Rumor Mill: Trade Deadline Chatter

by Eric Simon on Jul 31, 2006 10:10 AM EDT

Open thread for today's 4pm trade deadline. Some names being bandied about:

- Roy Oswalt
- Jason Schmidt
- Livan Hernandez
- Barry Zito

I'll keep this thread updated with links to trade deadline buzz around the web.

UPDATE [12:29pm]: Billy Wagner wants the Mets to trade for Brad Lidge so he can fix him [Source = Houston Chronicle].

UPDATE [3:26pm]: Mets have traded Xavier Nady to the Pirates for Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez. [Source = SI.com].

UPDATE [4:35pm]: ESPN News is reporting that the Mets have traded Oliver Perez to the Padres for setup man Scott Linebrink. Earlier reports had Heath Bell in the package, so it's not clear which is true. Fans everywhere are loving this trade, but I guess I'm in the minority. I loved that Omar nabbed Perez, who I think was a steal. I guess I'm just not as high on Linebrink as some others out there.

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Oswalt or Schmidt

I would not bitch about either coming over this afternoon. Not one bit.

What the Mets need more than anything is to fix Glavine. Jesus, it's like he stopped trying to win anymore. He should take three or four weeks off, Perdo-style. Play some golf, work on his mechanics, get a stomach-bug - whatever it takes. Then, in late August, when the magic number is good and low, he can come back.

To replace him Willie should have Beltran pitch in Glavine's place during road games. Beltran rules on the road!

by IanB in MD on Jul 31, 2006 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

He says it's mostly mental

Tommy Strikezone's self-diagnosis was that he's having trouble locating his pitches on the inside corner against right-handed batters. He made some comment about how it was probably a mental thing.

So, yes, a vacation might be good for him.

Meanwhile, gentlemen, a scenario: Da Mets, they don't make it to Miami, the plane is delayed... and the only one who shows up is Beltran. Beltran vs. Da Marlins. Okay, score, gentlemen.

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Jul 31, 2006 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

things are getting interesting

Sean Casey went to the Tigers for a song, which nobody expected -- probably a couple of GMs are kicking themselves right now for failing to get in on those talks. Some new bigger names are hitting the rumor mills today, and though it might all end up being hot air, this is a fairly entertaining trade deadline stacked up against the last few years'.

I'm all for the Mets standing pat, though -- since we can't expect to fleece another team even if the deals so far have been remarkably one-sided. I'd have to say I'm against any deal at all involving Milledge. But if, say, Schmidt becomes available for a sub-Milledge price -- a package built around Nady and Heilman, say, plus a couple of lower-tier prospects? -- then, of course, go for it.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Lohse

This looks interesting, too: Kyle Lohse was apparently just dealt to the Reds for prospect Zach Ward. The Reds are serious this year -- and the wild-card spot looks to be theirs for the taking.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/news/262083.html

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

from metsgeek

Dan also mentions that the Mets asked the Nationals if they would pick up some of the money remaining on Livan Hernandez's contract in a potential deal. The Nationals said no, so if a trade with them for a pitcher were to occur, the Mets would be more likely to acquire Tony Armas Jr.

What the heck?

This would be pointless. I don't think Armas would be an upgrade over what they got already. He's always injured and he's been on the DL twice already this year.

by hotspur on Jul 31, 2006 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

further reports

Duaner Sanchez is apparently out for the season following a taxicab-accident injury (shades of Glavine's front teeth) to his pitching shoulder.

ESPN.com reports the Pirates are active, with Kip Wells apparently headed to Boston and the Mets almost at a deal for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. Still just rumors, though. We'll know soon.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

That is just terrible. What a buzz-kill.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Jul 31, 2006 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Fuck

That's horrible.

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Jul 31, 2006 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

confirmed

Hernandez and Perez for Nady

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Jul 31, 2006 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

surprisingly good deal!

Thanks to the baseball gods if Nady is indeed the sum total of the Mets' contribution to this deal. The team can afford to part with him, though I'm sad to see the X-Man go (and I might have preferred to see the older Floyd dealt) -- with Endy Chavez an acceptable short-term replacement and Milledge on the way up, that corner spot is not going to kill the team's offensive production, and maybe these pitchers help down the stretch. Roberto is overpaid, and Perez is possibly not better than the organization's internal starting options, but what the hell -- we're down a key reliever (Taxis: 2, Mets: 0) and it's at least given us added pitching depth without compromising the future or the present year's team. I call that a good deal.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

not bad trade

but the loss of Sanchez is huge. Perez was great two years ago, but has been terrible since. Can't count on him this year

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Jul 31, 2006 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

rotoworld rumor has it

that the Mets are now trying to flip Oliver Perez and Heath Bell to the Pads for Scott Linebrink. Not sure I think this is necessary, and I find Perez an intriguing addition for future years, but Linebrink would clearly make it a win-now deal and cement the Mets' bullpen as the best in the NL. I thought the starting rotation was what needed help, though.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Perez

last outing in minors was terrible. Gave up 8 runs and got one out.

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Jul 31, 2006 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea

I think that would be stupid. I really love Perez's upside and think this could be great deal for the Mets long-term.

by Eric Simon on Jul 31, 2006 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

welcome back, kotter

Nice to see the Ave. is up and kicking again. The Linebrink deal is still nothing more than a rumor: the sole source reporting it as a certainty was MetsBlog, not a major media outlet. I'm with you on it being a neutral-to-slightly-bad idea, though honestly I could live without another Rick Peterson reclamation project in the starting rotation next year...

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Not bad for a deal on the fly, but...

remember how Bert wore down at the end of last year due to Willie's bullpen "management?" He's already logged a lot of innings in Pitt this year, and I'm worried about him tossing BP fastballs come Sept. and Oct.

I hope Perez goes straight to Norfolk (I think the Bucs had sent him down also) to work on a new pitch--it's called the strike.

Nothing wrong w/a RF platoon for Milledge and Chavez. And I wouldn't do it strictly lefty-righty because I'd like to see Milledge get more at bats than that.

by madisonmetsfan on Jul 31, 2006 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

this SUCKS

Welcome back 'Bert. Welcome back Lastings.

by kingcritical on Jul 31, 2006 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

Another cab injury????

What are the details of Sanchez' injury?

I just hope he's back in time for next spring.

Keep Maine in the rotation!

by Greenpoint Ian on Jul 31, 2006 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

all I've seen

is it's a separated pitching shoulder, suffered in a Miami taxi accident after the team arrived there (last night, I guess). My suspicion is that Omar would've tried to keep it hushed up until he could make a deal, so his newfound urgency didn't drive up the price.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

in other news,

metsgeek.com is down for the count. I guess today is a very high-page-view day for baseball sites -- SoSH is closed to nonmembers as well.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

yeah, just tried to get on there

Something about the site being over quota. It's all Greek to me...

by kingcritical on Jul 31, 2006 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea

We're having serious server overload issues over at MG. I'm doing everything I can to keep that ship together.

by Eric Simon on Jul 31, 2006 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

just on a Pirate website

they hate the trade mostly because of Perez. I hope they didn't trade for Linebrink. If they can fix Perez he could be a NO. 1 starter and he's a lefty to boot

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Jul 31, 2006 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

May not have Linebrink

Sounds like that's circular buzz based on the Metsblog report. Nothing coming from the Mets themselves.

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Jul 31, 2006 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

it didn't happen

All the sources, at least all the web sources, that were reporting the Linebrink deal have erased all mention of the deal (ESPN.com, Sportsline, Baseball America). WFAN has been reporting it didn't happen all along. Looks like the initial MetsBlog report got passed along without any confirmation. I guess sports reporters have a lesson or two to learn from their election-night colleagues.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Linebrink won Florida!

We can now report that Scott Linebrink is the next president of the United States...

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Jul 31, 2006 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

also:

Metsblog didn't exactly claim responsibility for the media reports, but the post that started off the false reports is still up there, beneath their recaps.

...from what i can gather, the mets will trade LHP Oliver Perez along with RHP Heath Bell for Padres RHP Scott Linebrink...

http://www.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2006/7/31/2183228.html

Here's Metsblog's summary of the afternoon's reporting:

...a few moments later, espn news and cbs sportsline began reporting that perez would be sent to san diego with RHP Heath Bell for RHP Scott Linebrink...i heard a similar rumor, and wrote about it, as well...
...turns out it was premature, as the deal was yanked off the table...
...in the span of 24-hours, the mets lost sanchez for the season, and traded nady for hernandez and perez...they are expected to promote milledge to replace nady...

http://www.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2006/7/31/2183585.html

Meanwhile, the ellipsis (...) filed for a temporary restraining order against Metsblog's Matthew Cerrone. The typographical symbol said in a statement from Booth Memorial Hospital's emergency room that the incredible abuse it suffered this afternoon at Cerrone's hands was the last straw, and it suggested that it would be better for Cerrone if he began to use other punctuation marks.

by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

I suggest semicolons; they're very sexy.

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Jul 31, 2006 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Clarification...

... are we now saying that the third update above is not correct?

Ya gotta believe, baby... BELIEVE!

by FlakyLefty45 on Jul 31, 2006 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

seriously

That writing style makes me cringe. I really can't stand to read that site because of it.

by kingcritical on Jul 31, 2006 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanx a bunch...

... for yet more wonderful imagery.

And I may have to go into ellipsis rehap myself, I guess...

Ya gotta believe, baby... BELIEVE!

by FlakyLefty45 on Jul 31, 2006 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Oliver Perez

is 25 who once struck out 238 batters. Man, if he can straighten himself out this could turn out to be a huge steal.

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Jul 31, 2006 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

So what's his basic issue?

I have to admit I don't know too much about him. What went wrong?

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Jul 31, 2006 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I've heard

there were some issues with his head. Young lefties can be very erratic. He has been pitching for four years and is only 25 (in August). The guy has nasty stuff, but may have been moved along too quickly. Anybody have his minor league numbers this year?

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Jul 31, 2006 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

It's his mechanics

They had always been bad, but the Pirates made a decision to try and fix the mechanics, and he's gone downhill ever since. If Rich Peterson can fix him, I will be very very happy.

"I got my pregnant wife (the Yankee fan) with me. Hoping my kid learns to kick her everytime the Mets score." -Schifftis-

by future on Jul 31, 2006 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions