Cliff Lee is coming to New York, but he isn't the left-handed starter the Mets are focused on. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that the Mets will 'turn strongly' to Cubs starter Ted Lilly now that Lee is on the brink of joining the Yankees. As Sherman explains here, the Mets do like Roy Oswalt – they just aren't comfortable paying the vast majority of his salary and giving up good prospects.
Lilly, a free agent after the season, has about $5.6MM remaining on his 2010 contract. The 34-year-old has a 3.76 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 and projects as a Type A free agent.
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Mets are more likely to add Lilly than Oswalt or Dan Haren, but says the Cubs have yet to make their left-hander available (Twitter link). Heyman points out that Lilly's average fastball velocity has dropped from 87 to 86 mph.
Maybe Minaya can trade Oliver Perez for Lilly. Or Cash-stealo.
Hell no. We are talking about a good productive starting pitcher. This isn’t someone the Cubs are trying to pawn off on some unlucky team. The guy is having a typical Ted Lilly season. Look at the statistics. It isn’t his fault he gets the lowest run support in the NL.
Why bother?? Lilly isnt going to put fans in the seats. He isnt going to make the fans feel good about competing. He isnt going to do that much better than Dickie or Takayashi. Get Oswalt, pay the money keep the prospects.
well his other options are Pat Misch, Oliver Perez or Hisanori Takahashi.
If the mets get Lilly (a fly ball pitcher), in Citifield (the best pitchers park) you will have possibly 5 SP with an ERA under 3.50…thats pretty impressive.
Put fans in the seats? What are you, a circus ringleader? At this point in the season, we’re looking to upgrade our talent–not find players who supposedly “put fans in the seats.” If the Mets continue to play well, fans will flock to Citi. That’s how it works in New York.Also, it’s just ignorant to claim that Lilly isn’t an upgrade over Dickey or Takahashi. The Mets are a far stronger team with Takahashi in the ‘pen, and who really knows for sure how much we can depend on Dickey (this is the first time in his career he’s strung together more than 3 good outings).
Put fans in the seats? What are you, a circus ringleader? At this point in the season, we’re looking to upgrade our talent–not find players who supposedly “put fans in the seats.” If the Mets continue to play well, fans will flock to Citi. That’s how it works in New York.Also, it’s just ignorant to claim that Lilly isn’t an upgrade over Dickey or Takahashi. The Mets are a far stronger team with Takahashi in the ‘pen, and who really knows for sure how much we can depend on Dickey (this is the first time in his career he’s strung together more than 3 good outings).
Miniya needs to look to add two arms.
Proposal: Mets trade Mejia, Fernando Martinez and low level prospect to Astros for Oswalt; Astros pick up $7.5M per year of Oswalt’s salary.
no thanks…the mets wouldnt do that for Lee, let alone Oswalt.
Mariners wanted Niese or Davis, Mets were limited in what they could offer because they only wanted to rent Lee (per Ken Davidoff of Newsday earlier today). If the Astros picked up half of Oswalt’s salary while getting one of the best pitching prospects available, the Mets would and should make this deal.
Why not send the package that they were going to offer for Cliff Lee to them?
Because Ted Lilly is a 3rd starter while Cliff Lee is an ace.
are you suggesting the mets trade mejia for lilly? hahahahaha
The Cubs could offer Lilly along with gorzallany for Mejia and a c prospect
I doubt that the Cubs would be interested in a catching prospect. They have Soto, and a couple of good prospects at that position already. They could use good prospects at 1st base, 2nd base, and possibly pitching.
Mejia is a pitcher. Thole is the catcher.
While I like the idea of the Mets getting Lilly and Gorzelanny, I don’t think that’s worth Meija.
I kind of doubt we’d give up Gorz. He’s been pretty important, especially with Zambrano on his way out.
Really? You wouldn’t be happy about trading Gorz and Lilly for Meija + other prospects?
We wouldn’t get Mejia alone for that.
I kind of doubt we’d give up Gorz. He’s been pretty important, especially with Zambrano on his way out.
I don’t really see the Cubs including Marshall or Gorzelanny in any trade including Lilly. Sean Marshall could command a high return by himself. There is no real reason to move Gorzelanny since he could slide into the rotation and is a fairly cheap option. I could see Jenrry Mejia or Wilmer Flores as a possible target for the Cubs.
I don’t really see the Cubs including Marshall or Gorzelanny in any trade including Lilly. Sean Marshall could command a high return by himself. There is no real reason to move Gorzelanny since he could slide into the rotation and is a fairly cheap option. I could see Jenrry Mejia or Wilmer Flores as a possible target for the Cubs.
While I like the idea of the Mets getting Lilly and Gorzelanny, I don’t think that’s worth Meija.
Typical Omar, can’t get Lee, won’t go for Oswalt or Haren, but wants Lilly…..I think if after all this bs and then adds Lilly, should be fired on the spot…seriously Takahashi even Ollie can do the same as Lilly……not wsin…..Good Job Omar…..enjoy unemployment
well Lilly’s ERA is half of what Ollie’s is and probably cuts that ERA even more going fro Wrigley to citifield.
Ted Lilly is eons better than Oliver Perez.
*I* could probably be eons better than Ollie Perez. Let me just go learn a Knuckleball so I’ll have an excuse for not knowing the modern baseball invention that is the strike zone.
Typical Omar? You do remember he traded for Johan freakin’ Santana, right?
If you are looking at Lilly’s won loss record, just remember that the Cubs usually score about 1 run for him when he pitches. He took a no hitter into the 9th against the White Sox. He is a clubhouse leader. He is a lefty. If the Mets lose him to free agency after this year, he is a Type A free agent. He has a lot of pluses going for him!
DC lets focus one right now. Lilly is good to move Taka into the bullpen (but he will only be a third or fourth starter), so he has some value to acquiring him. I just wish we got an arm that another team would hate to face…I really wish we gave a WOW package to Ari for Haren.
People need to ignore his era, because he gives up the long ball a lot (and citi field is not a homerun stadium!) Haren has a high strikeout rate (118 SO’s so far I think in 123 IP.) Haren would fit in nice with the Mets and Citi field, plus he is younger and still has some time left on a contract. So when all i hear is mets fans turn their nose at Haren because of his era, they are not looking at anything more than the ERA (look at the ballpark, the strikeouts, the command…there is a reason he is a top tier pitcher. The dude is stellar when he is on…and he is on when hes not giving up homeruns)
I’m not a Mets fan so i could care less. The Mets need to realize they need pitching and offer what teams are asking for to get it.
Im glad a non-Mets fan can understand the mets need, but it seems like Omar has something up his sleeve. (I can almost guarantee he thinks he can retweak Ollie to become the best starter in baseball) we will not see a trade this July…Come August Minaya will say “we can win with what we have” and as he has a press conference highly touting the return of Maine and perez as a “big step for the club for the rest of the year and next…” the taka will have one of those bad outtings of 8 runs, and the mets will battle back and then lose it because the bullpen exploded and minaya will get the message and be like “we…still…can win…” and then the next day he promotes Ollie who gives 20 runs because he refuses to admit he effed up this past July
Quote me when August 1 comes
Lilly would help but Oswalt is getable. If Lee and the Yankees just set the market then Oswalt is VERY getable for the Mets. No one is going to give Houston stud prospects AND pay Oswalt’s full salary. The Astros can either sit there and enjoy Oswalt pitching every fifth day while St. Louis and Cincinnati battle it out for the division, or they can get something for him. Mejia is as good a pitching prospect as there is out there and the Mets are willing to deal him.
Lilly wouldn’t be bad pitching at Citi field
I agree. He’s homer prone, but he also offsets that by healthy K/BB rates. He’d be a good fit in that park. Play the best outfielders you got to get the best out of him.
One other thing-Ted Lilly is a fierce competitor. He ain’t scared, and he won’t wilt. You will get all he’s got to give every time out, win or lose. You want that kind of pitcher on your staff.
This is a JOKE!!. Lilly is a decent pitcher but isnt an ace and we need a head of the roatation kind of guy to have any chance.. and to be honest i cant see anyone beating the yankees at all now.. Yankees ruin baseball.. hows it feel to buy another world series.. it really is a joke..
Ted Lilly is the Cub’s ace, and he would be the #1 on many teams!
What will it take for them to bring in Lilly and Marshall?
Marshall is one pitcher that the Cubs will, and should, keep around. He’s pretty versatile and his salary isn’t that big yet.
I am waiting patiently for the Astros to trade Oswalt… Don’t get me wrong, I like Oswalt. But the Astros need prospects BAD. He may not bring in much thanks to his salary, but the little we can get is what we need. Then trade Berkman!
Here’s your offer rovert:
Mets trade Mejia, Fernando Martinez and low level prospect to Astros for Oswalt; Astros pick up $7.5M per year of Oswalt’s salary.
For everyone bashing lilly as a 3 or 4 starter, they don’t call him teddy ballgame for nothing. He’s a gamer
Anyone who calls Ted Lilly “Teddy Ballgame” deserves to be slapped. Gamer doesn’t mean he’s talented. All I ever hear about Jeff Francoeur is he’s a gamer/gritty/[insert similar adjective]. Too bad it doesn’t give him any strikezone recognition or plate discipline.
Pretty simple situation here for those bashing Lilly.
If the Mets want to get an ace, say Haren or Oswalt, then they are going to have to give up a few nice pieces and take on salary.
If the Mets don’t want to take on a lot of salary nor give up a few nice prospects, then Lilly is a great fit.
Someone like Nolasco is also intriguing, but doubt he goes inner-division.
It really is the Mets move here. They need to decide if they want a front of the rotation guy or a solid mid-rotation guy, with the potential to put up #2 numbers. They already missed out/passed up on Cliff Lee, so someone like Lilly with potential for upside may be what they are willing to stomach.
Is anyone else concerned that the mets would have 4 lefty starters once Ollie gets back?
You presume Ollie will be a starter O_O…he is getting lit up worse in low A ball compared to the majors….Minaya has screwed up a lot but to put Ollie back in the rotation is laughable
Even if Perez starts, hitters are going to tee off him no matter what arm he throws with so it doesn’t really matter.
Is anyone else concerned that the mets would have 4 lefty starters once Ollie gets back?
Lily would be a nice pickup for the Mets. He’s a type A FA, so he’ll net picks after the year. He would be a perfect fit in Citi. He’s an upgrade over most of their starters.
The question is what the Cubs would want. More than anything, the Cubs need corner infielders. Lee and Ramirez will both be gone in the next 6-18 months, and the Cubs have nobody to plug in those spots or the middle of the order. If I’m the Cubs, I’m looking to add somebody at one of those spots for Lily.
Lily would be a nice pickup for the Mets. He’s a type A FA, so he’ll net picks after the year. He would be a perfect fit in Citi. He’s an upgrade over most of their starters.
The question is what the Cubs would want. More than anything, the Cubs need corner infielders. Lee and Ramirez will both be gone in the next 6-18 months, and the Cubs have nobody to plug in those spots or the middle of the order. If I’m the Cubs, I’m looking to add somebody at one of those spots for Lily.
I can’t understand why Minaya is so stupid and so stubborn..he thinks he can still keep tring to get a bang for his buck with Ollie just because he overspent, but it’s all at the expense of the team in terms of losses…he will never improve..my all male adult softball league would crush his best pitches in pratice…that’s just the truth..why don’t we just give the Cubs Daniel Murphy and a prospect in exchange for Lilly and maybe Chicago could have a good effect on Murphy…especially since Lee will be gone next season anyway.
I believe Lilly, being a type A free agent, will command good value in prospects… if the Cubs don’t get first round prospect talent back – then then should keep him, offer arb, and either resign him (which i believe they want anyway… chi town loves him) or he walks and they get the picks.
I would miss seeing Lilly go. He’s a classy guy and a favorite but for some prospects and Lilly to go further than the Cubs. See ya Teddy
haren is much better than lilly and 5 years younger. please pass on lilly.
if the mets want to compete, they have to go for the best available, which is haren or oswalt. haren is younger and cheaper than oswalt.