Mets Dangled El Duque

According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman:

The Mets quietly sought trade offers for Orlando Hernandez late this winter, with the idea that if anyone bit, they would sign Kyle Lohse. But apparently there were no takers.

Swapping El Duque’s 140-150 innings for Lohse’s 190 might add a few wins, given the replacement level pitchers the Mets went to in ’07.   Hernandez at $6.5MM isn’t  terribly appealing though.  The Mets could probably get Lohse for a similar amount on a one-year deal.  Maybe they still should and just force Hernandez into the bullpen whether he likes it or not.