Mets Acquire Luis Ayala

Must be a very slow day ...

I would argue that this is still a trade of significance. Ayala has been a pretty good reliever up until this year, so obviously there is still hope that he can turn it around now in New York.

Obviously Hernandez has proven that he won't be able to hit enough to become even a solid major leaguer, but hes a very good defensive shortstop and he's still only 25. If he can learn to hit even a little he could probably find some value as a utility infielder.

Nuke, thats a great point...he has to be on the edge of being a compensation player if he can even be mediocre in NY.

So the Mets get a solid reliever and the Nats get trash in return. And yet I'm hearing some Met fans complain about the trade...ok it was Anderson Hernandez LOL.

Argenis has a career 58 OPS+ in 71 ABs.

A-Hern has a career -6 OPS+ in 87 ABs.

They both suck, but A-Hern even more so. Reyes will be sent down when Castillo comes back anyway.

Some people are funny.

Heilman is garbage because he's having ONE bad year? Same with Ayala?

It's called a down year people. Everyone has them. Yeah it's possible that they're finished, but their past success says they have the talent to be solid relievers.

i think this is a fantastic trade for the mets. we only lost anderson hernandez who yes is a great defender but he has never shown he can hit a lick. while i have nothing against the guy, when you can't hit better than rey ordonez you are a career minor leaguer. i mean even now in triple A he is ONLY hitting .203. And in return we get a guy in Luis Ayala who has a career ERA of 3.33 even with his 5+ ERA this year. So you know for sure that he can get the job done. over the last three years his post-all star break ERA is 2.56. and another huge PLUS he has the Phillies number, his ERA this year vs. the Phillies is a sparkling 0.00. so hopefully it will work out, if not just dump him after the season.

Why the hating on Argenis? He has been a useful little guy for the Mets. While not possessing a ton of offensive tools, he is not overmatched like Hernandez was and he knows what he is, a spray type hitter with a nice glove. Almost more importantly, his presence on the team and his worship of Jose Reyes have pushed Jose to mature quicker and take on a sort of leadership role with Argenis, on and off the field. As for the trade, I love it. Luis Ayala is the type of guy I would have preferred even before the NWTD. With the way that relievers production fluctuates, I like picking up a guy on the cheap, who is having a down year and can be had for nothing. Beats the heck out of moving a ton of guys for George Sherril or Brian Fuentes, who may fall on their faces next year. If Ayala works out, they got him for nothing, and if he doesn't, no harm done. In my opinion, this is the way bullpens should be built, with high risk low reward type moves that can't backfire on you. Never pay too steep a price for non closer relief help, whether it be prospects or money. As for Andy Hernandez, I always liked him for some reason. Amazing glove at SS or 2B, and he can fly. Like Scribble said, if he can ever learn to hit just a little bit, he can be a nice utility guy.

Omar is basically taking a chance here. It's not like he gave up a major piece to get him. He gave up A-Hern who wasn't going anywhere/doing anything for the Mets anyway. Might as well take your chances and try to revive an arm. Lord knows the Mets need help in the pen.