Mets Shopping Aaron Heilman?

Howry for Heilman - Cubs get the benefit of two years of cheap Heilman, Mets get proven relief pitcher who could really use change of scenery, draft picks when he leaves and he does tend to improve as the year goes on.

Heilman for Howry, I don't get it. Why does Howry need a change of scenery? Because he's struggling? He struggles every year at the beginning of the year, as you correctly pointed out. What does Heilman offer the Cubs that Howry doesn't? He's cheap? Big deal, the Cubs have plenty of $. Heilman could start? Tell that too the Mets, afaik it's been said that he needs another descent pitch before he'll be taken seriously as a starter. He's had plenty of time and still hasn't started so I'm guessing he'll never be a good starter in the majors.

Plus as you pointed out draft picks will be coming to the team that lets Howry walk at the end of the season. Not to mention the fact that it's about the point in the season when Howry starts to heat up and get good. Why would the Cubs trade that away? Sorry, Heilman for Howry would be a bad trade for the Cubs.

It seems like Heilman should have been a free agent years ago. He seems to have been a Met forever but his service time is going on forever. The thing that confuses me with regard to Heilman and how the Mets handle him is, they just seem so against letting him start, and they always say it is because he is a 2 pitch guy. My question is, how come they payed Santana 140 mil for his 2 pitches? I know he has a slider, but he has maybe used it 10 times all year. Why do the let Pelfrey keep starting? He may have a changeup and slider, but they are both pretty bad pitches right now. How about Maine? He was a Mets starter for a year and a half using pretty much only his fastball before he developed a change and a slider (again, neither of these pitches has any consistency yet), and last but not least, Oliver Perez, who throws a slider and a fastball. Heilman has hown he is a workhorse, he never is hurt, and he will always take the ball. Willie is constantly complaining that his pitchers need to go deeper into games. It couldnt hurt to give Heilman a shot, and if nothing else, maybe increase his trade value.

I understand that you don't think Howry is very valuable, but you have to realize that he has been one of the better setup men in the game over the last 4+ years. He is a type A free Agent as of right now, and probably will be by the end of the year. So not only is he a terrific verteran relief pitcher who can still throw 94, he also comes with two draft picks at the end of the year, which is very valuable in and of itself. I think that the Cubs have more value with Howry + picks than the Mets do with a failed starter who really isn't that great of a reliever, or they wouldn't be shopping him in the first place.

Dunc, you can also say Heilman has been one of the better setup men in the last 3 years. Its not that I dont like Howry. I do. I wouldn't love or hate this trade, I think it is fairly even. But calling Heilman a failed starter isn't really fair. He has had all of 25 big league starts. Also, upon reaching the majors the Mets changed Heilmans arm angle, which he changed back to his old style in before he went back into the bullpen. I also dont really believe they are shopping Heilman. I dont really believe anything Adam Rubin says. I am not saying they wouldn't trade him if they felt they got a good deal, but I dont think they are looking to get rid of him. He has been their most reliable reliever/ workhorse out of the pen for 3 years now. 6 bad weeks shouldnt really render him worthless yet.

I understand you point about the draft picks Adunc and it makes sense to hold on to them but cubs are looking at Howry, wood, lieber, and eyre all being free agents next yr ( not to mention dempster). I would sacrifice 2 picks that won't help until 5 yrs from now to plug one of those holes with a proven cheap middle reliever for 2 yrs. Heilmann is slumping but I think is he still s decent setup man and would be more comfortable with him in the pen in 09 and 10 than an unproven. But its not the end of the world if we don't make the swap - happy with howry. Would mets take eyre and Marquis for Heilman? lol

The Mets seem like they're always shopping Heilman, like they just can't wait to get rid of him.

As for the comparison to Howry, Howry seems a little better historically, but he's older and likely declining. They're both good for a 4.50 ERA this year with plenty of IP.

My question is, how come they payed Santana 140 mil for his 2 pitches? Yeah!.. That it.. Santana is a 2 Pitch Pitcher.. Okay..

"My question is, how come they payed Santana 140 mil for his 2 pitches? Yeah!.. That it.. Santana is a 2 Pitch Pitcher.. Okay.. "

Way to take it out of context. Nice. I was just trying to make a point that you can succeed as a starter with 2 good pitches. Santana is doing it right now. He almost never even throws the slider. Bonatom, how many sliders has Santana throw this year? I bet you it is around 2 or 3 in each start. Fastballs and Changeups. I remember him using the slider a few times against the Phils but thats pretty much it. My point was that the Mets tell Heilman he cant start because of his 2 pitches when none of their starters with the exception of Pedro really throw more then 2 pitches.

If Aaron Heilman was as good a "two-pitch pitcher" as Johan Santana, he'd be starting. :)

The Mets need to acquire a starting pitcher. Considering Pedro might retire at the end of the season, there is very little motivation for him to come back this season. Pelfrey has proven that he cannot string together more than two good outings. The Mets need a starter who limits walks and can pitch for more than 6 innings. I honestly think the Mets should go after a guy like Jake Westbrook. The Indians have a ton of pitching depth (Sabathia, Carmona, Lee, Westbrook, Byrd, Sowers, and Miller), and they could use a corner outfielder, so it's possible the Mets could get a team like the Pirates interested in a three-way deal. For instance, the Mets send Aaron Heilman and Aaron Bostick to the Pirates, the Pirates send Xavier Nady to the Indians, and the Indians send Jake Westbrook to the Mets and a B-level prospect to the Pirates.

The Mets get their solid starter, the Indians get the corner outfielder they need, and the Pirates get a reliever who has been good the past 3+ seasons (or a potential starter), a solid lefty pitcher prospect, and another prospect from the Indians.