LOTSA RUMORS

by Eric Simon on Dec 7, 2005 11:59 AM EST

Kris Benson has been rumored to be going to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for some combination of:

LHP Jeremy Affeldt
RHP Mike MacDougal
Some prospect

It was said to be "very close" last night, but there hasn't been any new information since then.

Barry Zito rumors are flying around, though I can't see how the Mets would land him without giving up Lastings Milledge and probably even Aaron Heilman. In fact, I have heard that those two wouldn't even be enough! Zito is a nice pitcher, but he doesn't strike out as many batters as he used to and he still walks an awful lot of guys. I'd love to have him on the Mets but I'm not willing to get on my knees for Billy Beane to get it done.

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the rumor

As I said in the Anna Benson thread: If it's Affeldt and MacDougal, it's a great deal for the Mets and will give us a terrific bullpen. If it's Affeldt and a prospect, it's a reasonable salary dump. I've liked Affeldt for a while, and it might even be a good idea to give him a spring-training or injury-fill-in chance as a spot starter, since he's probably as good as Heilman in the role. In either case I'd expect a second deal (Vazquez or Zito) to follow, but I hope none of them involves any further raids on the farm system.

by anonymous on Dec 7, 2005 12:04 PM EST reply actions

Bullpen

I just think trading Benson for a reliefer like MacDougal or Affeldt is great cause we have more starters then spots and as we saw with the white sox you need a great bullpen to win the world series. I don't think those rumors of zito coming are not true, why trade, if mark mulder will be a FA next year thats when we need another lefty cause Glavine is out. Also its good to have money laying around if Vasquez falls in our lap.

by mets865 on Dec 7, 2005 2:06 PM EST reply actions

Zito

is also a FA and I'd much rather have him than Mulder.

by peteyfan45 @ Amazin' Avenue on Dec 7, 2005 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

That deal is dead right now.

It would be good, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen

2QYankeehater: Diehard Mets fan, huge Yankeehater, and worshipper of David Wright.

by 2QYankeehater on Dec 10, 2005 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

Yes!

Don't trade him! We have already traded most of our future away this offseason! It is enough!

2QYankeehater: Diehard Mets fan, huge Yankeehater, and worshipper of David Wright.

by 2QYankeehater on Dec 7, 2005 5:36 PM EST reply actions

Various

Hi!

Just discovered this blog. Just a quick run-down: I love baseball, the Mets, "Moneyball", and as a 20-something Ivy-league stats geek, Theo Epstein is my personal hero.

So far, I loved the Delgado deal, liked the Wagner deal (especially considering the insane contract handed out to Rafael Furcal) and look at the LoDuca deal in a glass-half-full way in that the Mets didn't shell out the big bucks for Bengie Molina. Ramon Castro should get a chance to win the starting job next year.

The Benson deal would be nice, as MacDougal is a solid pitcher who could take over the 8th inning role and allow Heilman to move back into the rotation. The Zito deal would suck. C'mon Omar, you don't think Billy Beane isn't salivating over getting someone as underappreciated with as good a WHIP and K/BB as Heilman? Don't pull that trigger!

by Greenpoint Ian on Dec 7, 2005 7:03 PM EST reply actions