METS GET DELGADO

by Eric Simon on Nov 23, 2005 9:31 AM EST in News Comment 28 comments

The Mets have reached an agreement for a trade to bring Carlos Delgado from the Marlins, Newsday has learned. The trade won't be finalized until medical examinations of the players involved are complete and commissioner Bud Selig signs off on the deal.
The Mets have agreed to send righthanded pitching prospect Yusmeiro Petit and young first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Marlins for Delgado, according to someone familiar with the deal. As part of the deal, the Marlins will send $7 million back to the Mets to cover part of the $48 million remaining on Delgado's contract.

That Minaya didn't have to give up Lastings Milledge and managed to get $7 million back from the Marlins is insanity. Delgado is a huge bat, a great hitter, high OBP. The only question is whether he'll bring the right attitude to the team, considering the bad blood that might persist from last year's failed effort to sign him.

Comments

Delgado!

I agree with your assessment, Eric. Assuming they get a closer, this Delgado deal makes the Mets division favorites.

I know Delgado didn't want to come to the Mets last year, but he has a reputation as an excellent teammate, and I think he'll be excited to be playing for the Mets, who will be in a good position to take the Beast, instead of the crumbling Marlins. I think Mets fans (understandably) took the Delgado thing a little too personally - the Mets were coming off two really lousy years (although had already added Beltran and 'Dro) while the Marlins, on paper, were the far better team heading into the season. Plus his agent is sort of an idiot who exacerbated the whole situation.

I suppose we will see (and Delgado could demand a trade after this season) but I'm expecting him to shine as a Met. All the reasons we wanted Delgado last year (big bat in the middle of the lineup, OBP, run production, veteran 1st baseman to anchor a young infield) are still true. I was excited to see what Petit could do, but I'm more excited about this.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 23, 2005 9:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Attitude

Since he didn't want to come to the Mets, I hope his attitude doesn't become a problem. And a lot of people around think the Mets made the right decision in trading for Delgado.

Choke is the official soft drink of the New York Yankees. Yankees flat out utterly suck.

by 2QYankeehater on Nov 23, 2005 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he saying all the right things in the paper

today, so I doubt this should be an issue, he and Bernazard can kiss and make up over a nice Spanish dinner :)

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Nov 24, 2005 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Buster Olney on the trade

Buster Olney on the trade via ESPN Insider:

"A Mets deal for Carlos Delgado could happen quickly, reports Kevin Kernan; the Daily News concurs.

If, in fact, the Mets part with their top pitching prospect to get Delgado, while absorbing all of Delgado's financial obligations, they are insane. They could offer a bag of balls at this point and Florida will take a deal, so long as the Mets are taking the contract. Again, there is no question that the Mets are going to have the best offseason, on paper, of any team in the majors: They're probably going to sign Billy Wagner, they could get Delgado very soon, and they're going to get a good catcher.

But the trademark of Omar Minaya's dealings so far is that he overpays for everything. He can get Delgado, and that's great. But why overpay for him? Why not tell the Marlins, Look, you don't have teams beating down your door to take his contract. We'll do you a favor and take his contract, and you'll take one Grade B-minus prospect from this list of three, along with this backup Class A catcher, and you'll be thrilled with that.

Landing Pedro, Beltran, Wagner, Delgado, all good. But at some point, the bill is going to come due, and the Mets at least have to try to pay market value, rather than spending above and beyond that in each and every deal."

by gene on Nov 23, 2005 10:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

bedtime for Buster

This is a great, great deal for the Mets. I like Petit as much as the next guy, maybe more, but he's not Scott Kazmir. If he needs to go to complete this deal, it's a little sad, but ultimately okay with me. Omar managed to get the Marlins to eat a portion of Delgado's contract, which evens the deal out: at full price, Delgado was significantly overpaid enough that he didn't have positive trade value, but with the cash the Marlins chipped in it seems to me he's worth something real in trade. Jacobs is a throw-in for the Marlins' suddenly gaping hole at 1B, and a fine choice as far as I'm concerned since the Mets now have noplace to play him. The Mets are flush with cash this year and literally had noplace (no intelligent place) to spend it: Omar can't go after a big-money signing on a difference-making free agent like Pedro, since there aren't any. The Mets can't spend free-agent money on a truly great hitter, since there aren't any. Now we have someplace to spend those dollars that will really maximize the benefit to the team on the field. This is a great deal.

by anonymous on Nov 23, 2005 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

olney

overpaid? the mets trade 2 unknowns for a known all star? the mets could aquire Albert Pujols for Kaz Matsui tommorow and the Yankee water carrier would find a way to be critical of it

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Nov 24, 2005 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No ManRam

I think this move is a sign that the Mets are done with Manny. David Ortiz was quoted as saying that ManRam wants to head west, and the fact that we worked in getting back $7 mil shows me that we are trynig to save money for Free Agents. I'm not sure we would have negotiated for the $7 million if we were going to go after Manny, especially since he's owed $57 million over his the next 3 years.

by Pedrito on Nov 23, 2005 10:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The thing about Manny

Was that the Sox didn't want to do it unless they got Milledge, and the Mets didn't seem willing to give him up.

Now, it may be that the Mets end up doing something ridiculous like trading Milledge for Soriano, but I don't see it happening now.

If the mets solve their bullpen issues, I see them as definite favorites, even if they don't upgrade at C or 2B.

Delgado is a difference maker. His career OPS is .952, with an OBP of close to .400. Paul Konerko, a fine player who will probably sign an contract similar to Delgado's, has a career OPS of .837. Hideki Matsui, a guy I love as a player, just signed a deal worth $52 million and has a career OPS of .853.

I liked Petit better than most, but I think this is a deal you have to make, whatver yankee-lover Buster Olney says aside.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 23, 2005 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Soriano

If they go trade Millege for him, the Mets would have just thrown away all of their future in the minor leagues. That better not happen. After trading Petit to Florida, they just can't trade Millege now.

Choke is the official soft drink of the New York Yankees. Yankees flat out utterly suck.

by 2QYankeehater on Nov 23, 2005 7:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Petit gone!

I odn't mind Jacobs, I think he's a mid-range player...but Petit had to go :-(

I have mixed feelings right now...overall, I'm pumped tho. :-)

"They win the damn thing by a score of 10-9!"

by ZaBlanc on Nov 23, 2005 10:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Must get Wagner...

We must offset the pitching loss with a gain.

"They win the damn thing by a score of 10-9!"

by ZaBlanc on Nov 23, 2005 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

I don't mind them not doing anything special about C or 2b, but we need a legit closer to slam the door.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 23, 2005 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ahhh...

No, we need a nice signing for catcher. I'm a big believer in a strong defensive catcher...and I was prolly the only Met fan lobbying for a Piazza dealing.

I've always said we need a guy like Benji Molina...now that the Mets are going after the man himself...I want him ;-)

"They win the damn thing by a score of 10-9!"

by ZaBlanc on Nov 23, 2005 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Molina

Molina has declined defensively for the past three seasons and now is no better than an average catcher, if even that. Couple that with his mediocre bat and he becomes insanely overpriced at the $7 million per he'll be looking for.

by Eric Simon on Nov 23, 2005 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Nothing I haven't said before, but I think if nothing else, Castro gives you comparable defense and offense for a fraction of the cost.

The mets aren't going to be able to take on big contracts at every position. (Or at least, if able, they're not going to do it). I see the Closer and cleanup type hitters as the biggest priorities where you have to throw money to get what you're looking for. It's a lot tougher to pick up a dominant closer or impact hitter at a low cost than it is to get an average-bat, defensive-type catcher.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 23, 2005 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mixed feelings

I am also mixed on this trade. Delgado to Jacobs I am ok with in terms of Delgado, but trading Petit is something I didn't like. I had hoped the Mets would keep their top pitching prospect after the Kazmir disaster. Though this time they are at least getting an accomplished player. I just hope that Delgado won't be unhappy here, and hopefully he will still hit like he did in Florida. As long as he does his thing, it is ok. But I think I will miss Petit. Unrelated, I realized the emoticons this time!

Choke is the official soft drink of the New York Yankees. Yankees flat out utterly suck.

by 2QYankeehater on Nov 23, 2005 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

petit is nice and all

but he isn't Kazmir, he throws in high 80's and is proably not ready for the majors yet, plus the way the morons that own the Marlins operate we should be able reaquire him by the time he hits his prime

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Nov 24, 2005 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Overpaying

I agree with Buster that the Mets have been overpaying. But Beltran, Reyes and Wright are all you. if they hold onto Milledge, Diaz, Heilman, etc. than even in 2-3 years when the bills come due for Pedro, Wagner, Delgado.. they still have a good core.. And if they can get 2-3 years of playoff baseball out of this team, most Mets fans (myself included) will be willing to sit through a year or two of rebuilding again.

Bill Simmons wrote an interesting article on the Becket trade, and talked about how many prospects never turn out how you expect them - you need to look no further then the Mets big 3 of Izzy, Wilson and Pulsphier.. so to give up Petit & Jacobs for a proven bat.. no issues here..

by Schifftis on Nov 23, 2005 10:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If the Fish had to dump Delgado

then in a few years we can get Jacobs and Petit back from them too, if we decide we want them (and they're still talking to us).

Kazmir comes elegible for arbitration in what, 2007? Maybe we'll see him again soon too.

by peeder on Nov 23, 2005 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope so...

Because thats two top pitching prospects traded away now. At least this time, we're getting a high caliber player.

Choke is the official soft drink of the New York Yankees. Yankees flat out utterly suck.

by 2QYankeehater on Nov 23, 2005 7:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'm the only one ...

who saw Jacobs as more than "a flash in the pan." Honestly, the way he was able to make adjustments and be patient enough to draw walks was impressive. I think given the opportunity to play every day, he could learn how to hit lefties better, strike out less and potentially earn a batting title. Seriously. I also have some concerns about Delgado's defense and like others have said, his attitude. I had hoped we'd acquire power in the form of an outfielder so we could hang on to Jacobs. We'll see how he develops with the Fish.

Despite my mixed feelings, I like Delgado's bat. A lot. So, yeah, I'm glad we have him on our team.

by BlueYonder on Nov 24, 2005 12:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amazing?

I think it was pointless. There is no logic to signing Delagdo like that and flipping him after he did everything he was signed to do.

by peeder on Nov 24, 2005 8:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

its sad what happening to the marlins

you guys have the worst owners? looking for big money on public dole and unwilling to make any real sustained investment. $40 million payroll, even Cincinatti has bigger payroll and I am sure South Florida is a bigger market

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Nov 24, 2005 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sign & Trade

It's an interesting idea. Makes you wonder if the Marlins EVER had any intention of keeping Delgado beyond 2005. The way they structured his contract (heavily backloaded), is kind of strange.

For one thing, they could only imagine that their payroll would rise in 2006 with younger players becoming arbitration elligible. There is no reason to think that there would be more room on the payroll for Delgado's increased salary in 2006.

For another they must have realized that the FA market this year would be remarkably thin. Delgado, even at a very high price would have value on the market, and even if they have to send some money along, what do they care? They got away with only paying him $4 million in 2005.

Larry Beinfest deserves credit for being a good GM, credit I feel he hasn't gotten. A move like this, one last push for the playoffs, would be both creative and a little risky. If Burnett is completely healthy and Leiter, Lowell, and Pierre don't tank, they might have beaten the Braves.

by Alex Nelson on Nov 25, 2005 10:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

awesome move

Marlins get 1 year of Delgado (finish in 3rd place)+ three minor league players for 11 million $. Marlins are in last for the next three years unless they move to another city. If any of the minor league players turn into studs they get shipped to teams with cash.

Mets get 1 year without Delgado (finish in 3rd place) + 3 years with Delgado where they contend for the NL East crown all three years for 40+ million $ and three "could be" not "can't miss" ball players.

If Cameron hears Beltran running hard from center the Mets might have beaten the Braves.

Easily could have been the Phils season too if Thome is healthy and they pick up a pitcher at the trade deadline.

Pedro offers you his protection.

by pj on Nov 25, 2005 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not killing the marlins fans

i am killing your cheap owners, yes the NY teams have money and the advantages that come with it, but your going to tell me that the fastest growing state in the country can't support the Marlins? That they can't support a 65-70 million payroll and kept Beckett? I think your owners suck ass and just want tax money to build a stadium and enrich themselves on the public dime and are screwing the fans over big time, and sorry if it makes me hurl

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Nov 30, 2005 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and by the way

I know that people that run the baseball operation down there are pretty smart its there too, its Lurie I can stand, he clusterfucked baseball in Montreal and now hes doing in Miami, its stinks to high heaven

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Nov 30, 2005 10:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

for your sake

i hope the person lives south of I-4, if I was king of the world no team would get public money to build a stadium, I can live with tax breaks and infrastructure improvements(road, rail ext), but to hand a private business a venue is awful public policy. To me public money is sacred and should be use to improve the lives of the citizens at large, building a baseball stadium doesn't fit that description

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Dec 2, 2005 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs