The Mets want to acquire starting pitching, but they’re interested in arms like Cliff Lee and Ted Lilly, not mid-rotation types. Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets are now content with R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi and are not interested in Kevin Millwood or Jake Westbrook.
The Mets have not yet had detailed discussions with the Mariners about a possible Lee deal, but GM Omar Minaya is willing to part with top prospects once he knows which ones the Mariners covet. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported today that the Mariners have not yet started telling teams which players interest them. The Mariners like Jenrry Mejia according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, so the injured pitcher could figure into talks if and when they begin.
If the Mets do not acquire Lee, they could try to pry Ted Lilly away from the Cubs. The Mets believe Oswalt is available, though they’re reluctant to take on tens of millions in salary and hand the Astros top prospects.
Minaya only understands big ticket acquisitions and fringe ones. He’s never been any good at the middle. Let him stay in his wheelhouse. Go for an ace or keep your lunch money.
A fair assessment, but hey, if you want to win a horse race you need a Stallion…not a burro. In keeping with that there is only so much Millwood and Westbrook could do for the team.
Lilly for Mejia would make me a happy Cubs fan. Won’t happen.
Steve Phillips would hapily make that trade.
I think Steve would also require Flores and Martinez for the established, proven, and extremely talented Ted Lilly.
What would the Mets offer for Lilly? I know it’s not going to be Niese, Davis, or Mejia, but it’s got to be something good. If not I’d just take the compensatory picks since he’s a Type A.
The Cubs have a nice stock of middle infielders, or else I’d say Havens would make sense for them.
That’s exactly what I was thinking, the outfield is pretty stop-gapped and we have a pretty nice kid in Brett Jackson and Colvin seems to be worth giving a shot. We seem to lack a decent SP prospect. I’d say Brad Holt but he hasn’t been the same since he left St. Lucie in 2009.
Lilly is a free agent next year….no way Mejia, Niese or Ike Davis is involved…..for the record Cubs and Ms fans….Ike Davis and Jon Niese are untouchaable….the Mets are making a push for the World Series they are making a stronger rotation with Santana Pelfrey and Niese for a 4 man combo…..Cubs fans u are crazy if u think Ted Lilly will garner any top prospect for a season u are crazy…..at least Cliff Lee is a Top 5 pitcher
Tell you what. We’ll keep Ted Lilly and take some top prospect with the Type-A compensation that we get for him and his 3.12 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 61 Ks, and .219 BAA. He had a horrible year last year too with a 3.10 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .230 BAA, and 151 Ks.
would a reese havens be enough for ted lilly?
I’m going to assume that their lack of interest has nothing to do with the fact that Mets hit both of them hard on their last road trip
That’s how cheap the Wilpons are. All scouting is to be done by coaches while actually facing the players in question.
I think the difference between Lee and Lilly is clear. To sum it up, Lilly is suited for a very good team that simply needs to add some pitching depth for the front/middle of the rotation. Teams like the Yanks if someone were to go down for the season, the Sox if Beckett is out for a prolonged period of time or if Buccholz is out for a while or the Cardinals who could use some depth behind Carpenter or Wainright. Lilly can be counted on for 7 IP and 3 runs or less. A guy like Lee on the other hand is the golden goose that a pretender needs to be a serious contender. Lee is the guy you need to guarantee you a 85% chance of winning on his day. He’s the guy you need to throw out there to go up against the other teams #1 guy and would be crucial in a short playoff series. In his last 10 games Lilly has pitched very well w/ the one exception being the games vs the Angels where he gave up 6 ER in 5 IP. Other than that he’s avg’d 7 IP and less than 2 runs. Lee has avg’d 8 IP and 2.2 ER. So what’s really the difference? The difference is that Lee saves the pen and has proven himself to be “clutch” in the post-season. However, over the next 4 months Lilly can do probably close to 85% of the job that Lee can do at probably 60% of the cost that it will take to get Lee.
I see Lee going to a small handfull of teams that truly need to send a message to their players and fans that they are serious about a WS campaign this year. They would be…
Mets
Twins
Dodgers
Reds
Angels
I think Lilly appeals to teams like…
Mets (concellation if Lee is too expensive)
Phillies
Dodgers
Tigers
Well put.
Lilly and Fukudome(and his 22 million left) for Castillo(and his 9 million left), and a couple of mid/good prospects arms in Stinson and Antonini
If that deal is on the table the Mets would probably take it depending on whether or not the Wilpons want to take on the extra money. I would do it you get rid of Castillo and pick up Lilly which would move Takahashi back to the pen. Really can’t see the cubs wanting to get rid of Fukudome’s contract that badly though.
I wouldn’t. We already have Bay, Pagan, Francoeur, and Beltran. No need for another overpaid outfielder.
fukudome and his weaker second-half numbers would fit right in with the mets and their last minute choking.
fukudome and his weaker second-half numbers would fit right in with the mets and their last minute choking.
Why would anyone be interested in Millwood at this point?!
Why would anyone be interested in Millwood at this point?!