Mets, Brewers Still Working on Ike Davis Deal

Word that James Loney re-signed with the Rays on Friday took one more first baseman off the market, possibly intensifying talks between the Mets and Brewers to get an Ike Davis deal done.

Reports say the Mets asked for 25-year-old pitcher Tyler Thornburg, whom the Brewers “still won’t part with,” according to a tweet from Fox Sports midget Ken Rosenthal.

Thornburg is considered one of the better Brewers prospects. His 2013 was a strange one. He was positively Marcumesque in Triple-A, going 0-9 with a 5.79 ERA, but striking out more than a batter an inning. For some reason the Brewers then called him up to the majors where he went 3-1 with a sparkling 2.03 ERA in 18 games (seven starts).

Whomever the Mets end up landing, it is not expected to be a player who will make an immediate impact on the Mets. Many observers think he could bring back a middle reliever, at best.

As a side note, the Brewers are turning to Ike Davis after failing to re-sign Corey Hart. Both sides wanted to make a deal, yet Hart ended up signing with the Mariners for a very reasonable $6 million. Milwaukee obviously offered less. Davis is going to make around $4 million, and if the Brewers are comfortable paying him that, you’d think they would have offered Hart his $6 million. Hart is easily $2 million better than Davis. Perhaps it was the $7 million in incentives the Mariners offered.

Anyway, Ike Davis will probably be gone soon, leaving us to watch Lucas Duda flounder in 2014.