Mets Mulling Options At Second Base
Jose Valentin's fractured tibia on Friday should knock him out about six weeks. Unfortunately for Valentin, this injury and a previous one will stop him from reaching 400 plate appearances this year. That means his $4.3MM option for 2008 will not vest.
The Mets have a number of internal options: Anderson Hernandez, Marlon Anderson, Ruben Gotay, and Damion Easley can all handle second base and offer different skills. Willie Randolph didn't seem thrilled with the idea of Gotay as the everyday guy, though Omar Minaya expects him to play the most.
Minaya's not actively looking to trade for a second baseman, but he will listen. Jose de Jesus Ortiz believes Minaya covets Mark Loretta, even speculating on expanded deals involving Chad Qualls or Wandy Rodriguez. I had not previously known that Wandy was on Omar's radar last winter. Still, it doesn't make much sense for the Astros to give him up in the midst of a possible breakout season.
Dejan Kovacevic mentions Jose Castillo as another option, though there's no indication the Mets are after him. Two other options for the Mets are impending free agents Luis Castillo and Tadahito Iguchi. There's been speculation that the Mets will sign Castillo this winter.
how about grudzie? He has an option year next year I believe, although I don't know if its voided or automatically picked up if traded. Does anyone know the circumstances of his contract?
Posted by: kyledavidson | July 22, 2007 at 07:44 PM
Reyes and Castillo would be an outstanding 1-2 punch creating three speedy switch hitters at the top of the line up. Seems like the best fit, but they could go for any of those mentioned easily. I'd ride Gotay's hot streak for awhile and acquire Loretta for the nest 2 months to get playing time at all the infield positions and starting at 2B.
Posted by: buehrlebro | July 22, 2007 at 07:58 PM
Sounds like a good time for the Mets to call the DBacks about a package of Livan Hernandez and Orlando Hudson.
Posted by: tmar | July 22, 2007 at 08:11 PM
They would likely have to include Humber and/or Pelfrey for a package like that. Definitely more than one of those two alone.
Posted by: buehrlebro | July 22, 2007 at 08:25 PM
Ronnie Belliard of the Nationals would be an upgrade. He is having a surprisingly strong year.
Posted by: Iron Nat | July 22, 2007 at 08:32 PM
In my opinion i think the Mets should just let Gotay play and see what he can give the Mets. A kid like him looks like someone who if given the playing time could be a player that could be the starting second baseman for a long time. However, i don't see him keeping this up with the bat even though i hope he would because i think he is a wonderful talent. Hopefully he can play strong the rest of the way and maintain the job next year. If not Castillo is waiting in the wings either free agency or trade before the deadline.
Posted by: Metsin07 | July 22, 2007 at 08:49 PM
Castillo is going to be a type A free agent. You'd have to give up a bunch to get him. Terry Ryan puts his draft picks to good use.
Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | July 22, 2007 at 08:54 PM
I hadn't heard any Wandy rumors, but I have been touting the idea that the Astros should trade him if they can get good value. Sure, he is cheap, fairly young, and a lefty. And his "breakout" is backed by improved peripherals. But still, his stuff isn't great and his margin for error is very small (hence the occasional pummelling). If the Astros could get at least 1 near ML-ready player with higher upside, they should do the deal.
Here's a few things the Astros should shoot for if they talk with the Mets:
(1) Loretta and Qualls for Humber/Pelfrey. Qualls is under control for a few more years so he has decent value, even though Loretta is a rental. Obviously the Astros are getting a little better value, but Qualls has proven to be a good 7th inning guy and Humber and Pelfrey have both disappointed this year. Picking up 2 pieces for the playoffs might be worth it.
(2) Jennings and Loretta for Humber/Pelfrey.
(3) Wandy and Loretta for Gomez/Milledge. Obviously only works if Omar is quite high on Wandy.
(4) Wandy and Qualls for Gomez/Milledge.
I think all these trades would be better for the Astros long run. Omar is a pretty good GM and probably wouldn't bite. Still, all these trades would help the Mets this year and the Mets would still have a helpful player under control for the next few years.
Posted by: mymrbig | July 23, 2007 at 12:47 AM
If the Astros trade for Gomez and Milledge, who is the odd man out in the outfield?
Posted by: lnewcomer | July 23, 2007 at 01:50 AM
luke scott. i'm not familiar with gomez though, what position is he? if he's another outfielder then no, lee and pence are guaranteed spots
i could warm up to the thought of a lee, millidge, pence outfield real quick if the astros could make it happen
Posted by: boomshwa12 | July 23, 2007 at 02:41 AM
it would also quiet some of the critics who keep saying the astros are racist to put milledge in center. i'm not convinced that minaya would part with him from anything the astros could give him. i'd pounce on it if he wanted something like loretta and wandy though.
Posted by: boomshwa12 | July 23, 2007 at 02:45 AM
I agree with mymrbig:
Minaya is a helluva GM and Purpura is...well, Purpura is Purpura. I'd be surprised to see any of those scenarios play out for the Stros.
Wandy/Qualls/Loretta
for
Milledge/Gomez
...certainly doable. Nobody gets fleeced here.
Posted by: WHIPit | July 23, 2007 at 05:05 AM
Oops, not Milledge/GOMEZ. But you get the idea.
Posted by: WHIPit | July 23, 2007 at 07:18 AM