The Market For Eric Gagne

Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog has the latest regarding Texas closer Eric Gagne.  It seems the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, and Dodgers may all be in on him depending on who you listen to.  We've heard the Tigers in on him previously but not so much anymore.  We've heard the Diamondbacks and Cubs connected to Gagne in the past but not as much lately.

There still seems to be some confusion about which teams Gagne can be dealt to without his consent.  To review what's been published:

Gagne can be traded to the Yankees, Mets, Angels, and nine other clubs without his consent.

If Gagne is to be traded to the Tigers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, or thirteen other unknown clubs, he must consent.  That means additional concessions on the part of the acquiring team.

So, we don't know where the Mariners, Dodgers, Cubs, or Diamondbacks fall.  But I don't know why the Yankees would have to worry about Gagne missing his incentives if they acquire him.  Being on the first list is a big plus for the Yanks.

Comments

[JerseyMetFan]

He's a name we've heard a lot, but what about a price?

Having a Heilman/Feliciano, Gagne, Wagner 7/8/9 would be lights out.

Maybe a Pelfrey+Mulvey package?

[boomshwa12]

i think i'd do that trade if i was the rangers. the only thing i'd worry about is who's gonna close for them after gagne's gone. but the chance to add two pretty good pitching prospects would be hard to resist. that would help take pressure off the mets rotation too.

[bobo]

I'd take Pelfrey+Mulvey over Clippard+Marquez (and I'm a Yankee fan). I don't think the Mets will offer that much though.

I still think the Yankees should throw Farnsworth in with money. He can audition to be the 08 closer - he obiviously has the stuff and could be better in Texas. And he'd cost about $2M a year.

I'm kind of confused about why the Yankees haven't tried to interest Texas in him. Well, maybe they have....

[bobo]

Oh, and I think Pelfrey should close. Someone else said it here - great fastball, but little else. He keeps the ball on the ground too. I think he could make a great reliever. I'm increasingly discouraged about his chances as a starter.

[JerseyMetFan]

I've been hesitant with deals involving Pelfrey, since he's so young and should really still be in AA/AAA, but I think I do that deal if I'm Omar.

[Alec_Berrrg]

>>I still think the Yankees should throw Farnsworth in with money. He can audition to be the 08 closer - he obiviously has the stuff and could be better in Texas.

As an Angels fan, I would like--no, love--for Farnsworth to be the Rangers' closer.

[bobo]

The Rangers aren't concerned with what Angels fans want - they want a closer for 2008, and if you think that Farnsworth doesn't have the potential to be that guy, you're fooling yourself.

[Mike Simms]

Whatever is offered for Gagne has to be better than a number 1 draft pick and a sandwich pick. Otsuka can close for them after he heals up.

[Alec_Berrrg]

I realize the Rangers won't attempt to make other teams' fans happy.

I also realize that The Farns has the potential to be a good closer.

But I further realize that The Farns has yet to demonstrate his capacity to be a big-league closer.

[boomshwa12]

otsuka might need to have tommy john surgery. if that's the case he wouldn't heal again for another year or so. do you think cj wilson could close?

[MEddler]

I wouldn't do that deal. Pelfrey's value is at its low point right now. Sure it looks like all he's got is a fastball, that's because its the only pitch he's using that he threw in college. He also threw a big, slow curve then too, but Rick Peterson convinced him to start working on a slider/change combo in the winter. Both pitches are far from polished, but give him another few months of pitching in the minors, specifically working on getting outs with those pitches. It may send his value down a little more temporarily, as his numbers won't look good, but it'll pay off in the longrun, and pay off more than two months of Gagne will.

I think a good place for the Mets to start on Gagne is with Nick Evans or Mike Carp. Neither is a sure fire prospect, but after sending Teixeira away, the Rangers will be looking at a bunch of different, young 1B, and both of these guys have some potential with the bat. I'd then give Texas a list of pitchers including Kevin Mulvey, Jason Vargas, and a handful of guys in the lower levels, and tell them to pick one or two.

The problem with an NY team acquiring Gagne, especially the Mets, is that they can be 100% sure he won't resign. He wants to close. The Mets bullpen could use some help, but a two month, surgically repaired, pure rental reliever isn't what the Mets should trade the high end of their farm for right now.

It is conceivable, however unlikely, that the Yanks try some hair-brained scheme of acquiring and extending Gagne in the hopes that he'll replace Mo if he signs elsewhere in the offseason, but that might just completely ruin the Yanks for a few years if it doesn't work out, not to mention alienate their entire fanbase.

[Not Joe Morgan]

"But I further realize that The Farns has yet to demonstrate his capacity to be a big-league closer."

The best season of Farnsworth's career was 2005 when he spent the 2nd half closing for Atlanta (going 10-10 with a 1.98 ERA). Granted thats not a ton of opportunities but he is 1 for 1 in capitalizing.

[MEddler]

Is Gagne really still a Type A after this season after missing all that time? If so, that system needs to be revised.

[bobo]

I don't think Gagne is a type A. Does anyone have a link to how those are computed? I found a list from 2005 but it's hard to find comparable players.

Farnsworth was successful in that small sample size in ATL, and had a good season in Detroit before he was traded to the Braves. All I'm saying is that if the Yankees pick up some money, leaving him at $2M for 2008, he's a fantastic gamble for a team like Texas. Worst case is he'll be a decent reliever, and well worth the $2M.

As a Yankee fan, I don't care if Gagne signs elsewhere next year. But we need bullpen help this year.