Reader Reaction to Trading Beltran Would Be Stupid

I've had a few fellow Mets Lifers react to yesterday's post on Trading Beltran Would Be Stupid. Some disagree, but the majority of people are in agreement that Beltran is primed for a monster year.

One excellent point was made that I neglected to add to my argument for keeping Beltran. I got one email from a Mets fan that said:

However, one more wrinkle needs to be added to your argument of not trading Beltran. We all agree do not trade him in 2011– HOWEVER, the Mets absolutely cannot get suckered into another 4 year deal beginning in 2012. As soon as next year is over, let him hit the open market and become someone else’s problem. 

A typical Mets scenario would be the top brass to think he’s back because of a strong 2011 and reward him with a new deal. 

That is spot on. Typical Mets would see Beltran have a good year and then lock him up for 4 more. The Mets have to approach Beltran as a simple stop gap solution and then be ready to move on after the 2011 season. Anything else would just be stupid.

The Mets Have to Get Roy Halladay

I'm telling you right now the Mets have to get this done. They HAVE TO.

Via Metsblog.com, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com "a deal for Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay will certainly cost some combination of Holt, Mejia, Davis or Martinez, and so a deal with the Mets is not likely to happen." That's just ludicrous. Plain vile, egregious thinking.

If Roy Halladay is seriously available the Mets need to let go of their coveted prospects and go get the second best pitcher in baseball. Can you imagine a Halladay/Santana tandem? I just got chills.

I hear the argument about his age, and how the Mets always give up on prospects to soon. Understood, but this isn't a chance the Mets are taking. This is a lock it up, guaranteed win.

Look at all the prospects we gave up for Santana. So far looks like we're on the winning end of that one. FMart may turn out to be a great player. Same can be said for Flores. But then again they might not. Halladay is already a great player and will be for the next several years.

The Mets are a franchise that has proven success when they have a stellar starting pitching tandem. Koosman & Seaver. Gooden & Darling. Leiter & Hampton/Reed. This is a franchise (not to mention a ballpark) that is built and succeeds with pitching.

The alternative? The Phillies sign Halladay. That's what is going to happen if the Mets don't get on the phone right now and make this happen.

Santana/Halladay for the next 5 years will give you 30+ wins a season, rest your bullpen and give you 18 innings of quality pitching when you throw in the fact that KRod/Putz are there for the 8th & 9th.

This has to be done. FMart, Murphy, Evans, Flores, Holt, or whoever they want (how 'bout Castillo?). Omar Minaya better be on the phone with the Blue Jays right now. If Halladay is a Phillie this year, we'll be hating ourselves for the next half a decade.

This Week's Expectations

In no particular order, here's what I expect from the Mets this week:

• Dominance from Johan Santana - He should shut down this Mariners lineup and when he faces the Yanks on the big stage this weekend, he will be ready to show he's worthy every penny.
• A double header split on Friday - The Mets might be the worst team in doubleheaders. I fully expect a loss in one of the two games. They just better not get swept.
• More home runs from Carlos Beltran - I have a strange feeling he'll hit 3 more bombs this week. All from the left side of the plate.
• David Wright to get his groove back - Someone stole his mojo and Wright needs to get it back. He's showing some small signs of getting back in sync but he needs a breakout stretch.
• The bullpen to blow a lead - It's been like 6 games since the bullpen has given up the lead in a game. It's bound to happen this week.
• Luis Castillo heads to the DL - I'm so glad we signed him to a multi-year deal.
• The trade rumor mill churns faster - Adam Dunn, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, etc.
• The "fertilizer" comment to die quickly - Jerry Manuel's analogy will deservedly die on Tuesday.
• The Mets sweep the Mariners - Anything less is unacceptable
• The Mets take 3 from the Yanks

No More Trades for the Mets

The trading deadline has past.

No Gagne. No Cordero. No Rauch. But the Braves get Dotel (ugh).

There's still a chance some trades could happen after the deadline, but it's not likely we'll get the type of help the Mets need.

And so we move on. Glavine go win #300 tonight so we forget about what we didn't get, and appreciate what we got.

Trade Rumors

For the best rumors about trades, check out mlbtraderumors.com. I am addicted to it especially at this time of year. For Mets fans, you have to see the latest buzz coming from the rumor mill.

Mets Trade Rumors: Ronnie Belliard

This is the first rumor that I actually cringed when I heard. It appears Omar Minaya is interested in more than just one Washington National (why?). Chad Cordero tops the list but Mark Hale of the New York Post writes that second baseman Ronnie Belliard is one of the top choices for the Mets as a possible replacement infielder (again, why?).

Hale writes, "The Mets believe Belliard's the best offense-defense combination as they try to replace Jose Valentin. . ." What!?!?!?!

I refuse to believe this. You mean to tell me Ronnie Belliard is a better option that Mark Loretta or just sticking with Ruben Gotay? Are you on crack?

Don't recite to me Belliard's numbers. Yes, his stats are good for this year, but I'm not buying that he's the right mix for this ballclub. I'd rather stick with Gotay, give him another 100 at bats, than trading for an over-priced Belliard.

Not to mention the fact that my wife would refuse to watch another Mets game. Every game of the NLCS last year, my wife would ask me, "Who's that guy sticking out his tongue like a lizard? What's his problem? He's gross."

And honestly, I have to agree with her.

I'm chalking this up to just another notch in the rumor mill because I'd get too upset if it wasn't.

Mets Trade Rumors: Hints, Allegations, & Things Left Unsaid

Ah, July trade rumors. They blow in and out as quickly as Lindsey Lohan enters rehab.
It seems there's a never ending stream of possible trades and what ifs surrounding the Mets almost every year. But you know what? 99% of them are pure speculation or just rumors.

Need an example? I present to you the 2006 trade of Xavier Nady for Roberto Hernandez & Oliver Perez. Do you remember ever hearing anything about that trade? I sure don't. The Mets traded a guy who had been solid all year for an aging veteran and youngster who had fallen off the radar.

Was it a great trade? Turned out to be very beneficial to the Mets in the fact that Hernandez pitched well down the stretch and Oliver Perez has been the surprise of the century (although I would love to still have Nady in right field these days). But the thing is the real trades go under the radar until it actually happens.

That doesn't make trade rumors any less fun, but I've got to ground myself in some reality. Like I can't go on believing that Moises Alou will actually play baseball again. Can I?

Mets Trade Rumors: Tadahito Iguchi

Second base has become the latest trade rumors. In this morning's New York Post, Mark Hale writes about the Mets interest in adding a second baseman who could bat second. Tadahito Iguchi appears to be the top choice, but Mets brass is reluctant to part with any of their top prospects.

Other second base options include former Met, Ty Wigginton, or San Fran's Ray Durham.

Personally, I was sad to see Ty Wigginton go a couple years ago, but I'm not sure he's the type of player I'd trade for. At this point I'm ready to stick with Gotay and bring in Anderson Hernandez or Damion Easley as defensive replacements. I'm still pulling for a Mark Loretta deal, but other than that Iguchi, Wigginton & Durham are not guys I'd want to deal prospects for.

So Ruben Gotay, get to Shea early and start practicing some fielding drills and turning double plays. It's your starting spot to lose.

Could Roy Oswalt Join the Mets?

Hmmmmmmm. He might.

According to the Houston Chronicle: "If the Astros approached Oswalt and told him it would be better for the franchise's future to trade him, he told the Chronicle two weeks ago he would consider waiving his no-trade clause. During the Astros' four-game series against the Mets, Billy Wagner told Oswalt that playing in New York isn't that bad."

I guess "isn't that bad" is better than "don't play here." Thanks for the ringing endorsement Wagner!

Right now there's no other pitcher that gets me salivating more than the thought of Oswalt in orange and blue. More than Dontrelle Willis. More than Carlos Zambrano (can you imagine Zambrano & Lo Duca? Can you say fight night round 3?).

Anyway, I don't expect Oswalt to leave the comforts of Houston, but if there was a man who could get something done, it's Omar Minaya.

Here's to dreaming. Don't you just love Mets trade rumors?