three-team deal that would send Luis Castillo to the Cubs and Milton Bradley to Tampa Bay.
Such a trade may not come to fruition, but “Pat the Bat” is definitely on the trading block, and he fits the description of “power hitting left fielder” that the Mets are so desperate to acquire.
But would you, as a Mets fan, want him?
Forget that his name is Pat Burrell for a moment, and consider whether you would want a left fielder who averaged 31 HRs, 99 RBI, and an .890 OPS in the last four seasons he played in the NL East. Would you take on his one year and $9M in return for a marginal player, in a salary dump deal (from the Rays’ perspective)? Be sure to factor in the player’s motivation — in that he’ll be playing for a 2011 contract.
Granted, Burrell had a poor year in 2009, but it was his first time in the American League, his first time as a DH, and he spent the entire season fighting a neck injury. If the neck is fully healed — and yes it’s a big “if” — and he returns to the comfort and knowledge of NL opponents, there’s a decent possibility he returns to the 30-HR threat he was from 2005-2008.
Before you say “whoa, a lot of his homers came from playing in that bandbox known as Citizens Bank Park”, go check the stats — he hit 21 of his 2008 HRs away from CBP. In 2007 the split was about even (14 away, 16 in CBP) and in 2006 it was 17 away, 12 at home. There is no question he has the strength to hit the ball out of any park (18 in 334 career ABs in pitcher-friendly Shea Stadium helps support that argument).
In addition to his homerun power, Burrell hits the ball into gaps, takes a ton of pitches, and usually walks close to 100 times a year. When he’s on a hot streak, he can put a team on his back and carry it.
On the negative side, his fielding has gotten worse as he’s aged, he is a poor baserunner, and when he slumps, he slumps like no one else — they are massive, horrendous slumps that make him look like he’d be better off serving hot dogs for a living. I doubt the average Mets fan would be able to handle a lengthy Pat Burrell slump without sending a blunt object through the TV set.
Additionally, Burrell has proven to be less than savvy with the media, and often comes off as condescending or bitter when he’s quoted. Combine a bad slump with NYC reporters, and Pat Burrell could quickly become the target of angry Mets fans. Oh, and then there’s that whole history with him mashing homeruns in Shea while wearing a Phillies uniform — he’d be coming in with a reputation not unlike when Tom Glavine first arrived in Flushing.
How do you feel about the possibility of Pat Burrell joining the Mets?
*** UPDATE 11:30am ***
Andrew Vazzano of TheRopolitans has posted a rumor that Burrell has been traded to the Mets.
Plan B: Jose Guillen
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, the Mets’ “Plan B” for a power-hitting left fielder is Jose Guillen.
No, that is not a joke.
The Mets have been linked to Guillen before, as Omar Minaya seems to have a fascination with the volatile and sullen slugger. It didn’t make sense to obtain him a year ago, and it makes less sense now, for the same reasons.
Before, it didn’t make sense because Guillen was Read more
Luis Castillo and Juan Pierre
One of the rumors floating around is that the Mets and Dodgers are talking about swapping Luis Castillo and Juan Pierre. But how can that help the Mets, who need a slugger? There’s at least one scenario where it can make sense … Read more
Mets in Three-way for Overbay?
The latest column from Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets, Cubs, and Blue Jays are engaged in talks that would send Luis Castillo to Chicago, Milton Bradley to Toronto, and Lyle Overbay to New York.
Hat tip to loyal MetsToday reader “isuzudude” for the link.
Before you get too excited, though, Rosenthal also reports, Read more
2009 Analysis: Luis Castillo
Except for that one matter of a dropped popup in the bottom of the ninth inning of a Yankees game, Luis Castillo played as well as anyone could have expected — and far beyond the expectations of most Mets fans.
Anyone who was reading MetsToday back in early April might remember my “Wild Mets Predictions“. Most of them were off, but one of them was: Read more
Mets Gifts
MetsBlog FeedMore Sponsors
fix bad credit
repairmycreditnow.com - repairmycreditnow has a v phase process that will successfully fix bad credit legally
