Mets After Jose Contreras

The Mets have kicked the tires on Mark Buehrle, but Jose Contreras may be a more likely acquisition according to the Newark Star-Ledger.  The Mets would prefer not to trade younger players for a rental, and may turn to Contreras because he's signed through 2009.  I'm sure Kenny Williams would have no problem with that.  I think Contreras would handle a return to New York well.  Lastings Milledge would be more than enough for Contreras, in my mind.

Dan Graziano's article also confirms that the Braves and Red Sox have been pushing hard for Buehrle.  He says there was "no indication last night that the Yankees were interested in Buehrle."  Of course, Boston's interest could change that.

The Phillies, meanwhile, have inquired on both Dontrelle Willis and Buehrle and found the price unreasonable.  They're going to need to acquire a starter one way or another.

Comments

[beauhoopman]

Interesting indeed. I still think I would prefer rent-a-Beurhle to Contreras for two years.

[SoxFanatic456]

Yes this is interested. As a Red Sox fan, I would rather take Contreras, either one is fine though. Is Garland available as well??

[zubes007]

As a Met fan, the priority should be:

1. Vazquez (As good as Buehrle, but under control for a few years)

2. Buehrle

(big gap)

3. Contreras...he may be signed though 2009, but that doesn't mean that he will be any good at that point, and the Mets have their fair share of senior citizens in the rotation.

[spieldogg]

maybe Contreras and either McDougal(who Minaya really likes) or an underachieving toolsy prospect for Milledge? With Chicago kicking in some cash?

10 million is a lot of money for a 35 yr old league average pitcher with 2 years left. The Sox get a young CF with a high upside they have been looking for. So I wouldn't be shock to see a trade like this with Chicago paying as much as 6-8 of the 20 mil he is owed after this year.

[JerseyMetFan]

I think I'm going to be sick...

Can someone remind me why we need a starter so badly? Maine and Ollie are doing a great job. Glavine struggled for a little but is coming off his best start in years, and I believe he'll be fine. El Duque is good as long as he can stay healthy. Sosa started off hot and may continue to cool, but how much? Enough to send your top prosect away for a mediocre pitcher?

Hell, if Sosa gets knocked out of the rotation, put Dave Williams in his spot. He was solid as a Met, ouside of three innings.

[darkstar1661]

Jersey,

Well Millidge isn't the Mets top prospect, both of the other young OFers rank higher. Then when you consider the fact that although the team has gotten good providyion out of the rotation, adding something in the lines of a proven commodity on a team with so little of that makes since.

In a pitchers park like Shea, Buehrle or Contreras could be a huge boost for the playoff run. Both also have recent WS experence. I don't know if I would go Millidge straight up, but I like the starter & throw-in bullpen arm idea for him.

But who knows, I think its just as likely that all this "Chi players avail" talk will provide only one or two minor trades. KW didn't sound as though he was overjoyed at the idea of trading for the future or giving up on 07 in his interview...

[darkstar1661]

"providyion" should be "productive"... predictive text mishap ~ sorry

[moebarguy]

I'm not crazy about trading for Contreras. I think he's at the end of the line. Vazquez on the other hand is someone I've been interested in for a few years. I think he would fit in quite nicely in the Mets rotation.

[bigbaddbobbyjenks]

i dont care how much you guys are in love with milledge over in NY, the sox dont/shouldnt want him. we have enuf OF prospects that can make a difference (sweeney, anderson, collaro, owens). if were getting a position player back, it'd be at 2b/ss or a power hitting corner OF. if we trade contreras, i'd be happy with a solid arm or 2 for the bullpen and hopefully they'll pan out better than sisco.

[beauhoopman]

I cant believe you can come on this board with a straight face and call Anderson, Owens or Collaro real OF prospects. I'm as big a Sox fan as the next south sider, but I don't have any illusions about these guys. Anderson is toast, now hitting .233 in AAA and out of the good graces of the organization, Owens is Scott Podsednik, and Collaro is 23 in AA. If you think we can run an OF of Anderson, Sweeney and Owens out next year and not finish with the worst outfield in baseball, you are dead wrong. We have pitching, we need HITTERS.

[ArodSucksAtLife]

The white sox are a terrible team, and should be thrilled to add any young talent like Lastings Milledge. The one thing the Sox have going for them is young SP, so anychance to part with Contrares for a cheap talented OF should be jumped at.

[bigbaddbobbyjenks]

when milledge was up in the show he batted .240. anderson batted .225. all im saying is if were gonna throw prospects in our OF that have some upside but havent proven it yet, we have enuf of those guys. milledge would just be another one to add to the list. if were getting an OF prospect he better be a CANT MISS stud. milledge in my eyes isnt in that category. thats why i said we should get 2b/ss prospects if we trade cuz i think the white sox will make a splash in the offseason to address at least 1 if not 2 of the OF positions. getting milledge would be a waste. we need bullpen arms or young up the middle players with speed

[beauhoopman]

No question you are right about 2b/SS prospects. The problem is, I just don't see us getting a lot of offers for young positions players. If it happens, GREAT! But if given the option of Contreras for two years or Milledge, I would take Milledge. 2007 and 2008 are, for all intents and purposes, over. And while I don't disagree with what you are saying about IF prospects, I just don't know how many are available.

[bravesbeast]

I think this is why the braves may be the White sox best trading partner when it comes to Buerhle or another pitcher, because the strength of our minor league system is our middle infield depth.

[spieldogg]

" if were getting an OF prospect he better be a CANT MISS stud."

sorry to say, but Contreras isn't going to net a "CAN'T MISS" anything. He is a mid 30's overpaid mediocre starter. Maybe some sort of deal like Ruben Gotay for Contreras with the Mets taking the entire salary(not likely) could be possible. Gotay is a useful stopgag 2bman who should turn into an Alex Cora type of player. I know that trade doesn't sound good for the pale hose, but it would free up an extra $10 mil a year toward one of the many free agent CF this winter, and gives them a young, usefull player at a position of need. But from the sounds of it, Kenny Williams is interested in Milledge.

[beauhoopman]

The Sox would be better chipping in 3 or 4 million per year to make Contreras more attractive and to net a better return than Gotay.

[darkstar1661]

Doesn't it kind of depend on the plans of the FO as to what the better return for the team would be?

I mean what is the idea here, sell off expensive parts to save money for upcoming FA/resign their own, or to insert strong prospects in order to go into full rebuild?

From KWs statements it sounds like he still wants to compete, and that being the case I would imagine they would be looking to add only youngsters that can help pretty much now (ie millidge) instead of guys that might be a couple years off still or only marginal prospects.

Like I mentioned somewhere, I think the Sox probably won't deal too much away, make only trades that help pretty much instantly and spend whatever savings on FAs in an attempt to make another charge in 08... That means I doubt JoseC is really delt unless the return is more than you would expect, Burhle maybe to be delt to NYM for Millidge who will replace Dye and for them to take the money saved to either resign Burhle in the Offseason or to fill other holes.

[rype123]

Buehrle is going to net more than Millidge. There are reportedly 10 teams interested in him, and I can bet that Millidge straight up would not be the top offer. If it was, I'd rather the Sox try to resign Buehrle, and deal off Contreras or Vazquez or both. of course I don't make that call.

[astrosfan]

Big Bad Bobby...

The one thing Milledge has going for him that the other White Sox OF prospects don't is that he can hit major league pitching. Also he's a 4-5 tool guy when all the other Sox prospects are 2-3 at best. Sweeney will likely become a solid major leaguer, but the rest are a bit sketchy as to if they'll pan out to more than journeymen.

I'd do that deal if I were Kenny Williams, even more so if the Mets would throw in another mid-level prospect.

[astrosfan]

I think Contreras has a no-trade clause until this offseason. He might waive it to play with Minaya and the Mets, though.

[DentalPlan]

Uh oh, Mets fans are doing their same hard sell of Lastings Milledge that Braves fans have done for eons with Kyle Davies. It looks grim.

Carlos Gomez and keep your "5 tool stud" Milledge. I like it. The guy so great Mets fans are falling over themselves to give him away and try and convince everyone why he's so good. You like him so much, keep him instead of Carlos Gomez.

[coolpapabell]

Hey Dental Plan,

How about keeping both and saving yourself a boat load of money to sign a pitcher and maybe a second baseman?

and another thing.........
I am not sure that you have noticed or not but a good deal of the pro milledge comments has been coming from non-mets fans. Yes, it's a surprise to me to.

[nrmax88]

"I think I'm going to be sick...

Can someone remind me why we need a starter so badly? Maine and Ollie are doing a great job. Glavine struggled for a little but is coming off his best start in years, and I believe he'll be fine. El Duque is good as long as he can stay healthy. Sosa started off hot and may continue to cool, but how much? Enough to send your top prosect away for a mediocre pitcher?

Hell, if Sosa gets knocked out of the rotation, put Dave Williams in his spot. He was solid as a Met, ouside of three innings."

Finally. Agreed 100 percent. If Sosa doesnt work, we go to Williams, if Williams doesnt work, we go to Vargas, then to Pelfrey, Humber, Sele, one of those guys can be a number 5. If Pedro is back in 6 weeks or whatever, it wont even matter. Where is Contreras going to go in 6 weeks when Pedro is back. Glavine and Duque arent going anywhere. Neither are Perez or Maine right now.

[nrmax88]

"Uh oh, Mets fans are doing their same hard sell of Lastings Milledge that Braves fans have done for eons with Kyle Davies. It looks grim.

Carlos Gomez and keep your "5 tool stud" Milledge. I like it. The guy so great Mets fans are falling over themselves to give him away and try and convince everyone why he's so good. You like him so much, keep him instead of Carlos Gomez."

You make it sound as if were only allowed to keep one of them. If teams dont value Milledge highly, or as high as Omar does, he wont trade him. Its that simple. Then once he gets to the show we will se what he can do. Keep in mind he would have about 150 at bats if he wasnt hurt. Gomez would still be in the minors. I dont know if Contreras is an improveent over anybody we have right now. He is like El Duque. The only difference is Contreras has already failed in NY. He was pretty good his first year during the regular season, but he got lit up in the playoffs and he got litup as a Yankee in 04. No thanks

[DentalPlan]

Okay, the Mets have looked pretty iffy lately, but I'm sure it'll all work out in the playoffs like last year, and Pedro will be right there like he is at the end of every year like he's been.

Who are these other teams' fans who are enthusiastic about Milledge? Anyone can reg an account.

All this talk about trading Milledge while he's been out a long time, it sounds like he's on the "Protecting a player from killing his value any more DL."