Let's check out the newest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Milwaukee may not be able to find a taker for Prince Fielder before the trade deadline. Fielder's deal runs through next season and the Angels, who are the most obvious fit, only need a first baseman for the remainder of this season to fill in for Kendry Morales. The teams with the greatest needs for a first baseman/designated hitter type, such as the Mariners, aren't in contention. Rosenthal points out that Brewers GM Doug Melvin has always said that it's easier to move position players in the winter when more teams can be drawn into the mix.
- Angels GM Tony Reagins says that the team will be patient in finding a replacement for Morales. The Angels are starting to play better and Mike Napoli is an obvious internal solution as Jeff Mathis gets set to return. While their biggest need is in the bullpen, Reagins says that the team is comfortable with the pitchers that they have, for now.
- White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski would almost certainly consent to a trade if the club asked him to move on in order to give Tyler Flowers big league experience. Pierzynski has the right to veto any trade beginning on June 13th. The veteran is a free agent at the end of the season and could enhance his value by going to a contender. If he was still available in August then his salary is high enough that he would likely clear waivers.
- The Mets say that they have the payroll flexibility to add a starter at the deadline but it remains to be seen just how much and how willing they are to part with young talent. One solution could be putting Jenrry Mejia in the starting five as GM Omar Minaya believes that he could be a dominant starter. However, manager Jerry Manuel raised doubts about that happening this season.
“One solution could be putting Jenrry Mejia in the starting five as GM Omar Minaya believes that he could be a dominant starter.”Hm, maybe that crazy idea of keeping him in the minors to work as a starter was a better idea.
Oh, and he has a FIP of 4.79, K9 of 6.26 and BB9 of 5.09 this year, as a reliever (where your stats are suppose to be much better compared to a starter). So anyone who thinks he can go down for a few weeks to get stretched out, then come back and be an effective starter isn’t using their brain.
Yeah, this whole situation blows my mind. I’ve got alot of respect for Mets fans that still cheer for a team despite having the most brain-dead people in the business running it. The Mets have a lot of talent, but the people that are in control over it are killing them.
Mejia is not ready to be a starter in the majors, yet alone a reliever. Hopefully Minaya will smarten up and trade for Cliff Lee or Kevin Millwood?
Hahahah. Minaya would NEVER trade for a decent starter. Seriously, why didn’t they even get ONE person for their rotation in the off-season? I thought that if they could solidify that a little bit then they’d be a contender. But, Minaya decided to keep garbage in the rotation. And THEN he wastes one of his top pitching prospects in the bullpen. A guy that may have been their only promise for next year. After Santana and maybe Pelfrey if he can keep it up, this rotation makes me want to puke. I honestly think that I could’ve done a better job than Minaya in the off-season.
Right, firstly, lets take a look at the Mets current ace and how he was acquired – traded for practically nothing… so there’s your first statement about Minaya out of the window. Secondly, I agree with you on your point about Mejia – Minaya and Manuel wanted to keep their jobs and squeeze as much out of this kid as they could (can you blame them?) but yeah it sucks for the Mets in the long run. Pelfrey has been solid and there is no reason for you to second guess him and Takahashi and Dickey have been stellar in filling in. Niese just pitched 7 strong innings and could have gone further. Finally, the majority of the pitchers left over after Lackey the past offseason have been worthless (and the Lackey deal was ridiculous if you ask me). Personally I am happy that Minaya laid off the non talent and chose to save some money to make a splash in the trade market this deadline.
Are you actually standing up for Omar Minaya?”Right, firstly, lets take a look at the Mets current ace and how he was acquired – traded for practically nothing… so there’s your first statement about Minaya out of the window.”Okay.. First of all, that was not a literal statement. But, he’s acquired ONE good pitcher in the last two and a half years. Yes, he is a very, very good pitcher and that was a very, very good trade. But he can’t pitch everyday. One trade that Minaya made 2 1/2 years ago can’t make up for how idle he was in this offseason in the SP market. Especially when SP was their most glaring need.I don’t second guess Pelfrey anymore than I second guess every other guy that’s having success after having a bad season.
“Minaya and Manuel wanted to keep their jobs and squeeze as much out of this kid as they could (can you blame them?) ”
Yes, I can blame them. Ruining your top prospect doesn’t seem like a very good way to keep your job.
Yes, Takahashi and Dickey have been good filling in. But do you think they can keep it up? I don’t know too much about Takahashi, being as he’s from Japan. But looking at Dickey’s track record I don’t see him continuing his success. I like RA, and I’m rooting for him, but I just don’t see any reason to believe he will keep it up.Yes, Niese did pitch 7 strong innings. It takes more than 1 or 2 games to be considered a good pitcher, however. All these guys you’re mentioning should be #5 pitchers. Would be, on most staffs. These are the guys you’re throwing out there 3 out of 5 days. Pelfrey is a guy I see a little more promise in, being as he did have a solid year in 2008. But he’s still not who you want as you’re 2nd pitcher. I’m not saying Minaya should have signed John Lackey, but someone like Jon Garland. There was plenty of guys like that available that would have given the Mets a much better chance.Personally, I’d be pretty upset if my team’s GM chose to make a splash at the trade deadline rather than spend a few million a starter in the offseason. That means they’ll be playing catch-up for the entire second half. Do you honestly think that Minaya is going to make a splash at the deadline? What does he have of value to trade? If he does acquire a pitcher, it’ll be one that’s no better than what he could’ve got in the offseason for a few million dollars on a one year deal. Without giving up prospects. The Mets don’t have the pieces to pull of a trade for a big pitcher. The only chance they have is if the Astros give up Oswalt for salary relief. Which isn’t happening. I’m not bashing the Mets. I’m bashing their pitching staff. I love their offense, and they scared me at the beginning of the off-season, when it seemed inevitable that they would sign a pitcher. They didn’t, and now I just don’t see them contending for a title.
I’d personally like them to go for Haren – his value is down at the moment, his contract is scrumptious and the D’backs are desperate.
For what? What do the mets have that the DBacks will take for one of the top 5 pitchers in the NL? Even if the DBacks will trade for your top 3-4 prospects, is emptying out your entire farm system (which is rated in the bottom half of the league by any respectable source) really worth it? It would cost you Mejia and Fernando Martinez at the very least.
What a silly statement.
“Milwaukee may not be able to find a taker for Prince Fielder.”
ROFL. I understand that not many teams with 1B wholes are in contention right now, but we’re talking about a premier player in the prime of his career. I’m pretty sure every team in MLB would LOVE to have Prince Fielder. Even if you have a 1B, any AL team could just plug him into DH (where he belongs due to terrible defense). This is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard Ken Rosenthal say. But, hey, I’ve come to realize that I shouldn’t expect much from him.
Fielder to Toronto?
The teams have a working history, Toronto has young pitching, Father-son connection (for fans/box office, not personal draw) yadda yadda.
Just thought I’d weigh in with a suggestion other than typical Yankees, Boston…
Toronto has Brett Wallace for their future, plus Boras is going to take him to FA after 2011. So do they think Fielder makes them a real playoff contender in 2010 and 2011 and are they willing to take 2 draft picks?
But not every team has (A) The prospects to trade for him, (B) The money to resign him. How many teams out there can give him 150m+? 5 maybe?
He’s under control for 2010 and 2011, then he’s a FA. And he’s not giving anyone a hometown discount. So you’re giving up top prospects, then you also have to give him a huge contract, if he’ll even resign with your team.
And if he’s just a DH, teams aren’t valuing those guys at 18m+/
Angels interested in Fielder