The Mets and Padres have discussed a possible Justin Upton trade, but talks have since stalled, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman writes. The Padres asked for one or two top prospects in return, and declined to pay any of the approximately $6MM remaining on Upton’s contract. Heyman had previously reported that Upton was a top priority for the Mets.
The identities of the prospect or prospects the Padres sought are unknown. Heyman notes, however, that the Padres want quality and not quantity in their return for Upton. Upton is currently hitting .248/.326/.420 in his last season before free agency eligibility. The Orioles, Pirates and Astros have also recently been connected to Upton.
The Mets are known to be searching for offense, and they’ve also recently been linked to Gerardo Parra of the Brewers. Heyman also lists Carlos Gomez of the Brewers, Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd of the Reds and Will Venable of the Padres as possibilities. Yesterday, the Mets traded for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson of the Braves to upgrade their infield, and they also recently promoted top prospect Michael Conforto to help their outfield, although GM Sandy Alderson said that the timing of Conforto’s promotion would not affect their strategy at the trade deadline.
Preller hoping to find a GM as reckless as he was 8 months ago.
In comparison to what Preller did, $6Million in salary and a top talent for Upton is pretty tame. Although, I suppose that depends on the talent Preller was asking for in exchange.
Pretty surprised this comment wound up so unpopular. All that I was saying is what Preller did was pretty extreme for the most part, and starting the asking price of one of your top trade chips at a top prospect and taking his salary is very typical in comparison. What team doesn’t start asking high? That doesn’t mean I endorse the Mets or any team paying it, but that starting point really isn’t out of the realm of reason like some are making it seem.
If Upton were more than a rental I might agree with you, but two months of him would not be worth giving up a top prospect or two and having to pay that kind of money. A decent/good prospect perhaps, but not a top one.
I think what we’re missing is the context of just how that asking price was established. If that was the hard line drawn by Preller saying it’ll take nothing less to nab him, then yeah, I see why it’s a problem, I wouldn’t rush to pay that much for him either. But if that was the starting point when approached, that’s a different story. Every GM aims high in hopes of holding some leverage and wiggle room in negotiations, this could very well be another case of that.
Would you rather have your GM go for it, or not make any moves for five years? I respect what Preller did, even though it didn’t work out.
Wasn’t using this as an outlet to bash Preller or his moves, I was actually on the Preller train when everything was going on for that reason, despite it looking terrible now. But starting the asking at a top talent for Upton + taking his salary really isn’t outlandish, which is what I’m getting at. Obviously, that doesn’t mean asking for Syndergaard makes sense, but he’s going to bring back something nice for the Pads, he’s not going for peanuts, even if he is generally over-rated for the production he’s given this season. I don’t blame Preller for asking what he is, and I don’t blame the Mets for not biting.
Especially with Upton being a 2 month rental, mildly hurt and not playing all that great.
Very good prospect and eat 2.5 million and we’ll talk.
If i had to eat money and trade a top piece i’d rather see if the Tigers bite on Zach Wheeler for Yoenis Cespedes.
As a Tigers fan I’d do that “Zach Wheeler for Cespedes” trade in a heartbeat. We desperately need cost controlled proven starting pitching.
I was actually replying to baseballschmaceball. Unfortunately nobody can tell with this new comment system.
I was replying to the OP. Wasn’t directing anything at you 🙂
They probably asked for Wheeler. It makes sense with that report coming out an hour ago.
I would also connect the “quality over quantity” idea (as well as the Wheeler rumor) back to the earlier rumblings that Kevin Gausman could be made available in a trade.
I think Carlos Gomez would make way more sense for the Mets…or no one at all. Upton just seems like a waste for the Mets. Maybe Parra would be their best option. Someone who won’t cost much, but make it look like they are trying to compete.
It makes a ton of sense for the Mets… However, they’re not willing to give up the talent needed to acquire him. Not criticizing Sandy because he’s done a phenomenal job adding young talent, but at some point you have to get a bat for this team. In a pitching saturated trade market it’s going to take some value.
Gomez makes sense because he still has another year left at only 9 MIL and after that Minni would be ready to play CF, but he may be one of Milwaukee’s top targets to get in return
no thankyou… he’s a rental and then we’d have to sign to a long term deal for this 248 hitter, which he may not even sign with mets, risky… wouldn’t do it. lets go get cargo…wheeler and 2 prospects.
You do realize that he is a .248 hitter in the worst hitters park in baseball right? His OPS+ is higher than Cargo’s this year..
CarGo is a massive risk, assuming you’re talking about Gonzalez and not Gomez.
His WAR is close to Granderson, Lagares, and Cuddyer (ie the Mets entire starting outfield) combined.
But also, his WAR is either the same (fWAR) or much higher (rWAR) than Gomez’s.
Cargo is crap away from Coor’s. I’d take him if we had no other options, but I wouldn’t give up any really good prospects for him. More importantly, the Colorado front office will likely continue to be delusional when it comes to his asking price, which means he’ll likely be staying in a Rockies uniform.
If you’re not going to pay in money, pay with prospects.
for a two month rental? No thanks.
Ok…. who let Ruben Amaro handle the negotiations?
You guys have any predictions of what Preller asked for?
Probably one of Syndergard, DeGrom, Wheeler, and another quality prospects along with some throw-ins.
Wow! As a Padres fan, I think that’s too much to as for (one of Syn, De, or Wheeler). I believe Upton can be worth 2 top prospects, but non of those top10 guys.
C’mon! No way the Mets trade DeGrom!!
Hahaha, yeeeeeah, I can pretty much guarantee that Syndergaard and deGrom were never mentioned. That would go being excessive and enter the realm of mentally insane.
Teamstream app says Mets walked away from trade talks after Padres asked for top prospects
Seeing as how Preller didn’t give up any of the Padres top prospects to get him beyond an injured Max Fried, I doubt he asked for one of the Mets young rotation arms.. Peterson wasn’t even supposed to be as good as he has been in Atlanta.
He’s cooled off. He’s below .250 BA last I checked. He was around .280 or .290 a month ago or so so he’s hit a dip. But yeah they didn’t give up much for Upton.
No but he had a floor of a big league player under control. Has value.
Probably Steven Matz, Gavin Ceccini, and a mid level prospect for Upton + a low level prospect.
The Padres are looking for a young Shortstop. Preller must regret trading Trea Turner for Wil Myers. Ceccini is putting up good numbers at AA and is a former 1st round prospect.
I imagine the Padres must not have any leverage. Other GMs know that Preller has to trade Upton and needs to get a good return, because if they don’t, he’s hitting the market and is gonna get paid. This really backfired, bad.
Qualifying offer- he either gets prospects for Upton or a 1st round talent if Upton declines the QO and signs elsewhere.
I can see Preller extending a QO to Kennedy and Upton if he can’t trade them. If/when they decline and sign elsewhere that would give the Padres 5 picks before the 3rd round. Their 1st, 2 QO compensation, their 2nd, and 1st pick in the comp balance b round.
Assuming Preller doesn’t sign a guy and lose the 1st or trade the comp b pick.
those 5 picks and 2016 international spending is a fast way to restock the farm.
Yikes, I can’t imagine Kennedy being near the top of team’s list of targets with a QO attached to him in such a pitching rich FA crop. He’s a good pitcher, but losing that pick to sign him is going to be a major detractor if that’s the way things go down. Could have a hard time signing.
Nobody saw the mets sacrificing their 1st to sign Cuddyer last year either.
Depending how Kennedy pitches the 2nd half he could signed by a team who already lost a 1st signing someone else.
The Orioles signed Jimenez in 2014 losing their 1st and then signed Cruz which cost them their 55th overall selection.
Long as they sign regardless of what pick the team loses they get a comp balance pick.
Don’t see my reply, so repeating.
If a team gives up a 1st for a guy they can give up a 2nd for Kennedy. He won’t cost as much as most on the market. Orioles gave up their 55th overall selection and Rangers got a comp pick.
Orioles did this when they signed Jimenez and Cruz in 2014.
No one saw the mets giving their first for Cuddyer last off season.
All depends how Kennedy pitches in the 2nd half.
Might as well start high in asking price, you have about a week to get anything done. Preller probably asked for Wheeler + Nimmo/Cecchini and Alderson said, “Big Gulps, huh? Alright. Welp, see ya later.”
i just don’t understand the hype for justin upton.he really is not that good of a hitter.he can hit the long ball every now and then but for average,its not really there
Uh… Did you see what he did back in ’11? If he can reach his full potential, the guy’s a 5-tool player. He’s still young too.
In 2011, he had a very good, but not great, season. And that was 4 years ago. Last year he was close to that & was still traded. He may be a 5-tool player, but he is a bonehead out in the field. Add to that his extreme hot/cold streaks.
And he is not that young anymore. He will be 28. You might only get 2 years of “prime” J-Up, whatever that may be.
A bit like Carlos Santana of the Indians. Every one saw what they did years ago and thinks they’re going to improve on it – but they haven’t. They are what they are – uncoachable and in constant need of ego massage.
Backfired how? At worst you complete the season with Upton and get your comp pick and a full season of him to try and salvage the season.
I assume you’re talking to me. I meant the Padres’ offseason really backfired. Usually trying to put together a contender in 1 year doesn’t tend to work well.
Agreed and this is one move AJ made that is pretty much playing itself out they way he expected; I would imagine. A decade of bad decisions weren’t going to be fixed in one offseason. I’m in the minority but I think more time will allow some of the other moves to balance out or favor the Pads. Of course that is my bias showing.
It’s an odd match, The Mets don’t want to part with healthy young players/prospects, and they don’t want to spend money. Of course, SD is going to ask for something decent–and chances are they will find it from someone, or just pocket the pick later. I don’t see a rational deal here.
Rather have prefer trade him to the O”s and try to get Gausman
There is no way at all the pirates go after upton, unless its a three team kinda deal in which he goes another way and they would get cashner..
Jay Bruce to the Mets for Wheeler. Smith. Sanchez. Beccerra
Cespedes is the Only outfielder I personally would part with talent for. And then I would do absolutely everything in my power to sign him beyond this year. If there is a perfect player for the mets team right now it is him. No excuses about the fences, no one sided player talk, no age problems. He is a legitimate “A” player. I am perfectly fine if the mets do nothing at all. However by starting day 2016 I demand Yoenis Cespedes in my outfield and either Tulo, Ian Desmond or Jose Reyes as my Shortstop. Ask yourself as a met fan, when was the last time we had any A list players in their prime? Oh yea Mike Piazza and that worked out great. Mets are morons because they never buy a player while in their prime. Real prime not steroid era prime. My only backup plan would be the Tulo/Cargo combo deal. Hello Fred and Jeff! Give us legitimate major league players and us fans will make sure that you can pay them. I love granderson as a player but knew he was not a fit for the mets. I hate how all of these morons in the offices know absolutely nothing about breaking down players and differentiating a good player from a good player for your team.
– “if you build it ( a legitimate major league team ) they (the mets fans) will come.”
No way I’d go for Upton. Marlon Byrd has numbers almost identical and wouldn’t even be a fourth of the asking price. He hit well for us a couple years ago and would be way cheaper. Platoon Byrd and Granderson. Byrd .280/.368/.550 against lefties, Granderson .280/.384/.479 against righties. plus power off the bench when either one isn’t starting. Byrd isn’t the most attractive name on the list but would fit the best based on we are able to do.
Upton is a good player, but he is very overrated. He will not salvage the Mets’ offensive woes on his own.
Apparently the Mets are looking at any and all bats that could potentially be available on the market, as they should be. No need to pay such a high asking price when other options would likely be more reasonable in terms of cost or contract status.
This is probably just posturing from Preller give that he can let Upton walk and take the draft pick. No need to sell somewhat low on Upton when the pick could be a better gain. I know some want him to waive the white flag and make a deal happen as some sort of admission his plan didn’t work out, but there’s really no need for that, potentially.
Concerning Upton and other Quality Major League Players Available . The Mets want Something for Nothing, Bottom Line!
Seems that’s all everyone is doing ….. Hell it seems like you’d have to offer up Stanton. Yelich. Fernandez. Bour. Haren. Latos. And pay them for the next year and a half on top of it to get seager lol
You people criticizing Preller for the moves he made are rediculous.. Did you guys expect Grandal to do what he’s doing? Same with Maybin? Our plan for years has always been ‘building through the farm system’, then when these prospects grow into top notch players, we trade them for prospects. And the cycle goes on and on without any success ever.
Padres are better than last year. Despite the disappointment, they are light years better than their historically awful offense last year. As for the pitching? Well, who expected their pitchers to have allowed nearly as many HRs they allowed the entire season last year? We kept all our pitchers, added Shields and Kimbrel. You would assume it would improve but nope. One of the best rotations in the majors last year, it’s a joke this year. With the same pitchers PLUS Kimbrel and Shields. No one saw that coming, and it’s not Preller’s fault for not seeing this unimaginable disaster with our pitching.
Judging from the Cubs lack of offense most of the year, they need to turn their attention to Upton… Forget Hamels, forget Price, you can’t win if you don’t score runs. Get Upton and Kimbrel, or miss the playoffs.
Depending on how the next 10 games go I’m sure Preller will agree to pay all,or nearly all of Uptons contract to get a good prospect or two back.Its a sunk cost already…..so why not?
Keep in mind if the Padres don’t get a decent return they will keep him and score a good draft pick when he goes to free agency…..so they don’t HAVE to trade him for whatever they can get.
Is it possible that Sandy Alderson shocks all and puts a package together for Tulo???