Mets Trade Rumors
Taking a break from Sunday’s disappointing news that Terry Collins will be named manager and Tuesday’s sure-to-be disappointing news conference introducing Terry Collins as manager…
There is a report from a website called Around the Horn that claims the Mets and Diamondbacks are discussing what would be a blockbuster trade — shortstop Stephen Drew and outfielder Justin Upton would head to Queens for Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Jenrry Mejia.
Before we get to the trade itself, let’s see how reliable this rumor is. The site quotes an “industry source,” linked to a Daily News story naming the same industry source as the person saying Omar Minaya was offered a job with the Diamondbacks as an adivser to the GM. No name for this source is given, not even which team employs this person. Could this industry source be Minaya himself? We’ll get to that in a moment.
Now to the trade. I don’t really know much about Drew and Upton, but they are both young, reasonably inexpensive and have put up decent numbers in their short careers. Both would be nice additions to the team, depending on the cost and need.
I have no problem trading Beltran, as long as the Mets are not picking up a major portion of his contract. Mejia looks promising, but a lot of prospects do. Plus, he had some injury problems last season. He’s as likely to make it big in the majors as he’s likely not to.
As far as Reyes, I am dead set against trading him. A lot of fans would like to see him go, but I like him a lot. When he’s on his game, not many players in the league can do what he does. Yes, there have been injuries, but he played four straight years without injury. There’s no reason he can’t do it again.
The only reason to do this trade would be for money; Beltran and Reyes will make $30 million between them, Drew and Upton around $10 million. The Mets could use that $20 million for much-needed pitching.
As it is, I don’t like this trade very much. If they have to pay most of Beltran’s contract, this would be absolutely ridiculous.
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The same website last week proposed an Adrian Gonzalez for Ike Davis and either Jenrry Mejia or Bobby Parnell trade. I’m not too sure about this one, either. Gonzalez is a superstar, no question about it. And he’ll be expected to be paid as one. His contract is up after the 2011 season. He’ll likely command $15-$20 million per year. Can the Mets pay that?
And should they pay that much to anyone when they have a solid first baseman in Davis? I don’t think Davis will ever be as good as Gonzalez, but he’s still young and has a bright future. Plus, they can have him for five more reasonable contracts before he becomes a free agent. The Mets can use the difference between Davis’ and Gonzalez’s pay on a host of other problems.
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Now to Minaya. He’s kept quiet since being fired, up until this weekend, when word leaked out about his alleged job offer. In fact, Minaya claims he has several suitors.
“I have many offers for different positions, including a few as assistant general manager, but I’m in no hurry,” Minaya told ESPNdeportes.com.
Raise your hand if you are shocked Minaya has even one job offer, let alone “many.” In reporting its story, the Daily News said Minaya is respected around the league for his “interpersonal skills.” I’m not exactly sure what that means, but we’ve all heard Minaya speak. I’ll just leave it at that.
Now, does Minaya really have any job offers at all? The Diamondbacks thing is probably real, because the team would have denied it by now if it were made up. But the others? Well, I don’t want to call Minaya a liar, but he’s a liar. Maybe not about this, but in general. I’ve thought this ever since the news conference announcing the signing of Pedro Martinez prior to the 2005 season. He said, “I can’t tell you how many players have called me and said they want to play for the Mets.” The statement seemed disingenuous to me then, and time proved it a lie. Where were all these players over the years who clamored to play for the Mets? Did Minaya go out and get them? Of course not, because they didn’t exist.
So Minaya could be the “industry source” who leaked his own job offer and is making up the Reyes trade. I wouldn’t put it past him.